MINOLTA Camera and Lens Terminology and Notation Meanings

SR

Minolta's proprietary SLR mount.

ROKKOR

Minolta's lens brand name, named after Mount Rokko in Kobe City, which is close to Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, where the company was founded.

SR Lens

Although the name "SR" is not included in the lens name, it refers to lenses compatible with the SR mount that predate MC lenses.

MC Lens

Supports aperture-priority AE and TTL open-aperture metering. MC stands for "meter coupler," not "multi-coat."

MD Lens

Successor to MC lenses. "D" stands for "dual." An MD tab that communicates the minimum aperture value to the camera has been added to the aperture ring.

New MD Lens

Features an open aperture value communication pin to enable focus aid. The name does not include "New MD." Since the ROKKOR brand is no longer used, it is distinguished from old MD lenses by the absence or presence of ROKKOR.

α Mount

The world's first autofocus system SLR camera, developed and launched by Minolta in 1985. After merging with Konica to become Konica Minolta, they continued to develop the α series as digital cameras. Sony took over the camera business, and the α series continues. The α mount for digital cameras has transitioned to the E-mount, but the brand name remains.

Dynax

The brand name for α mount cameras in Europe.

Maxxum

The brand name for α mount cameras in North America.

Intelligent Card System

Minolta's proprietary system that adds features, primarily related to exposure control, via cards.

Anti-Shake

Image stabilization function built into digital SLRs.

Eye Start AF System

A system that detects when the photographer looks through the viewfinder via an eye sensor mounted near the viewfinder eyepiece and activates AF.

DT

Abbreviation for "Digital Type." Lenses exclusively for digital SLRs with APS-C sensors.

G Series

Lenses with "G" after the f-number. Given to high-end A-mount lenses.

SSM

Lenses equipped with a Super Sonic Motor.

STF

Abbreviation for "Smooth Transfer Focus." A type of photographic lens system that creates smooth bokeh by using a special optical system and apodization filter that smoothly changes the amount of transmitted light from the center to the periphery.

APO

Lenses that use special low-dispersion glass, allowing for extreme correction of chromatic aberration.

Xi

Lenses with a power zoom function.

(D)

Lenses with a built-in distance encoder. Supports ADI flash metering.