It’s Alpha Mount Birthday!

In January 1985, Minolte released the Minolta 7000 (which was called “Alpha 7000” in Japan and “Maxxum 7000” in US). It was the first SLR camera with built-in housing passive autofocus system on the basis of phase detection. And at the same time it came with the new A-type bayonet lens mount, which is still used in Sony’s alpha cameras is.
And in the same month Minolta also released twelve brand new autofocus lenses!!! Sony…you could learn from it :)
The lens were all optimized to the needs of the autofocus system. Five bayonet electrical contacts for the data transmission were installed. In 1991 three more contacts were added.

Nice history or not? Let’s hope Sony will soon announce new Zeiss Lenses!