The Minolta SR-T Cameras: How to Use
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- Опубликовано: 25 июл 2024
- This video pertains to all Minolta models:
SR-T 101 (1966-1975)
SR-M (1970-1975)
SR-T 100 (1971-1975)
SR-T 102 / SR-T Super / SR-T 303 (1973-1975)
SR-T SC / SR-T MC (1973-1975)
SR-T 202 / SR505 / SR-T 303b (1975-1977)
SR-T 201 / SR101 / SR-T 101b (1975-1977)
SR-T 200 / SR-T 100b (1975-1977)
SR-T 202 / SR505s / SR-T 303b (1977-1980)
SR-T 201 / SR101s / SR-T 101b (1977-1981)
SR-T 200 / SR-T 100x (1977-1981)
SR-T SC-II / SR-T MC-II (1977-1980)
Notes:
The original battery for the SRT series, the PX625, is no longer on the market because it contained mercury and little kids were swallowing them, leading to undesirable outcomes. The replacement battery and adapter shown in the video is a 386 silver oxide button cell battery (1.55 volts) and the C.R.I.S. MR-9 adapter, available from shop.criscam.com/products/mr-... or from ebay at slightly reduced costs. Much more about the batteries and other options can be found at this wonderfully detailed website from photographer Bruce Varner: www.brucevarner.com/PX625Repl...
The X/FP switch: The X sync connector (or switch setting) would fire the flash only when the first shutter curtain was fully open, whereas the FP (Focal Plane) setting would fire the flash at the beginning of the exposure, before the first shutter curtain started to move. Why the difference? Flash bulbs had a slower burn; you could use ANY shutter speed with the FP setting, whereas newer electronic flashes would only flash for 1/10,000th of a second, so it was important that the entire frame of the film be exposed before the flash went off. For this reason you could only shoot with electronic flash at the camera’s flash sync speed (1/60th of a second, which is why it's painted red) or slower.
Many of the early models also had a mirror-lock-up function, which was useful for astrophotographers and others with long lenses. Locking the mirror in the "Up" position eliminated much of the internal vibration when you took a picture; vibration which sometimes led to camera shake and blurry pictures when using long lenses.
Back in the 1960's (earlier, actually) there were two competing standards for film speed: ASA and DIN (and you can see an equivalence table on the back of the camera). In 1987 the world migrated to ISO, which is essentially ASA with a new label.
I talk more about how this video was made at my blog post: friedmanarchives.blogspot.com...
You can also find out more about the Friedman Archives Seminars (especially the streaming version) at www.FriedmanArchives.com/semi... . Also check out Gary's multitude of ebooks on Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus cameras at www.FriedmanArchives.com . 
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Best video I have ever seen on how to use an analog camera....
Thanks!
Bought the SRT303 in the US Navy exchange in 1973. Photographed most of the Mediterranean, Europe, and North Africa with it. Great camera, still have it. Sixth Fleet Flag, USS Little Rock. FTM3
Awesome!
Gary, I just got a vintage minolta and this video is very helpful, probably watched it over 3 times! Thank you 🙏
So glad you found it useful!!!
There is something mystically appealing about the SR-T cameras. The build, the look, the feel, and the Sound are all inviting. I have a copy of the 100, 101, 102, 200, 201, and 202. Just having them and looking at them has a therapeutical effect. They make you feel good. Of all the mechanical cameras, the SR-T is my all time favorite. Thank you very much for your excellent vids about Minolta cameras.
You're quite welcome, and I'm glad it resonated with you!!
i just randomly spiked interest in film photography and i am so thankfulfor your videos!!
My first film camera was a XE-7. Is good to see people are getting back into film. It means that these cameras will continue to be used.
I won a Minolta SRT 200 camera at an auction. And struggled with loading film in and even accidentally wasting a whole roll because I thought I loaded it in properly. This really helped and told me about some parts that I didn’t know what they were before. Thank you! (Fun fact: you can use this camera without a battery)
Glad you liked it! I actually mentioned that it could work without batteries at the very beginning of the video. 🙂
My first film camera is the SRT 100 !! Thanks for the video :)
This is freaking nice.
I just got an srt 202 handed down from my mother and was trying to find out how it works.
This video is worth so much to me right now as all the old childhood pictures were taken with this camera
Glad you found it helpful!
Thank you so much for excellent explanations that many store clerks have not been able to convey when I asked them! For example, I love your explanation of the f-stop preview button.
Store clerks didn't know about the depth-of-field preview button?? They shouldn't even be allowed to work at that store!! :-)
Thanks for this. I have used some of these cameras. Funny I have done hundreds of photoshoots and my best portrait ever was taken on a 101b. Sometimes mechanical simplicity is all you need :)
I've been saying that for years! 🙂
just got a SRT 100X for 20 bucks in mint condition, i already have some minolta mc/md lenses, this video was very useful thank you
You're quite welcome!
