Difference between revisions of "Minolta Sky"
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) (the black Sky is a fake!) |
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== Minolta Sky == | == Minolta Sky == | ||
| − | The '''[[Minolta]] Sky''' was | + | The '''[[Minolta]] Sky''' was an advanced 35mm rangefinder prototype, and as such only the one hundred or so pre-production units were finished. It is believed that all of these units were presented to Minolta executives and employees. The name '''Sky''' stands for Shashin Kikai Yarikake, or "photographic instrument in progress", as in 'prototype photographic instrument'. (Kazuo Tashima, founder of Minolta, tended to label projects for what they were.) |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | * focal plane shutter from 1s to 1/ | + | There is a huge technological gap between the [[Minolta 35]] LSM-clone series and the Sky (with its similarity to the Leica M series). Development of the Sky started in 1953 or 1954. In March 1957 the working prototypes were presented, featuring: |
| − | + | ||
| + | * focal plane shutter from 1s to 1/1000s | ||
| + | * It was possible to use shutter and self-timer in conjunction, and obtain speeds down to 15s | ||
* X and FP flash synch | * X and FP flash synch | ||
* automatic frames for 50mm, 90mm and 135mm | * automatic frames for 50mm, 90mm and 135mm | ||
* parallax correction | * parallax correction | ||
| + | * quick-release bayonet lens mount | ||
| + | * canted rewind button | ||
| + | |||
| + | In this same month, Minolta brought out the [[Minolta Super-A]], an interchangable-lens bayonet-mount system-camera design that was entirely Minolta's (but sadly was not the ground-breaking design the Sky was). Minolta's LSM 35 series would continue until the final release of the 35 Model-IIB in 1958. | ||
== Lenses for the Minolta Sky == | == Lenses for the Minolta Sky == | ||
Several lenses were planned (10 in total), including a 50mm 1:1.4 normal lens, a 21mm 1:4 super wide angle lens, a 25mm 1:3.5 wideangle lens, a 135mm 1:2.8 moderate telephoto lens and a 250mm 1:4 telephoto lens. | Several lenses were planned (10 in total), including a 50mm 1:1.4 normal lens, a 21mm 1:4 super wide angle lens, a 25mm 1:3.5 wideangle lens, a 135mm 1:2.8 moderate telephoto lens and a 250mm 1:4 telephoto lens. | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | The camera never made it to mass production, since by the time the prototypes were completed | + | The camera never made it to mass production, since by the time the prototypes were completed in 1957, Minolta was already focusing on interchangeable lens SLR rather than interchangeable lens rangefinders (the Minolta SR-2 was released in August 1958). |
Revision as of 05:15, 1 December 2008
Minolta Sky
The Minolta Sky was an advanced 35mm rangefinder prototype, and as such only the one hundred or so pre-production units were finished. It is believed that all of these units were presented to Minolta executives and employees. The name Sky stands for Shashin Kikai Yarikake, or "photographic instrument in progress", as in 'prototype photographic instrument'. (Kazuo Tashima, founder of Minolta, tended to label projects for what they were.)
There is a huge technological gap between the Minolta 35 LSM-clone series and the Sky (with its similarity to the Leica M series). Development of the Sky started in 1953 or 1954. In March 1957 the working prototypes were presented, featuring:
- focal plane shutter from 1s to 1/1000s
- It was possible to use shutter and self-timer in conjunction, and obtain speeds down to 15s
- X and FP flash synch
- automatic frames for 50mm, 90mm and 135mm
- parallax correction
- quick-release bayonet lens mount
- canted rewind button
In this same month, Minolta brought out the Minolta Super-A, an interchangable-lens bayonet-mount system-camera design that was entirely Minolta's (but sadly was not the ground-breaking design the Sky was). Minolta's LSM 35 series would continue until the final release of the 35 Model-IIB in 1958.
Lenses for the Minolta Sky
Several lenses were planned (10 in total), including a 50mm 1:1.4 normal lens, a 21mm 1:4 super wide angle lens, a 25mm 1:3.5 wideangle lens, a 135mm 1:2.8 moderate telephoto lens and a 250mm 1:4 telephoto lens.
The camera never made it to mass production, since by the time the prototypes were completed in 1957, Minolta was already focusing on interchangeable lens SLR rather than interchangeable lens rangefinders (the Minolta SR-2 was released in August 1958).
References
- Francesch, Dominique and Jean-Paul. Histoire de l'appareil photographique Minolta de 1929 à 1985. Paris: Dessain et Tolra, 1985. ISBN 2-249-27685-4.
- Minolta Mirror Magazine, 1981 issue. Questions & Answers page 127. No ISBN number.
Links
- Replica of a black Minolta Sky, created from a Yashica YF, in this page and this page at Fukusenbankō's site (some pictures show the real Minolta Sky exposed at the JCII museum)
