Adapters, Minolta SR mount

The Guide to Adapters for Minolta MC and MD lenses

66 Comments

Many of Minolta’s MC and MD lenses can be used with great results on digital cameras. All you need is the right adapter for your camera and this article will help you to find it.

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The Minolta SR-mount

Minolta introduced the SR-mount in 1958 and in 1985 it was succeeded by the incompatible A-mount. For our purposes I would discern three different generations of SR-mount lenses.

  1. SR-lenses. These are the oldest lenses released before 1966. They are labeled Rokkor or Auto-Rokkor but not MC or MD.
  2. MC-lenses. Released between 1966 and 1977 these are labeled MC Rokkor.
  3. MD-lenses. Released from 1977 the older MD lenses are labeled MD Rokkor but the younger ones from 1981 and younger dropped the Rokkor and are just labeled MD.

Because MC and MD lenses are a lot more common this articles is titled The Guide to Adapters for Minolta MC and MD lenses but the same adapter will work for all these lenses. When these lenses are used on a Minolta film SLR it matters from which generation they are since the older ones don’t work in all camera modes.  On a adapter the aperture is controlled only by the user so there is no difference between these lenses work.

There are quite a few lenses from Minolta with a different mount which need different adapters.

  • Minolta A-mount lenses are easily identified by the AF-engraving.
  • Minolta also released three M-mount lenses in cooperation with Leica, the M-Rokkor 28mm 1:2.8, 40mm 1:2 and 90mm 1:4.
  • Then there are a few M39 mount enlarging lenses labeled E.Rokkor, C.E. Rokkor or just C.E. 

A quick introduction to Adapters

You can only create an adapter for lenses with a longer flange focal distance than the camera you want to use it on. Since Minolta used a relatively short flange focal distance of 43.5 mm you can’t adapt Minolta SR-mount lenses to DSLRs. That’s because DSLRs from Canon (44 mm), Nikon (46.5 mm), Pentax (45.46 mm) and Sony (44.5 mm) all have a longer flange focal distance. Mirrorless cameras in contrast have a much shorter flange focal distance so you can easily make adapters for Minolta SR lenses and they are the cameras of choice for using Minolta SR lenses.

Adapters range in price from about $10 to more than $100. My advice based on costly experimentation is to:

  • Stay away from no-name $10 adapters. You can get lucky but it is more likely that your adapter will fit with quite a bit of play and break after a year.
  • Adapters from some affordable brands like K&F cost about $20 and in my experience they are good enough for many applications. They aren’t perfect and there can be issues which I discuss in-depth in this article but most users will have a good experience with them.
  • If you own a nice collection of Minolta MC or MD lenses and plan to use them more often I would recommend you to invest a little more in a Novoflex or Rayqual adapter and get an adapter without any headaches in return but you pay more than $100 for it.

I recommend K&F because I have had a pretty good experience with them so far. So when I need another budget adapter I buy one from them. Reading the reviews on Amazon it seems that other companies like Neewer or Fotodiox make adapters of similar quality but I have no personal experience with them so K&F is what I recommend.

The right adapter for your camera

Nearly every manufacturer has a different mount so you need to make sure that your adapter fits both the camera and the lens.

Sony E-Mount

  • Typical Models: Sony a6500, a6000, a7, a7rIII or a9
  • Budget adapter: Amazon.com* | Amazon.de*
    (It says in the product description that it will only work with APS-C camera. That’s wrong. I and many others have used these adapters without issues on the a7-series)
  • Premium adapter: Amazon.com* | Amazon.de*

Fuji X-Mount

Canon EF-M

Micro-Fourthirds

FAQ

Which camera system do you recommend to use Minolta MC or MD lenses?

Since these lenses were designed for a fullframe camera they work best on a fullframe camera and I would recommend the Sony a7 series. Man lenses work well on a APS-C camera as well but I don’t think the performance on MFT is convincing.

