- #Minolta camera history manual#
- #Minolta camera history full#
- #Minolta camera history pro#
- #Minolta camera history professional#
In the 1970s, while the SLR rage was in full force, Leitz needed a hand at getting into this new market.
#Minolta camera history pro#
This was Minolta’s first attempt at getting into the pro market and it seemed to not get much support, but this is where the magic started. Very similar to the Nikon F, this camera commands quite a lot of money today.
#Minolta camera history professional#
There really isn’t a version that is significantly better than another, so generally any SR-T camera would be a solid choice today.Īfter the success that was the SR-T line of cameras, Minolta tried to get their hands into the professional market with the Minolta XK.
Around 15 years is a pretty long time for a camera system, but that goes to show how popular and innovative the Minolta SR-T camera was. Going into the early 1980s the SR-T line produced 13 models including some updated versions. The SR-T series lived on for quite a long time. Still quite a bit of money for each in the mid sixties, but for about a thousand dollars less you could get a camera that had some incredible glass and great features. Adjusted for inflation (and a bit of rounding), the competing Nikon F at the time came in at a whopping 2800 dollars while the Minolta SR-T 101 came in at a cool 2000. Appealing mainly to the amateur photographer, they were behind the competition on higher end features but ahead on price point. Being built very sturdily, and having TTL matrix metering (in the mid 1960s mind you), made these cameras pull way ahead of the competition with innovation. Their breakout hit came in 1966 with the introduction of the Minolta SR-T line of cameras. The Hi-Matic line is definitely nothing to scoff at, I would highly recommend any Hi-Matic you can get a hold of. My personal favorite being the Hi-Matic AF2. Even if you want an auto everything camera, you can find an example in the couple of auto focus Hi-Matic cameras that Minolta produced.
#Minolta camera history manual#
I personally really like the idea of a manual focusing auto exposure rangefinder, and I take out my Hi-Matic F any chance I get. If you're more into an automatic exposure camera, but you still want manual focusing, the Hi-Matic E or Hi-Matic F is the camera to go with. Sporting a fast f/1.7 lens and the option of a full manual mode or shutter priority makes it a solid rangefinder choice for anyone.
The Hi-Matic 7SII is probably the quintessential choice out of the Hi-Matic lineup. That being said, there are some models that are somewhat better than others. Consisting of around 15 different models (and some updated ones) you really cannot go wrong with any Hi-Matic in the series. It started with the quintessential and quite chunky Minolta Hi-Matic and lasted into the mid 1980s with the Hi-Matic GF. In the 1960s Minolta released the first camera in their long running series of Hi-Matic rangefinders. I’m not much of a 110 person, being that it’s tricky to develop at home and even harder to scan, but the idea of a 110 SLR seems interesting. Being some of the only 110 SLR cameras ever made, the two models released command higher prices online today. But the more interesting camera was the Minolta 110 Zoom SLR. The Minolta Weathermatic 110 was a completely waterproof camera and had the ability to be taken completely underwater. One of which was a 110 camera part of the Weathermatic line Minolta produced. Out the 110 and 126 cameras, there were really only a few interesting models to talk about. They seem to gather a decent following online, but regardless, a medium format camera with a Minolta lens sounds great in my book.
Coming out in the late 1930s, the Autocord was pretty interesting in the fact that they had CDS metering in later models. There were a handful of different TLR cameras produced, but the Autocord was Minolta’s somewhat successful grab at the TLR market. I’m not very knowledgeable about the TLR and smaller format cameras Minolta was producing, but I’ll do a brief rundown.