Minolta-16 MG-S (1970)

Minolta-16 MG-S

#462

This photo is from the copy I own

Gentilmente oferecida pela D. Isabel Alber

History and technical features 

The Minolta-16 MG-S was the flagship of Minolta's subminiature camera series, and the penultimate Minolta 16. In an attempt to compete with the new Kodak 110 film cartridge, it featured a bigger frame size than the earlier Minolta subminis (12×17 vs. 10×14 mm). A further advantage was the choice between manual CdS-meter supported match-needle aperture setting and fully automatic aperture control. A flash cube adapter served as flash device in the camera's standard outfit. Other flashes were available. Several close-up and color filters were also available for the MG-S.

Source: camera-wiki.org


Specifications

Type: subminiature viewfinder camera
Manufacturer: Minolta
Year of launch: 1970
Film: Minolta 16mm film with speeds 25 to 400 ASA
Frame size: 12×17mm
Lens: fixed-focus Rokkor 1:2.8/23mm with 4 elements in 3 groups, a sliding door with an additional close-up element can be shifted into the position in front of the lens
Shutter: Speeds set manually between 1/30 and 1/500 sec.; X sync at all speeds
Aperture: set manually between 1:2.8 and 1:16, or fully automatically, controlled by a CdS meter close to the lens (EV 8–17)
Viewfinder: optical bright frame finder with parallax marks and control flags for low light and for close-up setting
Size: 107.5×26.5×46mm
Weight: 210g
Source:


Model

Serial number 168834


Reference sites

camera-wiki.org


Manual

English manual

Batteries

Not needed

Film

12x17mm film

Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Konica C35 V (1971)

Konica C35 V (1971)

#416

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

The Konica C35 of 1968 is a 35mm camera and first of a series of four cameras from Konishiroku that are dealt with in this article, the others being the C35V (C35E&L), C35 Automatic (C35 Flashmatic), and Auto S3 (C35FD). The Konica C35 EF is dealt with in another article.

The Konica C35 was the first of a number of compact cameras that swept the marketplace in the early seventies. Cameras from other Japanese companies after 1970 (see photo at end) show its importance and influence. Its appeal to the general public was obvious from the start: it was a compact, light and simple to use camera with an excellent lens that was distinctly wider than average for the time and that took good photographs because it could be focused accurately. It was an outstanding sales success throughout the world.

Konishiroku may at first seem a mere follower of fashion, updating the design theme of the compact Minolta Minoltina S and Olympus Trip 35, or even its own Konica Eye of 1964. However, the C35 was much more than an update: it brought together a number of other desirable design strands into one camera, not simply light weight and compact size, but a CdS meter in the lens mount (eliminating worries about filter correction factors), a rangefinder and most importantly of all, the simple operation of "auto only" exposure.

There are three versions of the modestly-priced C35:
Konica C35 (1968 - Silver 1969 - black)
The non-rangefinder Konica C35V (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35E&L
The Konica C35 Automatic with a more advanced flash control (1971 - silver), known in Japan as the Konica C35 Flashmatic

Source: camerapedia

Specifications

Available only in silver
38mm f2.8 four-element Hexanon lens - 46mm filter thread
Zone adjustment by four click stops (with pictogram's)
CdS meter (19-27 DIN, 25-400ASA)
No self timer
Closest focus - 1m, 3.3ft
2 blade programmed shutter
Combined aperture/shutter blades
Speeds 1/30 to 1/650
Lever wind, double-exposure prevention, resetting frame counter
Bright line finder
Needle indication of shutter speed and aperture visible on right hand side of viewfinder
Window lower right to few focus positions on lens
Width 112mm (actual 120mm with strap lugs) Height - claimed 70mm (actual 75mm) - Depth 52mm
Weight 340g (12 oz)
Price in Britain £41.48 (April 1974)

Konica X-14 matching flashgun available
Set to 1/25 automatically for flash

Source: camerapedia


Model

Mine is the "V" version (1971). Serial number 387917.


Reference sites

camerapedia


Manual

English C35 manual


Batteries

1.35V Mallory PX-675 or Eveready EPX675


Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Yashica MG-1 (1975)

Yashica MG-1 (1975)

#401

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

This is a typical fixed lens 35mm rangefinder from the 1970s, but with a body on the large side. The lens is a fixed Yashinon 45/2.8 which focuses from about 1m to infinity and takes 55mm filters. The aperture priority exposure system is measured by a CdS meter above the lens. CdS metering requires batteries. Two LEDs on the top of the body indicate slow speed and over-exposure. The camera was available with either a black or chrome body.

