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The Minolta SR-Mount: An Overview of Cameras and Lenses

     1542 words  8 minutes 
The Minolta SR-mount is a bayonet mounting system used in Minolta's 35mm SLR cameras, accommodating a range of interchangeable manual focusing lenses designed specifically for this mount.

The Minolta SR-mount, a bayonet mounting system, was used in 35mm SLR cameras produced by Minolta from 1958 to 1998. Over the years, several iterations of this mount were introduced, leading to occasional references to the mount by the names of the corresponding lens generations, such as “MC”, “MD”, and “X-600”.

It is also common to see the camera mount referred to as the Minolta MD-mount. This is because the MD series of lenses were the last widely available lenses before the mount was discontinued.

The SR-mount was replaced by the Minolta A-mount, which was created to support auto focus.

  1. SR (1958-1966): The initial design of the SR-bayonet came with an automatic diaphragm. Lenses from this era were either labeled Rokkor (pre-set) or Auto Rokkor (automatic diaphragm). All of these were mechanical cameras.

  2. MC (1966-1977): This period saw the introduction of meter coupling, often termed the MC mount. This allowed for full-aperture TTL (through-the-lens) measurement. Lenses from this generation were labeled MC Rokkor.

  3. MD (1977-2001): The MD lever was added during this phase, enabling the reading of the smallest available aperture. Lenses were typically labeled MD Rokkor or simply MD. The “new MD” lenses incorporate an aperture lock on the aperture ring.

  4. MD X-600 (1983-1998): This extension of the mount reported the maximum aperture of the lens to the camera body. This information was then used to engage different auto focus confirmation sensors within the camera body.

While all lenses for the SR lens mount is generally interchangeable between older and newer Minolta manual focus 35mm film SLR bodies, there were a few exceptions. For instance, lenses produced before 1961 had a slightly different aperture leverage, which could lead to issues with the automatic diaphragm on post-1961 cameras.

Furthermore, four significant design enhancements were introduced over the years. Each of these was forwardly inclusive and backwardly compatible, ensuring a seamless experience for users.

The SR-bayonet mount was eventually replaced by the Minolta A-mount in 1985. The new lens mount was developed to allow for lens designs that incorporated autofocus.

For enthusiasts and professionals who still have SR mount lenses, lens mount adapters are available. These adapters allow SR mount lenses to be used on the lens mounts used on modern digital cameras from various brands.

In order for a lens adapter to work the flange distance on the camera the lens will be adapted to needs to be shorter than the 43.50mm flange distance of the Minolta SR mount. The size of the SR mount flange focal distance means DSLRs will not work, but mirrorless cameras will.

However, it’s worth noting that these adapters often don’t provide aperture control from the camera body. Instead, the lens is stopped down manually using the aperture ring.

The Nikon F-mount and Pentax K-mount are two other bayonet lens mounts that were competitors to the SR mount.

The M42 screw mount was around before the SR-mount. It is a screw mount, as opposed to the more prevalent bayonet style.

Minolta XG-1 SLR camera that uses the SR-mount
Minolta XG-1 Camera

Below is a list of camera models that use the Minolta SR lens mount. More details and specifications are available for some of the models.

