Any users of the 110 SLR out there?

Hi,

 

As a keen Minolta user I often drop in to read up on this forum,

however in all my time I have never seen any reference to anyone

using the wonderful 110 SLR. Mine is the MK 2 version (I upgraded

from the earlier version some time ago). It is a camera that

accompanies me nearly everywhere - and I get through around 2 rolls

of film a week.

 

I use Fuji or Kodak film, and have the 5x7 size pictures which I am

always very impressed with. I have the 118x flash and a selection of

filters (which are essential - esp. the polariser). The feel and

operation of the 110 SLR is really classy I feel, and I end up

taking loads of pictures because using the camera is such a pleasure.

 

However I would love to hear any advice or comments as I am

feeling 'a bit lonely' with my camera and there is always room for

improvement with technique etc. I have a guidebook to 110 camera

use, but this was written in 1976 and there must be something more

recent surely?

 

Anyway, I am off for 2 week's holiday to the USA in May and my 110

SLR will be riding along too.

 

Thanks in advance for any assistance or user opinions.

 

Regards, Ian UK

the MK II was my first "SLR" and the reason I've stuck with Minolta over the years. Don't know what happened to it or where it is :(

Sold my 110 Mk1 when they discontinued the film in Australia. :o( Shame because it was very sharp and fun to use. It did, however, have the weirdest aperture shape I have ever seen so bokeh wasn't necessarily its strong suit.

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/mdcarma/Porch%20shots/MVC-771S.jpg">

 

<img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c323/mdcarma/Porch%20shots/minoltaberriescopy.jpg">

I am a keen Minolta user, but from the 16mm classics of MG-s and QT. I carried these and a pair of Minox cameras on many holiday trips and usually had one of the four with me on a daily basis.

 

A couple of years ago I started a collection of 110 cameras - the so called "Pro" 110 cameras. I have yet to add any Kodak camera (not seen any boxed and complete) and have continued to expand the range into the interesting Agfa cameras and others.

 

I took the Minolta SLR Zoom Mark II along with a Pentax Auto Super 110 with 70mm, zoom and teleconvertor on a trip down the Thames.

 

I agree that the Minolta SLR Zoom Mark II is very nice to operate. IT has a clear view finder and a positive feel to it. The Pentax however wins on cuteness and the fact that even with the zoom and 1.7x teleconvertor it can be hidden in my hands, ready to use.

 

The results from the Minolta, using a 400ASA film (the only one I had spare at the time) impressed me. I do not like 400ASA film, even in 35mm and less so for subminiature (16mm, 8x11). I now have film loaded in the Mark I, Rollei A110, Pentax Auto Super, Canon 110ED and Minox 110S. All contain the same film type and I hope to have at least a subjective view of how each camera compares in use as by result.

 

I now regret not getting the reflex 110 cameras earlier. On my trip I took along a new Vectis S1 with 28-56mm lens. The best results I have seen from ISO 400 film. The camera has identical outside dimensions to the 110 SLR Zoom Mark II but the results are, thanks to larger negative, even better. The view finder is first rate and the camera very easy to handle. As APS processing is cheaper than 110 and I can get 40 exposures and now have all the lenses it is no contest and the Vectis S1 is the preferred choice. The 80-240mm lens is excellent, as is the 17mm.

 

My upgrade to the Minolta MG-s was 21 years later in a Minolta 7Xi. I have taken advantage of Ebay and added an 80-300mm lens. I will hunt down a f1.2 50mm sometime - for available light situations. The 7Xi is too heavy to be camera of choice to carry, but the results and scope means that I am not likely to part with it.

 

I got a TC-1, but do not like the results from the 28mm lens - lines are bent fish eye like. This is a pity as otherwise the TC-1 is the perfect user pocket camera. I prefer the Minox 35ML for quality of results matching the 7Xi and a Minox CD155 or CD150 when I need a zoom. My current pocket camera is the Canon Ixus II. Smaller than the Minox 35ML, includes a built in flash and although the APS is a smaller negative the zoom helps a little but it wins on having a camera this good in a button down shirt pocket. Even though I am not keen on the Tc-1 I have taken photographs with it that would mean cutting off the image if I had not included it on my travels.

 

110 film is still available, although, as Jessops told me you have to go to a professional photography shop to get them processed and directed me to Campkins around the corner.

 

110 film in fact may be continued in production after APS has stopped. But either way both formats have limited film choice.

 

The only 110 'book' is on the subject is entitled. "110 Format Photography," which is similar in style to a phtographic magazine with soft cover published by Petersen's Photographic Library in 1976 by Kalton Lahue. Both are worth a read for tips.

 

http://www.submin.com/110/index.htm

 

http://www.submin.com/general/books/petersen_pocket_cameras.htm

 

http://www.submin.com/general/manuals/pocket_cameras.htm

(as the full edition is 118Mb it is not yet available for download).

 

Gerald

I just pulled out my Mark II. I haven't shot with it in many years but it's a cool little camera, although not that little. Does anyone remember what the deal is on the camera reading the film speed off the film cannister. If I remember correctly, the camera can only read 100 and 400 film. If you use 200 film, the camera reads it as 400. Is this correct? I also seem to remember that it is possible to file something on the cannster to get it to read correctly. If anyone knows the correct details on this, I would appreciate being enlightened.

