Related Manuals for Minolta SR-1
Summary of Contents for Minolta SR-1
- Page 2 Camera Guide. This is a It deals with COMPLETE one make of camera, but it is not Camera Guide boosting it. The is a Focal Press publication. � sponsored censored manu facturers, or dependent on them in :: :;: Camera Guide any way.
- Page 3 MINOLTA SLR GUIDE How to Use the Minolta SR-1 and Minolta SR-1 (V), Minolta SR-1 SR-IS and Minolta SR-1 Minolta SR-TIOI, TlOlb, Minolta SR-TlOO, TlOOb, Minolta SR-T303, T303b, Minolta XM, XE-1 and XE-5 Cameras (see overleaf for international numbering of these cameras) W.
- Page 4 INTERNATIONAL NUMBERING OF MINOLTA CAMERAS Europe and U.S.A., Canada and Mexico Hong Kong...
- Page 5 Loading and Unloading Field Loading Zone Focusing Unloading The Double and Blank Ex- posure Lock Flash with the Minolta SR Deliberate Double Ex- How to Use Flash posures Synchro-Sunlight Cutting off Exposed Lengths Attaching Flash Gun to Changing Partly Exposed...
- Page 6 Control 74 - Testing and Checking Batteries 75 - Expo- sure Adjustment Control 76 - Eye-piece Shutter 76 The Minolta TlOl , TlOlb, T303, T303b, TlOO and Tl OOb Loading 80- Unloading 80- Shooting 80 - The TTL Exposure...
- Page 7 MINOLTA REFLEX SYSTEM TIIE The Minolta single-lens reflex is a 35 mm. eye-level reflex camera yielding up to 36 pictures, size 1 1 t in. (24 mm.) on perforated 35 mm. film. The built-in pentaprism finder has a micro prism centre for...
- Page 8 A cad mium sulphide (CdS) exposure meter is built into the SR-7 and is available as an accessory for the SR-1. Jn either case the shutter speed setting is coupled to the meter and only the aperture is read off and transferred to the aperture scale of the lens.
- Page 9 MINOLTA SR OPTICAL SYSTEM Pcntaprism Viewfinder eyepiece Light-collecting lens Fresnel screen Mirror Film plane Lens Above: section through the camera shows the optical system of lens, mirror, viewfinder lens and fresnel screen, pentaprism and viewfinder eyepiece. The broken line indicates the path of the light when the mirror is in position for viewing and focusing.
- Page 10 An on/off and batte r y ch e ck s w it c h is built in. An a cc esso r y s h oe is fitted to t h e c ame r a top. In addition t h e Minolta SR - T303 vie w ing s cr een h as a split image c ent r e, su rr ounded by a m i cr op r ism ring .
- Page 11 As an alternative this model is also available with the Rokkor / 1 .8 with fully automatic aperture. The Minolta SR-1 is similar to the SR-I (V) but rather less compact. Its focusing screen has a clear glass centre instead of a microprism area.
- Page 12 Minolta camera without being confused by dif f e rent features of individual models, this guide is divided into a general section which applies to all Minolta models, while the individual requirements and diff e rent handling of each model are found in the end pages.
- Page 13 Above: With the Minolta it is s pecially importan t to keep the cam era really s teady d u ring the exposu re and for a fraction of a second after pressing the release button. Whenever possi ble s u ppo r t you r body against something solid, s u ch a s a tree or w a l l o r prop u p y o u r hands against you r knees or a ta ble, particularly with slow s peeds.
- Page 14 Lifting it to the eye then takes a split second. For convenience and protection the Minolta SR should always be carried in its ever-ready case. This case is designed to hold the camera ready for use.
- Page 15 VIEWING AND FOCUSING The M i nolta SR screen consists of a light collecting lens over a fresnel screen )(4). The fine l i nes of the screen (I) present a bright i m age right out to the corners. The ce ntral portion of the screen (2) consists of micro...
- Page 16 certain point, beyond which it will again lose definition. At this "beyond" stage turn the mount back again, narrowing down the degree of movement until you arrive at the point of best defi n ition. The centre of the reflex image is a micro prism area ;...
