Minolta was the first company to introduce a mass-market autofocus SLR when the 7000 released in 1985. This new camera used a new lens mount that would come to be known as Minolta AF. It was home to Minolta innovating in flash technology and setting up the system we now know as EXIF data. They also produced the fastest mechanical shutter, with a top speed of 1/12000s, for use in the Dynax 9xi and Dynax 9.

Sony purchased a large part of Minolta's camera business when Minolta closed their doors in 2006. Sony continued to develop the A mount, redesigning lenses and piggybacking off of Minolta’s blueprints to become the camera giant they are today. Minolta AF lenses can be used on Sony A DSLRs without an adapter and on Sony E / FE mount mirrorless cameras with an LA-EA3 / LA-EA4 adapter. Not all Sony A lenses can be used on Minolta AF film SLRs due to advances in autofocus technology.