My dad bought one of these before I was born in 1975 and traveled with it extensively. Middle east, Asia. I found it in a closet some years ago and now it is again going to various countries - next will be a forest hike in Sweden. Thanks for your videos David!
Thank you for such a good explanatory look at this camera. As a photographer who’s shot only 35mm (Minolta SRT’s mainly), I want to give medium format a go. I’d love to stick with Minolta for the Rokkor glass. Your explanation of the EV math is so appreciated and straightforward, as well as how to use it for 2X photography (I do love doing 2X photography). Now, saving my money...
I have an older model without the light meter, and I did a lot of research before getting my Autocord. I believe one thing that might be of note is that between the 1/250 and 1/500 shutter speed, there is an extra spring that is activated. this causes there to be more tension when moving the shutter speed to 1/500 after the film is advanced, and forcing it can potentially damage the camera. When going to use a shutter speed of 1/500 make sure to change the settings before winding the film. Other than that, great overview, I am always happy to see more Autocord content on youtube.
Panicandres - there is a simple solution to this minor issue. If you have advanced the crank and can't set the shutter speed to 1/500, just do the following steps: 1) cover up the lens and release the shutter (ie take a shot but with the lens covered up); 2) set the shutter speed to 1/500; 3) then push the crank reversing button to the left and advance the film winding crank anti clock wise; and you are are ready for the next shot. You can find this tip on the camera manual. Thanks
This is great to know! I have mine opened up right now trying to fix an issue, and I was noticing something changing between those speeds. This must be where the issue is, because it works ok on the faster shutter speeds. Maybe the extra spring is what has the issue...
LOL....You do make my day with some portions of your videos David. I loved the film loading portion. Just a note. I'm not laughing at you my friend, just having a chuckle at your apparent on air discoveries of some camera operations. You have many beautiful models and I'm sure you can't remember all their functions and operations. Your concise explanations have helped me on several models like my Mamiya C3's focal distance calculations and light falloff indications. Thanks for taking the time to educate us on these gorgeous cameras. Cheers from Nova Scotia..
I was laughing at me when I edited this. :D And yeah, in the last year I've had an increasingly hard time recalling the nuances of all the different cameras that I've reviewed and used. It's like my brain filled up and just started randomly dropping bits of info from that file.
Wow, what a video find and timely! Thank you so much for making this video manual. I just won a beautiful Autocord, that has been CLR'd, and has the wide angle accessories, a nice leather case, and a 12" cable release. It also comes with 2 rolls of film for me to get started right away. I'll be using a Sekonic L-158 as my metering. I can't wait!!!
I just put one of these models on lay away for my birthday for 200 dollars. I thought I was just getting a reasonable price for a well maintained auto cord but looking at the pictures of it made me realize it had this ingenious light meter system. I am over the moon that I found such a great example for such a reasonable price.
I bought one at a garage sale and couldn't figure out how to use it. So thank you for this video. I will put some film in today and give it a try. it is in fantastic condition the lenses look clean like new.
I missed one of these a few years ago, found it dirt cheap at an auction shop a few hours from home but I was leaving town before the auction took place. I was just getting into the world of film (had bought my first camera, a K1000, just a couple months earlier) but I fell in love with the autocord the moment I saw it. To this day it remains one of two TLRs I'm kind of obsessed with, the other one being the Flexaret VII which I'll be getting a couple months from now. I love that you made this video, there are very few videos about it on youtube! Your channel is pure gold, sir.
Great video! I just bought an Autocord cds III and had no idea how the light meter works 😅 also I would have also loaded the film on the wrong end without your video, so this came in very helpful!
Thanks. I just ordered one of these on eBay and see that it does more than I expected. I notice that some TLRs load film from the bottom, not the top the way this one does. I'm also glad you explained how the light meter / exposure settings work.