Great comprehensive review. I love my Minolta SRT-303! Fantastic camera! Fantastic lenses! You can’t go wrong with any Minolta SRT version.
Srt-202 was my first very own film camera I got about 10 years ago (about 2013). I have a zillion film cameras now but I’ll never give up my SRT.
A zillion? That's a lot! How does it compare to my shot at the top of this blog post? friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2023/06/the-new-new-studio.html 🙂
I just got one yesterday, this video was super helpful thank you
You're quite welcome!
Just bought some Fuji film at Walmart for my 1971 Minolta SR-T 101 for the Eclipse tomorrow just put in new light seals had to come back and watch to make sure I loaded film right 😂 I know these are different than my other 35mm thanks great video I love this Camera/ Tank can't wait to use it, and Kodak and Polaroid making film again too yeah my first roll in 30 years.
Wow! Enjoy.
Your explanation on shutters and f are amazing. Never heard anyone explain this so clearly.
Thanks!!
Ah, this is so handy and comprehensive. My dad found a whole kit with a well cared for Minolta srt102 with some cool nice lenses, and he gave it to me to try to sell. I think I’m going to try to mess around with it for a while, this video really sold me on the whole thing! Thank you for your time and expertise!
So glad you found it useful!
This was so informative and helpful, thanks for helping me getting started!
Thank you for making this video. My spouse just bought a minolta srt scii and is very excited
Ker-Chunk! Love the audio effects. Gary, you have the most reliable information and advice, thank you
Thanks!!
Just purchased an SRT 202. This is the type of in depth video I needed! I'll definitely be coming back to your channel!
Glad you like it!! GF
Excellent video. You are very thorough and detailed covering all the buttons, dials, etc. Great info regarding the battery replacement for the light meter.
Glad you like it! My books on the Sony cameras (at FriedmanArchives.com) are known for that level of detail. :-)
This is the best video i could find explaining everything. Thank you so much, excellent presentation and knowledge.
Thanks so much!
awesome video!!!! I learned a lot from you, Gary. I love your energy!
So glad you found it helpful!
Thank you for all of the information you provide. Blessings 🙏🏽
👍
I just got an SRT-202 as my first film camera and this video has been extremely helpful. Thank you! This was way better than all the other info I found online and certainly more entertaining than the manual :)
Glad you liked it, and thanks for being kind enough to comment! It's not hard to be more entertaining than the manual. :-)
good luck with your new SRT 202 ❤
You’re a gem! Thank you for the video
Thanks for this video. I still have the SRT-101 that my dad bought us to use growing up. I shoot maybe a roll or two a year with it, plus another roll or two in my AF film bodies. I've been using the 1.4V zinc air batteries with an adapter. I'll have to remember to overexpose a little. Thanks for the tip. I do love "slow photography" from time to time, not rely on all of the automation available to us nowadays. I have an old XE-7, my main camera back in the day, but its like meter is a mess and I prefer not to have to "sunny 16" it all of the time.
Slow photograhpy is great, but don't ask me to go back to the darkroom. I spent enough time in my youth doing that. Also my XE-7 failed in a similar way to yours - the meter accuracy was "WAY off!" (quote from the Minolta repair guy) when returning from a documentary trip to the Soviet Union. Stress!!!
@@FriedmanArchives I haven't been in a darkroom in 35+ years. When I send my film in I ask for "enhanced scans" about 6MP I think. I do enjoy the process. At $1/frame (film + processing costs) I like to make sure each exposure counts, minimize those throwaway shots. Do you print much? I'm a regular 4x6 printer, sharing postcards of my shots. Let me know if you want a card! Happy to send one along.
never stop making videos, they are so good!
Thanks!!
Thanks Gary, excellent explanation.
Glad it was helpful!
I first got into photography around 2011, and bought my first "real" camera, which was a Minolta SRT-101. I even made a video about it at the time. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, it's a lovely piece of engineering. It still works great, of course (although the light meter isn't very accurate anymore).
I enjoy your videos Gary, your enthusiasm for what you do really shines through.
Thanks!!
I seem to remember this battery situation was the same on my Yashica Electro 35
A lot of equipment back then used these batteries... not surprising!
Nice video! Keep up the good work.I thought my lens was stuck open or defective. The bras or copper looking adapter is a more affordable solution for students.
Still shooting my SRT and X cameras. Most enjoyable. Enjoy your videos.
Thanks!!
Had an x-370 die on me. Soon as the electronics went down the shutter stopped and would not advance. Just bought an srt 101 on an auction site so I am thrilled to learn I got a mechanical camera at a good price
Yes, the X700/X500/X370 series were famous for having capacitors that didn't age well. Not Minolta's fault. But your SRT 101 will certainly serve you well!