Can my camera record any exif information on the lens?
No, it can’t. If you want exif information you have to add that manually with a tool like lenstagger.

Does my lens perform well on a digital camera?

That depends on your lens and what you want to use it for. In general I have often been surprised how well my Minoltas work on digital. For more information on many lenses check out this article.

Do I have to expose manually?
No, you don’t. On most cameras the A-Mode will work the same way it works with native lenses, you just have to change the aperture by hand which quickly becomes very intuitive. In M-mode you can use auto-ISO to get a correct exposure.

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66 thoughts on “The Guide to Adapters for Minolta MC and MD lenses”

  2. For me, I vastly prefer the workflow of having one adapter per lens, so buying a $100 adapter for a $50 lens is a non-starter.

    I’ve had good luck, so far, with the $10 eBay specials.

    Reply

  3. Thanks for this.
    Having purchased a deficient Canon nFD 24mm f 2.8 (mechanical plastic focusing pb) and having been impressed by the mechanical/solidity quality of Minolta lenses, I have decided to only purchase Minolta lenses with the additional benefit that these are very consistent in (nice) color rendering (I am less of a pixel sucker).
    I purchased a few K&F adapters but try to always use the same good one or a Zonghi II focal reducer. I was very tempted by a Techart AF as I am getting older but have delayed because of A6000 incompatibility and quality problems mentioned by Miranda and this site. By the way, I think the potential market for a Sony Techart type of thing is rather large as it would be attractive to old people with old lenses and to students who can’t afford recent quality lenses and/or tend to damage them by being careless. Not sure there would be cannibalisation with Sony own lenses as these are very high prices

    Reply

    1. Eazypix says that the bellows 3.5/50 MD III was released in ’79 but all the others were released from ’81 as you point out and there were MD II lenses in 1980. So thanks for the correction.

      Reply

      1. Small mistake in the chart i guess. The separate database says it was actually 1983 for the MD III Auto Bellows Macro 50mm F 3.5

        Reply

  6. The Sony Playmemories app “Lens Compensation” sets a given name in the EXIF to a lens from a database you can build in the app. It also sets the IBIS to the correct value. It is not perfect but at least a way to get EXIF info in camera for manual lenses.

    Reply

  7. I have bought the K&F adapter for my rokkor 55mm f/2 a few months ago after your recommendation, and it works fine! It indeed is a little bit too short but tolerances are very low.

    Reply

    1. Nothing to do with Minolta MD directly. also C/Y-EOS by K+F concept has a shorter(past infinity) lenght to avoid problems when lenses are deadjusted. opne can always adjust that with tape. biggest problem is the lens-locker blade (of K+F and others which tends to weaken and lens could get off when ofter adapter is removed. better leaving it there. and: Thickness of that blade most important. K+F concept: most ideal 0.7, wheras other crappy ones had down to 0.22mm blades. Novoflex, maybe also Raycal have a knob to move and release lens. have seen crappy macro-adapters from china with very weak spring(what the hell were they thinking when designing?)they also have that knob and spring but not the blade which must be moved with screwdriver.
      Best think of K+F concept adapter are the three lens-fitting blades. one can bend them so lens will not wobble. there is a special adapter-sit( ….beeble?) which is describing that in details.

      Reply

  8. I am using an Olympus OM 50mm f3.5 macro lens on a Leica M240 with a cheap adapter and was surprised how sharp the results were. Later I bought a Tamron OM mount X2 adapter which converts the 50mm to a 100mm f7 macro lens; easily focused wide open and very sharp stopped down to the minimum (f22 or f44). Total costs £75

    Reply

      1. Hi there!

        I have my late father’s old Minolta camera that captured my entire childhood with a fantastic lens.

        I’d love nothing more than to use this lens on my personal camera but I don’t know if it’s possible.
        I’m looking for an adapter for my Nikon.

        I’m just going to type all the numbers and hope someone can decipher an answer from them.