Great video on how to use the Minolta Autocord. I just accuired one for my wife and have yet to shoot a film with it. However, even though it looks great (almost mint), there are some things that feels kinda "off". The first being when we advance the film with the winding lever it feels somewhat heavy or more tension 1/5 of the way when turning until it hits some kind of a bump and when we pass that it feels loose and nice. Is it supposed to be like that? In your video it looks more smooth. The second thing is if we cock the shutter too fast, it doesnt seem to advance the film and when we clicking the shutter button it doesnt shoot. Is this common or a known issue?
Hmm. Good questions. Those might be good for the Fix Old Cameras channel. Here are my best guesses: 1- On the advance, that does not sound normal. There may be something wrong with the internal gearing -- missing or worn tooth, etc -- on the crank arm gear. 2- For the shutter, that isn't unheard of for leaf shutters. I don't know that's it's specifically a common issue with these, but old leaf shutters do need care and gentle handling.
Hi David Hancock - you can do multiple exposures with this camera. Just push the crank reversing button to the left and advance the film winding crank anti clock wise, and you can do this multiple times. You can't find this unique feature with the Yashica 124 or 124G, but you can do multiple exposures with the Yashica 635.
Great vid thank you. Interesting and useful tip on no leaving the shutter cocked which makes sense. I hadn't thought of this and I'm guessing it would be applicable to spring shutters generally
Okay, just Bought the Autocord. I'm looking forward to using it during my travels in the next few years.. course now i have to find a negative holder. :-)
This was a good video. I need to understand basics though with picking shutter speed. My camera does not have the light meter or calculator on the side. Any suggestions on learning camera basics? Yes the leather case is a pain in the....yeah
I'd grab a basic light meter smartphone app, learn to use it, and just go for it. If you succeed or make mistakes, the film will let you know. Let yourself fail because that will teach you a lot. Keep notes on your camera settings for each shot, too, while you learn.
I was also recently diagnosed with a slow but just as fatal version of ALS, eventually this will make it hard to lift one of my 35 mm slrs and to even hold my head up. but I figure I could still take a few photos with a camera i don't need to lift to me eye too.
Oh man, I hope that however it progresses, it's much slower than anticipated. (This should buy you some time and also the smaller levers may be good for helping retain some muscle dexterity. I'm not a doctor, though, so I could also be wrong about that.)
Hi! Is there a certain point in the video where you explain how to unload the film? Just bought a Minolta Autocord(first version I believe) and I’m just about done and wondering what I do next lol. Additionally, not sure if this is cause for concern BUT it’s been about two days that I’ve been using my Autocord and I noticed that when I adjust my shutter speed there is a kind of “slight scratching metal sound” as I adjust. Almost sounds as if there’s like two grains of sand somewhere (I did not take it to the beach lol) I just hope nothing is wrong, as I’m on my first test roll so we’ll see!
@@DavidHancockhi I just watched it and I didn’t see anything that explicitly told me how to take the film out once I’m done (unless it’s just popping it out) 🤷🏽♂️
@filmlocker6284 once it's fully advanced, the film will just pop out. There's a part in the video where I have to remove the dummy film that I used and your real film will pop out like that. Then just be sure to seal the spool when you remove it.
I ditched the NeverReady case for mine decades ago which may be why the focusing lever is not broken. I am a TLR fan and I love the lens quality on the Autocord! Highly underrated camera! Thanks. For another great review?
I finally have my autocord in my hands, I was very suprised at the heft of it. I do have a question about the shutter, does it have to be on a specific setting? it seems that the EV numbers will put you between the specific stop points, cant the shutter be fired this way or does it default to the nearest setting?
Nice! Yes, it will need to be set correctly. I sold my Autocord so I forget how to set the shutter, but there is a comprehensive explanation in the video.
Hi David! I just got this camera in, same exact model except without the meter (so seikosha-mx). The camera was recently CLA'd before purchasing and it all works like a dream! However, I can not seem to get the camera to fire in 1/500? I know of the extra spring that adds more tension for the 1/500. So i will make sure the shutter has been fired, move the shutter lever down to 1/500, wind, and then when i try to press the shutter release the button won't even depress. Is there something special you must do to get the camera to fire at that speed?