- Page 17 (page 10). Release Loading and Unloading The Minolta SR uses standard perforated cine film 35 mm. wide, as used in the majority of other 35 mm. miniature cameras. It is available in various packings (see also page 21), the most convenient being standard daylight cassettes.
- Page 18 length of film for 36 or 20 exposures and are loaded into the camera in daylight. A void loading or unloading the camera in brilliant sun light, though; choose a shady spot or do it in the shadow of your own body if nothing better is available. Loading by pulling out the rewind knob to l.
- Page 19 LOADING Top, left to right: Open the camera back and l ift up the rewind knob. Insert the casse tte with the fi l m leader poin ting to the take-up spool a n d push back the rewind knob. A ttach the film to the take-up spool and ensure that the sprockets e n gage i n the perforations.
- Page 20 two wasted leader frames do not count as part of the number of exposures on the film. The film counter window in the top plate of the camera, which had set itself on opening the camera back to S (=start), advances automatically, counting the exposures. When inserting the film, check that it is properly loaded by observing the rewind knob (at the opposite end of the camera to the transport knob).
- Page 21 UNLOADING Se t the camera for rewind by depressing the rewind release bu tton in the base (top, left). Unfold the rew i n d crank a n d rewind the film (top, centre). Open the camera back a n d p u ll up the rewin d k nob (top, right).
- Page 22 The Double and Blank Exposure Lock The Minolta SR camera is fitted with a double and blank exposure lock. This means that the same piece of film cannot be exposed twice and, further, that the film cannot be wound on by mistake before an exposure has been made.
- Page 23 Cutting Off Exposed Lengths If a film which is only partly exposed has to be processed, set the shutter for the next exposure and in the darkroom or in complete darkness cut through with a pair of scissors the frame which lies in the film aperture. Retrim the re mainder of the film (see page 22), fix it again on the take-up spool, and close the camera.
- Page 24 Other Film Packing• In addition to standard cassettes, 35 mm. film (mainly black and white) is also available in various loose packings for loading into cassettes. This is a much cheaper way of using film as you do not have to buy a new cassette every time with the film.
- Page 26 FILM LENGTH OF REQUIRED FOR ANY NUMBER OF EXPOSURES Number Length of Length of Number Length of Number of Film Film Film Exposures Required Exposures Exposures Required Required cm . I i i 31 i 1 3 -;I- 52 ! 34 ! 16 ;[- 36 ;[-...
- Page 27 Most cassettes are actually intended by their makers be used once only, and with the fi l m originally supplied in it. However, provided they are reasonably robustly made, and the light-trapping velvet slot is in good condition, these cassettes can be reloaded many times, and will give perfectly satisfactory results-if handled carefully.
- Page 28 leave the camera unnecessarily exposed to heat. Always keep i t in its case. The lens should be covered with a lens cap when not in use, additionally, it should be protected by a colourless fi l ter. Outer lens surfaces have to be kept clean, dirt and grit removed with an air-blower and by tapping.
- Page 29 FILMS FILTERS There are two kinds of films available for the Minolta SR : black-and-white and colour. Black-and-White Film This produces a negative on which the colours and bright ness range of the subject are translated into black and white.
- Page 30 light, night photography and ill-lit stage pictures. These films are specialist types for conditions where normal materials are totally inadequate. They should not be used for general photography. The high speed is achieved at some cost in definition and graininess. Speed ratings range from 500-1,600 ASA or 28-33 DIN.
- Page 31 FILM SPEED, CO NTRAST, GRAIN, RESOLVING POWER 80 -160 20 0·400 A S A A S A • Generally speaking low speed goes with greatest contrast, fi n est grain, and highest resolving power and vice versa. The fi lm speed in the top row points to the corresponding contrast, grain, and resolvin1 power.
- Page 32 Colour film is as easy to use as black-and-white film, but needs a little more care in exposure. Processing is more complex and is often carried out by the fi l m maker or specially appointed processing laboratories. There are two basic types of colour fi l m : reversal and negative.
