Minolta AL-F

[howardstanbury]

<p>A few weeks ago I posted some questions about trying to fix a Minolta Minoltina S. I got stuck and that camera is languishing for the time being. In the meantime I managed to win a Minolta AL-F a couple of weeks ago, and this seems to be in working order - a clean body, a working rangefinder and an exposure meter that seems to be on target. I hope you'll spare be the indulgenece of posting a few words and pictures about this camera.<br>

<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3470/3940272587_a3d7ec74b5.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="375" /><br>

(I'm going to have to re-ink the Minolta name, I think.)</p>

<p>The camera, a compact rangefinder model, was launched in 1967. I love its sleek metal finish and the simple controls.Only the AL-F name on the top panel seems out of scale.</p>

<p>The lens is a four element f/2.7 38mm Rokkor. The camera uses a shutter-priority automatic exposure system, with shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 s and a separate flash setting. The viewfinder shows the aperture determined by the CdS CLC 'Electric Eye' exposure meter (the window is in the top of the lens barrel), and an exposure lock is available if the shutter is half-depressed when taking pictures.The meter can be set for film speeds from 25 to 500 ASA, 15 to 28 DIN.</p>

<p>Here's the view through the viewfinder:<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2486/3944870257_69d4fcc3ef.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="360" /><br>

The yellow diamond is the rangefinder spot and the yellow line is for parallax correction in close-up shots, though I'm not sure from what distance you're better off using it.</p>

<p>I've put just one film through the camera so far, a cheap roll of Fujicolor C200.<br>

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3980919172_a5ca7b5615.jpg" alt="" width="333" height="500" /><br>

The last of the summer sunflowers in St Mary's churchyard, Shinfield, Berkshire</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3977813532_5febb5f7b8.jpg" alt="" width="400" height="500" /><br>

Timbers, bricks and holes in the wall of the adjoining property</p>

<p><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2432/3977051783_dfa4a01ef4.jpg" alt="" width="333" height="500" /><br>

The River Loddon at Shinfield</p>

<p><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3467/3977092245_0ccb9ea07e.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="326" /><br>

The graveyard at All Saints church, Swallowfield, Berkshire.</p>

<p>(There are a few more photos in my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanbury/sets/72157622507940626/">set</a> at Flickr.)</p>

<p>I enjoyed using the camera. The rangefinder took a little getting used to as the ghost alignment image wasn't always easy to pick out. The camera is missing a depth of focus scale on the lens barrel (the markings that are there seem to be more about using the flash, I think.</p>

<p>Next, I think I'll run a black and white film through it one day, especially when I have restored my own processing set up to working order again.</p>

[chuck_foreman1]

Seems like your new toy is working just fine! I definitely like the angle of the All Saints Church.

Getting abck into processing is a worthwhile plunge. I let it lag after getting marrried and having kids, but now the kids are teenagers and I bought the chemicals almost two years ago now and I haven't looked back! Watch out.. this time next year you'll have three mor eJapenses RFs from this era!!

[JDMvW]

<p>Great shots and camera.</p>

<p>Posts like this make it harder and harder for me to avoid accumulating nice film RFs. I've only got 7 of them now, and that's pretty restrained for me.<br>

My favorite so far is the little Canonet 28, auto and all. I suppose I'll have to get something a little more sophisticated like yours. As for processing, I'm no longer set up to where I can control things well enough for color work, but I'm using up a large stash of outdated film I had in my refrigerator that came out when our power was cut for a week. Now if I can just figure out how to do E-4 infraared Ektachrome in D-76. I think I'll have to try my Exakta knife again and see how different times, etc do.</p>

[Andy Collins]

<p><strong><em>3 more?!!</em> </strong> 30 more is more in keeping with the regulars on this forum. Nice shots Howard, and it looks like a fine camera. The results from that lens are impressive with excellent sharpness. Of course it's a Rokkor lens so I shouldn't be too surprised. I do hope you either get your Minoltina S fixed or get another one. I think you'll really enjoy using that camera as well, maybe even a little more. Great post...thanks a lot for sharing.</p>

[kurt_holter]

<p>Wow does that bring back memories. <br>

I bought one of these as my first 35mm camera when I was in the 10th grade in 1970. It was great until I dropped it and killed it about a year later.<br>

Have fun!</p>

[tony_lockerbie]

<p>The lens on the AL/F looks small and insignificant but produces really sharp and contrasty photos as you have shown here. The meter in mine is spot on still, but the rangefinder spot, like yours, is a bit indistinct. I love shooting in old graveyards and really envy you Poms for the age of yours, we consider anything from the 1800's really old!</p>

[Lou_Meluso]

<p>Pretty good first results, Howard! Thanks for the viewfinder shot - cool.</p>

 

[Mike Gammill]

<p>Up until now I've managed to resist the AL-F, but I may have to pick one up now. Great shots.</p>

[howardstanbury]

<p>Thanks everyone for the encouragement and replies. I'll keep plugging on, for sure.<br>

@Chuck - you're right, I will have more cameras down the line; I'm trying to limit the habit by sticking to Minolta, but if I can get the Minoltina S working, and get some examples from the Hi-Matic line that will take me to three easily.<br>

@JDM - I have all the gear to do traditional black and white processing, but I can't see myself getting an enlarger set up again. As for films, I never tried colour chemistry - it was too demanding in terms of temperature control and timing, as I recall.<br>

@Tony - graveyards are a rich source for photography; my nearest one is 20 yards from my house and has some nice examples from the 17th century - see <a href="http://photodelusions.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/john-youngs-epitaph/">John Young's epitaph</a> for a (restored) example.</p>

[JDMvW]

<p>Yeah, I used to have a darkroom up on campus where even color work was possible. Possible, but not frequent. My enlarger these days is my scanners, computer, and printer, I'm afraid. The E-4 stuff is way beyond anything reasonable in the few places that will still do it, for $30 a roll and wait maybe a year for them to accumulate enough for a batch. As infrared, I suspect that it may not be any good anyway, so I will see what I can do with black-and-white processing along the lines <a href="../photodb/user?user_id=3667779">Subbarayan Prasanna</a> has been pursuing lately.</p>

<p>Anyhow, as I said, nice work.</p>