Minolta Camera Serial Number Lookup
The Rokkor Files - The Minolta SR Series The Rokkor Files - The Minolta X-700TheMinolta SR-T Series of cameras launched in 1966 was a huge step forwardfrom the SR Series that had preceeded it. For the first time Minolta hadreleased a camera with through the lens metering, but unlike its competitorsit did this at full aperture. Where other manufacturers were strugglingwith systems where the photographer would have to stop the lens down tocheck the metering, the Minolta SR-T101 enabled metering to be conductedwith the lens wide open. This meant that the meter reading in the viewfinderwas always clear and bright, and that the photographic process could bemore about inspiration, not perspiration.Tosupport this system an entire new range of lenses were introduced, the'MC' line (for 'meter coupled'). These lenses incorporateda lever that communicated the aperture of the lens to the camera body,enabling the system to work. Naturally, the older Auto lenses still workedon the SR-T101, but required to be stopped down for metering.TheSR-T series was manufactured for 15 years, and the cameras had many variationsover that period.
The timeline for production of these cameras, and thedetails of the different cameras in the SR-T Series are as follows. Ascan be seen above, there was a major revision of the SR-T line in 1975,with a change to all of the model names and many of the features. Lesswell known is the fact that there was another major change to the linein 1977, with many changes to internal parts, and noticeably the eliminationof the FP/X flash switch and a change to the metering system. Thesechanges were introduced without a change in model names, which can makeselecting the late model SR-T that you might want quite challenging.Giventhe number of different model designations for SR-T cameras, if youwish to jump straight to one model rather than read through the history,simply click on the link below. TheSR-T101 was the first camera released in the SR-T Series in April 1966,and its success is shown by the exceptionally long period for whichit was manufactured. The SR-T101 incorporated for the first time throughthe lens metering at full aperture, making the process of photographymuch more simple and opening up the world of photography to many newcomers.However,it was not just the fact that the camera metered at full aperture thatwas revolutionary about the SR-T101. The camera actually incorporatedthe world's first matrix metering system, called the 'Contrast LightCompensator' system by Minolta.
Minolta Camera Serial Number Lookup Model
The system used two seperate meteringcells, situated at different parts of the pentaprism. These cells measuredthe light falling on different parts of the viewfinder screen, and providea reading that takes into account the contrast in a scene. As a result,the camera has the capacity to significantly reduce underexposure ofshadows or other dark areas in a photo, by minimising the effect ofparticularly bright areas which are brighter than the real average ofthe scene.Whileit sounds complex, it actually does work, and this fact helped the SR-T101to become one of the most popular cameras of its era. Other key featuresof the camera included a viewfinder that displayed the selected shutterspeed, mirror lock-up for use with non-retrofocus wide angle lenses,and a depth of field preview button that enabled the photographer tostop the lens down to the taking aperture to assess the depth of field.Themajor specifications of the camera were as follows:. Thevery rare Minolta SRM had an integrated motor drive, and was designedfor high workload professional applications.InApril 1970 Minolta released its first motorised camera, the SR-M. TheSR-M had what Minolta called a 'unitized' motor drive, whichwas non-detachable. The rationale behind this arrangement was that thecamera and drive combination would be sturdier and more reliable if themotor drive formed an integral part of the camera body.Themotor drive enabled single or continuous motorised use, with the continuousdrive at a rate of 3 frames per second.
- Mine is the sixth version. Compared to yours, I have the number on the right and 'MINOLTA CAMERA CO. On the left (reverse to yours), rectangular frame counter on the right (not round on the left), and a different film reminder on the back (scales go right round, ASA white and DIN red). My meter holder is slimmer.
- I am kind of proud of the fact that I have an older model Minolta SRT 101. I would like to now how one goes about trying to determining the age of his or hers camera. Bragging to others, and of course general information. I thought that some where on the Internet that some one said that serial numbers on.
Thecamera required eight AA batteries to power the motor drive, which werestored in the attached handgrip. The handgrip had a shutter release tofacilitate use.Surprisingly,the camera did not include a meter. The rationale for this is that CdSmeters are slow to react to sudden changes in light levels. While latersilicon meters are able to reassess the meter reading in the instant betweenexposures, the CdS meters in use at the time could not meter correctlyfor subsequent frames due to the mirror blackout that occured at the momentof exposure.Inaddition to lacking a meter, the SR-M also did not have a depth of fieldpreview button or a self timer, causing some people to contend that thecamera was actually a modified SR body, and should fall into that category,as opposed to the SR-T category. In fact, the SR-T, SR-M and SR-7v alluse a majority of the same parts, and accordingly the SR-M could be classedas either SR or SR-T. Personally, I feel that the SR-M belongs more tothe SR-T family due to its appearance, and the era in which it was available.Specificationsof the body are as follows:.
