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

Nomenclature +Rokkor suffix coding (pre-1975) colspan=3 rowspan=2 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 colspan=2 -PE(200) -PF(50, 53, 55, 58, 85, 100, 135) -PG(18, 50, 58, 135) not used -PI(21) not used 6 (hexa) H colspan=3 -HF (300) -HG (35) -HH (35) not used 7 (septem) S colspan=4 -SG (28) not used -SI (28) not used 8 (octō) O colspan=5 not used -OK (16) not used 9 (novem) N colspan=6 not 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.

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

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: 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. MC (1966): Lenses with automatic diaphragms, with the MC tab. 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 Name Generation Years Example Notes Pre-MC SR 1958 – 1966 The 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 – 1960 These were contemporaneous with the SR lenses, and had automatic diaphragm, as designated by the engraved "Auto Rokkor" (AR) name. AR (II) 1961 – 1964 These are distinguished from the earlier AR (I) lenses by the evenly spaced f-stop engravings. "Compact" 1965 – 1967 Encompassing 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. MC MC (I) 1966 – 1969 These 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 – 1972 Cosmetically similar to MC (I) with a more deeply scalloped focusing grip knurling. MC-X 1972 – 1976 Rubberized 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 to balance color and contrast across the lens lineup. MC Celtic 1972 – 1976 Budget 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. MD MD (I) 1977 Additional 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 – 1980 Cosmetic update to put focal length before maximum aperture on the front nameplate. MD Celtic 1977 – 1980 Update of MC Celtic, adding MD tab. MD (III) 1981 – 1984 Dropped "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 – 1996 Possibly 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 FL(mm) Apr. Name SR/ AR MC MD Construction Min. Focus Dimensions Notes Ele Grp Φ×L Wgt. Filter (mm) Fisheye lenses 7.5 –22 Fish-eye Rokkor 12 8 built-in circular fisheye lens 16 –16 Fish-eye Rokkor-OK 11 8 built-in "full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens 16 –22 Fish-eye Rokkor 10 7 built-in "full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens 18 –22 UW Rokkor-PG 7 5 fixed rear "full-frame" (diagonal) fisheye lens Ultra wide angle lenses 17 –16 W Rokkor 12 9 72 Retrofocus design 20 –22 W Rokkor 10 9 55 Retrofocus design with floating element 21 –16 W Rokkor-NL 12 9 72 Retrofocus design 21 –16 W Rokkor-QH 8 4 55 symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up 21 –16 W Rokkor-PI 9 5 symmetric lens, requires mirror lock-up Wide angle lenses 24 -16 W Rokkor 9 7 55 Retrofocus design 24 -22 MD 8 8 49 Retrofocus design 24 -16 W Rokkor VFC 9 7 55 Retrofocus design, with variable field curvature control 28 –16 W Rokkor 10 9 55 (49) Retrofocus design 28 –16 W Rokkor-SI 9 7 55 Retrofocus design 28 –16 W Rokkor 7 7 55 (49) Retrofocus design; 28 –22 Celtic 7 7 55 Retrofocus design 28 –16 W Rokkor-SG 7 7 55 Retrofocus design 28 –16 Celtic 7 7 55 Retrofocus design 28 –16 W Rokkor-PE 5 5 49 Retrofocus design 35 –16 W Rokkor-HH 8 6 55 (49) Retrofocus design; 35 –16 W Rokkor-HG 7 6 55 Retrofocus design 35 –16 W Rokkor 5 5 55 (49) Retrofocus design 35 –22 Celtic 5 5 55 Retrofocus design 35 –22 Shift CA Rokkor 9 7 55 Retrofocus design, includes variable field curvature control (VFC) 35 –22 W Rokkor-QE 5 4 55 Retrofocus design Normal lenses 45 –16 Rokkor 6 5 49 45 –16 Rokkor-TD 4 3 ?