Minolta SR-1

The Minolta SR-1 was the second model of Minolta's first series of single lens reflex camera bodies. It was a purely mechanical camera. A 6-lens 55mm-Rokkor had been the standard lens for that camera. When it had been introduced in 1959 several other Minolta Rokkor lenses had already been available, from 35mm upto 600mm focus. At least 5 different improved versions of the SR-1 had been brought to the market in the following 3 years.

In 1961 a holder (1) for an additional selenium exposure meter had been added to the camera's design. The applicable meters for the SR-1 where connected mechanically with the shutter-speed preselector of the camera (2 little bolt on camera's preselector connects to 3 clutch of the meter's shutter-speed preselector). When the correct ASA-value of the film and the exposure time had been preselected on the meter, the measuring instrument's scale directly showed the aperture that the user had to select at the lens.

metering
Metering was simple. The meter had to be put into its holder and its shutter-speed selector's clutch connected correctly to the camera's selector's bolt(1). Then the right ASA film speed had to be selected on the meter (2), and the meter mode to be chosen (3). The shutter speed had to be chosen with the meter's selector (4). Then the correct aperture was given by the meter (5).

Another optional part of the SR-1 was the flash shoe.

The SR-1's predecessor had been the Minolta SR-2, the first single lens reflex camera for Minolta's SR-Rokkor-lenses, which also had been the first camera ever combining several typical features of modern SLR-cameras. Later the SR-3 took the place of the SR-2. Both cameras had slightly faster exposure mechanics than the SR-1. In 1962 the first Minolta SLR camera with inbuilt meter had been introduced as last member of the SR-n-family: The SR-7. One of the SR1-models, the SR-1 (V), had been the base on which the Minolta SR-T 101 had been developped.

sources:

A.R. & J. Scheibel "Minolta's Kameratechnik"

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