Unexplained differences in Minox Minoxar 35 lens

[steve_d6]

<p>Let's see there is one small difference in the Minoxar lens found on the GTE, MDC and limited edition cameras. They all apparently have the same lens with the built in skylight filter except the MDC. Why?<br>

**GTE (1988) MC Minoxar 35mm/2.8, Skylight filter built onto the lens<br>

**Minox 35 M.D.C. (1996) MC Minoxar 35mm/2.8, Apparently does not have the Skylight filter<br>

**Minox 35 GT-S (1998) MC Minoxar 35mm/2.8, Skylight filter built onto the lens<br>

**Minox 35 GT-X (1997) same<br>

**Minox 35 GTE GOLDKNOPF (1988) same<br>

What could be the technical reason to delete the MDC skylight filter? The GT-X, built at the same time had one.<br>

Just a curious variation without an apparent explanation.<br>

Another variation related to the built in filter, Minox issued a rubber lens hood with the normal clamp but without the typical Skylight filter glass. Obviously, it really wasn't needed.<br>

Steve</p>

[MTC Photography]

<p>MDC does not belongs to the GT seiries, it belong to M series with no skylight filter.<br>

ML has no skylight filter like MDC. </p>

[steve_d6]

<p>

<p>Hello Martin,<br>

Granted, some of the cameras I referenced may indeed belong to different series. However, a camera is a light proof box. Not much more.<br>

I was commenting on the differing construction of the Minoxar lens depending upon the camera onto which it was placed. All referenced cameras have this same lens. However Minox built the MDC using the Minoxar lens without the skylight filter.<br>

Undoubtedly, Minox determined this newer Minoxar lens with the built in filter to be a significant improvement. This revised lens was employed with the billing of improved performance over the prior Color Minotar 35mm/f2.8.<br>

If the company decided the Minoxar lens-filter combination was such a technical achievement, why the deletion of the filter in the MDC camera offering? Did the built in skylight filter not meet Minox expectations? Did they find a stash of skylight clamp-on filters they wanted to sell? I doubt it was an issue of aesthetics as hardly anyone ever noticed the thing anyway.<br>

Steve</p>

</p>

[MTC Photography]

<p>I look at my GT-E and MDC. <br>

On the GT-E, the Minoxar lens with skylight filter is thicker by about 2mm then the Minoxar lens without filter on the MDC. If MDC used the same lens with filter as GT-E, there might not be able the close the barn door, because when I slight open the MDC door, I can see the front of its lens almsot on the same plane as the front face of the camera, there is really <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10674730-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="408" />no room for extra built in filter.</p>

 

Minoxar lens is the same, the key isssue is not the lens, but the body construction; the body of M series and GT series are different, otherwise there is no point of differentiating M vs GT. The GT designation has nothing to do with lens, it refered to camera body.

[MTC Photography]

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/10674830-md.jpg" alt="" width="679" height="290" /><br>

The GT-E body is slightly curved outward, the ML body is flat, obviously the GT-E body is slightly thicker than ML body; further, the barn door of GT-E is curved, the barn door of ML is flat.<br>

From the above picture, obviously there is no room for extra built in filter for ML as well</p>Nothing to do with lens, the difference is in the fine detail of camera bodies.

[steve_d6]

<p>'I see said the blind man who couldn't see at all.'<br>

Yes, indeed, the body construction appears to be the controlling force.<br>

Shaving the size of the Minoxar lens by removal of the skylight filter appears to have been dictated by the dimensions of the camera.<br>

Thanks Martin for your concise clarification.<br>

Steve</p>

[MTC Photography]

<p> In fact, I never wonder why the MDC Minoxr lens has no skylight filter, untill you raised this interesting question, now I understand why. Thanks for this inspiring question.</p>

[8x11]

We have transplanted both the Minotar and Minoxar to a Sony mount and will perform side by side tests on a Sony A7. We will also perform a test with the original minotar with the UV filter. From Minox's own marketing I would expect the Minoxar to outperform both minotar setups. The lenses have been rebuilt with disabled shutters 

Would anyone be interested in a Minox AL fixed focus lens on a digital body?

We have very few minoxar parts so would only expect 4 or 5 to be available.

Paul mshobbies.co.uk