Minolta MD mount
Encyclopedia
The Minolta SR mount was the bayonet mounting system used in all 35mm SLR
cameras made by Minolta
with interchangeable manual focusing lenses. Several iterations of the mounting were produced, for different lenses branded as "SR", "MC", "MD" or "X-600", and the mount itself is sometimes called by one of these names.
All lenses for these mounts are interchangeable between older and newer Minolta manual focus 35mm film SLR bodies. There are exceptions, such as, the lenses before 1961 feature a slightly different aperture leverage, and thus the automatic diaphragm may not work correctly on post-1961 cameras, and later MC/MD tabs may hit the pentaprism housing on one earlier camera. Four design enhancements, all forwardly inclusive and backwardly compatible, are:
SR - The SR camera models from 1958 to 1967 features the initial design implementation of the SR bayonet, beginning with the Minolta SR-2
. These are mechanical cameras without TTL metering or automatic exposure. The 1962 Minolta SR-7 was the first 35mm SLR with a built-in CdS meter, providing the same metering capabilities as the external clip-on meter available for the 1960 Minolta SR-3 and later models of the Minolta SR-1.
MC - The SR-T 101
launched in 1966 has a lens coupling for full aperture through-the-lens (TTL
) metering. A coupling lug protruding from the aperture ring operates the follower needle in the viewfinder, allowing the lens aperture to be set according to the meter reading. The camera has two CdS cells attached to the top of the prism that reads in a center-weighted fashion the brightness off the focusing screen. The later X-1
and XE
models, also using the MC lenses, has an aperture-priority automatic exposure mode.
MD - In 1977, the XD series introduced an additional tab on the lens which reported the smallest available aperture (f/16, f/22, or f/32) to the camera to accomplish shutter priority automatic exposure in S mode on the Minolta XD-7 (XD-11 in the U.S.A.), and later in the P (programmed automatic exposure) mode on the X-700
. The proper use of this feature meant that the lenses had to be set to their smallest aperture. In 1981, MD lenses included a minimum aperture lock that prevented the aperture ring from accidentally being moved.
X-600 - On the 1983 Minolta X-600 camera, intended for the Japanese market, there is also a focus assist and confirmation feature. The Minolta X-600 sensors need the lens's maximum aperture so that the camera body can use its appropriate sensors for judging focus accuracy. There is a tab inside the lens that identifies either
The lens tab operates a switch inside the body of the X-600. There is no MD Auto Exposure feature on the X-600.
The SR bayonet mount was replaced by the Minolta AF
mount.
and Micro 4/3 digital cameras, albeit in manual mode.
SLR
The initialism SLR can refer to:* Satellite laser ranging* Scalable Linear Recording Tape Drive Backup* Self-Loading Rifle, see semi-automatic rifle.** The UK version of the Belgian FN FAL select fire battle rifle, the L1A1 SLR.* Semi-linear resolution...
cameras made by Minolta
Minolta
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese worldwide manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It is perhaps best known for making the first integrated autofocus 35mm SLR camera system...
with interchangeable manual focusing lenses. Several iterations of the mounting were produced, for different lenses branded as "SR", "MC", "MD" or "X-600", and the mount itself is sometimes called by one of these names.
All lenses for these mounts are interchangeable between older and newer Minolta manual focus 35mm film SLR bodies. There are exceptions, such as, the lenses before 1961 feature a slightly different aperture leverage, and thus the automatic diaphragm may not work correctly on post-1961 cameras, and later MC/MD tabs may hit the pentaprism housing on one earlier camera. Four design enhancements, all forwardly inclusive and backwardly compatible, are:
- SR - 1958-1966: Plain SR-bayonet featuring automatic diaphragm. Lenses are labelled Rokkor (pre-set) or Auto Rokkor (automatic diaphragm)
- MC - 1966-1977: Meter coupling added (often called MC mount) allowing full-aperture TTL measurement. Lenses are labelled MC Rokkor.
- MD - 1977-2001: MD lever added, which allows the reading of the smallest available aperture, often referred to as MD mount. Lenses are labelled MD or MD Rokkor (or MD Rokkor-X in North American markets.)