Source: camerapedia


Specifications

...the MG-1 is an interesting model. It appeared in 1975 and seems to have been the end of the line. The MG-1 was produced in both a chrome & black finish. The placement of the light sensor within the lens barrel made it possible as in the CC / CCN, to automatically adjust exposure with filters in place. This is visible as a small circle within the top & center of the lens barrel. A feature of this arrangement which is overlooked, is the inability to obtain a correct exposure indication, if one forgets to remove the lens cap. Come on now, 'fess up....who hasn't lost a shot with an RF when a lens cap was mistakenly left on during an exposure. The lens has a maximum aperture of ƒ:2.8   with a focal length of 45mm. This highly colour corrected lens has 5 elements in 4 groups.

Source: yashica-guy.com

It also comes with the usual silver metal finish.
Type: 35mm Rangefinder Film Camera with aperture priority auto exposure only. Released in 1975. It came out in both chrome or black body versions

Lens: Yashinon 45 mm f2.8. The focus range is from 1 m to infinity. Marked in both feet and metres. 4 elements in three groups. Filter size 55mm.

Viewfinder: Viewfinder combined with a rangefinder. Bright frame with no parallax correction. Magnification 0.59x. Red and yellow exposure indicator arrows visible through the viewfinder. When lightly pressing the shutter button a red light indicates overexposure. Yellow light means that although exposure will be correct a slow shutter speed will be used meaning the camera must be held steady and it is best to use a tripod.

EE Mechanism: Built-in exposure meter with CdS “Top-Eye” cell for automatic exposure control. Shutter speed priority system.

Film Speeds: ASA 25 to 800 / Adjustment on a ring at front of the lens.

Battery: 1 x 5.6v mercury battery (no longer available). (Eveready E164, Mallory PX32, or equivalent). Without a battery, the shutter free runs at 1/500 second so the camera cannot be used. You can also use 4 x 1.5v alkaline or silver oxide button cells stacked together and taped. Or a 6v L28.
There is no manual control of the shutter speed.
Shutter: Leaf Shutter. Speeds range from 2 seconds to 1/500 of a second. Automatically sets aperture, self-cocking combined film/shutter wind, and x synchronization. There is no B setting for long time exposures. However, the Copal shutter is stepless and so does not stick to the standard speeds of 1/500, 1/250 of a second and so on. Instead, it picks any speed to best suit the available light and aperture combination. Although the manual states the camera’s auto exposure can go down to 2 seconds in poor light, in reality, it can easily run for much longer. Mine goes for about 20 seconds.

Self Timer: Yes. Runs for 7 seconds.

Flash Contact: an Accessory shoe with direct contact plus conventional flash socket.
Flash. Shutter speed automatically sets to 1/30 second when the Auto Lever is adjusted to “flash”.

Film Advance: Single stroke approx. 180 degrees.

Film Counter: Resets automatically.

Size: 140 x 72 x 82mm

Weight: 620g

Source: rangefinder-cameras.com


Model

Black model. Serioal number 61220061


Reference sites

camerapedia

rangefinder-cameras.com

yashica-guy.com


Manual

English manual


Batteries

L26 6v. battery

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Canon Canodate E (1970)

Canon Canodate E (1970)

#372

This photo is from the copy I own

History and technical features 

A 1970 compact rangefinder camera from Canon, similar to the Canonet series but with an early date-imprinting function.

It uses a 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups) lens. The shutter is the electronically controlled Seiko ESF. The exposure meter uses a CdS cell for electronic exposure. Metering range of 1 to 17 EV (at ISO 100). Film speed can range from ISO 25 to 400. The finder has 0.6x magnification with 84% coverage which also contains parallax correction marks. It is powered by 2x 1.3V mercury cells batteries.

A newer minor revision of the Canodate E was released three years later in 1973. Canon refers to this as the Canodate E-N, but was just sold as the same Canodate E. This is mostly just a cosmetic change with the name plate's E in red. The date dials text with the Year in Blue, Month in Orange and Day in Red. The focusing ring is black coloured. The shutter also no longer functions when the battery is flat.

Source: camera-wiki.org

A databack to imprint the date on the picture is a standard feature today. The Canodate E pioneered this feature and realized the dreams of users.

With ISO 100 film, the camera’s Seiko ESF electronically-controlled program shutter could handle a wide exposure range from EV 1 (4 sec. at f/2.8) to EV 17 (1/500 sec. at f/16). With the dedicated Canolite D, the flash could fire automatically at EV 8 or lower.

For focusing, the camera had a double-image superimposing rangefinder. The viewfinder frame lines indicated the position of the imprinted date. The viewfinder also had a combination battery check and camera shake warning indicator, and flash indicator.

