Minolta SR-T 101
The Minolta SR-T 101 is a mechanical miniature - SLR , which by the Japanese company Minolta was produced in different versions from 1966 to 1981.
Furnishing
The Minolta SR-T 101 uses the SR bayonet already used in the previous models, but extends it with the option of measuring exposure through the lens with the aperture open (MC - meter coupled ).
The shutter is a horizontally running cloth focal plane shutter that allows mechanically formed shutter speeds from one to 1/1000 of a second and B to be set. The shortest flash sync time for the X contact is 1/60 of a second. An additional FP contact also enables shorter shutter speeds with the FP flash bulbs that are no longer in use today. The accessory shoe of the original model has no X-contact.
The viewfinder of the "101" is a permanently mounted, for the time comparatively bright pentaprism viewfinder . The non-replaceable shim has as focusing aid a microprism spot in the center of the viewfinder and shows about 92 percent of the recording format. On the right edge of the viewfinder there is the exposure meter needle and the tracking pointer in the form of a trowel. The exposure time set on the shutter speed dial is displayed below the viewfinder image.
The film is transported using a quick-release lever; there is no connection for a winder or motor. Further equipment features are a mechanical self-timer , cable release connection , dimming button and, as a special feature, the possibility of manually folding up the oscillating mirror. This function was required for some older designs of wide-angle lenses whose rear lenses protruded too far into the mirror box. However, it can also be used to prevent shaking when taking pictures from a tripod with long exposure times .
Exposure metering
A specialty of the SR-T series is the CLC exposure measurement ( Contrast Light Compensation ), which can also be found in a similar way in the later timing machines of the XE series and the AE prism viewfinder of the XM . Basically, the CdS exposure meter works integrally with center emphasis, but in contrast to many other cameras with two measuring cells, the measuring ranges of which overlap in the center of the viewfinder. The lower half of the image in landscape format is rated more strongly than the upper half, which leads to reliable exposures with average exposure conditions. But especially with high-contrast subjects, such as landscapes with sky, CLC promised results with better reproduction of the dark parts of the image, which was achieved in such cases by a somewhat more abundant exposure compared with conventional measuring methods. This construction can definitely be viewed as an early forerunner of modern multi-field measurement methods - with very similar advantages and disadvantages: Unusual lighting situations occasionally lead to unexpected results.
The Minolta SR-T 101 was one of the first cameras with open aperture exposure measurement. In contrast to the working aperture measurement that was customary up until then, in which the lens for exposure measurement is mechanically dimmed to the aperture used for the exposure, the aperture remains fully open with the aperture measurement and thus, among other advantages, maintains a always bright viewfinder image. The change in the amount of light falling into the camera is not transmitted to the camera by real stopping down, but by a small transmission lever ( shutter simulator ). For this purpose, at the MC Rokkor - lenses of the aperture ring directly on the camera connector so that its position over a small carrier (MC couplers) mechanically to the camera can be transmitted. As a counterpart, this has a clutch lever that moves along with the light meter and tells the position of the aperture ring. The MC coupler is also available on the later published MD Rokkoren, which are therefore compatible with the SR-T 101 in the same way.
TTL exposure measurement is also possible with older lenses without an aperture simulator, lenses mounted in the retro position for close-ups or adapted third-party lenses (adapters were available for Pentax-K and M42 ), but only with the working aperture and the viewfinder image darkened accordingly depending on the aperture setting. Working aperture measurement with MC lenses is not provided, when you press the aperture button, the exposure meter of all SR-T models is switched off. At the time, this feature was often used by SR-T users to save battery power without having to use the less inexpensive main switch in the camera base.
Further development
The Minolta SR-T 101 was the basis for numerous other models in the SR-T series up to the Minolta SR-T 303 and also underwent several changes during the production period. Based on the serial numbers of the cases, it can be assumed that more than 2 million pieces were produced.
Professional commitment
Some of the most famous professional photographers who have used this line of cameras include Annie Leibovitz , David Hamilton, and W. Eugene Smith .