        Minolta:
        7000
        AF Lens
        50 mm
        1:1.7(22)
        °49mm

        Nikon:
        D3100

        Any information is appreciated!

        Reply

          1. Ok! Thanks so much! That saves me time and money trying to buy random adapters in hopes that they fit.
            Can the Minolta lens be used with adapters for other cameras or is it just too out of date?

          2. It can be easily used on mirrorless cameras like:
            Sony A7 series and A6x00 series, Nikon Z50/Z6/Z7, Canon RF and M series, Fuji X series.

  11. Thanks for the really informative article.
    I have acquired a Konica/Minolta to LeicaM adapter as part of another (unrelated) purchase. Apparently, the flange distance of Leica is much less than Minolta’s. The adapter looks rather simple with no frills. I have a Leica M6 (with no 50mm lens) and I can get a proper Minolta 50mm for it. Do you think it is worth the risk of doing harm to the camera body, if not the lens?

    Reply

    1. There is no rangefinder coupling so you cannot properly focus the lens on your M6.
      It will be a waste of money for the adapter and the lens.

      Reply

  12. Gobe makes awesome adapters. I have a Fuji X-T20 with Gobe adapters for Olympus, Minolta, Nikon, and Konica lens. What a blast using the old manual focus glass. So easy on the Fuji.

    Reply

  14. Thanks for the article. I have one question though. I have MC mount lenses but the adapter I have only works on my MD lenses. When I purchased the adapter it said MC/MD lens mount. Can you help?

    Reply

    1. I uave frequently used MC and MD lenses on a bunch of different adapters and they all worked fine. What exactly do you mena when you say that it doesn’t work?

      Reply

      1. Actually I figured it out. It’s a Pentax mount lens. It had MC on the front of the lens. I’m figuring it means multi coat. Correct?
        I’m new at using vintage lenses on my Fuji so I’m still trying to learn.

        Reply

        1. This might be the answer I’ve been searching for!
          I have a “MC Sakar Auto 28mm 1:2.8 ø52 No.K8670168” lens.
          I assumed it would work with my MD-Nex adapter;
          just like all my other MC & MD old lenses,
          but it clearly does not fit.
          The mounting diameter is a hair too big for the adapter.
          Guess I’ll keep an eye out for a Pentax-Nex adapter.

          On a side note:
          I LOVE using old Minolta lenses on my Sony a5100!
          My favorite lens is a MC Rokkor-PF 1:1.4 58mm.
          I have a couple Fotga MD-Nex adapters that work very well; no complaints.

          Reply

  15. Hi guys! I looking for help. I bought recently a 28mm vivitar lens and I have a GH3 lumix (Micro four thirds). I can not find a MC to micro four thirds lens adapter. Dos the MC adapter come with other especifications? I mean MC can goes by other name?

    Thank you for your help!

    Reply

  16. can i get an adapterfor my MINOLTA LENS it is a 28mm m c w rokker lens can you recommend an adapter as i have just bought a nikon 3300 and it is a D X FITTING THANK YOU

    Reply

  17. Phillip – thanks for these articles they’re so helpful ! I have just one question… if I convert my Minolta lenses to digital will I be able to reverse this process, as in can I simply remove the adapter and use them on my Minolta SRT 101 after using them on my Sony A7 and continue to switch between them ? thanks so much 🙂

    Reply

  18. Hey, there are two adapters from K&F Concept for Minolta MD

    Copper:
    https://www.kentfaith.de/adapter-konverter/minolta-adapter/KF06.440_neues-produkt-kf-m15105-md-nex-pro-%EF%BC%8C-neu-im-jahr-2020-hochpr%C3%A4ziser-objektivadapter-orange

    Aluminium
    https://www.kentfaith.de/adapter-konverter/minolta-adapter/DEKF06.308_minolta-md-objektive-an-sony-e-mount-adapter-md-nex-objektivadapter

    Do you know the differences or benefits ? I really don’t know which one to get.

    Reply

  20. Can the minolta celtic lenses be adapted to fuji x, or will they not work because the lens does not have physical aperture ring?

