Minolta's prized MD portrait tele — the 85mm f/1.7 MD Rokkor, a highly sought late-70s portrait lens.
The Minolta MD Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 is a fast short-telephoto manual-focus lens for Minolta reflex cameras from the MD generation of the late 1970s. MD marks the shutter-priority-coupled series. As a fast 85mm it was Minolta's classic portrait lens of the period, at a focal length long prized for flattering headshots, and remains one of the most sought-after MD primes.
This is a manual-focus short-telephoto lens with an 85mm focal length and a fast maximum aperture of f/1.7, from the MD line. Only the focal length and aperture are affirmed; other construction figures are not confirmed here and are omitted rather than guessed. It carried the portrait role from the MC 85mm forward into the MD range.
The 85mm focal length is the archetypal portrait length, giving flattering compression and a comfortable working distance, while the fast f/1.7 aperture produces shallow depth of field and smooth background separation. It is widely admired for its portrait rendering, which contributes to its strong reputation among adapters.
On the used market this is a highly desirable MD portrait Rokkor sought by collectors and portrait shooters adapting vintage glass, often commanding a premium. Given its age, inspect for haze, fungus and separation, confirm the aperture blades are clean and snappy, and check the focus helicoid runs smoothly. Use an adapter for mirrorless mounting.