Minolta Lenses from 1977 to 1981 -- the time period of the MD Rokkor-X and MD Celtic lenses

With the creation of the XD-11 camera, a new series of lenses was needed to support the new shutter-preferred, auto-exposure option of the XD-11.  In fact, the "D" in "MD Rokkor" comes from the new XD-series of cameras that the XD-11 initiated. (This feature was also used on the later XD-5 and X-700 cameras.)   The "MD" refers to meter-coupling (MC ) with an additional lug to engage the shutter-preferred, auto-exposure option built into the camera.  

The main difference in the lenses was an additional lug on the lens aperture ring that engaged a new pin on the camera body.  The new lug-and-pin setup simply told the camera what the smallest f-stop of the lens was -- from f16 to f32 -- when the camera was used in shutter-preferred, automatic-exposure mode. And since the lens was always physically set at the smallest aperture when this mode was used, the metering system could determine how much to open the aperture blades for correct exposure, and display that information in the viewfinder.  

There was another change made to the MD lenses as a result.  The color of the minimum aperture was changed from white to green (The S setting on the shutter speed dial was also in green, hopefully to remind the user that both dials had to be set to GREEN for proper use of the shutter-preferred mode.). Several of the lenses were redesigned to offer closer-focusing capability and some were made physically smaller than their MC Rokkor-X predecessors. Some of this size change was due to changes in the internal elements of the lens -- typically fewer elements -- but the really bad news was that Minolta opted to switch away from the standardized filter threads of 55 and 72mm, and moved to a three-tiered system of 49mm, 55mm and 72mm.  

This series also added more plastic parts to the lens barrels, making for lighter (and some would say, less rugged) lenses.  Minolta continued to make improvements in lens coating, and many report less flare in extreme situations when compared to earlier lenses.  Another minor change was to make the rear flange of the lens, black.  On all previous models, the part of the lens where the lens met the camera, was simple, bright, brushed aluminum.  This was fine when the f-stop ring was also aluminum, but when the ring was changed to black, with the MC Rokkor-X series, the bright aluminum flange sort of stuck out.  So Minolta decided to change this to black in the MD Rokkor-X series.  It's not a big deal, and there are proponents of each.  Having a bright flange does make it easier to spot an earlier lens, but it also appears odd on an all black camera -- at least to some people. Just remember that this is all lens cosmetics and has nothing to do with the quailty of the picture that the lens takes.

These lenses were labeled "MD Rokkor" outside of the US market.  You can identify these lenses by the front panel around the lens (see above pictures).  The abbreviation "MD" appears before the word "ROKKOR-X".  

There are actually two styles of lenses in this series.  These can be distinquished from each other by the "ROKKOR-X" marked in orange in the first style, at least in the US market.  In the second style, this is typcially, but not always, seen in white.  In addition, the filter thread diameter is marked on the front of the lens.  The second style often had changes in the filter thread size, the lens designs, and some new lenses were added.

These lenses were designed for cameras that have TTL meters.  To use, the aperture and shutter speed dials are adjusted until the needles in the viewfinder match, and the exposure is taken.  These lenses will work fine on earlier cameras.  But a few of the newest MD lenses will not fully function on the oldest cameras (without modification) since the new MD pin is a tiny bit too long.  Specifically, with earlier SR models with an MD lens, the minimum f-stop cannot be selected because the MD lug will bind on or strike the body's front cover or one of the screws securing it. All other f-stops can be selected.  This is true of the SR-1, SR-2, SR-3. SR-7, SR-1s, and SR-M used "as they are". However, all f-stops on MD lenses can be used on any SR-1s, SR-M, SR-1, or SR-7 bodies with serial numbers over 2500000 by having the screw changed.  While Minolta no longer offers factory replacement of the screw, any repair shop should have an assorment of fine-threaded screws and be able to match one with a more flush head (or you can file the original screw-head down yourself).

In sum, the major changes on these lenses were (not all lenses had these):


Not all lenses in the series were MD, not all lenses in the series were MC and some were not even automatic. 
1977-1981
THE TIME PERIOD OF THE MD ROKKOR-X AND MD CELTIC LENSES

