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Minolta SRT

Minolta SRT101 (b) 1966-1975

In the middle of Sixties, when I was pondering, which of the Japanese SLR manufacturers would have the honor to get my money, Minolta was one of the competitors with Nikon’s F and Pentax’s Spotmatic. I liked the clean modern lines of Minolta, Nikon was a bit too expensive but, excuses-moi, Pentax was a winner.35mm SLR camera with thru-the-lens exposure meter. Standard lens is MC Rokkor PF 55mm F/1.7 (or 58mm F 1.4) 6 elements in 5 groups. The lens is equipped with a meter coupler and together with Minolta SR-T seriers of cameras, also a new lens mount was introduced. This mount has all of the features of the former SR2 mount, with the additional feature of meter-coupling operation.

Minolta SR-T 101 was one of the first cameras to have full aperture TTL metering.There were actually three versions of the SR-T101, with slight variations. The first model had the black, finely-milled, shutter speed dial which was replaced with a dial of three rows of large teeth (model 101b) in the last model, (101c) the mirror-lockup option was dropped. Minolta SR-T 101 viewfinder has only a central grid scene to help the focusing and this might cause difficulties, specially with shorter and slower lenses. The split image rangefinder was added to the SR-T-102 and as an extra feature, it has also an ability to display the chosen aperture through the finder.

The SRT 101 uses a PX625 (mercury type) cell for the metering system only. With a dead battery, all functions but the meter will continue to work. Here is a link to Cheap And Easy mercury battery replacement. Google will find you more options.

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"Since the inception of through-the-lens exposure measuring for single lens reflex cameras, several systems have been developed. Some "spot" read only a very small percent of the total area. Other systems provide an "average reading comprised of independent measurements taken by two cells which are not accurate in high-contrast situations.
Only the Minolta SR-T 101 has an exclusive new type of circuit (CLC) to provide an optimum reading of the entire picture area regardless of degree of contrast.

In addition to its more accurate exposure meter system, your Minolta SR-T 101 is designed to handle more easily, with greater speed, than other "through-the-lens metering" cameras.
The ability to compose, focus, set exposure and shutter speed without looking away from the finder makes the Minolta SR-T 101 particularly suitable for professional photography when operating speed is often of vital importance." (Minolta SRT 101 instruction manual)
 

Major Features of the Minolta SR-T 101

1, Rapid-Reading Through-the-Lens Exposure System
a) Exposure readings taken with lens at full aperture for rapid composing and focusing regardless of subject brightness.
b) "Follower type needles in viewfinder show correct exposure at a glance---at any combination of aperture and shutter speed
c) Shutter speed scale is visible in viewfinder but outside of "live" picture area.
d) Measures only the light that strikes the film, thus eliminating the need to compensate for changes in lens focal length or to compute exposure factors for filters, bellows or other lens attachments

2. Combines the Advantages of "Spot and Averaging" Exposure Reading Systems
a) Exclusive "CLC" Metering System (Contrast Light Compensator) maintains extreme accuracy regardless of lighting situation, even with high-contrast subjects.
b) Automatically corrects for changes in light intensity from one section of the picture area to another, thus providing an optimum overall reading.
c) Oversized, instant return mirror prevents image cut-off and incorrect exposure readings no matter how long the focal length of lens.
d) Unique positioning of CdS cells prevents incorrect readings due to light entering viewfinder.

3. World Renowned Rokkor Lenses
Superior resolving power resulting from the combination of rare earths, patented Achromatic coating and computer design.

4. Complete System of Lenses and Accessories forMaximum Versatility.
a) All Rokkor lenses designed for use with the Minolta SR-1, SR-3 and SR-7 can be used as stopped-down measuring with the Minolta SR-T 101
b) A variety of accessories are availableto handle nearly any photographic situation.

Shutter:
Focal plane shutter
Speeds: B, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/15, 1/30, 1/60,
1/125, 1/250, 1/500, and 1/1000 sec.
Dial: Single, non-spinning, equal space,click
stop dial.
Synchro contact; FP(all speeds) and X (up to l/60sec.)
Self-timer: Time adjustable, l0sec.maximum delay.
Film advance:
Lever type, quick advance winding with shutter cocking and
double exposure prevention.
Winding method; Single or several strokes with clearance to wind (20°).
Winding angle: 150°
Film counter: Automatic resetting counter showing
exposed frame number.
Film rewinding: Rapid rewinding with crank.
Frame size: 36 X 24mm
Film: Standard 35mmfilm,20or 36exposures.
Viewfinder:
Real image finder through the fixed, eye.level pentaprism. Exposure control needles (follower type) and shutter speed scale are visible in finder.
Focusing glass.- Fine microprism and Fresnel lens
Image magnification: Life size image viewing with 58 mm
lens on infinity. Viewing area: 33.7X 22.4mm
Exposure meter:
Thru-the-lens meter
Contrast light compensator (C.L.C.)
CdS meter, two cells on the pentaprism.

Battery: PX625 battery, On / Off switch on the camera bottom.

Minolta Repo

Minolta Repo (model II, 1962)

One of the few Minolta 24x18mm half-format 35mm cameras. Citizen-L shutter is mechanically programmed with a selenium match-needle exposure system. EV-numbering 8-16. Lens is Rokkor f2.8 30mm (4 lenses in 3 group)

Film advance is done by a thumb-wheel like in the contemporary competitor Olympus Pen EES.

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