List of Minolta SR-mount lenses explained

Minolta sold cameras and lenses with the Minolta SR-mount between 1958 and 1996.

Nomenclature

3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
C D E F G H I J K L
3 (trēs)T-TC
(100, 135)		-TD
(45, 300)		not used
4 (quattuor)Q-QD
(135, 300)		-QE
(35, 100, 200)		-QF
(50, 200, 250)		not used-QH
(21)		not used
5 (penta)P-PE
(200)		-PF
(50, 53, 55, 58, 85, 100, 135)		-PG
(18, 50, 58, 135)		not used-PI
(21)		not used
6 (hexa)H-HF (300)-HG (35)-HH (35)not used
7 (septem)S-SG (28)not used-SI (28)not used
8 (octō)Onot used-OK (16)not used
9 (novem)Nnot used-NL (21)
Most Minolta lenses for SR-mount cameras are branded Rokkor; in the United States, to combat unofficial gray market imports, lenses officially imported were engraved as Rokkor-X, with the X colored orange. Before 1975, lenses also carried a two-letter suffix indicating the construction.

Because the number of groups is always equal to or less than the number of lens elements, certain combinations are not possible (for instance -QC, which would be a four-group, three-element lens). In other cases, the combination is not used, such as -QG, which would be a four-group, seven-element lens. Although the -OJ suffix was never used for a production lens, a prototype MC Rokkor-OJ 24 mm lens was shown at Photokina 1970.[1]

In addition to Rokkor-branded lenses, Minolta also sold a lower-cost line of lenses, designated Celtic.[2] Compared to the Rokkor lenses, Celtic lenses have less sophisticated coatings.[3]

In the final series of lenses (after 1981), the "Rokkor" branding was dropped.

Generations

Minolta SR-mount lenses can be broken into three broad generations with some overlap:

  1. Pre-MC (1958): Lenses with manual, preset, and automatic diaphragms, without the meter coupling (MC) tab on the aperture ring to signal the f-stop that was selected to the in-body light meter.
  2. MC (1966): Lenses with automatic diaphragms, with the MC tab.
  3. MD (1977): Lenses with automatic diaphragms and the MC tab, and an additional minimum diaphragm (MD) tab to signal the minimum aperture opening size (largest f-stop value) of the lens to the body for shutter-priority autoexposure.

In general, MD lenses tend to incorporate more plastic components and are lighter than MC and pre-MC lenses. Within each of these generations, there are minor differences which are generally cosmetic changes.

Minolta SR lens generations[4] [5] ! Name !! Generation !! Years !! Example !! Notes
Pre-MCSR1958 – 1966The earliest lenses had pre-set and manual aperture controls. Lens engraving included "Rokkor" branding, basic construction details, maximum aperture (1:nnn), and focal length (f=nn mm).
AR (I)1958 – 1960These were contemporaneous with the SR lenses, and had automatic diaphragm, as designated by the engraved "Auto Rokkor" (AR) name.
AR (II)1961 – 1964These are distinguished from the earlier AR (I) lenses by the evenly spaced f-stop engravings.
"Compact"1965 – 1967Encompassing both AR and SR types; most have 52 mm front filter threads using a black-colored nose, while preceding generations had 55 mm with a chrome nose.
MCMC (I)1966 – 1969These lenses have a meter coupling tab on the aperture ring to signal the aperture setting to the body. The aperture ring is colored silver, while prior generations were colored black.
MC (II)1967 – 1972Cosmetically similar to MC (I) with a more deeply scalloped focusing grip knurling.
MC-X1972 – 1976Rubberized focusing grip with square, truncated pyramid shapes; aperture ring reverts to black. Starting in the mid-1970s, Minolta began adding two to three anti-reflection coating layers[6] to balance color and contrast across the lens lineup.[7]
MC Celtic1972 – 1976Budget line. Cosmetically similar to MC-X, with a different rubber grip waffle pattern (finely-spaced rectangular) and simplified coatings. The first lens was a 135 mm branded MC Celtic-QD, with a metal focusing ring and silver aperture ring similar to MC (I), and the Minolta name did not appear on the lens.[8] [9]
MDMD (I)1977Additional tab added to signal the minimum aperture value (largest f-stop number, smallest diaphragm opening) has been set; aperture ring becomes plastic.
MD (II)1978 – 1980Cosmetic update to put focal length before maximum aperture on the front nameplate.
MD Celtic1977 – 1980Update of MC Celtic, adding MD tab.
MD (III)1981 – 1984Dropped "Rokkor" branding; sometimes referred to as "Plain MD". Mechanical lock added to aperture ring to secure the aperture ring at minimum value.
MD (IIIa)1985 – 1996Possibly rebranded lenses built by a third-party manufacturer, lacking features compared to MD (III).