Source: global.canon


Specifications

Type: 35mm Lens-Shutter rangefinder camera with program EE and date imprinting (year, month, day).
Picture Size: 24 x 36 mm
Lens: 40mm f/2.8 (5 elements in 4 groups)
Shutter: Seiko ESF (electronically controlled), EV 1 (f/2.8 at 4 sec.) – 17 (f/16 at 1/500 sec.), X-sync, hot shoe and German socket for automatic flash. No self-timer.
Viewfinder: Coincidence rangefinder integrated with reversed Galilean viewfinder. Parallax correction with projected frames and correction marks. Date imprinting indicated on projected frame. Same lamp used for battery check, camera shake warning, and flash-required indicator. 0.6x magnification, 84% coverage.
EE: CdS cell for full-auto program EE. Metering range of EV 1 – 17 (at ISO 100). Film speed range of ISO 25 – 400.
Power Source: Two 1.3 V HM-N mercury cells
Film Loading & Advance: Slotted take-up spool. Advances with camera-top lever’s 130° single stroke (possible to wind with several short strokes).
Frame Counter: Counts up. Resets automatically when camera back is opened.
Film Rewind: Camera-top crank
Dimensions & Weight: 133 x 76 x 59 mm, 580 g

Source: global.canon


Model

Serial number 181180


Reference sites

camera-wiki.org

global.canon


Manual

English manual


Batteries

Two M30 our #640 1.3v batteries

Film


Pictures taken with this machine


Videos

Minolta Hi-Matic G (1974)

Minolta Hi-Matic G (1974)

#213

Esta fotografia é do exemplar que possuo

Características

The Minolta Hi-Matic G was a quite compact viewfinder camera. Like the other Hi-Matics it had automatic exposure. And like other 1970s Hi-Matics it had the CdS window inside the filter ring and a hot shoe for the flash. With this camera Minolta overcame the "Electro Control" system which needed two batteries. Its CdS controlled exposure program set speed/aperture combinations from 1/30 sec./f2.8 to 1/650 sec / f14 . The focusing ring had four distance symbols. F-Stop and shutter speed were shown in the viewfinder.

Fonte: camerapedia

Minolta’s Hi-matic series of compact cameras span more than 20 years of production and were usually rangefinders such as the  well-regarded Hi-matic 7sII. However the series also gave rise to  a few Point & Shoot (P&S) most notably the Hi-matic G launched in 1974.
Unlike some rival P&S like the Chinon 35 or Konica C35V that have clearly evolved from rangefinders, the Hi-Matic G was a completely new model with a different exposure system to its immediate rangefinder predecessor the Hi-Matic F. Some pundits have even queried if someone else had made it for minolta as it was so like many other P&S in the 70’s in classic chrome black styling. My one’s lens barrel had slight movement but this may have been a one of and it didn’t affect shots.
What ever’s the truth of its origins  you do get a 4 element Minolta Rokkor lens which is sharp. This can be focused  by using 4 zones on the top of the lens barrel like an Olympus Trip 35. However the camera is actually a smooth scale focus with distances printed beneath the barrel for more accurate shooting in low light. I quite like the option to switch but find in most cases with scale focus viewfinder your brain still tends to use the 0.8, 1.5, 3m and infinity model.
The rest is fairly typical for a 70’s Japanese compact rangefinder or P&S with the exception of a fairly wide f/14 smallest aperture. The lens barrel mounted CdS metering system automatically sets the camera exposure by a series of  aperture shutter speed combos. These are displayed on a needle meter scale on the right hand side of the viewfinder. The shutter, aperture speeds are all industry standard and offer no surprises.  There are no manual control other than turning from auto to a series of Guide Number(GN) settings for flash.  There is no exposure lock if the meter thinks you are at risk over or under-exposing and there is no bulb setting (shame as it’s cable threaded).
The metering works well enough and was pretty typical for cameras for the era, Also typical it uses the now defunct 1.45v mercury px675 cell but a 1.4v zinc air 675za  hearing aid battery (5 for a quid in Poundland) will suffice abet with more limited power time. The camera lacks a self timer. The viewfinder has usual frame and parallax markings but you’ll struggle to see you focus settings from it.
The main problem with the Hi-matic G is that it a pretty vanilla camera for the 70’s. It takes reasonable shots and it’s specs match its rival but that it. There are no standout features and no endearing/maddening quirks and there is the smallest f/14 aperture size. Does it offer more than the Olympus Trip 35 – no. In fact the Trip although on paper is more limited with just 2 shutter speeds works out better due to its marginally better optics and sensible weighting of its aperture to encourage good depth of field. Now many of my other P&S are equally clobbered by the Trip but they offer quirks or features that the minolta doesn’t. That said it really does nothing wrong per se.
They are widely available and with a bit of luck you can get for a tenner on eBay. Mines end up being sold there. Lightseals will need done but this is relatively easy to do and as ever watch out for battery corrosion. A lens cap is an indicator looked after. It was succeeded by the G2 which is an altogether more plasticky affair.