- Page 33 Colour films made for one kind of light may often be used under different light conditions with the aid of a conversion filter as recommended by the manufacturer. Different makes of colour film may yield transparencies of a slightly different characteristic colour quality, colour saturati o n and colour contrast.
- Page 34 material. Some films have extra sensitivity for poor light conditions. As with black-and-white films, the slower types tend to yield improved image detail, especially with negative colour film, while the fastest emulsions may show slightly reduced colour saturation and image sharpness. The Choice of Colour Film Making your choice between colour reversal or negative film (in spite of the various uses that can be made of either...
- Page 35 Care of Colour Films Colour films should be processed as soon as possible after exposure. Always store films i n a dry, cold place. Avoid damp or humidity. 35 mm. films which have become damp show white specks. Never leave a film in the car in warm weather : glove compartments, side pockets, boot and shelf are heat danger spots.
- Page 36 This filter does not call for any change in exposure. Original Minolta lenses have a double achromatic coating which gives virtually full colour correction and makes the use of UV and haze filters superfl. o us. On dull days, a second filter, the so-called skylight filter, compensates for the excessive coldness of the colour rendering.
- Page 37 The filter must be rotated to fi n d out its best position on the lens. The Minolta Polarizer is ideal for this observa tion. The filter is simply pushed on the lens mount, and then by slowly rotating the filter in its holder one can find the best or desired result on the reflex-focusing screen.
- Page 38 EXPOSURE Exposure means : to expose the film in your camera to light. The dose of light any film needs to produce the right sort of image depends on how sensitive that film is to light. A fast film is more sensitive than a slow film. Once your choice of film is settled, the basic condition of exposure is settled with it.
- Page 39 To take general reflected l ight readings with the Minolta meter, either point i t d i rectly at the s u bject or, with outdoor views, d i rect It slightly downwards to cut down the amount of light reaching i t from the sky.
- Page 40 The actual exposure is a product of these two : "how much" and "how long". A large amount of light striking the film for a short time may produce an image similar to that produced by a small amount of light striking the film for a long time.
- Page 41 The Self Timer A self timer (delayed action release) is built into the Minolta SR cameras except T l OO and T l OOb. It is con trolled by the setting lever on the camera front plate. To set t he sel f timer swing it downwards so that it is parallel to the base plate.
- Page 42 So there is more to using a meter than just pointing it at the subject and accepting without question the reading indicated, even though the Minolta SR-1 and SR-7 CdS meters cover only an angle of 30°. This is less than that of the standard lens.
- Page 43 An unsteady camera hold results in camera shake, to which a small and light instrument such as the Minolta is particularly liable. Even the slightest shake will result in...
- Page 44 Aperture and Depth of Field When you focus the Minolta SR on a given object, the image of that object will be really sharp on the film. Things nearer or farther away will be gradually less and less sharp, until they are noticeably blurred.
- Page 45 DEPTH OF FIELD Minolta SR cameras carry a depth of fi e l d Indicator engraved on the lens mount. This shows clearly how much of the su bject wi l l be sharp at any given d i stance and aperture. The figure opposite the triangular index mark is the focused distance (e.g.
- Page 46 Short focus lenses yield more depth and tele lenses less depth. That is why the alternative lenses of the Minolta SR have their own depth of field indicator. Even the fact that the various Minolta SR models have standard lenses of slightly different focal lengths makes some differ...
- Page 47 have a preview button on the lens itself. Pressing the button stops the lens down and you can visually observe the extent of sharpness before and behind the subject you have actually focused on. At the same time, however, the image on the screen gets darker, so there is a limit to this observation.
- Page 48 FLASH WITH THE MINOLTA SR Flash is an efficient light source where no or insufficient daylight is available such as at night, indoors, etc. In the flashlight you carry your own private "sun" with which you can illuminate your subject or scene at any time and place.
- Page 49 FLASH The Minolta S R {except T303 and X series) carries two flash sockets. When the plug from the flash gun is fitted in the top socket, marked the camera i s synchronized for focal plane type flash bulbs at all shutter speeds to 1 /500 second (or up to / I 00 second on S R-7 and T I O I ).
