Disclaimer: VLFV uses eBay’s affiliate program and as an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase. Our mission is to keep all content free and accessible, so if you’d like to support what we do, feel free to purchase your lenses via the links in this article, at no additional cost to you.
News has broken of a new rehoused lens set hitting the market! Ancient Optics – hot on the heels of their Kowa Full Frame primes and Canon FD 50-300mm zoom lens project – have teamed up once again with the team at GL Optics to rehouse the Minolta SR Rokkor lenses for use in cinema projects. The first set is already with the fine people at Old Fast Glass, and we expect more of these sets to be making their way to rental houses in the coming months.
With more and more of the classic full-frame lens ranges being lovingly rehoused by companies around the world, it is always nice when one of the cult favourites gets glammed up for use on set. The Minolta Rokkor lenses, often neglected in the past due to their less-than-optimal flange distance, making them unable to be remounted to Canon’s EF mount, gained new popularity with the rise of mirrorless cameras such as the Sony Alpha series. Featuring stunning coatings and a look that is truly unique, it was only a matter of time until the Rokkors got their chance to shine. And now, Ancient Optics bring the Minolta SR line to market in style.
Ancient Optics’ offering is a multicoated 11-lens set stretching from 21mm through to 200mm, giving DOPs a complete range from wide-angle to telephoto to play with in their upcoming projects. Optional lenses coming later include the 17mm f/4 ultra-wide and the 50mm and 100mm macro lenses, giving you a monster set covering all bases. These new compact housings utilise GL Optics’ excellent fifth-generation mechanics but also have an all-new external design with features never before seen in GL Optics primes, including repositioned gears and markings. Sleekly finished in black and silver with a golden band, this limited run of lenses will make a fine addition to any inventory – and definitely stand out on your cinema camera of choice!
The Minolta SR series have some truly spectacular gems, most notably the 58mm f/1.2 MC, the 85mm f/1.7 (made in both MC and MD variants) and the extraordinary 135mm f/2 MD, a lens that has been widely regarded as a top telephoto for decades. To see these lenses finally being rehoused for cinema use is vindication for all those Minolta die-hards who have championed the lenses over the years. VLFV’s own Alan Besedin got in early and picked up a wonderful set of Rokkors, and the 21mm f/2.8 and 58mm f/1.2 were kindly reviewed by our good friend Mark Holtze here.
To find out more about these lenses and how you can own one of these stunning sets, you can reach Ancient Optics here.
And for those who do not have the cash to drop on this stunning set, we strongly encourage you to take a look at some of the offerings on eBay – who knows, you might fall in love with the Rokkors too!
Written by Peter Cooper