Hi, James, there shouldn't be anything special for that. If your camera has the same shutter as the one in this video, it should operate the same way. If it isn't, then it's worth asking the seller why and seeing if they have thoughts. If it still is non-functional, I might see about a return or a follow-up overhaul to rectify the shutter issue. If there is some trick to getting it to fire on 1/500, let me know, though.
11:05 That's a frame count reset? I guess it differs per model? I have an Autocord MXV and that buttons slides after that initial double exposure so I can take more exposures on the same frame. Try to hold it and see if it can wind again to take more multiple exposures after the initial double exposure. :) Crank locks in place after the initial double exposure so you need to hold that button before winding. :D
When I was looking for a "faster working TLR in the 1970's, Minolta Autocord came up as an alternative to the almighty (expensive) Rolleiflex. I had seen the CdS cell-equipped, late model Autcords, but the earlier meterless version was more affordable. (Also less to go wrong, though the broken-off focusing knob is/was a known weakness, remedied by a well-equipped camera repairman.) The Autocord was more interesting to use than Ye Olde Rolleicord V, since there was less chance of double exposing film. Meter readings from the trusty/adaptable Sekonic L-28C was part of the usual medium format kit. along with Size I bayonet filters. Those were the Verichrome Pan, Kodacolor-X and "Shutterbug Ads" days of long ago.
Hi David. I'm having some issues using a flash with my Autocord. I have an early version which only has the toggle switch between bulb/flash under the taking lens. I've used a tiny Sunpak unit with its built-in cable. The flash fires without fail, but my negs are near empty (total underexposure) which suggests the flash, though firing, is not syncing with the shutter. Any ideas?!
Does yours have an "X" switch? If not, it may only be properly timed for "M" bulbs. The other possibility is that the settings on the camera are wrong and there's no enough light reaching the film. To test it, with no film in the camera, in a dark room, open the camera's back and look through the lens pointing the flash into the room. Trigger the shutter and you should see a flash through the lens. If so, then the timing works and the settings were wrong. If not, then the timing is probably set to the wrong setting. With that setup you can also test different configurations on the camera to identify a working setup for flash use.
@@DavidHancock If as I suspect there is only an M-sync you can build a timing circuit to delay triggering the flash. I suspect that some creative web searching will come up with some examples. The cameras designed for flash bulbs close the contacts a few mS before the shutter trips to give the burn in the bulb time to build much like the spark timing on a gasoline engine that fires before top dead center.
I am looking at buy one of these but is has a series of numbers on the lens that countdown from 18 to 3 with no numbers on the other side, but the is a sliding lever. no light meter that I can tell. this is of course a 60's version citizen shutter. I assume it is good. I love their Watches.
the shutter speeds that you add the number (from the selection of 18 to 3) is displayed on the top looking down, I figure. My light meter app gives EV's and I have a GE light meter made in about 1958 that works fine still.
I sent a Minolta Autocord to the US for a CLA to a very famous Autocord repairman but he was so expensive I was unable to pay his charges and I had to leave the camera with him. Part of the outrageous charge included a front element cleaning charge of $10.00 which did not need cleaning as I had it in pristine condition.
Ouch. That hurts. I've left cameras with repairmen before, but only because they were non-repairable and the repairmen could use some parts on other cameras. A loss like that hurts. I have four repairmen/companies that I work with and being able to trust a repairman is very valuable. Knowing what they do well and don't do well is also important.
That is a bummer guy. We has a great camera repair shop in Halifax but after twenty seven years they finally closed their doors last December. Major brands Nikon, Canon, Sony, started refusing to send parts for him to repair their digital products. Hard to be in business without suppliers. They did marvelous work repairing film cameras and CLA but without parts for current digital cameras "The writing was on the wall" to use a bad quote.
mamiyapress - if you are referring to that famous Autocord repairman in Beaverton USA, then I have a difference opinion on this person. I bought my LMX from a seller who told me that the Autocord had been CLA by him. After getting the camera for few weeks, I noticed that the aperture lever had been disengaged and sat at f11. I then contacted the gentleman in Beaverton about the camera where he confirmed that it was serviced by him not long ago. Initially he suggested that I try to fix the issue as I am not from the US. I told him that I have no confident in doing this and requested that he repair this for me. For his service, he didn't charge me any thing, except for the insured postage for returning the camera back to me. Of course, it did cost me some money for sending the camera to him and also for the safe return, which I am very happy with the service. This is just my opinion.
