Designer: T. Ogura (US patent: 3,589,798 – 29 June 1971)
Produced 1986 – 2006, then replaced with the Sony version.
Mount is 5 pin, no weather sealing, as well as no distance encoder, AFD or internal aberration corrections.
Filters: Normal, 056, FLW, B12
Can be used on A7 mirrorless cameras preserving all functions and AF with an LA-EA5 adapter. Manual focus only if you use LA-EA3
from left to right Sony, Minolta, Minolta MAXXUM 
from left to right Sony, Minolta, Minolta MAXXUM
Many versions are known, the “MAXXUM” branded one, a Minolta with a white “AF” and one with a red one.
For those who are not aware of Minolta history, this is one of the cases in which the name of a class of product was changed depending on the country it was marketed. AF Minolta cameras family is known as “α” in Japan, Dynax in Europe and “MAXXUM” in North America, where also lenses had the added “MAXXUM” name.
The cap deserves a special mention, it’s a faux-leather semi-rigid sac, with the “Minolta” logotype embossed. Impossible to replace and very easy to lose (it feels like a tissue in the pockets, makes no noise if dropped) It’s indeed a very VERY nice and easy way to protect your lens without scratching the hood.
links
- wikipedia, all Minolta A lenses
- Dyxum
- my article for use on Sony a7 mirrorless cameras (italian)
