Build
standard of the 17mm f/4 MC W.Rokkor is excellent. The lens is of all
metal construction and feels like it could take a beating.
The
widest of Minolta’s rectilinear lenses, the 17mm boasts an astonishing
104 degree angle of view, making it a very handy lens for interior photography.
It’s optical design comprises 11 elements in 9 groups, and it has
a 72mm filter diameter. An extremely rare lens, it was exorbitantly expensive
when new, and accordingly they are very thin on the ground. Expect to
wait some time to find one if you are looking on ebay and the major online
camera stores.
The
104 degree field of view enables some striking compositions.
The lens is often very difficult to use effectively
due ito its incredibly wide angle of view. It’s use for landscapes
is limited due to the extreme foreshortening effect that it introduces,
making mountains seem tiny in the background. It is however, very useful
for interior photos, and as the “poor man’s shift lens”,
enabling photos of buildings to be taken without converging lines. This
is achieved through keeping the film plane parallel to the building, and
shooting in portrait orientation. Subsequently, you can simply crop the
image to the desired area ensuring a great result.
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