Minolta MD Rokkor aperture lock question

You don't find these on any other lenses that I've used over the years. These are common features to the Minolta manual focus lenses, but I wonder how others use them, if at all. I doubt I would need this feature, as it only locks at the highest aperture setting, usually f22, on my lenses. Do others use it?

The MD minimum aperture lock is meant for use with shutter priority auto mode on the Minolta XD cameras, and program mode on the X-700. For these to work (fully) the lens must be set to its minimum aperture, and the lock prevents the ring being moved accidentally. Early Nikon AF lenses had a similar lock, while Canon FD, Pentax KA and other types had a (usually) locking auto setting.

I use the old Minolta Rokkor lenses quite often, and have never engaged the "lock", as I almost always shoot in either the aperture priority or manual modes.

Hi,

That feature was added to the last of the MD lenses when Minolta introduced the "Program" mode. It's purpose was to make sure the lens was set to the minimum aperture just in case you wanted to use the shutter priority or program mode. The minimum aperture (f16-22) was often painted in green.

It was the "idiot" mode. At first when the XD-11 was introduced it was only painted green, then about the time the X-700 arrived they added a lock.

Nikon AF-D lenses still have a lock as do some Canon FD lenses. If your shooting aperture priority with a Minolta or Nikon FA ignore the lock,

I basically said the same thing as Heritage camera. Just use common sense.