Metersensitivity EV 3 to EV 17 at ASA 100. Filmspeeds supported ASA 6-6400. Fullymechanical cloth focal plane shutter with speeds from 1-1/500 secplus B. Shutterspeeds 1-1/60 sec with electronic flash.
Oversizedquick return mirror for no image cut-off even with supertelephotolenses. Flashsynchronisation (X and FP). Finemicroprism focusing with Fresnel lens. Automaticreset film counter.
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Accessoryshoe (cold). Depthof field preview buttonTheSR-T 100 had the key feature of the SR-T 101 being the TTL metering,but many features of the SR-T101 were omitted in its design.
The camerahad a top speed of 1/500 sec instead of 1/1000 sec, it had no mirrorlock up and no self timer. Critically, it no longer displayed the shutterspeed in the viewfinder. Naturally all of these changes enabled significantsavings in production costs. The lack of all of these features makesthe SR-T100 a poor choice for someone seeking to purchase an SR-T modeltoday. InMarch 1973 Minolta released a new flagship model camera, replacing theSR-T101, which while still in production, was relegated to a secondaryposition.
The new camera was the SR-T 102. At this stage Minolta alsocommenced its practice of naming cameras differently in different markets,which it carries on to this day. In this respect, the SR-T102 was namedthe SR-T 303 in Europe, and the SR-T Super in Asia-Pacific.Changesto the SRT101 are small, but significant to the advanced amateur photographer.Firstly, the camera included a full information viewfinder, wherebythe lens aperture and selected shutter speed are shown in the viewfinderdisplay. A photographer need never take his eye away from the findernow to check any details.
Secondly, a split image rangefinder was addedto the focusing screen as a new focusing aid. A multiple-exposure capabilitywas also added through the use of the film release button. While thiscould be done on the other models, it was unpredictable and the photographerneeded to hold the film rewind knob to ensure that the film was notadvanced partially during the process. This was no longer a problemwith the new model. Finally, the cold flash shoe was replaced by a hotshoe,eliminating the need for use of a sync cord when using electronic flash.Thesechanges, although relatively minor, make the SR-T 102 probably the mostattractive of all of the SR-T models to photographers today. It is notedhowever, that Minolta did cease production of SR-T 102 models with mirrorlock-up partway through the model run.
Accordingly, if looking for aSR-T 102, 303 or Super, be sure to check that the particular exampleyou are interested in has mirror lock-up. Minoltaentered into arrangements with major US department stores for the saleof its cameras. In order to ensure that the cameras sold in these storeswere differentiated so that advertising from the stores was not dispersedto camera stores etc, these cameras were slightly different, with a differentname and different features.Essentiallythe SR-T SC and SR-T MC were a cross between a SR-T 100 and a SR-T 101.The maximum shutter speed was 1/1000 sec, and the camera had a depth offield preview button (like the 101), but there was no self timer. A hotshoe was also added. The focusing screen was changed to a microprism onlyfocusing screen (ie.
No additional focusing aids). The MC was availablein black only, and also had the shutter speed displayed in the viewfinder.The SC was produced in chrome, and was without the shutter speed display.TheSR-T SC was sold exclusively by Sears stores in the USA, while the MCwas sold by K-Mart and J.C Penney in the USA and K-Mart in Europe. InAugust 1975 Minolta upgraded the entire range with minor new features,and renamed the cameras. The top of the line SR-T 102 became the SR-T202, or SR505 in Japan and SR-T 303b in Europe.
There is some speculationthat this was conducted as simply a marketing measure, but it is consideredmore likely that Minolta had a plan for progressive upgrades to theplatform, with respective model improvements every few years.Thecamera remained very similar to the previous model, with some minorchanges. Unfortunately, the mirror lock-up feature that had been presenton the SR-T 102 was now gone. In its place was a new feature, a filmsafe-load indicator to tell the photographer that the film had correctlybeen attached to the take-up spool. Additionally, the camera now hada film memo holder on the back door to take a film box top to remindthe photographer of the type of film loaded. Another change over thisperiod that however did not affect functionality was the switch froma metal aperture follower ring to a black plastic ring. TheSR-T 101b in chrome and black. The black units were more expensive andare generally harder to find today, particularly in good condition.Thevenerable SR-T 101 was updated along with the remainder of the SR-T linein 1975, becoming the SR-T 201 (or SR101 in Japan and SR-T 101b in Europeand Asia Pacific excluding Japan).
