Is this Vintage Minolta 50mm f1.7 Good for 1080p Video?

Ever since I got into Mirrorless Cameras, I was attracted by the super-budget price tag and filmic “look” that vintage lenses created, and I love ‘em! Today, we look at one of the most popular Minolta’s out there, the 50mm f1.7 Rokkor-x MD. Here are my impressions after attaching it to my A7S to put it to the test!

PROS
- Fast at f1.7 and f2.8 = budget bokeh
- Super-Affordable
- Center Sharpness at f2.8 is good for 1080p
- Creates a Beautiful Look (in my opinion)
- Almost Entirely Metal Construction
- Manual focus is smooth and works well for slow moving objects/focus sweeps

CONS
- Center sharpness is questionable wide open at f1.7
- Manual Focus makes it extremely tough to nail focus at f1.7 or fast moving objects
- You’ll need some sort of stabilization for video (tripod, IBIS, or a gimbal)
- These are no longer in production, so you’ll probably be buying a used copy which can have hazing, mold/fungus, internal dust, or scratches so shop carefully!

Before we jump into some of the details, here’s a 1080p video example of what this lens produces with a Zhiyun Crane Plus and Sony A7S in low light at f2.8, 1/50 shutter, 24p.

Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm @ f2.8 with Sony A7S and Zhiyun Crane Plus

BOKEH

The isolation compared to most kit lenses will be incredible @ f1.7 or f2.8 if your subject is at a medium distance from your camera. Both your foreground and background will be out of focus giving you that buttery cinematic look we often chase after.

Bokeh will be nice and circular at f1.7, but highlights in the background will become hexagonal once you stop it down a touch because this lens only has 6 non-rounded blades. Here are 3 examples of how the bokeh looks @ f1.7, f2.8, and f4.

Most laypeople will probably have no idea and would be impressed with how “professional” the shots look, as long as the setting you’re shooting in is conducive to slow manual focusing.

SHARPNESS

The cruel joke about this f1.7 lens is that it’s incredibly difficult to nail focus wide open, and it’s unfortunately a little soft at f1.7. I’ve heard others online with similar feedback, and I tend to notice the fuzziness even when I shoot 1080p video. You get lovely round bokeh, but is the footage sharp enough?

Here’s a 1:1 crop to show how the center sharpness improves when stopped down from 1.7 to f2.8 and f4.

Here’s a quick video sample at f1.7 using a Sony A7S.

I personally would shoot cautiously on anything less than f2.8 unless you have a tack sharp copy of this lens.

USABILITY

Let’s not forget why the nifty-fifty is one of the most essential and popular focal ranges out there. Used for both portraiture in tighter spaces or further away for full body coverage, or even landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, skyscrapes… you name it.

It’s a super versatile length and it’s popular for a reason. The fact that it can be so lightweight, affordable, and similar to our eyes’ natural focal length makes it a keeper in my books.

Camera IBIS or a gimbal / crane is absolutely necessary unless you’re shooting photos

Knowing that lens softness is an issue at f1.7…

I play it safe with f4 if I’m filming something I know I can’t get another take. As a plus, I get decent mid-frame sharpness. This video was shot entirely at f4:

Minolta Rokkor-x 50mm MD @ f4 with a Sony A7S and Zhiyun Crane Plus

SOME OTHER THINGS…

Expect some lens flaring if bright lights are facing your way because the glass isn’t coated like today’s lenses are
It’s only ~$20 for a Minolta MD to Sony E adapter on amazon.
LINK to the Adapter I Use: https://amzn.to/2LJfCaR
For the price, you can get some deceptively good looking B-Roll
I think I have an obsession over this vintage lens look, for some reason it makes the footage look more “real life” to me. I think for now, I’m going to avoid de-mystifying the color science for my own sake, and simply enjoy the mysteriously good results I get with it.

If you’re shooting on a kit lens, order yourself a copy on Amazon if you can find one. For around $50 you can get some pretty cool shots with this thing. And the metal body doesn’t look too bad on new cameras!

LINK to Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LFvrPM

Stay tuned for more reviews coming soon!

Newbie tip: Gear doesn’t always make the shot - A pro-filmmaker (not me) using a budget prime and stabilization can capture some inspirational shots far better than a beginner with a Sony A9 and a G Master. So grow your equipment wisely, capture the best you can, and tell us your story!