× 46 Tessar-type 50 –16 Rokkor 7 6 55 50 –16 Rokkor 7 5 55 50 –16 Rokkor 7 6 49 50 –16 Rokkor-PF 6 5 50 –16 Rokkor 6 5 55 (49) 50 –16 Rokkor 6 5 49 53 –16 Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 multiple versions with different minimum aperture 55 –16 Rokkor 6 5 52 55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF 6 5 multiple versions with different minimum aperture 55 –16/22 Rokkor-PF 6 5 ?× 52 multiple versions with different minimum aperture 58 –16 Rokkor-PG 7 5 55 58 –16 Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 Portrait lenses 85 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 85 –22 Rokkor 6 5 49 85 –16 Varisoft Rokkor 6 5 55 100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF 6 5 ?× 62 100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 100 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE 5 5 55 (49) 100 –22 Tele Rokkor-QE 5 4 52 100 –22 Tele Rokkor-TC 3 3 46 preset aperture 135 –22 Rokkor 6 5 72 135 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF 6 5 55 135 –22 Tele Rokkor-PG 7 5 135 –22 Tele Rokkor-QD 4 4 55 135 –22 Rokkor 5 5 55 135 –22 Celtic 5 4 55 135 –22 Celtic 4 4 55 135 –22 Tele Rokkor-QD 4 4 52 135 –22 Rokkor 5 5 49 135 –22 Celtic 4 4 55 135 –22 Tele Rokkor-TC 3 3 46 preset aperture Telephoto lenses 180 –22 Tele Rokkor-PF 6 5 preset aperture 200 –32 Rokkor 5 5 72 200 –22 Tele Rokkor-QF 6 4 62 200 –22 Tele Rokkor 5 5 55 200 –32 Celtic 6 5 55 200 –32 Celtic 5 5 55 200 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE 5 5 52 200 –22 Tele Rokkor-QE 5 4 ?× 52 preset aperture 250 –22 Tele Rokkor-QF 6 4 preset aperture 250 Rokkor RF 6 5 rear catadioptric 300 –32 Tele Rokkor-TD 4 3 preset aperture 300 –32 Tele Rokkor-QD 4 4 ?× 77 preset aperture 300 –22 Tele Rokkor-HF 6 6 72 300 –32 Rokkor 7 6 72 300 –32 Tele Rokkor-QD 4 4 ?× 62 preset aperture 300 –22 Tele Rokkor-PE 5 5 55 400 –22 APO Tele Rokkor-PE 7 6 72 includes element 500 RF Rokkor 6 5 rear catadioptric 600 –45 Tele Rokkor-TD 4 3 126 preset aperture 600 –32 APO Tele Rokkor 9 8 built-in includes element 800 RF Rokkor 8 7 built-in (rear) catadioptric 1000 RF Rokkor 7 6 built-in (49) catadioptric 1600 RF Rokkor 7 6 catadioptric 1600 RF Rokkor 6 5 built-in (rear) catadioptric Zoom lenses 24-35 –22 Zoom Rokkor 10 10 55 24-50 –22 Zoom Rokkor 13 11 72 28-70 (4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor 8 8 In partnership with Cosina 28-85 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor 13 10 55 In partnership with Tokina 35-70 –22 Zoom Rokkor 8 7 55 35-70 (4.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor 7 7 In partnership with Cosina 35-105 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor 14 12 55 In partnership with Tokina 35-135 (4.5)–22 Zoom Rokkor 14 12 55 In partnership with Tokina 40-80 –22 Zoom Rokkor 12 12 55 50-100 –16 Zoom Rokkor 15 9 77 50-135 –22 Zoom Rokkor 12 10 55 70-210 –22 Zoom Rokkor 12 9 55 70-210 (5.6)–22 Zoom Rokkor 12 9 70-300 (5.8)–22 Zoom Rokkor 13 9 In partnership with Cosina 75-150 –32 Zoom Rokkor 12 8 49 75-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor 15 13 55 80-160 –22 Zoom Rokkor 15 10 77 80-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor 14 10 55 100-200 –22 Zoom Rokkor 8 5 52 Early versions had manual diaphragm. 100-200 –22 Celtic 8 5 55 100-300 –32 Zoom Rokkor 13 10 55 In partnership with Tokina 100-300 (6.7)–22 Zoom Rokkor 10 8 100-500 –32 Zoom Rokkor 16 10 72 100-500 –32 APO Tele Zoom Rokkor 16 11 72 160-500 –22 Zoom Rokkor 16 11 77 Specialty (close-up and macro) lenses 12.5 –16 Bellows Micro Rokkor 4 4 — gelatin 25 –16 Bellows Micro Rokkor 6 4 — gelatin 50 –32 Auto Bellows Rokkor 6 4 — 55 / gelatin 50 –22 Macro Rokkor-QF 6 4 55 50 –22 MC Macro Celtic 6 4 55 100 –22 Macro Rokkor-QE 5 4 52 100 –22 Macro Rokkor 5 4 55 100 –32 Bellows Rokkor-TC 3 3 — 55 100 –32 Macro Rokkor 5 4 55 100 –32 Auto Bellows Rokkor 5 4 — 55 / gelatin 135 –22 Bellows Rokkor-TC 3 3 — 46

Notes

References

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