The changes to the camera as a partof the upgrade were not significant, and were generally in line with whatwas happening with the other models. The camera lost its mirror lock-upfeature, and in its place received a hot shoe and a film memo holder.Thespecifications for the mid-range SR-T 201 were now:. Filmspeeds supported ASA 6-6400. Fullymechanical cloth focal plane shutter with speeds from 1-1/1000 secplus B.
Shutterspeeds 1-1/60 sec with electronic flash. Oversizedquick return mirror for no image cut-off even with supertelephotolenses. Exposurecontrol needle, selected shutter speed and aperture visible in viewfinder. Flashsynchronisation (X). Mat-Fresnel-fieldfocusing screen with split-image spot surrounded by microprism band.
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Filmsafe-load indicator. Automaticreset film counter. Filmmemo holder.
Accessoryhotshoe. Selftimer. Depthof field preview button. TheSR-T 101b late (post 1977) model.
Note the lack of a 'CLC' designationon the front of the prism.Afteronly minor changes to the SR-T 201/101b/SR101 in 1975, in 1977 there wasa major simplification of the model line. Interestingly, this occuredwithout fanfare, or even changes to the model designation, except in Japanwhere the SR101 became the SR101s.Themost significant of the changes implemented at this time was the eliminationof the Contrast Light Compensation metering system. Where the SR-T rangehad previously used this excellent metering system, to save on costs thetwo CdS cells (one fore and one aft) were replaced with a single, slightlysmaller oval shaped cell aft. Additionally with the obsolescense of flashbulbs, the FP flash synchronisation was eliminated. One positive featurehowever, was the introduction of a new improved focusing screen, witha split image focusing aid, and a finer Fresnel mat area, which changedfrom 16 lpmm to 24 lpmm.Thespecifications for the mid-range SR-T 201 were now:.
Thebase model SR-T 200 (100b) was also updated in 1977 when the other modelswere altered. The body received a hotshoe and the FP flash synchronisationwas removed, and later during the model run the CLC metering systemwas replaced with the simplified metering system. The new focusing screenfrom the 201 with a split-image spot surrounded by a microprism bandwas also added at the time that the metering system was replaced. TheUSA model remained designated the SRT-200, while the European/Asia Pacific(excluding Japan) model became the SR-T 100x. Metersensitivity EV 3 to EV 17 at ASA 100 with f/1.4 lens. Filmspeeds supported ASA 6-6400. Fullymechanical cloth focal plane shutter with speeds from 1-1/1000 secplus B.
Shutterspeeds 1-1/60 sec with electronic flash. Oversizedquick return mirror for no image cut-off even with supertelephotolenses. Exposurecontrol needle visible in viewfinder. Flashsynchronisation (X only). Mat-Fresnel-fieldfocusing screen with split-image spot surrounded by microprism band. Automaticreset film counter.
Accessoryhotshoe. Followingon from the earlier arrangements with Sears and K-Mart, in 1977 Minoltaentered into supply agreements for the sale of an updated camera. Newversions of the SC and MC were produced, called (not too originally) theSC-II and MC-II.TheSR-T SC-II and SR-T MC-II can best be described as slight downgrades froma SR-T 201.
The MC-II was lacking only the shutter speed display in theviewfinder. The SC-II had the shutter speed display, but was without theself timer and the the memo holder on the back door. Adsense auto click software downloads. Both began with themicroprism only focusing screen and CLC metering, but later in the modelrun changed to a split image surrounded by the microprism collar, gettingthe non-CLC metering at the same time.TheSR-T SC-II was sold exclusively by Sears stores in the USA, while theMC-II was sold by K-Mart and J.C. Penney in the USA and K-Mart and Hertie'sin Europe. TheSR-T101 was a groundbreaking camera when released, and over the yearsthe changes that were introduced to the camera made it even easier touse.
Wholly mechanical in nature (requiring a battery only for the meteringcells) SR-T cameras were produced for 15 years before being phased outin 1981, demonstrating the fact that they remained a real alternativeto many of the later electronic bodies that followed.Ibelieve that an SR-T is a very fine camera to learn photography with,or as a mechanical backup to a later model body. It is a camera that requiressome knowledge of photographic principles to use well, and accordingly,if a person is looking for a camera that is more a point and shoot, Iwould recommend a different model. That said, an SR-T will most likelystill be operating and be repairable in 50 years time, something not manyelectronic cameras could claim.Tohelp select an SR-T Camera, I strongly recommend a visit to Dick Sullivan'sSR-T page. This page includes a table of all of the features of the differentSR-T models, enabling an informed decision to be made. You can visit Dick'spage by clicking.Iwould like to thank all of the many contributors who have helped to compileand check the information incorporated into this page. Specifically, Iwould like to thank JH and Justin Bailey for their assistance in proofreadingand correcting minor inaccuracies.