    Reply

  21. Thanks for the informative article. I’ve had excellent luck adapting Minolta MC lenses (28mm Rokkor, 50mm f1.4 Rokkor-X, 135mm f2.8 Celtic, 200mm f3.5 ‘hills and valleys version’) to use on a Canon M6 Mark II mirrorless camera — the lenses are all able to resolve fully across the frame at pixel resolution on an APS-C Canon 32 MP sensor, which is quite impressive. The 28 and 50 lenses need to be stopped to about f5.6 for maximum sharpness. I use a $10 Fotasy adapter I got on eBay. I’ve even been able to adapt a Viltrox Canon EF to EOS M 0.71x speed booster to work with all the Minolta lenses, by screwing an old Promaster teleconverter’s front bayonet ring directly onto the Viltrox’s front bayonet ring (it only adds an extra millimeter or so, and I was able to reset infinity focus correctly by rotating the Viltrox adapter’s lens from the rear). The Minolta bayonet ring fit into the Canon ring almost as if it were made to do so, with a tiny amount of filing and notching needed, and does not interfere with the Canon bayonet system or the electronic contacts, and luckily the stop-down levers that protrude from the rear of the lenses fit into a slot on the Viltrox adapter without hitting the glass or the barrel! The speed booster works well (sharp with little to no aberrations across the frame) with the 28mm lens stopped to f8, the 50mm lens stopped to f5.6, the 135mm stopped to f4, and with the 200mmm wide open at f3.5. There is no noticeable vignetting, as the Minolta lenses were designed to cover full frame. The Minolta lenses on the M6 Mark II are all at least as sharp as the modern Canon EF-S 18-135mm IS STM and EF-M 15-45mm kit lenses. The sharpest of them all is the 200mm f3.5, it really is in a different class and is a very underrated lens, in my opinion. I bought a tripod collar for it and shimmed with thick rubber bands, it’s so big and heavy that a collar really helps. All the Minolta lenses render colors very nicely, a bit warmer than the Canon glass.

    Reply

  22. Hi I have some tamron adaptall lenses that were used on a Minolta XD7 camera that my sister now has can someone recommend an adapter to be used on a canon Eos 4000d?

    Reply

    1. There was in fact an adapter for EOS by Tamron itself, but this is very rare and expensive. Since EOS mount is completely electronic and Adaptall-2 is completely mechanical there is no benefit in trying to get that original Tamron connector, you can just use one by K&F (No KF06.087) which is cheap. Note: this is for Adaptall-2, not the older Adaptall lenses. To check which version your lenses are, look at http://adaptall-2.com/index.html, there is also a list of the older Adaptall lenses

      Reply

  23. I need to adapt a Minolta MD mount manual 50 mm lens to a Minolta Maxum 5000i camera that I think has an “A” mount. What adapter can I use?

    Reply

  25. The information copy/pasted below is WRONG. I have several Minolta MD Lenses that I use on a Canon DSLR. They work just fine, and I get great pictures with them. You can use a Minolta MD lens with a Canon DSLR if you have the adaptor for it. They are readily available from B& Photo in New York City.

    A quick introduction to Adapters
    You can only create an adapter for lenses with a longer flange focal distance than the camera you want to use it on. Since Minolta used a relatively short flange focal distance of 43.5 mm you can’t adapt Minolta SR-mount lenses to DSLRs. That’s because DSLRs from Canon (44 mm), Nikon (46.5 mm), Pentax (45.46 mm) and Sony (44.5 mm) all have a longer flange focal distance. Mirrorless cameras in contrast have a much shorter flange focal distance so you can easily make adapters for Minolta SR lenses and they are the cameras of choice for using Minolta SR lenses.