- Page 50 How to Use Flash The Minolta SR shutter is internally synchronized for use with flash bulbs and electronic fl a sh. Two separate flash sockets are fi t ted into the front of the camera body, except on T303, XE- 1 , XE-5 and XM which have one socket with a selector switch which can be set to X or FP.
- Page 51 Attaching Flash Gun to Camera A flash bracket may be fi t ted to the base of the Minolta SR anchoring at the tripod bush and protruding over the side of the camera.
- Page 52 1/500 sec. With each of these speeds a different guide number is needed (usually printed on the fl.ash bulb packet) to determine the correct exposure. They allow for a wider aperture to compensate for the fact that at fast shutter speeds some of the light emitted from the bulb is lost.
- Page 53 The field of view covered by the standard lens is ide a l for the majority of subjects. Occasionally, however, a greater or reduced field of view has distinct advantages. The Minolta SR has an interchangeable lens mount permitting use of alternative focal length lenses for such occasions. Wide-Angle Lew A wide-angle lens is a lens of shorter focal length.
- Page 54 Rokkor Len1e1 The lenses made for the Minolta SR by the makers of the camera are listed on page 54. These range from the wide angle to the 1 600 mm. telephoto. In addition a Macro lens of standard focal length is available permitting focusing from infinity down to 9 in.
- Page 55 MINOLTA SR LE NSES Lenses of many different focal lengths are available for the Minolta SR. They range from I .S• to 1 80° angle, i.e. 1 600 m m . to m m . focal length. The lon1er the focal length, the larger the image scale, but the smaller the view covered.
- Page 56 MINOLTA LENSESt Focus Fl/�r Closest Smallest Groups Aperture Aperture in m. and ft. Size Element! Focal Lenfl(h and of Lens Angle of View 7.S mm. f 4 MC Fisheye Rokkor 1 80° O.S m./ l .7S It. Built-in 1 6 mm. f 2.8 MC Fisheye Rokkor-OK 1 80"...
- Page 57 CHANGING LENSES AND APERTURE CONTROL To remove the lens (left) push down the lens lock button and turn the lens barrel anti-clockwise un ti l It stops. Lift the lens out carefu lly (centre). T o attach the lens, Insert It I nto the bayonet moun t by l i n i n g up the red dot on the lens barrel with the red dot on the camera Turn the lens clockwise (right).
- Page 58 This works in the same way as with the standard Jens. Aperture Control Systems The Rokkor lenses for the Minolta SR camera are either fitted with the automatic pre-set aperture or a pre-set aperture which has to be actuated by hand.
- Page 59 CLOSE UP WORK The unaided Minolta SR focuses down to just under 2 ft. where it covers (with the 55 mm. lens) a field of 7t in. by IO in. To take photographs at still closer distances to the subject, close-up lenses, extension tubes, extension bellows or the Macro Rokkor lens can be used.
- Page 60 Exiemion Bellow• The extension bellows Model I ( manual or automatic dia phragm versions are available) is the simpler of two bellows units. It has a single runner on which the bellows can be ex tended or contracted by a focusing knob. The focused lens can then be locked in position by a locking knob.
- Page 61 CLOSE-UP EQU IPMENT There are five extension tubes that can be used In various combinations to give repro duction ratios (with m m . lens) from about 57). to 1 .4 : I (see page The extension bel lows Model I gives magni fications (with the mm.
- Page 62 1 The lens is supplied with Leica thread and Minolta SR adaptor. The Macro Rokkor A uto Macro Rokkor (with auto...
- Page 63 Acceaaory Shoe There are two types. One fits over the pentaprism of the Minolta SR and sits in the centre of the camera top. It will accept fl a sh gun and similar attachments. It is fixed in position by unscrewing the rear black ring of the eyepiece of the prism and placing the circular aperture of the shoe fitting over the chrome rim of the eyepiece.
- Page 64 Focusing Magnifier Straight magnifiers can be attached to the eyepieces of the Minolta SR, SR (V, S) and T I O ! finders in the same way as described above for the right-angle finders, The magnifier permits precise focusing of the centre of the field of view in copying, ultra close-up work, microphotography and when using long focal length lenses.