Autocord. I find that the images from the taking lens are slightly more appealing in terms of sharpness and contrast. That said, you'd likely enjoy and take good photos with either.
The history is cool and all…. but anyone who wants to see the actual features and how to use this camera have to go through a painstaking amount of non useful info to get there.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
My dad bought one of these before I was born in 1975 and traveled with it extensively. Middle east, Asia. I found it in a closet some years ago and now it is again going to various countries - next will be a forest hike in Sweden. Thanks for your videos David!
Thank you! And that's fantastic that you can still take your camera overseas!
Thank you for the tutorial! Just won an ebay bid for $80 for one of these. Excited to try it out!
Great explanation! Just got it and I cannot wait to shoot and develop
Thank you for such a good explanatory look at this camera. As a photographer who’s shot only 35mm (Minolta SRT’s mainly), I want to give medium format a go. I’d love to stick with Minolta for the Rokkor glass. Your explanation of the EV math is so appreciated and straightforward, as well as how to use it for 2X photography (I do love doing 2X photography). Now, saving my money...
Thank you!
I have an older model without the light meter, and I did a lot of research before getting my Autocord. I believe one thing that might be of note is that between the 1/250 and 1/500 shutter speed, there is an extra spring that is activated. this causes there to be more tension when moving the shutter speed to 1/500 after the film is advanced, and forcing it can potentially damage the camera. When going to use a shutter speed of 1/500 make sure to change the settings before winding the film. Other than that, great overview, I am always happy to see more Autocord content on youtube.
Thank you and good point!
Panicandres - there is a simple solution to this minor issue. If you have advanced the crank and can't set the shutter speed to 1/500, just do the following steps:
1) cover up the lens and release the shutter (ie take a shot but with the lens covered up);
2) set the shutter speed to 1/500;
3) then push the crank reversing button to the left and advance the film winding crank anti clock wise;
and you are are ready for the next shot.
You can find this tip on the camera manual. Thanks
This is great to know! I have mine opened up right now trying to fix an issue, and I was noticing something changing between those speeds. This must be where the issue is, because it works ok on the faster shutter speeds. Maybe the extra spring is what has the issue...
LOL....You do make my day with some portions of your videos David. I loved the film loading portion. Just a note. I'm not laughing at you my friend, just having a chuckle at your apparent on air discoveries of some camera operations. You have many beautiful models and I'm sure you can't remember all their functions and operations. Your concise explanations have helped me on several models like my Mamiya C3's focal distance calculations and light falloff indications. Thanks for taking the time to educate us on these gorgeous cameras. Cheers from Nova Scotia..
I was laughing at me when I edited this. :D And yeah, in the last year I've had an increasingly hard time recalling the nuances of all the different cameras that I've reviewed and used. It's like my brain filled up and just started randomly dropping bits of info from that file.
Wow, what a video find and timely! Thank you so much for making this video manual. I just won a beautiful Autocord, that has been CLR'd, and has the wide angle accessories, a nice leather case, and a 12" cable release. It also comes with 2 rolls of film for me to get started right away. I'll be using a Sekonic L-158 as my metering. I can't wait!!!
Thank you! And very nice camera. These are a joy to use.
I just put one of these models on lay away for my birthday for 200 dollars. I thought I was just getting a reasonable price for a well maintained auto cord but looking at the pictures of it made me realize it had this ingenious light meter system. I am over the moon that I found such a great example for such a reasonable price.
That's a fantastic deal!
