Minolta SRT 101 weakness

I love everything about my 101 except the focusing. With a normal or wider lens, I can't detect changes in the ground glass well enough for decent focus. Is it possible to have a split-image screen (a la the 102) put in to replace the original?

In low light the microprism of the 101 can be difficult to use, especially with a WA lens. I don't believe the focusing screen is interchangeable, but at current prices, I can't imagine a 102 (or other latter model compatible Minolta) would be expensive to purchase. I liked my 101 (back in the early 1970's) but the CLC meter was essentially a bottom of the screen weighted system and the meter switch was a PITA to use when the camera was on a tripod.

The XE-5's, XE-7s, and XEs are all pretty nice cameras that were the successors to the SR-Ts. I had a 101 and I ended up going to the XE-5 when it was new. Amazing shutter. A bit clunky by today's standards. I even had an XK once upon a time. That thing was a beast, really heavy with interchangeable pentaprisms.

 

There was a magnifier -- I did a google search Minolta Magnifier V for SRT101/SR1s

 

There's a picture at the link. You slide it over the eyepiece to magnify the image which could allow you to focus better.

 

The best manual cameras for focusing I ever found were the Contax RTS cameras. Trouble is reliability of the electronics these days but they had a great colar/split image system that was really easy to focus. I can even do it today with 61 year old eyes. The SR-T-101 was my first SLR camera and the first one I bought myself. Still have the XE-5 and some lenses in a box on the shelf.

If you like the split image then buy another model. They are cheap. I personally hate the split image so I immediately switch the screen to one which doesn't have the split image with cameras that have interchangeable screen.

You have to learn to focus on a manual focus camera.

The smaller the aperture and the wider the lens, the more difficult to focus.

Learn to use the microprism/microgrid focusing aid. I prefered the microprism to the split image. Although most microprisms and split image RF will black out with a slow f/5.6 lens.

. . . Is it possible to have a split-image screen (a la the 102) put in to replace the original [101]?

 

Yes it is.

 

But it might not be a value for money exercise. AFAIK the box assembly requires replacing; probably this would have to be sourced from another camera, (as opposed to finding 'new' spare parts), thus it would simpler (and most likely much cheaper) to buy a 102, or an other SRT Series Camera. Personally I'd look at a SRT 303b.

 

WW

You could look at it this way. At the time, the 101 was the only camera I could afford (in the 70s) and maybe that was the same for you, but now you could buy the sexier version for almost nothing. Keep the 101 as a backup body. You MIGHT even upgrade to something like the XE-7 or XD-11 (which uses the same lenses more or less). The XDs were small and elegant like the OM-1 I think they were imitating. The XE-s were kind of the end of the line for the larger SR-T design progression. You would still be using a camera from basically the same era that felt like the SR-T but you'd get a little more refinement.

You could look at it this way. At the time, the 101 was the only camera I could afford (in the 70s) and maybe that was the same for you, but now you could buy the sexier version for almost nothing. Keep the 101 as a backup body. You MIGHT even upgrade to something like the XE-7 or XD-11 (which uses the same lenses more or less). The XDs were small and elegant like the OM-1 I think they were imitating. The XE-s were kind of the end of the line for the larger SR-T design progression. You would still be using a camera from basically the same era that felt like the SR-T but you'd get a little more refinement.

 

The XE tends to be on the more expensive side perhaps more than the XD which is newer.