  • Minolta SR-2 (1958-1960)
  • Minolta SR-1 (variants 1959 1961 1962 1963 1965) (1959-1971)
  • Minolta SR-3 (variants 1960)
  • Minolta SR-7 (variants 1962 1965) (1962-1966) / Minolta SR 777 (prototype 1965)
  • Minolta SR-1s (1967-?)
  • Minolta SRM (1970-1975) (Integral motor 3.5 fps with battery handle)
  • Minolta SR-T 101 (variants 1966 1971) (1966-1975)
  • Minolta SR-T 100 (variants 1970)
  • Minolta SR-T 102 / SR-T 303 / SR-T Super (1973-1975)
  • Minolta SR-T SC (1973-1975) (exclusively sold by Sears)
  • Minolta SR-T MC (1973-1975) (exclusively sold by J.C. Penney)
  • Minolta SR-T 201 / SR-T 101b / SR 101 / SR 101s (1975-1977)
  • Minolta SR-T 202 / SR-T 303b / SR 505 (1975-1977)
  • Minolta SR-T 200 (variants 1975 1978 1979) (1975-1981) / SR-T 100b (1975-1977) SR-T 100x (1977–81)
  • Minolta SR-T 202 / SR-T 303b / SR 505s (1977)
  • Minolta SR-T 101b / SR-T 201 / SR 101s (1977 1979)
  • Minolta SR-T SC-II (1977-1980) (sold by Sears)
  • Minolta SR-T MC-II (1977-1980) (sold by JCPenney and K-Mart in the U.S.)
  • Minolta Ritz SR-T 201 (1978)
  • Minolta XK / XM / X-1 (variants 1972 Minolta Ritz XK (1978)
  • Minolta XE / XE-1 / XE-7 (1974)
  • Minolta XE-5 / XEb (1975)
  • Minolta XK Motor / XM Motor / X-1 Motor (1976)
  • Minolta XG 7 / XG 2 / XG-E (variants 1977
  • Minolta XD 5 (variants 1977)
  • Minolta XD 7 / XD 11 / XD (variants 1977 1979 1980 1981) (1977-1984) XD 11 Medical (variants 1980 1981)
  • Minolta XG-SE (1978)
  • Minolta XG 1 (1978-1981)
  • Minolta XG 9 / XG-S (1979)
  • Minolta XD-s (variants 1980 XD-s Medical (variants 1980 1981)
  • Minolta X-7 (1980 - 1982)
  • Minolta XG-A (1981)
  • Minolta XG-M / X-70 (1981)
  • Minolta X-700 (1981)
  • Minolta XG-1(n) (variants 1981)
  • Minolta X-570 / X-500 (1983)
  • Minolta X-600 (1983)
  • Minolta X-300 / X-370 (1984) Minolta X-370s (1995) Minolta X-300x
  • Minolta X-300s (1990) X-9 (1990)

Here is a list of all of the SR mount lenses that were made by Minolta. They have been separated by focal lengths to make finding types of lenses easier.