Incidently, Gerald, I also use the Vectis S1 and agree with your comments. I have two bodies, two 22-80 lens, a 50 macro and the 80-240, along with the flash. I probable spent a total of $125 dollars for all of this on Ebay. The camera is an excellent performer and the small size of the camera and lenses make it very easy to travel with. I recently picked up a Canon 4000 scanner, which is able to scan APS film, and which if I ever get around to it, I'll set up. As an owner of Minoltas in four different formats (x-700 and Autocord), the demise of Minolta camera is a sad event.

Thanks for the answers and enthusiasm boost!

 

I can address a few points. Firstly regarding developing, I have just had a roll back from Jessops (Fuji Superia 200) and they offer these services. You can have:

 

Standard 4" prints (digital printing)

Large 5x7" prints (digital printing)

High resolution CD scan of the negs

 

And from the CD you can have any print size you like (within reason).

 

The CD really is superb, I can now send my 110's via e-mail or post online, and the 5x7 digital prints are punchy and sharp. Loads better than the analogue mail-order D&P. Price was ﾣ7.98 for 24 5x7's and CD at the same time.

 

Regarding sharpness, the Canon is really top of the pile. I have a Canon ED 20 for 110 film and it is a fine bit of equipment - although the Minolta is more versatile.

 

110 users - make use of the Jessops service - the CD ROM makes 110 photography with your 110 a really viable alternative to other cameras.

 

Concerning the Kodak's, try for the Ektramax. This has a f1.9 aspherical lens and is super-sharp. No batteries needed either! The Pocket Instamatic 60 is wonderful as well. They are cheap too - I picked up a new one in black finish (with a hard presentation case) for ﾣ10 last month. The Ektar f2.7 lens is a jem - sharp and contrasty. The Kodak's always seem to work well (even after 30+ years - perhaps that is why Kodak felt confident to give a 3 year warranty when new).

 

Cheers,

 

Ian

If I remember correctly from when my family ran a camera store, I think I read that the 110 cartridge was notched for ISO 64 (for slides) and ISO 250 for Kodacolor 400. The overexposure was supposed to be good for the 400 film. The ISO 100 Kodacolor II and ISO 125 Verichrome Pan both get exposed at ISO 64.

I'm quite the fan of 110, though there don't seem to be any cheap scanning options in my neighbourhood (south Los Angeles, CA). If there were, I would surely use my 110 gear more often. As it is, I have to be satisfied with cheap machine prints, as the places I use don't even offer a "premium" option for 110.

 

That being said, my results are pretty hit-or-miss, regardless of the film I use, which tends to be either Kodak 400 or Ferrania Solaris 200, which I bought a ton of on eBay once. Fuji's Superia 200 is generally the nicest, but it seems to be pretty rare these days, and the only Konica stuff I could get was so expired as to be almost worthless. I envy those clever and patient enough to load the cartridges with whatever film they want!

 

I, too, have a Minolta 110 SLR but, sadly, it's merely the Mark I version. I find focusing difficult with it and the fairly slow lens doesn't help things either. It IS a good performer, though, and when I've had the patience to use it, it's yielded some satisfying pictures. I have tried for years to get a Mk.II on eBay, but I always get outbid...

 

The bulk of my 110 shooting is done with a trio of Pentax Auto 110s, including one "Super" (the days of which might be numbered as a friend recently dropped it on a tile floor). The lenses are very good and, as someone else alluded to, the Pentax has a high "cuteness" factor that has led to plenty of conversations with strangers. It's also a joy to simply hold and use. If someone ever devised a decent digital retrofit for it, I would be mighty thrilled.

 

Between the Minolta and the Pentax in frequency of use, I have a Canon 110ed and a 110ed20 which, I believe, both have the same lens and that lens is SHARP. It's usually pretty easy to tell the shots form the Canons versus the others just on sharpness. It really makes me wish Canon had made their own high quality 110 SLR system. Imagine "L" series lenses in 110 size... (Imagine the laughter of the photo industry when such a product debuted...)

 

I also have a Rollei A110 which awaits a battery, a couple of Vivitar P&S units (Opus 10 and 20, I think) that are pretty crummy but make for good shirt pocket cameras; and a Voigtlander Vitoret (the non-electronic version), which has a shockingly good lens on it for such a tiny camera.

 

I've kind of drifted away from the format as my local processing options have gotten so limited, but I still have a soft spot for it, as my first camera was a cheapy little Kodak 110 from the dark age of such things. I generally carry a Pentax or a Canon along on days when I otherwise wouldn't want to carry a camera at all. If I can get my Rollei working or pick up an electronic Voigtlander, then those might pull that duty. Still, a Pentax with the 24mm lens is hard to beat for portability...

 

I don't have much advice, save for the usual about trimming the tab off the 400-speed cartridges so that the auto-sensing cameras read it properly; at least I think that's how that goes. Also, unless you have a specific effect in mind, they're lousy for scenics, but great for dreamy little portraits.

 

Sorry for the length and lack of good advice, but hopefully there's some inspiring enthusiasm in here somewhere.

 

Actually, if anyone knows of quality scanning options for 110 in the L.A. area or via mail-order, I would be most interested.

I started 110 photography with a Pentax 110 Super. I bought all the lenses but the zoom and I really like it. The camera is great but the results of my Minox 110S are sharper. I recently bought a Minolta SLR 110 Mk2 but I have not tested it yet.

I use Rollei A110 camera, with ASA 100 A110 color cartridge

from Frugalphotographer.com

I also have two Pentax 110 slr cameras

I use Rollei A110 camera, with ASA 100 A110 color cartridge

from Frugalphotographer.com

I also have two Pentax 110 slr cameras

Which adds what to a 13 year old thread in a Sony/Minolta forum?