I bought one at a garage sale and couldn't figure out how to use it. So thank you for this video. I will put some film in today and give it a try. it is in fantastic condition the lenses look clean like new.
Thank you! Nice find, too.
@@DavidHancock The film Kodak TRI-X 400 turned out great and I made a print 👍🏻.
I missed one of these a few years ago, found it dirt cheap at an auction shop a few hours from home but I was leaving town before the auction took place. I was just getting into the world of film (had bought my first camera, a K1000, just a couple months earlier) but I fell in love with the autocord the moment I saw it. To this day it remains one of two TLRs I'm kind of obsessed with, the other one being the Flexaret VII which I'll be getting a couple months from now. I love that you made this video, there are very few videos about it on youtube! Your channel is pure gold, sir.
Thank you! These are really great cameras without a doubt.
I spoke to soon, I guess this answered my other question on the Minolta X-370. Another well done video
Thank you!
Great video! I just bought an Autocord cds III and had no idea how the light meter works 😅 also I would have also loaded the film on the wrong end without your video, so this came in very helpful!
Thank you!
Thanks. I just ordered one of these on eBay and see that it does more than I expected. I notice that some TLRs load film from the bottom, not the top the way this one does. I'm also glad you explained how the light meter / exposure settings work.
Thank you! Yeah, the loading was a bit different and surprised me, too.
Great video on how to use the Minolta Autocord. I just accuired one for my wife and have yet to shoot a film with it. However, even though it looks great (almost mint), there are some things that feels kinda "off". The first being when we advance the film with the winding lever it feels somewhat heavy or more tension 1/5 of the way when turning until it hits some kind of a bump and when we pass that it feels loose and nice. Is it supposed to be like that? In your video it looks more smooth.
The second thing is if we cock the shutter too fast, it doesnt seem to advance the film and when we clicking the shutter button it doesnt shoot. Is this common or a known issue?
Hmm. Good questions. Those might be good for the Fix Old Cameras channel. Here are my best guesses:
1- On the advance, that does not sound normal. There may be something wrong with the internal gearing -- missing or worn tooth, etc -- on the crank arm gear.
2- For the shutter, that isn't unheard of for leaf shutters. I don't know that's it's specifically a common issue with these, but old leaf shutters do need care and gentle handling.
Thank you SO Much. I have just ordered a Minolta Autocord camera ... your video is so inspiring! Thank you AGAIN!
Thank you!
Hi David Hancock - you can do multiple exposures with this camera. Just push the crank reversing button to the left and advance the film winding crank anti clock wise, and you can do this multiple times. You can't find this unique feature with the Yashica 124 or 124G, but you can do multiple exposures with the Yashica 635.
Thank you! I could not figure that out.
Superb presentation.
Thank you!
Very nice video with many details and easy to follow. Thank you a lot
Thank you!
Great vid thank you. Interesting and useful tip on no leaving the shutter cocked which makes sense. I hadn't thought of this and I'm guessing it would be applicable to spring shutters generally
Thank you!
I purchased this exact camera 6 years ago at a yard sale for $5!! Everything seems to work on it and I just ordered film so I’m hoping it works.
That's a fantastic deal! I hope it works, too.
Okay, just Bought the Autocord. I'm looking forward to using it during my travels in the next few years.. course now i have to find a negative holder. :-)
Nice! These are really enjoyable to use.
@@DavidHancock Still waiting for it to arrive, the weather has the mail stopped despite that 'Neither Rain nor Snow...." statement on the building.
Hey, thanks for the great video - is there anything to know about unloading the film once you're done shooting?
Thank you and just make you don't let it unspool. Seal it nice and tight until you develop it yourself or send it off to a lab.
This was a good video. I need to understand basics though with picking shutter speed. My camera does not have the light meter or calculator on the side. Any suggestions on learning camera basics?
Yes the leather case is a pain in the....yeah
I'd grab a basic light meter smartphone app, learn to use it, and just go for it. If you succeed or make mistakes, the film will let you know. Let yourself fail because that will teach you a lot. Keep notes on your camera settings for each shot, too, while you learn.
I was also recently diagnosed with a slow but just as fatal version of ALS, eventually this will make it hard to lift one of my 35 mm slrs and to even hold my head up. but I figure I could still take a few photos with a camera i don't need to lift to me eye too.
Oh man, I hope that however it progresses, it's much slower than anticipated. (This should buy you some time and also the smaller levers may be good for helping retain some muscle dexterity. I'm not a doctor, though, so I could also be wrong about that.)
Hi!
Is there a certain point in the video where you explain how to unload the film?
Just bought a Minolta Autocord(first version I believe) and I’m just about done and wondering what I do next lol.
Additionally, not sure if this is cause for concern BUT it’s been about two days that I’ve been using my Autocord and I noticed that when I adjust my shutter speed there is a kind of “slight scratching metal sound” as I adjust. Almost sounds as if there’s like two grains of sand somewhere (I did not take it to the beach lol) I just hope nothing is wrong, as I’m on my first test roll so we’ll see!
Yes, in the film loading and unloading section (linked in the video description) there should be a demonstration of that.
@@DavidHancockhi I just watched it and I didn’t see anything that explicitly told me how to take the film out once I’m done (unless it’s just popping it out) 🤷🏽♂️
@filmlocker6284 once it's fully advanced, the film will just pop out. There's a part in the video where I have to remove the dummy film that I used and your real film will pop out like that. Then just be sure to seal the spool when you remove it.
@@DavidHancock thank you so much! It worked!
The knob broke off on my Autocord focusing lever and it is apparently impossible too find a replacement. Any suggestions?
I wish I had one. I might check with the Fix Old Cameras channel, though.
I ditched the NeverReady case for mine decades ago which may be why the focusing lever is not broken. I am a TLR fan and I love the lens quality on the Autocord! Highly underrated camera! Thanks. For another great review?
Thank you!
I finally have my autocord in my hands, I was very suprised at the heft of it. I do have a question about the shutter, does it have to be on a specific setting? it seems that the EV numbers will put you between the specific stop points, cant the shutter be fired this way or does it default to the nearest setting?
Nice! Yes, it will need to be set correctly. I sold my Autocord so I forget how to set the shutter, but there is a comprehensive explanation in the video.
Hi David! I just got this camera in, same exact model except without the meter (so seikosha-mx). The camera was recently CLA'd before purchasing and it all works like a dream! However, I can not seem to get the camera to fire in 1/500? I know of the extra spring that adds more tension for the 1/500. So i will make sure the shutter has been fired, move the shutter lever down to 1/500, wind, and then when i try to press the shutter release the button won't even depress. Is there something special you must do to get the camera to fire at that speed?
Hi, James, there shouldn't be anything special for that. If your camera has the same shutter as the one in this video, it should operate the same way. If it isn't, then it's worth asking the seller why and seeing if they have thoughts. If it still is non-functional, I might see about a return or a follow-up overhaul to rectify the shutter issue. If there is some trick to getting it to fire on 1/500, let me know, though.
11:05 That's a frame count reset? I guess it differs per model? I have an Autocord MXV and that buttons slides after that initial double exposure so I can take more exposures on the same frame.
Try to hold it and see if it can wind again to take more multiple exposures after the initial double exposure. :)
Crank locks in place after the initial double exposure so you need to hold that button before winding. :D
Thank you!
@@DavidHancock No worries! Hope this helps you or some of your other viewers! :)
When I was looking for a "faster working TLR in the 1970's, Minolta Autocord came up as an alternative to the almighty (expensive) Rolleiflex. I had seen the CdS cell-equipped, late model Autcords, but the earlier meterless version was more affordable. (Also less to go wrong, though the broken-off focusing knob is/was a known weakness, remedied by a well-equipped camera repairman.) The Autocord was more interesting to use than Ye Olde Rolleicord V, since there was less chance of double exposing film. Meter readings from the trusty/adaptable Sekonic L-28C was part of the usual medium format kit. along with Size I bayonet filters. Those were the Verichrome Pan, Kodacolor-X and "Shutterbug Ads" days of long ago.