  • 7.5mm 1:4 - 1975, MC and MD.
  • 16mm 1:2.8 - 1969, MC and MD.
  • 18mm 1:9.5 - 1966, does not have MC coupling.
Minolta MD W.Rokkor 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens
Minolta MD W.Rokkor 24mm f/2.8 Wide Angle Lens
  • 17mm 1:4 - 1975, MC and MD.
  • 20mm 1:2.8 - 1977, MD.
  • 21mm 1:2.8 - 1971, MC. Retrofocus design that works with regular reflex operation.
  • 21mm 1:4 - 1963, Not a retrofocus design. Requires mirror lock-up and an external viewfinder.
  • 21mm 1:4.5 - 1962. Not a retrofocus design. Requires mirror lock-up and an external viewfinder.
  • 24mm 1:2.8 - 1973, MC and MD.
  • 24mm 1:2.8 VFC - 1975, MC and MD. Variable Field Curvature.
  • 28mm 1:2.0 - 1975, MC and MD.
  • 28mm 1:2.5 - 1969, MC.
  • 28mm 1:2.8 - 1975, MC and MD.
  • 28mm 1:3.5 - 1963, SR, MC and MD.
  • 35mm 1:1.8 - 1963, MC and MD.
  • 35mm 1:2.8 - 1960, SR, MC and MD.
  • 35mm 1:2.8 Shift-CA - 1976, MC and MD. Specialty lens with a shift mechanism and Variable Field Curvature mechanism.
  • 35mm 1:4 - 1960, SR.
Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2 Pancake Lens
Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2 Pancake Lens
  • 45mm 1:2 - 1978, MD. “pankcake” lens.
  • 45mm 1:2.8 - 1964, SR. “pancake” lens.
  • 50mm 1:1.2 - 1978, MD.
  • 50mm 1:1.4 - 1973, MC and MD.
  • 50mm 1:1.7 - 1973, MC and MD.
  • 50mm 1:2 - 1973, MC and MD.
  • 53mm 1:2 - 1962, SR.
  • 55mm 1:1.7 - 1966, MC.
  • 55mm 1:1.8 - 1958, SR.
  • 55mm 1:1.9 - 1971, MC.
  • 55mm 1:2 - 1959, SR.
  • 58mm 1:1.2 - 1968, MC.
  • 58mm 1:1.4 - 1961, SR and MC.
  • 35mm 1:2.8 Shift-CA - 1976, MC and MD. Specialty lens with a shift mechanism and Variable Field Curvature mechanism.
  • 35mm 1:4 - 1960, SR.
Minolta MC Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 Telephoto Lens
Minolta MC Rokkor 85mm f/1.7 Telephoto Lens
  • 85mm 1:1.7 - 1970, MC and MD.
  • 85mm 1:2 - 1979, MD.
  • 85mm 1:2.8 Varisoft - 1978, MD. Soft-focus lens.
  • 100mm 1:2 - 1961, SR and MC.
  • 100mm 1:2.5 - 1968, MC and MD.
  • 100mm 1:3.5 - 1959, SR and MC.
  • 100mm 1:4 - 1962, MC.
  • 135mm 1:2 - 1981, MD.
  • 135mm 1:2.8 - 1958, SR, MC and MD.
  • 135mm 1:3.5 - 1966, MC and MD.
  • 135mm 1:4 - 1960, SR.
  • 200mm 1:2.8 - 1978, MD.
  • 200mm 1:3.5 - 1959, SR and MC.
  • 200mm 1:4 - 1975, MC and MD.
  • 200mm 1:4.5 - 1965, MC.
  • 200mm 1:5 - 1964, SR.
  • 25cm 1:4 - 1959, SR.
  • 300mm 1:4.5 - 1960, SR, MC and MD.
  • 300mm 1:5.6 - 1960, SR, MC and MD.
  • 400mm 1:5.6 - 1976, MC and MD. First lens to use apochromatic elements.
  • 600mm 1:5,6 - 1959, SR.
  • 600mm 1:6.3 - 1978, MD.
  • 250mm 1:5.6 - 1979, fixed aperture.
  • 500mm 1:8 - 1977, fixed aperture.
  • 800mm 1:8 - 1972, fixed aperture.
  • 1000mm 1:6.3 - 1965, fixed aperture.
  • 1600mm 1:11 - 1974, fixed aperture.
  • 24-35mm 1:3.5 MD.
  • 24-50mm 1:4 MD.
  • 28-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 MD.
  • 35-70mm 1:3.5 MD.
  • 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.8 MD.
  • 35-105mm 1:3.5-4.5 MD.
  • 40-80mm 1:2.8 MC and MD.
  • 50-100mm 1:3.5 SR.
  • 50-135mm 1:3.5 MD.
  • 70-210mm 1:4 MD.
  • 70-210mm 1:4.5-5.6 MD.
  • 75-200mm 1:4.5 MD.
  • 80-160mm 1:3.5 SR.
  • 80-200mm 1:4.5 MC and MD.
  • 100-200mm 1:5.6 SR, MC, MD.
  • 100-300mm 1:5.6 MD.
  • 100-300mm 1:5.6-6.7 MD.
  • 100-500mm 1:8 MC, MD.
  • 160-500mm 1:8 SR.
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor-X 100mm f/4 Bellows Lens
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor-X 100mm f/4 Bellows Lens
  • 50mm 1:3.5 - 1979. Requires a bellows to focus.
  • 100mm 1:4 - 1969. Requires a bellows to focus.
  • 50mm 1:3.5 - 1969, MC and MD.
  • 100mm 1:3.5 - 1971, MC and MD.
  • 100mm 1:4 - 1979, MD.
  • 12.5mm 1:2 - 1980. Requires a microscope adapter.
  • 25mm 1:2.5: 1980. Requires a microscope adapter.

The Minolta SR-mount stands as a testament to Minolta’s commitment to innovation and quality in the world of photography. Its various iterations and enhancements over the years ensured that photographers could always rely on their equipment to produce the best possible images.

Today, with the availability of adapters, the legacy of the SR-mount continues to live on, bridging the gap between vintage and modern photography.

Updated on 2023-09-04
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