MD ROKKOR-X 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. Many of these MD
lenses have plastic aperture rings which some find less convenient. The
plastic is more slippery than metal and the grooves are less sharp. This
makes for a ring that is a little harder to grip, especially with gloves.
In addition, the f-stops on the plastic rings are thinner than those
on the metal rings, so they appear a little less bright in the viewfinder
-- if the camera displays it. At least Minolta continued to make
improvements in lens coating, and many report less flare with MD lenses --
in extreme situations -- when compared to earlier lenses.
Not all lenses in the series were MD, not all lenses in the series were MC
and some were not even automatic.
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).
The abbreviation "MD" appears before the word "ROKKOR-X". There
are 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 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).
| FOCAL LENGTH | f-STOP RANGE | LENS INSCRIPTION | VIEW | DESIGN | FILTER THREAD | DIAPHRAGM | MC | MD | CLOSE FOCUS | SIZE | WEIGHT |
| 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 | -- | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 25mm | 2.5-16 | MINOLTA BELLOWS MICRO ROKKOR-X 25mm 1:2.5 LENS MADE IN JAPAN | -- | 6/4 | special | manual | no | no | -- | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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 | -- | ? | ? |
| 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" | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 100mm | 4-32 | MINOLTA AUTO BELLOWS ROKKOR-X 1:4 f=100mm | 24 | 3/3 | 55 | auto | no | no | -- | ? | ? |
| 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 | -- | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | ? | ? |
| 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' | 5.8"x4.9" | 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' | ? | ? |
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