List of lenses

Interchangeable Minolta lenses for 35mm SR-mount cameras[10] ! rowspan=2
FL
(mm) !		NameSR/ AR MC MDConstructionMin. FocusDimensionsNotes
Ele GrpΦ×L Wgt. Filter (mm)
Fisheye lenses
7.5 –22 Fish-eye Rokkor12 8built-incircular fisheye lens[11]
16 –16 Fish-eye Rokkor-OK11 8built-in"full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens[12]
16 –22 Fish-eye Rokkor10 7built-in"full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens
18 –22 UW Rokkor-PG7 5fixedrear"full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens[13]
Ultra wide angle lenses
17 –16 W Rokkor12 972Retrofocus design
20 –22 W Rokkor10 955Retrofocus design with floating element
21 –16 W Rokkor-NL12 972Retrofocus design
21 –16 W Rokkor-QH8 455symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up
21 –16 W Rokkor-PI9 5symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up
Wide angle lenses
24 -16 W Rokkor9 755Retrofocus design
24 -22 MD8 849Retrofocus design
24 -16 W Rokkor VFC9 755Retrofocus design, with variable field curvature control
28 –16 W Rokkor10 955 (49)Retrofocus design
28 –16 W Rokkor-SI9 755Retrofocus design
28 –16 W Rokkor7 755 (49)Retrofocus design;
28 –22 Celtic7 755Retrofocus design
28 –16 W Rokkor-SG7 755Retrofocus design
28 –16 Celtic7 755Retrofocus design[14]
28 –16 W Rokkor-PE5 549Retrofocus design
35 –16 W Rokkor-HH8 655 (49)Retrofocus design;
35 –16 W Rokkor-HG7 655Retrofocus design
35 –16 W Rokkor5 555 (49)Retrofocus design
35 –22 Celtic5 555Retrofocus design
35 –22 Shift CA Rokkor9 755Retrofocus design, includes variable field curvature control (VFC)
35 –22 W Rokkor-QE5 455Retrofocus design
Normal lenses
45 –16 Rokkor-TD4 3?× 46Tessar-type[15]
50 –16 Rokkor7 655
50 –16 Rokkor7 555
50 –16 Rokkor7 649
50 –16 Rokkor-PF6 5
50 –16 Rokkor6 555 (49)
50 –16 Rokkor6 549
53 –16 Rokkor-PF6 5
55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF6 555multiple versions with different minimum aperture
55 –16 Rokkor6 552
55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF6 5multiple versions with different minimum aperture
55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF6 5?× 52multiple versions with different minimum aperture
58 –16 Rokkor-PG7 555
58 –16 Rokkor-PF6 555
Portrait lenses
85 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF6 555
85 –22 Rokkor6 549
85 –16 Varisoft Rokkor6 555
100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF6 5?× 62
100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF6 555
100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE5 555 (49)
100 –22 Tele Rokkor-QE5 452
100 –22 Tele Rokkor-TC3 346preset aperture
135 –22 Rokkor6 572
135 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF6 555
135 –22 Tele Rokkor-PG7 5
135 –22 Tele Rokkor-QD4 455
135 –22 Rokkor5 555
135 –22 Celtic5 455
135 –22 Celtic4 455
135 –22 Tele Rokkor-QD4 452
135 –22 Rokkor5 549
135 –22 Celtic4 455
135 –22 Tele Rokkor-TC3 346preset aperture
Telephoto lenses
180 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF6 5preset aperture
200 –32 Rokkor5 572
200 –22 Tele Rokkor-QF6 462
200 –22 Tele Rokkor5 555
200 –32 Celtic6 555
200 –32 Celtic5 555
200 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE5 552
200 –22 Tele Rokkor-QE5 4?× 52preset aperture
250 –22 Tele Rokkor-QF6 4preset aperture
250 Rokkor RF6 5rearcatadioptric[16]
300 –32 Tele Rokkor-TD4 3preset aperture
300 –32 Tele Rokkor-QD4 4?× 77preset aperture
300 –22 Tele Rokkor-HF6 672
300 –32 Rokkor7 672
300 –32 Tele Rokkor-QD4 4?× 62preset aperture
300 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE5 555
400 –22 APO Tele Rokkor-PE7 672includes element
500 RF Rokkor6 5rearcatadioptric
600 –45 Tele Rokkor-TD4 3126preset aperture
600 –32 APO Tele Rokkor9 8built-inincludes element
800 RF Rokkor8 7built-in (rear)catadioptric
1000 RF Rokkor7 6built-in (49)catadioptric
1600 RF Rokkor7 6catadioptric
1600 RF Rokkor6 5built-in (rear)catadioptric
Zoom lenses
24-35 –22 Zoom Rokkor10 1055
24-50 –22 Zoom Rokkor13 1172
28-70 (4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor8 8In partnership with Cosina
28-85 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor13 1055In partnership with Tokina[17]
35-70 –22 Zoom Rokkor8 755
35-70 (4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor7 7In partnership with Cosina
35-105 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor14 1255In partnership with Tokina
35-135 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor14 1255In partnership with Tokina
40-80 –22 Zoom Rokkor12 1255
50-100 –16 Zoom Rokkor15 977
50-135 –22 Zoom Rokkor12 1055
70-210 –22 Zoom Rokkor12 955
70-210 (5.6)–22 Zoom Rokkor12 9
70-300 (5.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor13 9In partnership with Cosina
75-150 –32 Zoom Rokkor12 849
75-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor15 1355
80-160 –22 Zoom Rokkor15 1077
80-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor14 1055
100-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor8 552Early versions had manual diaphragm.
100-200 –22 Celtic8 555
100-300 –32 Zoom Rokkor13 1055In partnership with Tokina
100-300 (6.7)–22 Zoom Rokkor10 8
100-500 –32 Zoom Rokkor16 1072
100-500 –32 APO Tele Zoom Rokkor16 1172
160-500 –22 Zoom Rokkor16 1177
Specialty (close-up and macro) lenses
12.5 –16 Bellows Micro Rokkor4 4—gelatin
25 –16 Bellows Micro Rokkor6 4—gelatin
50 –32 Auto Bellows Rokkor6 4—55 / gelatin
50 –22 Macro Rokkor-QF6 455
50 –22 MC Macro Celtic6 455
100 –22 Macro Rokkor-QE5 452
100 –22 Macro Rokkor5 455
100 –32 Bellows Rokkor-TC3 3—55
100 –32 Macro Rokkor5 455
100 –32 Auto Bellows Rokkor5 4—55 / gelatin
135 –22 Bellows Rokkor-TC3 3—46
Notes

