Leica Showcase Minolta Chiyoko 8.5cm F2.8 in Leica Thread Mount

Brian

Product of the Fifties
This lens is "scarce" outside of Japan. This one has a 4-digit SN, under 5000, debuted in the late 1940s. It is 5 elements in 3 groups, derived from the classic Cooke Triplet. The front element of the Cooke Triplet is split into a cemented group of 3 elements. This lens uses 40mm screw in accessories, same as the Canon 50/1.5 and other Canon lenses. It's fashioned after the Leica 90/4 Elmar, is hard-coated. The glass on this one is almost perfect. Focus smoothed out with some use.

Prices have come way down on these vintage lenses- this one was under $150, and can still be found for that with patience.

Wide-open on the M9, ISO2500.

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ISO10,000 on the Monochrom. UV filter.


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I've restore the images to this thread, and am updating it with some pictures from the M240 with this lens, all wide-open. Cooke Triplets have a renewed interest. Meyer Optik Gorlitz brought back the Trioplan for $999. TTArtisans has the 100mm F2.8 Triplet in M42 mount and Leica M-Mount for much less, ~$160 and ~210 respectively. This lens can be used with adapters on most any mirrorless camera.

There are several vintage Triotar lenses, but most are F4 and slower. Pushing a triplet to F2.8 is a "stretch" and is done for economy. The original Trioplan 100 F2.8 was center sharp, inexpensive, and faster than the F4 Tessar based Leica Elmar. One optical technique to improve performance with faster apertures is to use more powerful groups of cemented elements in place of a single element. The Tessar uses a Doublet in place of the rear element of the Cooke Triplet. Minolta used a Triplet in place of the front element, a "3-1-1" configuration. Minolta used this in the 45/2.8, 50/2.8, and 85/2.8. I have those.

Minolta Chiyoko 85mm F2.8, wide-open on the M240. In Search Of Bubbles.


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Visit to the Neighborhood Graveyard.
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Fireworks Show.
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He has his Camera!
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And it was only the 85/2.8. Now- with a 35mm lens, they saunter off.
 
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This is a nice lens. The optical formula is "just Different", a suped-up Cooke Triplet.
Minolta lenses of the late 1940s were "just different" optically, well worth looking for if you like unique.
 
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