The X-370s are really nice cameras. Everything on that camera worked like new. I had one and traded up for a Nikon F, (Ftn photomic prism head) adding a few more dollars to purchase it. I really wanted that Nikon F and purchased it refurbished (like I do with most of my vintage film SLRs) from a camera repair shop. I also own the Minolta SRT-303. I will never part with that camera!
Some years ago someone lend me a Seagull camera that afaik was a licensed copy of one of the early Minolta cameras :-)
As far as I remember that was on a sunny day so guessing exposure based on F16, shutter equals 1/ISO and adding a bit in shadow kind of worked.
Edit:
I have read that zinc air batteries for hearing aids also have around 1.3V but have a limited lifetime once the seal is opened.
Yeah, zinc air batteries are a poor choice - only work for about a day after exposing the zinc to air and you can't extend that life by resealing it.
This man looks the same now as he did back in his videos released over 10 years ago. He doesn’t age. Also I own the SRT-100 101 102 201 & 303b the best from Minolta.
Are you kidding? Have you seen me during the Covid lockdown? :-) www.friedmanarchives.com/COVID%20Beard/#&gid=1&pid=30
My first real camera was a SRT 101! Had a bag full of MD primes to go with it. Whole thing got burgled in 1975...
:-( Sorry to hear that...
great video! my dad just gave me the SRT-Super (303, I think) that his dad gave him in the 70s and I’m completely new to photography so thank you for explaining everything so clearly :)
So glad you found it helpful! Enjoy taking pictures the old fashioned way. :-)
This guy it is Amazing !! thank you
I just saw your 10 best Minolta video it was great. the cle has held its value, so I got a srt 200. anyways thank you for the video
Glad it helped!
Soooo great video!!! Besides.. I was born in 1962 😊
🙂
SRT-202 shooter here, I love it!
As well you should! 🙂
I havent pulled my SR-7 and SRT out for a while, probably should if I can find a battery to put into it.
Nostalgic. Of course, people in their sixties all started with film and fully manual cameras. I excavated my own srt-101 and x-700 and maybe I'll give it a try. That depth of view button never worked for me. I could not use it well.
I always wonder why people kept those gold JCII stickers on their cameras. I started with an SRT-101 and moved on to SRT-102 and XE-7 and would always carefully peel them off before they became scuffed and the residue became hard to remove. You do what you do, but that’s what I did.
Live your books by the way.
I remember I always wondered the same thing in my youth. Then I got older and things like that fell off my radar. 🙂
Hi Gary. The manual advices you to load the film strip the other way, against the rotation. This secures the film better, and you won’t have a slip to stuff in like I watched you do. It’s maybe contra intuitive, but it works just like a charm. Regards Martin
Good to know! (Both that and the fact that I've been doing it wrong all these years. :-) ) Thanks for keeping me honest!
I also started doing it the other way around and actually the XD series f.ex. is designed to go the way you did in the video. But those later cameras has small notches that is supposed to grab the film. It could be something to do with the later models being created for motor drives.
this is a great video, very informative. :) I recently purchased a minolta srt 101, i didn’t realize until after that the little lever on the rewind knob is missing. is it still possible to rewind the film without that latch by just turning the entire knob?
YES, as long as you press that little button on the bottom first. :-)
woo! thanks so much! :-)
Great review! I have one thing to ask, regarding the flash: do you know if every kind of flash unit that has the right dimensions to fit the flash entrance of the camera will work or should I need to go for a specific type/brand of flash unit for this Minolta? Thanks!
The hot shoe on the SR-T series should fit any generic flash. All the camera body does is tell that flash when to fire. I believe Minolta didn't start putting manufacturer-specific communication pins on their cameras until the late 1970's, with the XG and XD series of cameras.
@@FriedmanArchivesthanks! another question: whenever we are not using the camera, should we remove the battery and then put it in again when we will use the camera to cover for the oxidation risk of the battery? or just turning OFF will do it?
@@AlbertoG8That's good practice for any electronic device. Batteries leak given enough time. :-)
Hi Gary, thanks for the walk down memory lane. How are you liking the North East?
It's really nice here. I don't mind the cold at all but the insects on warm summer nights really bug me. :-(
👍👍👍👍👍👍
this was definitive
Thanks!
Sir, explain to the folks the ASA and DIN tables, and that ASA is now ISO.
YES, I definitely should have explained that!!! Too late to edit now. Maybe I should start taking notes for a Part II.
Where do I get the battery adapter?
See link in the description.
Where did you get the voltage regulator
Link to the voltage regulator is in the video description.
I bought 2 SRT body 102 202 and 58mm F1.4 lens at $ 165
and they are on the way of dilevery.
Wow! That's a bargain. Enjoy your new treasures!
Wish I could afford the class😢
I wish you could, too! 😞
and that's why Sony wins lol. I just ordered this camera earlier today. haven't used a REAL film camera of this type in many years literally. I came because the SRT model seems to be popular and couldn't resist the price with the 50mm 1.7!
Awesome video, thanks so much!
You're quite welcome!