- Page 65 ACCESSORIES The Minolta SR lenses accept push-on hoods (left) . Lenses of 100 m m . and up are supplied with hoods. (centre) The accessory shoe can be fitted to the S R cameras after turning the viewfinder eyej?iece ring clockwise and removing It. Then replace the eyepiece ring to hold the accessory shoe I n place.
- Page 66 Panorama Head The Minolta Panorama Head with built-in level enables the camera to be swung by the correct amount to provide pictures that can be pieced together to give a panoramic view. The device has click stops for rapid and precise location of camera position.
- Page 67 These pages deal with the individual Minolta SRs in detail. Self-contained sections for each model cover points loading, unloading, shooting and specific controls. For a fuller explanation o f aspects common to all Minolta SR cameras, compare these sections with the same headings in the main text.
- Page 68 MINOLTA The Minolta XM has the features described on pages 5 to 9. It has interchangeable finders, showing 98 per cent of the film area. The standard finder is an eye-level pentraprism with built-in meter and automatic electronic and match-needle/manual exposure control facility.
- Page 70 1 8) Unloading (see page 1. Set for rewind. Rewind film. Open camera back. film and close camera back or reload. Remove Shooting film by moving the transport lever as far as it will go Transport ( 1 1 0°). The first 20° movement does not engage the film, but allows an offset from the camera body for easy grip by the thumb.
- Page 71 override radially as far as it will go to the left. If the speed indicator moves back to or higher that means that the speed is within 4 sec . ; i f it remains below l , the exposure set is l onger than 4 sec. In this instance adjust the aperture or light to obtain a speed within the limit.
- Page 72 Testing and Replacing Batteries The Minolta XM uses two silver oxide 1 .5V batteries, Mallory MS-76, Ever-Ready S-76 or equ ivalent. They supply the power for the electronic shutter and for the meter.
- Page 73 M I N O LTA X M I NTERC H A N GEABLE FI N DERS Compensation-factor selector Film speed setting Shutter speed knob Match-needle TTL finder dis playing s h u tter speed I l l u m ination windows and aperture Meter coupler Finder eyepiece...
- Page 74 Changing Finders To remove the finder fitted to the Minolta XM push in the finder release button on the rear of the top plate of the camera body, to the left of the finder position and lift the fi n der upward.
- Page 75 The Minolta XE-5 is a XE-1 model as described above on which the aperture used is not shown in the viewfinder and viewfinder blind, multi-exposure system and safe load signal have been omitted. The prism front is black, instead of chrome.
- Page 76 Unloading (see page 1 8) 1. Set for rewind. Rewind film. Open camera back. Remove film and close camera back or reload. Shooting 1. · Transport film by moving the transport lever as far as it will go (1 30°). The first 30° movement does not engage the film, but allows an offset from the camera body for easy grip by the thumb.
- Page 77 . B appears on the right above the finder frame. Testing and Replacing Batteries The Minolta XE-I and XE-5 use two silver oxide l .5V batteries, Mallory MS-76, Ever-Ready S-76 or equivalent. They supply the power for the electronic shutter and for the meter.
- Page 78 aligned with the 0 on the camera base plate, the cover then be removed . Take out the old batteries and insert two new ones into the sleeve on the inside of the cover, both with their + sign pointing away from the cover.
- Page 79 Not on EX-5 The Minolta XE-I is an automatic-exposure model setting shutter speeds from 4 seconds Clo I / 1 000 sec to suit film speed, aperture and subject. Shutter speed and aperture are ind icated i n the viewfinder.
- Page 80 MINOLTA SR-TlOl, TlOlb, T303, T303b, TlOO TlOOb The SR-TlOI has all the features described on pages 5-9. In addition it has a built-in through-the-lens metering system with two CdS cells located on top of the pentaprism. It measures at full aperture and in...
- Page 81 Shooting with the Minolta SR-T I O I . Advance the film and tension the s h u tter with From left to right : film transport lever.
