Lightroom metadata

I have two Minolta 28-105mm zooms, the xi (1991) and the non-RS 1994 issue. They have different metadata (as read by Irfanview):

Minolta - AF 28-105 xi F3.5-4.5
Lens Model - 28-105mm F3.5-4.5
Lens Type - 26151

Minolta - AF 28-105 F3.5-4.5
Lens Model - 28-105mm F3.5-4.5
Lens Type - 10

However, Lightroom 6 does not distinguish between them.

I assume that LR is ignoring the makerID and only using the model text. Is there anyway of persuading it to use the makerID?

It matters to me.

I'd like it if Lightroom could tell the difference between pictures taken by two different lenses of the same model, but I accept that this is not possible from the metadata. I can also see that instances where different lenses have the same metadata are indistinguishable to software.

But these two lenses are easily distinguishable using data in the metadata, why is Lightroom not using it?

Take a look at this post:
http://www.dyxum.com/dforum/lens-information-in-sony-alpha-jpg-and-arw-files_topic81142_post940862.html?#940862
LensModel is written by the camera, but "xi" being a non-Sony feature, your Sony camera will not write this, and therefore it writes the same LensModel for both lenses.
Unfortunately, Lightroom will normally use LensModel to display the lens name, and only use LensType in some cases with ARW files.
However, you can use Exiftool to change the LensModel name based on LensType, e.g.

   exiftool.exe -LensModel="Minolta AF 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 xi" -if "$Sony:LensType# eq 26151" *.JPG
and
   exiftool.exe -LensModel="Minolta AF 28-105mm F3.5-4.5" -if "$Sony:LensType# eq 10" *.JPG

Alternatively, and especially for ARW files, you can use Exiftool to write the desired lens name into an XMP sidecar file, see the examples in the cited post/thread above.

stiusker - not an ideal solution, but a practical one. I haven't worked out a sensible workflow with Lightroom as yet, I just import from the SD card and let Lightroom stick the files in directory for each day. I know this is deeply unsatisfactory long term - I need to do a lot of tagging!

josr - a far neater solution, but one that does not quite work. However, it looks like the techniques is the right one.

The script you give changes the wrong data field. It seems to be the Lens Info field that is used by Lightroom. This is a huge shame because Exiftools tells me that the camera stores the correct full name in the Lens Model and the Lens Type fields - "Minolta AF 28-105mm F3.5-4.5 xi", in the Lens Info it stores "28-105mm F3.5-4.5".

Which leads me to consider a script to run before every import that would set the Lens Info to equal the Lens Model. However, I now wonder if this would upset any other program that I might use to process the file? It seems unlikely, but they presumably have these three all but identical fields for some reason.

Of course this also implies that Lightroom will not distinguish between any two lenses with the same focal length(s) and aperture(s). For instance the five Minolta/Sony 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 zooms - and no one is going to convince me that they are all built to the same optical formula.

Phil Wood wrote: Of course this also implies that Lightroom will not distinguish between any two lenses with the same focal length(s) and aperture(s). For instance the five Minolta/Sony 75-300mm f4.5-5.6 zooms - and no one is going to convince me that they are all built to the same optical formula.

Well the first one is mechanically different and may be different optically as well. I'd bet a few pounds that the other four are to the same optical design (except for lens coatings and electronics). Does the first one produce the same data as the others?

Well over 2 years later I finally got round to trying Lenstagger - I guess this hasn't been a burning issue.

I have to say I like it, it allows me to get the metadata I see in LR to show the lens name as I want it. As a bonus it also allows me to set the serial number of each lens - not massively important, but I do have multiple copies of some lenses.

I don't suppose it matters that much which lens took a picture - but I like to know.