Minolta SRT 101 DOF Preview button

Hi, thanks for any replies, I receive.

A bit of background info. I own a Minolta x700, with a motorized grip, 28 2.8, 50 1.4, 100 2.5, 135 2.8, tokina 28-

70 3.5/4.5 and tokina 70-210 4/5.6. The camera body plays up from time to time, so I decided to get a back up

body. I wanted something that offered something different to the x700 and I decided on a SRT or XD7, but as

the SRT was cheaper, I decided to try it out first. Another benefit is that whilst using my slow zooms, the

focusing aids don't black out on the srt, unlike the x700. I love an all mechanical camera (excluding the light

meter) and I currently have a spotmatic and used a k1000 for a few years, so the SRT excited me.

On receiving the camera, I found that, when using it, the way I hold it, I'm ALWAYS pressing the DOF preview

button, when holding it up to my eye. It's really hindering and I'm considering putting it up on ebay, but firstly I

thought I'd ask if anyone else has this issue and has found a work around? I have fairly large hands, and the

problem is worse the longer/heavier the lens I use. I love primes, and I use them almost exclusively, but fell in

love with the two tokina zooms I have. I wanted to use the zooms almost exclusively on the srt, but the light

weight 28 and 50 are a little easier to handle on it, but the issue still persists.

Does an ever ready case help with grip?

Are there any cheap 3rd party accessories that can help?

Can I temporarily disable the dof button?

Should I put it up on eBay and get an xd7?

I bought the 135mm 2.8, thinking it'd be a cheaper alternative to the 100mm 2.5, but I didn't like the focal length.

The 135mm is in amazing condition and the 100mm is battered, so I couldn't bring myself to sell it, but I think I might let it go with the SRT, as together they'd

probably fund an xd7. I won't miss the srt, as I have my spotmatic, which has a working light meter, and better dof button placement, but it

also only has one lens.

Gareth

<p>If you like the camera otherwise, try working with it for a while and see if you don't adapt to it. Maybe it is so bad right now that you know you never will so cut your losses and punt. I've had a camera or two like that, that I was so unable to use there was no point. If you don't like the SRT or 135, sell them and find a better 100. I keep most glass these days, it's so inexpensive and usually so useful at some point it's worth it to keep it. I'm one of those people who has to have a back up so I'd say get two good bodies that you like be they XD-7, X700 or something else and start shooting.<br>

<br />Rick H.</p>

<p>The third party grip looks interesting, I guess it will help - I don't see how an ever ready case would make any difference.</p>

<p>Although the XD has its DOF button on the opposite side to the SRT, are you sure your fingers wouldn't foul that, too? It seems a shame to get rid of such a nice camera just because of a handling issue like this.</p>

<p>I would suggest looking at the XE series cameras, rather than the XD's (despite them having the DOF button in the same position as the SRT). They are more like the SRTs in size and style, but have just enough automation to make using them a real pleasure, without technical confusion.</p>

I thought the bottom half of an ever ready case might bulk out the camera and the leather may have offered more grip. That 3rd party grip looks interesting, I'm going to have to hunt one down and try it out. Part of me is thinking, there's no point in selling the SRT as it only cost me £12 and I'm also one of those people who tends to hold onto glass. I might just get an xd7 and grip and keep hold of my srt and 135. Opps. Thanks for the input.

Gareth

<p>You might try to get your hands on an XD7 (literally) before you buy one. They are very compact cameras, more in line with the OM cameras than the SRT's, in terms of overall size. Might be an issue for someone with large hands, though the addition of the auto winder may help.<br>

I'm at work and don't have any pictures of my XD11 (same as the XD7, but for US import) compared with my SRT101, but here are a few comparing it to my OM-1, if that helps give you any idea how compact the camera is.</p>

<p><img src="http://gallery.photo.net/photo/18020063-md.jpg" alt="15587682529_085e3f87db_o" width="680" height="452" border="0" /><br>

<img src="http://gallery.photo.net/photo/18020064-md.jpg" alt="15588096778_31ec06d6cf_o" width="680" height="453" border="0" /><br>

<img src="http://gallery.photo.net/photo/18020065-md.jpg" alt="15775075712_23d12bba77_o" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></p>

<p>I have a ST-100, but I believe the configuration for the DOF button is the same as the 101. Although I've never experienced the problem you ask about, I do have smallish hands. However, I found that using an aftermarket grip really helps me stabilize heavy zooms, and since I boughtt one which was longitudinally grooved, it fits right into the Swiss-Arca clamp on my tripod, and is interchangeable with many of my other cameras, as needed. Don't know if it would work for you...but I've attached a shot so you can see what it looks like mounted on the SRT body.</p><div>[ATTACH=full]1173676[/ATTACH]</div>

Do you still own this camera /lens combo ? I ask because the lens on this body has both an unusual serial number and focusing grip only seen on either the 55mm F 1.9 or later MC-X type lenses. More pictures of the lens from different angles would be interesting to see