7.5mm 4-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD FISHEYE ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=7.5mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD FISHEYE ROKKOR-X 7.5mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
180 12/8 built-in auto yes yes 1.5' 2.7"x2.5" 12.2 oz.
12.5mm 2-16 MINOLTA BELLOWS MICRO ROKKOR-X 12.5mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN -- 4/4 special manual no no -- 1.3"x0.9" 1.5oz.
16mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD FISHEYE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=16mm 180 11/8 built-in auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x2.9" 15.5oz.
16mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA MD FISHEYE ROKKOR-X 16mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 180 10/7 built-in auto yes yes 10" 2.8"x1.7" 9.3oz.
17mm 4-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=17mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 17mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø72mm
104 11/9 72 auto yes yes 10" 3.0"x2.1" 11.5oz.
20mm 2.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=20mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 20mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
94 10/9 55 auto yes yes 10" 2.5"x1.7" 8.3oz.
24mm 2.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=24mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 24mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
84 9/7 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.9" 7.5oz.
24mm 2.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=24mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 24mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
84 9/7 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.6"x2.0" 12oz.
24-50mm 4-22 MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 24-50mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 84-47 13/11 72 auto yes yes 2.3' 3.0"x2.8" 14oz.
25mm 2.5-16 MINOLTA BELLOWS MICRO ROKKOR-X 25mm 1:2.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN -- 6/4 special manual no no -- 1.3"x0.7" 1.5oz.
28mm 3.5-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:3.5 f=28mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 28mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
75 5/5 49 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.6" 6.7oz.
28mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=28mm 75 7/7 49 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.7" 6.4oz.
28mm 2.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=28mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 28mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
75 7/7 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.7" 6.4oz.
28mm 2.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=28mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 28mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
75 7/7 49 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.7" 6.4oz.
28mm 2-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=28mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 28mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
75 10/9 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.6"x2.4" 12.4oz.
35mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=35mm 63 5/5 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.5" 5.7oz.
35mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=35mm 63 7/6 55 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.8" 7.6oz.
35mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 35mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm 63 5/5 49 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.5" 5.7oz.
35mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA SHIFT CA ROKKOR-X 35mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm 63 9/7 55 auto no no 1' 3.3"x2.8" 1lbs. 3.8oz.
35mm 1.8-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD W. ROKKOR-X 1:1.8 f=35mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD W. ROKKOR-X 35mm 1:1.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
63 8/6 49 auto yes yes 1' 2.5"x1.9" 8.4oz.
35-70mm 3.5-22 MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 35-70mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 63-34 8/7 55 auto yes yes 3.3' 2.7"x2.6" 12.9oz.
40-80mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=40-80mm 59-31 12/12 55 auto yes yes 1.2' 3.8"x3.9" 1lbs. 4.5oz.
45mm 2-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=45mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 45mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
51 6/5 49 auto yes yes 2' 2.5"x1.2" 4.5"
50mm 3.5-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:3.5 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 6/4 55 auto no no -- 2.2"x1" 4.1oz.
50mm 3.5-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:3.5 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 6/4 55 auto yes yes 9" 2.5"x2.2" 7.3oz.
50mm 2-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
47 6/5 49 auto yes yes 1.75' 2.5"x1.6" 8.5oz.
50mm 2-16
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 6/5 55 auto yes yes 1.75' 2.5"x1.6" 8.5oz.
50mm 1.7-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:1.7 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
47 6/5 49 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.5"x1.4" 5.6oz.
50mm 1.7-16
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:1.7 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 6/5 55 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.5"x1.4" 5.6oz.
50mm 1.4-16
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:1.4 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:1.4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 7/6 55 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.5"x1.6" 7.8oz.
50mm 1.4-16
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:1.4 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:1.4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
47 7/6 49 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.5"x1.6" 7.8oz.
50mm 1.2-16
