The Minolta SR-T Cameras: How to Use

This video pertains to all Minolta models:

SR-T 101 (1966-1975)
SR-M (1970-1975)
SR-T 100 (1971-1975)
SR-T 102 / SR-T Super / SR-T 303 (1973-1975)
SR-T SC / SR-T MC (1973-1975)
SR-T 202 / SR505 / SR-T 303b (1975-1977)
SR-T 201 / SR101 / SR-T 101b (1975-1977)
SR-T 200 / SR-T 100b (1975-1977)
SR-T 202 / SR505s / SR-T 303b (1977-1980)
SR-T 201 / SR101s / SR-T 101b (1977-1981)
SR-T 200 / SR-T 100x (1977-1981)
SR-T SC-II / SR-T MC-II (1977-1980)

Notes:

The original battery for the SRT series, the PX625, is no longer on the market because it contained mercury and little kids were swallowing them, leading to undesirable outcomes. The replacement battery and adapter shown in the video is a 386 silver oxide button cell battery (1.55 volts) and the C.R.I.S. MR-9 adapter, available from https://shop.criscam.com/products/mr-... or from ebay at slightly reduced costs. Much more about the batteries and other options can be found at this wonderfully detailed website from photographer Bruce Varner: https://www.brucevarner.com/PX625Repl...

The X/FP switch: The X sync connector (or switch setting) would fire the flash only when the first shutter curtain was fully open, whereas the FP (Focal Plane) setting would fire the flash at the beginning of the exposure, before the first shutter curtain started to move. Why the difference? Flash bulbs had a slower burn; you could use ANY shutter speed with the FP setting, whereas newer electronic flashes would only flash for 1/10,000th of a second, so it was important that the entire frame of the film be exposed before the flash went off. For this reason you could only shoot with electronic flash at the camera’s flash sync speed (1/60th of a second, which is why it's painted red) or slower.

Many of the early models also had a mirror-lock-up function, which was useful for astrophotographers and others with long lenses. Locking the mirror in the "Up" position eliminated much of the internal vibration when you took a picture; vibration which sometimes led to camera shake and blurry pictures when using long lenses.

Back in the 1960's (earlier, actually) there were two competing standards for film speed: ASA and DIN (and you can see an equivalence table on the back of the camera). In 1987 the world migrated to ISO, which is essentially ASA with a new label.

I talk more about how this video was made at my blog post: https://friedmanarchives.blogspot.com...

You can also find out more about the Friedman Archives Seminars (especially the streaming version) at https://www.FriedmanArchives.com/semi... . Also check out Gary's multitude of ebooks on Sony, Fujifilm, and Olympus cameras at www.FriedmanArchives.com .