fonte: austerityphoto.co.uk

Especificações

Type: viewfinder camera using zone focus symbols on the lens barrel.
Manufacturer: probably Minolta (some experts have doubts to say so because of comparable models of other brands)
Year of launch: 1974
Film: 35mm with speeds 25 to 400 ASA
Lens: Rokkor 1:2.8/38mm (4 elements)
Shutter: leaf shutter
Metering: CdS photo resistor
Dimensions: 116×71×53 mm
Weight: 375 g

Fonte: camerapedia


Modelo

A minha tem o n.º de série 7114993


Sítios de referência

austerityphoto.co.uk

camerapedia


Manual

Manual em inglês


Baterias

1.3v 675 type battery

Filme


Fotografias tiradas com esta máquina


Vídeos

Fujica GER (1973)

Fujica GER (1973)

#193

Esta fotografia é do exemplar que possuo

Características

The Fujica GER was a typical 1970s rangefinder camera. It had a 38mm/f2.8 lens and a CdS-controlled electromagnetical shutter with a good range of speeds from 2 sec. to 1/800 sec.. Flash photography was simplified by means of the guide number selector of the camera.

Fonte: Camerapedia

The exposure value of a metered scene can be locked by holding the shutter button half down, then re-framing the photo. This is very useful for backlit situations. Half pressing the shutter lights a small orange LED inside the viewfinder (as well as a red LED on the top plate), indicating that everything is ready and OK to take the photo. If the LED remains illuminated, the shutter speed is less than 1/30 of a second.

Battery test
Slightly press the shutter button when in the “A” position. A red LED in front of the hot shoe lights (and orange LED inside the viewfinder). Without batteries it is not possible to use this camera. The wind lever seems to be used as a switch.

Viewfinder
The frame lines represent the infinity and the other lines match with a distance of 1.5m. On the left is a flash symbol, this illuminates if the exposure requires a shutter speed less than 1/30 of a second. (flashgun or tripod required). The viewfinder is very slightly purple. The window rangefinder is yellow.

Flash Guide Number Ring
This is the worst part of this camera; it should be the aperture ring! The ring is marked:
GN m(metric) 8,9,16,18,28,40,56 (and “A” for auto). These represent flash guide numbers, WIKI tells us:
The guide number represents an exposure constant for a flash unit. For example, a guide number of 80 feet at ISO 100 means that a target 20 feet away will be correctly illuminated with an aperture of f/4 (80 = 20 × 4) using a sensitivity of ISO 100. So, if you wish to use a flashgun, you will need to know its power output as a guide number. You will then be able to set the GER’s number ring on the correct number to match the lens angle (38mm)\film speed\subject distance to give you a correct expose.

Fonte: chrisg35mm


Especificações

Exposure
With the flash guide number ring set on “A” the GER exposure is a fully automatic. The Cds cell, (small eye in front of the lens), ensures automatic adjustment from 4 seconds at f/2.8 up to 1/800 per sec at f/13 for a film sensitivity of 100 ASA. The Cds cell controls the Seiko ESB electronic shutter, which provides shutter speeds from 4 seconds to 1/800 per sec.
The shutter/aperture is made by two blades in shaped-V with curved edges. With the release, the shape of the hole is variable depending on the value of the aperture.
It is a circle (aperture at 2.8 from 4 seconds to 1/30) to a square with the curved edges in decreasing sizes from f/2.8 to f/13. Once the exposure time is reached the two shutter blades close. All this is controlled by innovative electronics, which has the merit of reducing the number of moving parts. In the viewfinder, when the pressure on the shutter button is, an orange LED (on the right) briefly lights up, indicating that everything is ready for a good shot. If this LED remains illuminated, it means that the shutter speed will be slow, too slow for a photo without a flash or tripod. The slower shutter speeds are below the 1/30 of a second, then a tripod or flashgun will be required.

Fonte: chrisg35mm


Modelo

A minha tem o n.º de série 5095068


Sítios de referência

amateurphotographer.co.uk

Camerapedia

chrisg35mm

rangefinderforum

Manual


Baterias

2 PC640A batteries or 2 LR44 batteries (with adaptter)

Filme

FujiColor C200/24

Fotografias tiradas com esta máquina

Fujica GER (1973) - sample 1

Fujica GER (1973) - sample 2

Vídeos