    Reply

    1. Hello Albert,

      I guess there has been some misunderstanding. This blog post covers only mechanical adapters without any optical elements. And for those the statement mentioned by you holds true. If you don’t have lenses that allow the focus throw to go significantly beyond infinity, you won’t be able to focus to anywhere near infinity. Focusing to closer subjects might still be possible depending on the focal length of the lens used (in general less of a problem for longer lenses). Hence, some of those mechanical only adapters from SLR to SLR mounts (with similar flange focal distances) are often called “macro” adapters as they work as an adapter with included extension tube.

      There are of course very affordable adapters that include one or more lenses. With those you regain the ability to focus to infinity, but those adapters are often of bad quality (especially the coatings — if there are any). The performance of the lens on a native camera or on a mirrorless camera will be way better than on a SLR with such an adapter as it may reduce the transmission of light, introduce additional internal reflections, and affect the optical quality if the optical elements in the adapter are of bad quality as well.

      So basically both statements are true: YES, there are adapters (with optical elements) from SLR to SLR available that allow focussing to infinity. But it’s also TRUE that you won’t be able to use these lenses for infinity shootings with mechanical only adapters on a (D)SLR with a similar or longer flange focal distance unless the focus throw of the lens itself allows way more internal movements (towards the sensor/film plane) than normally needed to reach infinity. The adapters with optical elements, however, will mostly be of rather bad — but maybe still acceptable — quality.

      Greets,

      Olaf

      Reply

  26. Not knowing anything about Minolta mounts I ordered an md-mc
    adapter for my canon m6 mark II. The lens is a Minolta “a” mount and won’t fit. I want to purchase a 28 mm 2.8 md lens.

    My question…with no adjustment connection to the camera Will I be able to change the aperture by rotating the aperture ring. Could it be that simple?
    I must say that reading all the above questions and comments, I have learned so much. Thank you to everyone.

    Reply

  27. Hi
    I have a Leica flex sl body which I’d love to start using again, I’m struggling to justify the expense of a leica lens for this and someone said the MD lens might fit,
    Do you have any advice on a decent but less expensive lens or adaptor to get my camera working?
    All the very best
    Rob

    Reply

    1. No, MD lenses don’t fit and because Leica R had the longest flange focal distance there are no adapters available that will allow for infinity focus.

      Reply

  28. Hello-

    I’m at a loss for figuring this out. I’m just starting out.
    I recently purchased a Zykkor 28mm MD mount.
    I already had a Fotasy MD/FX for my 50mm lens.
    But the Zykkor lens won’t fit the adapter. I have searched for for any Zykkor that on eBay but it seems most sellers mislabel mounts. And now I’m wondering if I purchased a different mount than a MD version. Or should I be looking for another version for the adapter?
    The closest lens on eBay that looks like the same base mount is the following.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/185813524802?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=s6Y0Df0aRBG&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=qeyou8hpshc&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    Thank you for any help, assistance.

    Reply

  29. Hello there, how are you doing?
    I bought two old Minolta lenses that I used to use with my a77 a few years ago, now, I bought one that I didn’ have:

    A Minolta AF zoom 75-30 4.5-5.6 D.

    Issue is, the adapter I’m using with, for example, the MC Rokkor -QD 135 works perfectly, but the same adapter can’t fit the 75-300.
    There is a slight difference in diameter so, I’m assuming I need to buy a different adaptor for that one, am I right?
    Question is, which one?

    Reply

  31. Hi .. I want to swap several MD lenses from my Minolta SRT-101 onto a Pentax P30 (both film cameras). Is there an adaptor available where I can do this ?

    Best regards

    Reply

  32. You state:
    “Since Minolta used a relatively short flange focal distance of 43.5 mm you can’t adapt Minolta SR-mount lenses to DSLRs.”
    I must be on another planet, because I have lots of adapters to use my Rokkor lenses on my Sony a-mount cameras. Some even are chipped so I get focus-confirmation in the viewfinder.

    On a separate point, Minolta also made lenses for their SLR cameras with Leica 39mm mount, as well as RMS 0.8″ thread. Read all about it at MINMAN.

    Reply

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