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:1.2 f=50mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 50mm 1:1.2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
47 7/6 55 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.6"x1.8" 11.1oz.
50-135mm 3.5-22 MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 50-135mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 47-18 12/10 55 auto yes yes 4.9' 2.7"x4.6" 1lbs. 1oz.
75-200mm 4.5-22 MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 75-200mm 1:4.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 32-12.5 15/11 55 auto yes yes 4.3' 2.7"x6.1" 1lbs. 8.2oz.
80-200mm 4.5-32 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 1:4.5 f=80-200mm 30-12.5 14/10 55 auto yes yes 6' 3"x6.3" 1lbs. 8.8oz.
85mm 2.8-16 MINOLTA VARISOFT ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 29 6/5 55 auto yes yes 2.6' 2.8"x3.1" 15.2oz.
85mm 2-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2 f=85mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:2 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
29 6/5 49 auto yes yes 2.8' 2.5"x2.1" 9.9oz.
85mm 1.7-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:1.7 f=85mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 85mm 1:1.7 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
29 6/5 55 auto yes yes 3.3' 2.8"x2.4" 1lbs.
100mm 4-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
24 5/4 55 auto yes yes 1.5' 2.6"x3.5" 13.4oz.
100mm 4-32 MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm 24 3/3 55 auto no no -- 2.5"x1.4" 5.4oz.
100mm 4-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
24 5/4 55 auto no no -- 2.2"x1.1" 5.3oz.
100mm 3.5-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ROKKOR-X 1:3.5 f=100mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
24 5/4 55 auto yes yes 1.5' 3"x3.5" 1lbs. 5.1oz.
100mm 2.5-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.5 f=100mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 100mm 1:2.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
24 5/5 55 auto yes yes 3.3' 2.5"x2.5" 12.9oz.
100-200mm 5.6-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 1:5.6 f=100-200mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 100-200mm 1:5.6 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
24-12.5 8/5 55 auto yes yes 8.2' 2.5"x6.8" 1lbs. 4.1oz.
100-500mm 8-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=100-500mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD ZOOM ROKKOR-X 100-500mm 1:8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø72mm
24-5 16/10 72 auto yes yes 8.2' 3.6"x13" 4lbs. 7.6oz.
135mm 3.5-22
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:3.5 f=135mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 135mm 1:3.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø49mm
18 5/5 49 auto yes yes 4.9' 2.5"x2.9" 9.3oz.
135mm 3.5-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:3.5 f=135mm 18 5/5 55 auto yes yes 4.9' 2.5"x2.9" 9.3oz.
135mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:2.8 f=135mm 18 5/5 55 auto yes yes 5' 2.5"x3.2" 12.9oz.
135mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=135mm 18 4/4 55 auto yes no 4.9' 2.5"x3.2" 12.9oz.
135mm 2.8-22 MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 135mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm 18 5/5 55 auto yes yes 4.9' 2.5"x3.2" 12.9oz.
200mm 4-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=200mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 200mm 1:4 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
12.5 5/5 55 auto yes yes 8.2' 2.5"x4.6" 14.1oz.
200mm 4-22 MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD MINOLTA CELTIC 1:4 f=200mm 12.5 5/5 55 auto yes yes 8' 2.5"x5.1" 1lbs. 2oz.
200mm 2.8-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:2.8 f=200mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 200mm 1:2.8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø72mm
12.5 5/5 72 auto yes yes 6' 5.3"x3.1" 1lb.9oz.
250mm 5.6 MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 250mm 1:5.6 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 10 6/5 39/62 fixed no no 8.2' 2.6"x2.3" 8.7oz.
300mm 5.6-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:5.6 f=300mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 300mm 1:5.6 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø55mm
8 5/5 55 auto yes yes 14.8' 2.5"x7.3" 1lbs. 8.5oz.
300mm 4.5-32
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD TELE ROKKOR-X 1:4.5 f=300mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD TELE ROKKOR-X 300mm 1:4.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø72mm
8 7/6 72 auto yes yes 9.8' 3.1"x7" 1lbs. 9oz.
400mm 5.6-32
EARLY STYLE:
MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN MD APO TELE ROKKOR-X 1:5.6 f=400mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA MD APO TELE ROKKOR-X 400mm 1:5.6 LENS MADE IN JAPAN ø72mm
6 7/6 72 auto yes yes 16.4' 3.3"x10" 3lbs. 2.8oz.
500mm 8 MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 500mm 1:8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 5 6/5 39/77 fixed no no 13.1' 3.9" x 3.3" 1lb. 5oz.
600mm 6.3-32 MINOLTA MD APO TELE ROKKOR-X 600mm 1:6.3 LENS MADE IN JAPAN 4 9/8 special auto yes yes 16.4' 4.3"x14.7" 5lbs. 4.6oz.
800mm 8
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:8 f=800mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 800mm 1:8 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
3 8/7 special fixed no no 26' 4.9"x5.8" 4lb. 5oz.
1600mm 11
EARLY STYLE: MINOLTA LENS MADE IN JAPAN RF ROKKOR-X 1:11 f=1600mm
LATE STYLE: MINOLTA RF ROKKOR-X 1600mm 1:11 LENS MADE IN JAPAN
1.5 6/5 special fixed no no 70' 7"x12.7" 15lbs. 1.6oz.

RETURN TO THE MANUAL MINOLTA HOME PAGE

We didin't want to do this, but since other websites have been stealing our stuff, we have no alternative but to state:
COPYRIGHT@1995,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2004 by Joe McGloin.

All Rights Reserved. The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.

The material on this website is protected by US Federal copyright laws. It cannot be copied or used in any manner without specific approval from the owner.