Which manual body...

Hi all!

I have Minolta SR-2, three lenses: Auto-Rokkor 35 f2, Auto-Rokkor 45

f1.8 (or 1.7? sorry I don�t carry these lenses while typing

here), ...-Rokkor 135 f2.8). All lenses and body in parkage I buy 4

years ago). Now I need used manual body but I don�t known which one...

My requirements:

- new (used) body would be usable with my old lenses

- have MLU, DOF preview.

Base on the website http://www.geocities.com/mikkonis/reviews.html,

my lenses are Pre-MC type?

Thanks in advance!

Whatever you do, try your lenses(all of them) with the body you want to buy. Indeed, auto-rokkors have no meter coupling and other things can also complicate your life.

<p>

On the page of <a href="http://jwhub.xtdnet.nl/mug/">minolta users group</a>, section FAQ/Minolta manual focus FAQ, you find some extra info on these lenses,+ lots of info on the manual focus bodies.

<p>

All of the bodies will have DOF preview, except the not-too-nice XG series and the still manufactured x-300/370. Mirror lock-up : only some of the very old SRT models and the "professional" XK.

You won't be able to meter with your lenses on ANY Minolta body. But if I were you, I'd get an SRT-102 or SRT-101. If you could live without the Mirror Lock-Up, I'd get an X-500/570.

You can meter on an SRT.

From page 39 of the SRT's owner's manual.

 

1.Advance the film.

2. Press the diaphragm stop-down button. (It will remain depressed).

3. Set the shutter speed.

4. Turn the diaphragm ring until the two needles are aligned. (The diaphragm can be

set first.)

5. Press the diaphragm stop down button again.

6. Focus and shoot.

 

You could even find a Minolta SR-7 wich has an internal meter but not TTL and you

would be fine.

 

Or get a hand held meter.

 

You can get all of the cameras mentioned for a really inexspensive price. Make sure

eveything works, and that the mirror isn't too dim and you will have a wonderful time.

The Minolta manual focus system enjoys a very high degree of compatibility, but unfortunately some lenses that were sold with the SR-2 (Minolta's very first 35mm SLR) are an exception, in that the lever for the automatic diaphragm function is somewhat longer than in all later lenses. If you try to mount these lenses on any other camera, please be very careful, because you could damage the camera.

 

As others have pointed out, if your lenses are not meter coupled (MC), the will not be meter coupled with any camera.

 

The SR-2 is actually quite uncommon, and assuming that you find a collector, you might be able to sell it for a good price to get a newer, more user friendly camera. Also, if your 42mm lens is the Auto Rokkor 45mm 2.8 (and not the later MD 45mm f2) it is a very rare lens indeed.

 

The last camera Minolta equipped with MLU was the SRT (most, but not all of them) so you won't be able to upgrade very much if you insist on this feature.

"The last camera Minolta equipped with MLU was the SRT " - actually, the much newer XK type has mirror lock-up too, and it would be quite a good option for a manual focus camera...but i've never seen any of them for sale.

Oops, forgot about the XK. If you go that route, just make sure you don't buy a XK-Motor by accident - it doesn't have MLU :-)))

Thank everybody for quick and very helpful answers. <p>

Thank csab' for the very helpful <a href="http://jwhub.xtdnet.nl/mug/"> link to MUG <a>. <p>

My choice is one of the SRT line now. <p>

Thank again.

BTW, if you ACCIDENTALLY get an XK MOTOR for anything close to the cost of an XK, I would be MORE than happy to take it off your hands and provide you with BOTH a regular XK and an SRT-101 to make it up to you. BTW, the XK Motor is both the rarest and best Minolta SLR EVER made, and, you won't need to worry about accidentally getting one that's in working order within your budget.

please don't pay too much for the SRT, whichever you get. they're all old (er...."classic") and many will exhibit signs of aging: bad light seals, random lockups, heavy brassing or cosmetic parts missing. also, and perhaps this is a stronger reason to avoid them: their shutters (at least, ones aged 30+ years) are inaccurate. the SRT-102 i used to use had a variance of +/- 1 stop throughout its range, and in places (1/4 sec, for instance) i knew i simply shouldn't use it due to the variability.

 

on the contrary: we tested my x-700 and determined that throughout its range, it had no more than +1/3, -1/5 stops variance, with most falling within a +/1 0.10 stop range.

Leif - SRT series cameras have a mechanical shutter, which of course can become inaccurate over time if it is not serviced. In my experience fast (eg 1/1000s) and slow (eg 1s) shutter speeds tend to be worth affected than the medium range (eg 1/30s - 1/250s). Most of us use the medium range most, so even if your 1s is more like 2 or 3 seconds, you might never notice the difference unless you are actually using these speeds.

 

If you want an SRT shutter - or in fact any mechanical shutter - to be accurate, it depends on regular service (CLA). I find all of my SRT series cameras to be easily good enough for slide film using the built-in light meter.

 

Of course an X-700 is a much more modern camera - two generations (XE and XD) are between the SRT and X-700. I don't own a X-700, but I wouldn't want to miss the TTL flash metering in my X-570 and X-500. These cameras have an electronic shutter (as do XE and XD series cameras), which doesn't require maintenance in the same way. However, when all X-700's electronics are dead, properly maintained SRTs will still be going strong for decades ;-)