Nice! I do tend to agree that I prefer using the Japanese TLRs over the German ones.
Hi David. I'm having some issues using a flash with my Autocord. I have an early version which only has the toggle switch between bulb/flash under the taking lens. I've used a tiny Sunpak unit with its built-in cable. The flash fires without fail, but my negs are near empty (total underexposure) which suggests the flash, though firing, is not syncing with the shutter. Any ideas?!
Does yours have an "X" switch? If not, it may only be properly timed for "M" bulbs. The other possibility is that the settings on the camera are wrong and there's no enough light reaching the film. To test it, with no film in the camera, in a dark room, open the camera's back and look through the lens pointing the flash into the room. Trigger the shutter and you should see a flash through the lens. If so, then the timing works and the settings were wrong. If not, then the timing is probably set to the wrong setting. With that setup you can also test different configurations on the camera to identify a working setup for flash use.
@@DavidHancock If as I suspect there is only an M-sync you can build a timing circuit to delay triggering the flash. I suspect that some creative web searching will come up with some examples. The cameras designed for flash bulbs close the contacts a few mS before the shutter trips to give the burn in the bulb time to build much like the spark timing on a gasoline engine that fires before top dead center.
Great
Thank you!
I am looking at buy one of these but is has a series of numbers on the lens that countdown from 18 to 3 with no numbers on the other side, but the is a sliding lever. no light meter that I can tell. this is of course a 60's version citizen shutter. I assume it is good. I love their Watches.
Sounds like a nice camera. The numbers 18 to 3 are, I think, explained in this video. It's a very clever system.
the shutter speeds that you add the number (from the selection of 18 to 3) is displayed on the top looking down, I figure. My light meter app gives EV's and I have a GE light meter made in about 1958 that works fine still.
I sent a Minolta Autocord to the US for a CLA to a very famous Autocord repairman but he was so expensive I was unable to pay his charges and I had to leave the camera with him. Part of the outrageous charge included a front element cleaning charge of $10.00 which did not need cleaning as I had it in pristine condition.
Ouch. That hurts. I've left cameras with repairmen before, but only because they were non-repairable and the repairmen could use some parts on other cameras. A loss like that hurts. I have four repairmen/companies that I work with and being able to trust a repairman is very valuable. Knowing what they do well and don't do well is also important.
@@DavidHancock It was a particularly nice model with very clean glass but the shutter speeds were off.
That is a bummer guy. We has a great camera repair shop in Halifax but after twenty seven years they finally closed their doors last December. Major brands Nikon, Canon, Sony, started refusing to send parts for him to repair their digital products. Hard to be in business without suppliers. They did marvelous work repairing film cameras and CLA but without parts for current digital cameras "The writing was on the wall" to use a bad quote.
mamiyapress - if you are referring to that famous Autocord repairman in Beaverton USA, then I have a difference opinion on this person. I bought my LMX from a seller who told me that the Autocord had been CLA by him. After getting the camera for few weeks, I noticed that the aperture lever had been disengaged and sat at f11. I then contacted the gentleman in Beaverton about the camera where he confirmed that it was serviced by him not long ago. Initially he suggested that I try to fix the issue as I am not from the US. I told him that I have no confident in doing this and requested that he repair this for me. For his service, he didn't charge me any thing, except for the insured postage for returning the camera back to me. Of course, it did cost me some money for sending the camera to him and also for the safe return, which I am very happy with the service. This is just my opinion.
Autocord or Ricohmatic 225?
Autocord. I find that the images from the taking lens are slightly more appealing in terms of sharpness and contrast. That said, you'd likely enjoy and take good photos with either.
mine has the timer
Nice!
The history is cool and all…. but anyone who wants to see the actual features and how to use this camera have to go through a painstaking amount of non useful info to get there.
There's an index with time-linked chapters in the description.