External links

Brochures

Notes and References

  1. photokina '70: lenses . Bob . Schwalberg . January 1961 . 84 . Popular Photography . 24 July 2024.
  2. Book: Wolf, John C . Minolta SR-T 101/100 guide . Amphoto . 1972 . registration.
  3. Web site: A guide to the Minolta SLR system of creative photography (SLR SYSX 803E-M1) . March 1978 . Minolta Co., Ltd. . 17 July 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  4. Web site: Minolta SLR lenses . Henrik W. . Robeck . 5 May 2005 . Robeck's Web . 25 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Minolta SR Lens Index . April 24, 2017 . minolta.eazypix.de . 17 July 2024.
  6. Multicoating: Asset Or Gimmick . Bennett . Sherman . Hiroshi . Kimata . June 1975 . Modern Photography . 90–95;134;138;147 . 25 July 2024.
  7. Web site: Historical perspective on Minolta lens design philosophy . David . Kilpatrick . 2007 . Dyxum.com . 25 July 2024.
  8. Web site: My Minolta Celtic Lenses . 6 February 2005 . Henrik . Robeck . minolta.rokkor.de . 13 August 2024.
  9. Web site: Minolta 135mm f3.5 & f4.0 lenses . Joe . McGloin . 2006 . subclub.org . 13 August 2024.
  10. Web site: Obiettivi Intercambiabili per reflex 24x36 Manualfocus . it . Massimo Scotti . 6 April 2023.
  11. Web site: A guide to the Minolta SLR system of creative photography (SLR SYS 0209-F1) . September 1982 . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. . Minolta.suaudeau.eu . 25 July 2024.
  12. Book: Cooper, Joseph D. . Minolta System Handbook . Amphoto . 1972 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  13. Web site: A guide to the Minolta SR system of creative photography . 1967 . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. . Camera-Museum.org.
  14. Web site: A guide to the Minolta SR system of creative photography (SLR SYSX 404E-B2) . April 1974 . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. . Minolta.suaudeau.eu.
  15. Web site: The Minolta SR System: Rokkor interchangeable lenses . 1967 . Minolta Corporation . 30 July 2024 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  16. Web site: Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 4: Minolta Lenses . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. . March 1981 . Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  17. Book: Minolta Lenses (brochure, LBH 307E-A3) . July 1983 . Minolta Camera Co., Ltd..

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