Lens mount
Minolta SR mount
Minolta SR is the bayonet Minolta used from 1958 to 1985 with a 43.5mm register; MC (1966) and MD (1977) are meter-coupling generations of the same mount.
- Type
- bayonet
- Flange distance
- 43.5 mm
- Introduced
- 1958, Minolta SR-2
- Status
- Replaced by the autofocus Minolta A mount in 1985. The last SR body, the X-370, was made into the 1990s.
About the Minolta SR mount
Minolta SR is the manual-focus bayonet Minolta introduced with the SR-2 in 1958 and used until the autofocus A mount arrived with the Maxxum 7000 in 1985. It has a 43.5mm flange distance. The lens names track meter coupling rather than mount changes: plain SR and Auto Rokkor lenses have no coupling, MC (Meter Coupled, 1966) lenses add a lug that tells the body the set aperture for open-aperture metering, and MD (1977) lenses add a second tab that lets the XD and X-700 bodies run shutter-priority and program modes. All three generations mount on every SR body.
Rokkor was Minolta's lens brand name until the early 1980s, when it was dropped in favour of plain Minolta MD. The two-letter suffix on MC Rokkor lenses (PG, PF, and so on) encodes the optical construction: the first letter is the number of groups counted from T for three, and the second letter is the number of elements counted from C for three, so a PG is a five-group, seven-element lens and a PF a five-group, six-element lens. The 43.5mm register sits between Canon FD and M42, deep enough to adapt to mirrorless with a simple ring and too shallow to reach infinity on most DSLRs.
Aperture control
Automatic diaphragm. SR lenses default to the set aperture when off the body, so the aperture ring works directly on an adapter.
Adapting it
Plain adapter ring, no mechanism needed. MC and MD lenses share the same bayonet and mount identically.
Catalog variants of this mount: Minolta SR (MC), Minolta SR (MD).
Minolta SR lenses in the catalog
| Lens | Focal length | Aperture | Years | Used value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7 | 55mm | f/1.7 | 1968-1973 | $30 to $120 |
| Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4 | 58mm | f/1.4 | 1958-1970s | $70 to $260 |
| Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2 | 58mm | f/1.2 | 1966-1973 | $300 to $850 |
| Minolta MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 | 50mm | f/1.4 | 1977-1984 | $45 to $170 |
Adapting Minolta SR to a modern body
Frequently asked
Can Minolta SR lenses be adapted to mirrorless cameras?
Yes. Minolta SR has a 43.5mm register, longer than any mirrorless mount, so a plain mechanical adapter reaches infinity on Sony E, Fuji X, MFT, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and L-mount. Plain adapter ring, no mechanism needed. MC and MD lenses share the same bayonet and mount identically.
What is the flange distance of the Minolta SR mount?
The Minolta SR flange distance is 43.5mm. It is a bayonet introduced in 1958 on the Minolta SR-2. Replaced by the autofocus Minolta A mount in 1985. The last SR body, the X-370, was made into the 1990s.
How much do Minolta SR lenses cost used?
The 4 Minolta SR lenses in the LensVault catalog range from $30 to $850 used. The least expensive is the Minolta MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7 at a typical $60. Values are estimates from recent sold listings and dealer pricing, not appraisals.
What is the difference between Minolta SR (MC) and Minolta SR (MD)?
Minolta SR (MC) and Minolta SR (MD) are generations of the same Minolta SR bayonet and mount identically on adapters. Automatic diaphragm. SR lenses default to the set aperture when off the body, so the aperture ring works directly on an adapter.