Minolta Fish-Eye Rokkor 16mm f/2.8

The Fish-Eye Rokkor 16mm f/2.8 is a prime fisheye lens produced by Minolta for Minolta SR-mount single lens reflex cameras, introduced in 1969 to replace an earlier fisheye lens, the UW Rokkor 18mm f/9.5. It is a full-frame fisheye lens with a 180° viewing angle across the diagonal.

Minolta Fish-Eye Rokkor 16mm f/2.8
Original (1969) version, MC Fish-Eye Rokkor-OK with scalloped metal focusing ring
MakerMinolta
Technical data
Focal length16mm
Aperture (max/min)f/2.8-f/16
Close focus distance0.25–0.3 m (0.82–0.98 ft)
Construction11 elements in 8 groups
Features
Ultrasonic motorNo No
Macro capableNo No
Unique featuresFisheye
Physical
Max. length43–63.5 mm (1.7–2.5 in)
Diameter64.5–73 mm (2.5–2.9 in)
Weight256–445 g (9.0–15.7 oz)
Filter diameterIntegrated
Accessories
Lens hoodIntegrated Flower
Angle of view
Diagonal180°
History
Introduction1969
PredecessorUW Rokkor 18mm f/9.5
SuccessorAF Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8

This lens was licensed by Leitz and released for Leica R mount cameras as the Leica Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm f/2.8; it also was released as an autofocus lens for Minolta A-mount system cameras.

Design and history

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Minolta updated the design several times during the course of production:[1]

  • 1969: MC Fish-Eye Rokkor-OK 16mm f/2.8
  • 1973: MC Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) OK 16mm f/2.8
  • 1977: MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8
  • 1978: MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8
  • 1980: MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8
  • 1981: MD Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8

The original design, by Toshinobu Ogura,[2] used 11 elements in 8 groups, as designated by the -OK suffix. Lenses sold in the United States starting in 1973 were given Rokkor-X branding. Most of the updates since the original release were cosmetic, aside from the 1980 update, which changed the design to 10 elements in 7 groups and reduced the size and weight,[1] designed by Mitsuaki Horimoto.[3]

The 11e/8g Ogura design was licensed by Leitz and assembled by Minolta for Leica R-mount cameras; the Fisheye-Elmarit-R was released in 1974 and continued in production until 2001.[4] When the Minolta A-mount system was released in 1985, the 11e/8g Ogura design was revived as an autofocus lens, the Minolta AF Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8 (1986). Production of this lens continued after the A-mount system was purchased by Sony.[5]

Due to the extreme angle of view, the front of the lens does not have a mount for filters; four filters for black-and-white and color photography are built in and selected by a rotating dial near the front on the body of the lens. Filter selection varies by the lens design. The 1969 version includes normal/UV (1A), orange (O56), yellow (Y48), and cooling (80B) filters.

Minolta 16mm fisheye lenses for SR-mount
Model
Spec
MC Fish-Eye Rokkor-OK 16mm f/2.8 MC Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) OK 16mm f/2.8 MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8 MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8 MD Fish-Eye Rokkor(-X) 16mm f/2.8 MD Fish-Eye 16mm f/2.8
Year 1969 1973 1977 1978 1980 1981
Construction Diagram    
Elements 11 10
Groups 8 7
Aperture f/2.8–16 f/2.8–22
Min. focus 0.3 m (11.8 in) 0.25 m (9.8 in)
Metering features Meter coupling (MC) tab   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
Minimum diaphragm (MD) tab   No   No   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
Aperture lock   No   No   No   No   No   Yes
Dimensions Diam. 73 mm (2.9 in) 70.6 mm (2.8 in) 64.5 mm (2.5 in)
Length 63 mm (2.5 in) 63.5 mm (2.5 in) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Weight 445 g (15.7 oz) 440 g (16 oz) 265 g (9.3 oz)
Filters 1A (Normal)   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
R60 (Red)   No   No   No   No   Yes   Yes
O56 (Orange)   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   No   No
Y48 (Yellow)   Yes   Yes   No   No   No   No
Y52 (Yellow)   No   No   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes
B12 (Blue)   No   No   No   No   Yes   Yes
80B (Cooling)   Yes   Yes   Yes   Yes   No   No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Minolta SR Lens Index". minolta.eazypix.de. April 24, 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  2. ^ US Patent 3589798A, Toshinobu Ogura, "Wide-angle lens system with corrected lateral aberration", published 29 June 1971, assigned to Minolta Camera KK 
  3. ^ US Patent 4412726A, Mitsuaki Horimoto, "Fish eye lens system", published November 1, 1983, assigned to Minolta Camera KK 
  4. ^ "Leica Fisheye-Elmarit-R 16mm f2.8". The Fish List. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  5. ^ "Minolta AF 16mm F2.8 Fish-Eye". The Fish List. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
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