The MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4 is one of those Minolta lenses people keep for the rendering. It used to sit in the middle of the Minolta normal-lens lineup: above the more common f/1.7 version, but below the rare and expensive f/1.2.

This is the lens that came with the SRT-101 my dad bought in the early 1970s. I did not even know about it until a few years ago, when my brother gave it to me. The aperture was stuck wide open, which seems to be a common issue with lenses from this generation, and that is probably why my dad later bought a used 50mm f/1.4 when my brother started using the XG2 and SRT-101 more.

What interested me most was the focal length. 58mm is not that common, and because this one is an f/1.4, I knew it would be an interesting lens to add to the collection. A friend was able to open it up and fix the aperture, but it was reassembled without the aperture alignment being quite right. I later had to open it myself and realign the aperture with the control ring. It was challenging, but it taught me a lot about lens design and believe me, it is fascinating in there, if you enjoy that kind of thing of course.

Back to the lens itself: it is not a clinical modern fifty. It is a slightly longer normal lens with a very dreamy wide-open character. Stopped down, it becomes sharper while keeping pleasant bokeh, strong vintage feel, and that classic Rokkor look.

The Good:

• Beautiful vintage rendering and bokeh character.

• f/1.4 gives useful low-light and shallow-focus options, though with decreased sharpness wide open.

• 58mm is quite a unique focal length.

• Nice match for an early 1970s Minolta SRT-101 kit.

• Stops down into a sharper lens while keeping the Rokkor look.

• Affordable way to get a 58mm f/1.4 that can also be adapted to digital cameras.

The Bad:

• Wide open it can be dreamy rather than sharp.

• Older coatings will flare more easily.

• Minimum focus is not especially close.

• Some copies may show haze, fungus, oil, or yellowing.

• The aperture can get stuck on older copies, so condition matters.

• et it if you want Minolta character and classic bokeh.

• Get it if you want to complete an early 1970s SRT-101-style kit.

• Get it if you want an affordable 58mm lens to use on film or adapt to digital cameras.

• Pass if you already own a decent 50mm f/1.4 and do not care about the 58mm focal length.

• Pass if you want a sharper, more predictable and modern lens.

• Pass if the copy has serious haze, fungus, or sticky aperture blades.