- X-600 - 1983-1998: X-600 mount reporting the maximum aperture of the lens to the camera body, which then engaged different auto focus confirmation sensors in the camera body.
SR - The SR camera models from 1958 to 1967 features the initial design implementation of the SR bayonet, beginning with the Minolta SR-2
Minolta SR-2
The name Minolta was first used in 1932 on the 4.5×6 format Semi-Minolta using 120 film. The manufacturer was established in November 1928 by Kazuo Tashima as the Nichidoku Shashinki Shōten together with two Germans living in Japan, but reorganised as a joint stock company named the Molta Goshi...
. These are mechanical cameras without TTL metering or automatic exposure. The 1962 Minolta SR-7 was the first 35mm SLR with a built-in CdS meter, providing the same metering capabilities as the external clip-on meter available for the 1960 Minolta SR-3 and later models of the Minolta SR-1.
MC - The SR-T 101
Minolta SR-T 101
The Minolta range of 35mm SLR cameras was introduced in 1958 by Chiyoda Kogaku launching the Minolta SR-2, the first Japanese manufacturer to get their 35mm SLR camera design right from the start...
launched in 1966 has a lens coupling for full aperture through-the-lens (TTL
TTL
TTL may refer to:* Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor, a state-owned manufacturer of cigarettes and alcohol in Taiwan* Through-the-lens metering, a feature of cameras capable of measuring light levels in a scene through their lens...
) metering. A coupling lug protruding from the aperture ring operates the follower needle in the viewfinder, allowing the lens aperture to be set according to the meter reading. The camera has two CdS cells attached to the top of the prism that reads in a center-weighted fashion the brightness off the focusing screen. The later X-1
Minolta X-1
The Minolta X-1 was the professional model in the Minolta line-up. It took about ten years to develop and started a new era in the Minolta SR system...
and XE
Minolta XE
The Minolta XE, known as the XE-1 in Europe and the XE-7 in North America, is a manual focus, 35 mm single-lens reflex camera produced by Minolta of Japan between 1974 and 1977...
models, also using the MC lenses, has an aperture-priority automatic exposure mode.
MD - In 1977, the XD series introduced an additional tab on the lens which reported the smallest available aperture (f/16, f/22, or f/32) to the camera to accomplish shutter priority automatic exposure in S mode on the Minolta XD-7 (XD-11 in the U.S.A.), and later in the P (programmed automatic exposure) mode on the X-700
Minolta X-700
The Minolta X-700 is a 35 mm single-lens reflex camera introduced by Minolta in 1981. It was the top model of their final manual-focus SLR series before the introduction of the auto-focus Minolta Maxxum 7000...
. The proper use of this feature meant that the lenses had to be set to their smallest aperture. In 1981, MD lenses included a minimum aperture lock that prevented the aperture ring from accidentally being moved.
X-600 - On the 1983 Minolta X-600 camera, intended for the Japanese market, there is also a focus assist and confirmation feature. The Minolta X-600 sensors need the lens's maximum aperture so that the camera body can use its appropriate sensors for judging focus accuracy. There is a tab inside the lens that identifies either
-
-
- f/2.8 or larger maximum lens aperture, or
- f/3.5 or smaller maximum aperture.
-
The lens tab operates a switch inside the body of the X-600. There is no MD Auto Exposure feature on the X-600.
The SR bayonet mount was replaced by the Minolta AF
Minolta AF
The Minolta Alpha camera system was a collection of photographic equipment from Minolta. The system used a lens mount called A-mount, with a flange focal distance 44.50 mm. The new mount was larger than the older SR-mount making old manual lenses incompatible with the new system...
mount.
Adapters
A variety of adapters allow SR mount lenses to be used on modern Sony E mountSony E mount
The E-mount is a lens mount with basic open specification designed by Sony for their New E-mount Experience series of camcorders and mirrorless cameras.Initially this mount is implemented in Sony Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5. E-mount integration into Sony camcorder products is provided with the Sony...
and Micro 4/3 digital cameras, albeit in manual mode.