There is something mystically appealing about the SR-T cameras. The build, the look, the feel, and the Sound are all inviting. I have a copy of the 100, 101, 102, 200, 201, and 202. Just having them and looking at them has a therapeutical effect. They make you feel good. Of all the mechanical cameras, the SR-T is my all time favorite. Thank you very much for your excellent vids about Minolta cameras.
Ah, this is so handy and comprehensive. My dad found a whole kit with a well cared for Minolta srt102 with some cool nice lenses, and he gave it to me to try to sell. I think I’m going to try to mess around with it for a while, this video really sold me on the whole thing! Thank you for your time and expertise!
Thanks for this. I have used some of these cameras. Funny I have done hundreds of photoshoots and my best portrait ever was taken on a 101b. Sometimes mechanical simplicity is all you need :)
Just bought some Fuji film at Walmart for my 1971 Minolta SR-T 101 for the Eclipse tomorrow just put in new light seals had to come back and watch to make sure I loaded film right 😂 I know these are different than my other 35mm thanks great video I love this Camera/ Tank can't wait to use it, and Kodak and Polaroid making film again too yeah my first roll in 30 years.
Bought the SRT303 in the US Navy exchange in 1973. Photographed most of the Mediterranean, Europe, and North Africa with it. Great camera, still have it. Sixth Fleet Flag, USS Little Rock. FTM3
Thank you so much for excellent explanations that many store clerks have not been able to convey when I asked them! For example, I love your explanation of the f-stop preview button.
I just got an SRT-202 as my first film camera and this video has been extremely helpful. Thank you! This was way better than all the other info I found online and certainly more entertaining than the manual :)
I first got into photography around 2011, and bought my first "real" camera, which was a Minolta SRT-101. I even made a video about it at the time. I don't think I'll ever get rid of it, it's a lovely piece of engineering. It still works great, of course (although the light meter isn't very accurate anymore). I enjoy your videos Gary, your enthusiasm for what you do really shines through.
This is freaking nice. I just got an srt 202 handed down from my mother and was trying to find out how it works. This video is worth so much to me right now as all the old childhood pictures were taken with this camera
I always wonder why people kept those gold JCII stickers on their cameras. I started with an SRT-101 and moved on to SRT-102 and XE-7 and would always carefully peel them off before they became scuffed and the residue became hard to remove. You do what you do, but that’s what I did. Live your books by the way.
Thanks for this video. I still have the SRT-101 that my dad bought us to use growing up. I shoot maybe a roll or two a year with it, plus another roll or two in my AF film bodies. I've been using the 1.4V zinc air batteries with an adapter. I'll have to remember to overexpose a little. Thanks for the tip. I do love "slow photography" from time to time, not rely on all of the automation available to us nowadays. I have an old XE-7, my main camera back in the day, but its like meter is a mess and I prefer not to have to "sunny 16" it all of the time.
Slow photograhpy is great, but don't ask me to go back to the darkroom. I spent enough time in my youth doing that. Also my XE-7 failed in a similar way to yours - the meter accuracy was "WAY off!" (quote from the Minolta repair guy) when returning from a documentary trip to the Soviet Union. Stress!!!
@@FriedmanArchives I haven't been in a darkroom in 35+ years. When I send my film in I ask for "enhanced scans" about 6MP I think. I do enjoy the process. At $1/frame (film + processing costs) I like to make sure each exposure counts, minimize those throwaway shots. Do you print much? I'm a regular 4x6 printer, sharing postcards of my shots. Let me know if you want a card! Happy to send one along.
This man looks the same now as he did back in his videos released over 10 years ago. He doesn’t age. Also I own the SRT-100 101 102 201 & 303b the best from Minolta.
Nostalgic. Of course, people in their sixties all started with film and fully manual cameras. I excavated my own srt-101 and x-700 and maybe I'll give it a try. That depth of view button never worked for me. I could not use it well.
Some years ago someone lend me a Seagull camera that afaik was a licensed copy of one of the early Minolta cameras :-) As far as I remember that was on a sunny day so guessing exposure based on F16, shutter equals 1/ISO and adding a bit in shadow kind of worked. Edit: I have read that zinc air batteries for hearing aids also have around 1.3V but have a limited lifetime once the seal is opened.
Hi Gary. The manual advices you to load the film strip the other way, against the rotation. This secures the film better, and you won’t have a slip to stuff in like I watched you do. It’s maybe contra intuitive, but it works just like a charm. Regards Martin
I also started doing it the other way around and actually the XD series f.ex. is designed to go the way you did in the video. But those later cameras has small notches that is supposed to grab the film. It could be something to do with the later models being created for motor drives.
I won a Minolta SRT 200 camera at an auction. And struggled with loading film in and even accidentally wasting a whole roll because I thought I loaded it in properly. This really helped and told me about some parts that I didn’t know what they were before. Thank you! (Fun fact: you can use this camera without a battery)
Great review! I have one thing to ask, regarding the flash: do you know if every kind of flash unit that has the right dimensions to fit the flash entrance of the camera will work or should I need to go for a specific type/brand of flash unit for this Minolta? Thanks!
The hot shoe on the SR-T series should fit any generic flash. All the camera body does is tell that flash when to fire. I believe Minolta didn't start putting manufacturer-specific communication pins on their cameras until the late 1970's, with the XG and XD series of cameras.
@@FriedmanArchivesthanks! another question: whenever we are not using the camera, should we remove the battery and then put it in again when we will use the camera to cover for the oxidation risk of the battery? or just turning OFF will do it?
this is a great video, very informative. :) I recently purchased a minolta srt 101, i didn’t realize until after that the little lever on the rewind knob is missing. is it still possible to rewind the film without that latch by just turning the entire knob?
Excellent video. You are very thorough and detailed covering all the buttons, dials, etc. Great info regarding the battery replacement for the light meter.
Had an x-370 die on me. Soon as the electronics went down the shutter stopped and would not advance. Just bought an srt 101 on an auction site so I am thrilled to learn I got a mechanical camera at a good price
Yes, the X700/X500/X370 series were famous for having capacitors that didn't age well. Not Minolta's fault. But your SRT 101 will certainly serve you well!
The X-370s are really nice cameras. Everything on that camera worked like new. I had one and traded up for a Nikon F, (Ftn photomic prism head) adding a few more dollars to purchase it. I really wanted that Nikon F and purchased it refurbished (like I do with most of my vintage film SLRs) from a camera repair shop. I also own the Minolta SRT-303. I will never part with that camera!
great video! my dad just gave me the SRT-Super (303, I think) that his dad gave him in the 70s and I’m completely new to photography so thank you for explaining everything so clearly :)
and that's why Sony wins lol. I just ordered this camera earlier today. haven't used a REAL film camera of this type in many years literally. I came because the SRT model seems to be popular and couldn't resist the price with the 50mm 1.7!
Nice video! Keep up the good work.I thought my lens was stuck open or defective. The bras or copper looking adapter is a more affordable solution for students.
