Difference between revisions of "Minolta Autocord"

From Camera-wiki.org
Jump to: navigation, search
(Added much longer entry, Autocord I description moved to photo caption)
m
Line 4: Line 4:
 
[[Minoltaflex|Twin-lens reflexes bearing the Minolta name]] had been offered as early as 1937. However by the mid 1950's, the Japanese TLR market had become quite a crowded one. The Minolta Autocord series was an effort by Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko, K. K. to compete in the premium-quality segment of the TLR market.  
 
[[Minoltaflex|Twin-lens reflexes bearing the Minolta name]] had been offered as early as 1937. However by the mid 1950's, the Japanese TLR market had become quite a crowded one. The Minolta Autocord series was an effort by Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko, K. K. to compete in the premium-quality segment of the TLR market.  
  
The Autocord series went through a large number of minor variations during in its lifespan between 1955 and 1966—at least 17,<ref> [http://www.wctatel.com/web/crye/a-cord.htm Minolta Autocord Twin Lens Reflex] by [http://www.wctatel.com/web/crye/ Clayton Rye] </ref> although ''McKeown's Cameras'' gives the number as 24.<ref>{{McKeown12}}</ref>  
+
The Autocord series went through a large number of minor variations during its lifespan between 1955 and 1966—at least 17,<ref> [http://www.wctatel.com/web/crye/a-cord.htm Minolta Autocord Twin Lens Reflex] by [http://www.wctatel.com/web/crye/ Clayton Rye] </ref> although ''McKeown's Cameras'' gives the number as 24.<ref>{{McKeown12}}</ref>  
  
 
All shared a number of desirable features: Crank film advance with automatic shutter-cocking and frame counting; A highly-regarded Tessar-type 4-element [[Rokkor]] f/3.5 lens; self-timer; slow shutter speeds down to 1 second; and an override button allowing the advance crank to rotate backwards and cock the shutter without advancing the film, permitting double exposures. Early Optiper shutters only had speeds to 1/400 sec. but this was increased to 1/500 in later versions.
 
All shared a number of desirable features: Crank film advance with automatic shutter-cocking and frame counting; A highly-regarded Tessar-type 4-element [[Rokkor]] f/3.5 lens; self-timer; slow shutter speeds down to 1 second; and an override button allowing the advance crank to rotate backwards and cock the shutter without advancing the film, permitting double exposures. Early Optiper shutters only had speeds to 1/400 sec. but this was increased to 1/500 in later versions.

Revision as of 00:31, 29 October 2007

Japanese 6×6 TLR
Postwar models
6×7cm Koni-Omegaflex M
6×6cm
A–L
(edit)
Accuraflex | Aires Automat | Airesflex | Aires Reflex | Akumiflex | Alfaflex | Alpenflex | Amiflex | Autoflex | Beautyflex | Bikor-Flex | Bioflex | Companion | Copenflex | Cosmoflex | Crown Flex | Crystar Flex | Crystar 25 | Dorimaflex | Dorisflex | Easternflex | Echoflex | Eicaflex | Elbowflex | Elegaflex | Eleger Reflex | Elicaflex | Elizaflex | Elmoflex | Firstflex | Fodorflex | Fujicaflex | Geltoflex | Gnoflex | Graceflex | Halma Auto | Halma Flex | Hobiflex | Honorflex | Isocaflex | Itohflex | Kalloflex | Kallovex | Koniflex | Krimsoflex | Larkflex | Laurelflex | Luminaflex | Lustreflex | Lyraflex
6×6cm
M–Z
(edit)
Magniflex | Malcaflex | Mamiyaflex I | Mamiyaflex II | Mamiyaflex Automat A | Mamiya C | Mananflex | Manonflex | Marioflex | Metascoflex | Middl Flex | Mihamaflex | Mikono Flex S, P | Minolta Autocord | Minoltacord | Minoltaflex Automat prototypes | Minoltaflex II, III | Minoriflex | Molforeflex | Monade Flex | Morrisflex | Nikkenflex | Nikoflex | Ofunaflex | Olympus Flex | Oplenflex | Oriflex | Orionflex | Osiroflex | Pigeonflex | Princeflex | Prince Junior | Prinz Auto | Prinz Flex | Rectaflex | Ricohflex III–VII, Super, Holiday, Million | Ripeflex | Rolex | Ruvinalflex | Sanonflex | Selcaflex | Silverflex | Starflex | Sunflex IV | Superflex | Toyocaflex | Tsubasaflex | Tubasaflex | Veri Flex | Wagoflex | Walzflex | Welmyflex | Yashica-A, B, C, D, E, 635 | Yashica-Mat, EM, LM, 12, 24, Mat-124 | Zenobiaflex
Prewar and wartime models ->
Other TLR, pseudo TLR and medium format SLR ->
Other Japanese 6×6, 4.5×6, 3×4 and 4×4 ->

Twin-lens reflexes bearing the Minolta name had been offered as early as 1937. However by the mid 1950's, the Japanese TLR market had become quite a crowded one. The Minolta Autocord series was an effort by Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko, K. K. to compete in the premium-quality segment of the TLR market.

The Autocord series went through a large number of minor variations during its lifespan between 1955 and 1966—at least 17,[1] although McKeown's Cameras gives the number as 24.[2]

All shared a number of desirable features: Crank film advance with automatic shutter-cocking and frame counting; A highly-regarded Tessar-type 4-element Rokkor f/3.5 lens; self-timer; slow shutter speeds down to 1 second; and an override button allowing the advance crank to rotate backwards and cock the shutter without advancing the film, permitting double exposures. Early Optiper shutters only had speeds to 1/400 sec. but this was increased to 1/500 in later versions.

These features compared well with a Tessar-equipped Rolleiflex of the day, yet Autocords sold at a subtantially lower price. Both meterless models and ones including a light meter (originally selenium; later CdS) were offered in parallel throughout the series.

Many versions of the Autocord feature some form of EV number scale around the taking lens, to assist with exposure settings. Some metered models use a quirky system where the shutter and aperture indicators each point to a different row of integers; the photographer was intended to mentally add these two numbers until they equaled the EV indicated on the light meter. A 1957 magazine ad proclaimed, "your wife or child could have done it—even without looking at the f/stop or shutter speed numbers."[3] Despite this appeal to male ego, the system was never adopted by any other camera maker, and no doubt perplexes Autocord purchasers today who are missing the original manual.

Autocords use a focus lever which protrudes from below the lensboard. Some photographers have noted the ergonomic advantage of this design compared to knob-focusing TLRs such as the Rolleiflex, as it is not necessary to shift the camera between hands for focusing versus winding. But the metal of the Autocord lever is brittle and vulnerable to breakage—the one notable weak link in these otherwise excellent cameras.

This Minolta Autocord I is a late model among the popular Autocord series of TLR (Twin Lens Reflex), medium-format cameras. It was first introduced in 1965. This meter-less camera is equipped with a Citizen-MVL shutter and a Minolta Rokkor 1:3.5 f=75mm taking lens.


References

  1. Minolta Autocord Twin Lens Reflex by Clayton Rye
  2. McKeown, James M. and Joan C. McKeown's Price Guide to Antique and Classic Cameras, 12th Edition, 2005-2006. USA, Centennial Photo Service, 2004. ISBN 0-931838-40-1 (hardcover). ISBN 0-931838-41-X (softcover).
  3. Popular Photography (USA) Volume 41 No. 1, July 1957. "Minolta Autocord 'L' "(advertisement), pg. 115.

Links

In English:

In French:

In Japanese: