Minolta 110 Zoom SLR
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Minolta made two attempts to offer SLR cameras for the 110 pocket film format. One was the unconventional camera pictured on the right, the Minolta 110 Zoom SLR, was released in 1976. It is a aperture priority based camera with no manual exposure control.
It has a built-in 1:4.5/25-50mm zoom lens, with a 40.5mm filter thread. The aperture selector was not part of the lens. It was placed around the exposure-meter-eye instead. The meter is activated by pressing the shutter release button half way, it controlled just the shutter speed. The shutter has a range of 10 sec. to 1/1000 of a sec. A bulb mode is also available and the camera will function in the bulb mode without batteries. The shutter release button has a cable release socket and is also connected to a lock switch to prevent accidental exposure. A hot shoe for a flash was on top of the camera, which has a flash sync speed of 1/150s. Rotate the exposure dial to the X setting to use.
The viewfinder has a central microprism focusing spot. There are left and right indicators in the finder for the exposure meter. Adjust the aperture ring towards the arrows until the indicators do not light for correct exposure. Exposure compensation is available that can be change up to two EV stops.
The film transport uses a film advance lever located on the base of the camera that is operated by the right hand thumb. There is a tripod socket, but instead of being on the bottom, it is on the left side of the body. Power comes from 2 SR44 silver oxide batteries. A battery check function can be used by pressing the red button by the shutter.
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| back view image by Leslie Lazenby (Image rights) |
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| image by Jamo Spingal (Image rights) |
Mark II
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| Minolta 110 Zoom SLR MARK II image by Tony Kemplen (Image rights) |
The other "pocket SLR" was the Minolta 110 Zoom SLR MARK II which appeared more as a shrunken conventional SLR. It offered a 1:3,5/25-67mm macro zoom lens, rated as one of the top-performing lenses for 110 format by author William White[1]. The filter thread is 40.5mm. The aperture dial is on the left shoulder of the body and is variable but has click stops at f3.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and 16.
The shutter has speeds of 1/4 to 1/1000 second plus B, as well as a flash sync of 1/125 second. A self-timer has a 10 second delay and has a LED indicator. The exposure meter is a TTL based center-weighted system with a range from EV 5.6 to EV 17 (at ASA 100). Exposure compensation can also be adjusted up to two EV stops. The viewfinder has diopter correction of -1.1 to 0.8. The finder screen has a split image spot for focusing and has 5 LED indicators for shutter speed along with over, and under exposure.
Notes
- ↑ As noted on the website Subclub.org.
Links
- Variations in Minolta 110 cameras and manuals
- Brief video clip showing Minolta 110 Zoom SLR Mark II (with comments in Spanish); posted to Flickr by Jaime J. Villamarin.
- Size comparison between Mark II and a standard Zenit 35mm SLR, by senor bombel on Flickr.
- Close-up view of original 110 Zoom SLR top controls; posted by Ted Court on Flickr
- review on austerityphoto.co.uk
- Minolta 110 zoom color PDF manual from OrphanCameras.com
- Minolta 110 Mark II color PDF manual from OrphanCameras.com
Sample images
Images by Uwe Kulick (Image rights)
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