Minolta M-Rokkor lens 'white spot' question

[gamincurieux]

Hi. You probably know the 'white spot' problem affected just about every 28mm M-Rokkor ever made. But, does anyone know if the 40mm and 90mm M-Rokkor's were also prone to white spot?? Was it just the 28mm that had this cursed affliction??

I do own a 'fixed' 28mm M-Rokkor, and I'm very happy with it I might add. I've got no problem with a lens that's had white spot fixed as long as it's fixed right, like I'm confident mine was. It's small, light, got a better focussing tab, and takes a decent image. So, being happy with that, I'm now eyeing off a 90mm M-Rokkor, so it would be handy to know if they were also prone to white spot..... if anyone knows? I've not read that they were at all, only the 28mm.

Cheers, Paul

[Nick Merritt]

I'm pretty certain this only affected the 28. I have never heard of this issue for the other two lenses.

By the way, I was in a camera store near where I work this afternoon and the owner pulled out a new-in-the-box 90/4 Minolta for the CLE. Let me know if you're interested and I'll pass you on the name of the store and contact info.

[Sirius Glass]

White spot as in mold?? Please elaborate.

[gamincurieux]

No, I was pretty sure it didn't affect the others. Just needed a little reassurance, and yes please I'd like the store details, thank you Nick ;)

Sirius Glass, no, it's not mold. White spot is something that seems to only affect the Minolta M-Rokkor 28mm lens made for Leica M bodies. It's pretty-much a bad reaction of the black coating inside the lens just inside the front element, it looked like white spots, which if left unchecked will totally stuff up the front element as it 'grows' rendering the lens useless, might as well bin it then. Minolta was repairing them under warranty, but that is many many moons ago now. Makes it a bit of a gamble when buying one 2nd-hand today. Mine was gotten to in time and fixed nicely. A fair bit of work is involved I'm told by the man who did it (who luckily I managed to find & speak with before buying). You can Google 'm-rokkor 28mm white spot', makes an interesting enough read.