- Page 82 To observe the depth of field on the refl e x screen with the lens stopped down, push the diaphragm stud on the camera body. When using Rokkor lenses designed for the earlier Minolta cameras, • T H E M I N O LTA SR·TIOl/SR-TJOJ...
- Page 83 When using Rokkor lenses other than those specifically designed for the model Tl01/T303 and marked " M C", such as those for the previous Minolta SR models, you have to employ the stop-down measurement system to set exposure. The sequence of operation is then as fol l ows : Advance the film.
- Page 84 The Meter Battery To test whether the battery is working properly, use the battery checker on the camera base. Turn the battery switch from the off to the BC position. If, on looking through the finder, the meter indicator needle points to the flat black check mark on the right-hand side of the viewfinder (above the lower triangular mark) the battery can be considered being fully alive.
- Page 85 THE MINOLTA SR-7 SR-7 (V) These models have all the features as described on pages 5-9. addit�on they have a built-in cadmium sulphide exposure meter powered by a mercury "button" battery, covering an extensive range from candle light to brilliant outdoor light with a light reception angle of 30°.
- Page 86 Shooting Work the film transport by moving the transport lever as far as i t wi ll go. Set the exposure. The shutter speeds may be set before or after cocking the shutter by turning the speed dial either way to bring the required speed opposite the red l ine i n the centre of the dial.
- Page 87 CdS meter i s housed i n a compartment i n the base of the camera, next co the rewind release button. Shooting with the Minolta SR-7 and S R-7 (V). From left to right: Advance the film and tension the shutter with the film transport lever. Set the shutter speed. Read the meter scale for the aperture required and set that aperture on the camera lens.
- Page 88 determined depth of field, use the meter with the appropriate normal or low light reading and turn the shutter speed dial until the needle points to the aperture required. Transfer the aperture reading to aperture scale on the lens mount. Values between two apertures may be set.
- Page 89 U S I NG T H E B U I LT-I N M ETER liii� Top, left to right: Set the fi lm speed window of the shutter speed dial. Pre·set the required shutter speed. Point the camera towards the su bject. Left, upper: Read the indicated aperture on the meter scale and set...
- Page 90 THE MINOLTA SR-1 , SR-l(V) SR-lS This model has all the features as described on pages 5-8. I t accepts a CdS exposure meter, available a s a n extra, which couples to the shutter speed setting. The shutter has automatic speeds of 1 , !. t, t, 1 / 1 5, 1 /30, 1 /60, 1 / 1 25, 1 /250, 1 /500 sec.
- Page 91 M I N O LTA SR-I, SR- I A N D S R-tS ..·. · .· . · . · . · . Exposure counter :-:-:-:-·. · . _. · . · · o Shutter release ·...
- Page 92 ·12 to 24 months. It covers an extensive range from bright outdoors to candle light. The light reception angle is 30°. For Minolta SR-I use SR meter and for SR-I (V) the SR (V) meter. Using the Exposure Meter Set the camera shutter and the shutter Attach meter to camera.
- Page 93 Scale selector button Photo eel I window Using the Minolta S R Meter. Left to right, top: Attach the meter to the camera. Set the fllm speed. Pre·selcct the shutter speed. Set scale selector dial according to light condid ons.
- Page 94 (see also page 39). Point camera to subject With the meter dial set to H in Read off the aperture required. normal outdoor light, the needle in the meter window will point to one of the guide lines leading to the white aperture scale. Read off the aperture.
- Page 95 Carrying the Camera Changing L enses Handle the Minolta XE-1, Changing Partly-exposed XE-5 Films Close-ups Handle the Minolta SR TlOl, Colour Film TlOlb, SR T303, T303b, Copying Stand TlOO, TlOOb Cutting off Exposed Lengths 1 4, 42, 44 Handle the Minolta SR-7...
- Page 96 Guide Konica Reflex Guide Praktica and Prakticamat Guide Konica mm Compact Guide Rolleiflex Guide Leica Guide Rollei mm Guide · Leicaflex Guide Yashica Twin Lens Reflex Guide Mamiya Guide Yashica mm Guide Minolta SLR Guide Zenith Guide Minox Guide...
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