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Minolta was a Japanese brand founded by Kazuo Tashima in 1928 as Nichidoku Shashinki Shoten which is translated as “Japan-Germany Camera Store.” During its 75 year history, Minolta produced cameras of all types and formats ranging from subminiature spy cameras to high end 35mm rangefinders to glass plate folding cameras.

The company’s first camera, the Nifcarette, was introduced in 1929 and used imported German lens and shutter assemblies. Two years later, the company went public and changed its name to Molta Goshi-gaisha, MOLTA being an abbreviation of the German Mechanismus Optik und Linsen von Tashima or “Mechanisms, Optics, and Lenses by Tashima.” In 1933, the company introduced a copy of the famous German strut folding camera Plaubel Makina and dubbed it the Minolta. A few years later in 1937, the company changed its name again to Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko K.K. or Chiyoda Optics and Precision Industry Co., Ltd. As World War II began, the company began producing goods for the Imperial Japanese military including aerial reconnaissance cameras and the very first lenses to bear the Rokkor name. After the war ended, the first of the highly successful Minolta-35 line of Leica-compatible rangefinders was introduced.

In 1962, the company changed its name to Minolta Camera K.K. and introduced the Minolta Hi-Matic rangefinder which was taken into orbit by NASA astronaut John Glenn as he became the first American in space. About a decade later, Minolta entered into a partnership with Leica and launched the formidable Leitz Minolta CL the following year. Building upon the CL’s success, Minolta also went on to manufacture the first three models of the Leica R series of SLRs. Minolta innovated with their own products as well, including the Minolta XD-7 of 1977 (the first SLR to feature aperture and shutter priority autoexposure modes) and 1985’s Minolta Maxxum 7000 (the first SLR to have an integrated autofocus motor).

Minolta merged with Konica in 2003 to form Konica Minolta and stayed in the photography market until 2006 when financial problems forced the company to sell off its camera division to Sony. Today, Konica Minolta continues to produce a wide range of products including industrial and commercial grade printers, industrial optics, planetarium projectors, and medical equipment.

Minolta Lens List

Fisheye
Minolta Fisheye Rokkor 7.5mm f/4
Minolta Fisheye Rokkor-OK 16mm f/2.8
Minolta UV Rokkor-PG 18mm f/9.5

Ultra Wide Angle
Minolta W Rokkor 17mm f/4
Minolta W Rokkor 20mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor-NL 21mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor-QH 21mm f/4
Minolta W Rokkor-PI 21mm f/4.5

Wide Angle
Minolta W Rokkor 24mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor VFC 24mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor 28mm f/2
Minolta W Rokkor-SI 28mm f/2.5
Minolta W Rokkor 28mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor-SG 28mm f/3.5
Minolta W Rokkor-PE 28mm f/3.5
Minolta W Rokkor-HH 35mm f/1.8
Minolta W Rokkor-HG 35mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor 35mm f/2.8
Minolta Shift CA Rokkor 35mm f/2.8
Minolta W Rokkor-QE 35mm f/4

Normal
Minolta Rokkor-TD 45mm f/2.8
Minolta Rokkor 50mm f/1.2
Minolta Rokkor ver.I 50mm f/1.4
Minolta Rokkor ver. II 50mm f/1.4
Minolta Rokkor-PF 50mm f/1.7
Minolta Rokkor 50mm f/1.7
Minolta Rokkor 50mm f/2
Minolta Macro Rokkor-QF 50mm f/3.5
Minolta Rokkor-PF 53mm f/2
Minolta Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7
Minolta Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.8
Minolta Rokkor 55mm f/1.9
Minolta Rokkor-PF 55mm f/2
Minolta Rokkor-PG 58mm f/1.2
Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.4

Portrait
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PF 85mm f/1.7
Minolta Rokkor 85mm f/2
Minolta Varisoft Rokkor 85mm f/2.8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PF 100mm f/2
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PF 100mm f/2.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PE 100mm f/2.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QE 100mm f/3.5
Minolta Macro Rokkor-QE 100mm f/3.5
Minolta Macro Rokkor 100mm f/4
Minolta Tele Rokkor-TC 100mm f/4
Minolta Rokkor 135mm f/2
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PF 135mm f/2.8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PG 135mm f/2.8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QD 135mm f/2.8
Minolta Rokkor 135mm f/2.8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QD 135mm f/3.5
Minolta Rokkor 135mm f/3.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-TC 135mm f/4

Telephoto
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PF 180mm f/2.5
Minolta Rokkor 200mm f/2.8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QF 200mm f/3.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor 200mm f/4
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PE 200mm f/4.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QE 200mm f/5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QF 250mm f/4
Minolta Rokkor RF 250mm f/5.6
Minolta Tele Rokkor-TD 300mm f/4.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QD 300mm f/4.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-HF 300mm f/4.5
Minolta Rokkor 300mm f/4.5
Minolta Tele Rokkor-QD 300mm f/5.6
Minolta Tele Rokkor-PE 300mm f/5.6
Minolta APO Tele Rokkor-PE 400mm f/5.6
Minolta RF Rokkor 500mm f/8
Minolta Tele Rokkor-TD 600mm f/5.6
Minolta APO Tele Rokkor 600mm f/6.3
Minolta RF Rokkor 800mm f/8
Minolta RF Rokkor 1000mm f/6.3
Minolta RF Rokkor ver.I 1600mm f/11
Minolta RF Rokkor ver.II 1600mm f/11

Zoom
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 24-35mm f/3.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 24-50mm f/4
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 28-70mm f/3.5-4.8
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 28-85mm f/3.5-4.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-70mm f/3.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-70mm f/3.5-4.8
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-105mm f/3.5-4.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 35-135mm f/3.5-4.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 40-80mm f/2.8
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 50-100mm f/3.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 50-135mm f/3.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 70-210mm f/4
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 70-210mm f/4.5-5.6
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.8
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 75-150mm f/4
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 75-200mm f/4.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 80-160mm f/3.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 80-200mm f/4.5
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 100-200mm f/5.6
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 100-300mm f/5.6
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 100-300mm f/5.6-6.7
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 100-500mm f/8
Minolta APO Tele Zoom Rokkor 100-500mm f/8
Minolta Zoom Rokkor 160-500mm f/8

Specialty
Minolta Bellows Micro Rokkor 12.5mm f/2
Minolta Bellows Micro Rokkor 25mm f/2.5
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor 50mm f/3.5
Minolta Bellows Rokkor-TC 100mm f/4
Minolta Auto Bellows Rokkor 100mm f/4
Minolta Bellows Rokkor-TC 135mm f/4

(List important figures that played a significant role within the company, past and present.)

Founded: 1928 — Osaka, Empire of Japan (modern day Japan)

Currently: Konica Minolta, Inc., Sony Corporation

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