Minolta Celtic Vs. MD/MD Rokkor Lenses > What's The Difference?

DF

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Nov 10, 2012
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O.K. - I can't seem to find a CONSISTENT RELIABLE answer to this never ending question anywhere. "Celtic lenses aren't coated as well as their MD counterparts...blah blah..." Celtic lenses have just-as-good optical quality glass it's just that the barrel is a cheaper material...."The two will give identical results - only the Celtic mounts are apt to loosen...blah.."
I want a 200 mm lens for my X-700. There seems to be an abundance of Celtics in this size but hardly any MD/MD Rokkors, like the owners just didn't like their Celtics or something....Thank You all but I know MinMan.
 

wiltw

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Celtic lenses were made by Minolta for SLR cameras with SR mount.
MD lenses were later made by Minolta forr SLR cameras with the MD mount
...and the MD lens is very similar to SR lenses,

To distinguish the fundamental difference:
  1. SR - 1958-1966: Plain SR-bayonet featuring automatic diaphragm. Lenses are labelled Rokkor(pre-set) or Auto Rokkor (automatic diaphragm)
  2. MC - 1966-1977: Meter coupling added (often called MC mount) allowing full-aperture TTL measurement. Lenses are labelled MC Rokkor.
  3. MD - 1977-2001: MD lever added, which allows the reading of the smallest available aperture, often referred to as MD mount. Lenses are labelled MD Rokkor or MD
while the lens may 'mount' it may not couple with your camera's automation correctly.
Lens coating technology greatly improved with multicoating, which first became available on production camera lenses about 1971.
 
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