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ruben
Guest
Can someone explain why these two cameras were designed so big ?
Thanks in advance,
Ruben
Thanks in advance,
Ruben
Konica s2/Minolta 7 question
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Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Just speculating, but check the size of Minolta & Konica SLRs of the era. Probably shared the same chassis.
It's funny you mention it, but I had the 7s out this weekend, and I was thinking, "Wow, what a honkin' beast!" It barely fits in the pockets of a light jacket I bought expressly because of the pockets, for toting RFs.
It's funny you mention it, but I had the 7s out this weekend, and I was thinking, "Wow, what a honkin' beast!" It barely fits in the pockets of a light jacket I bought expressly because of the pockets, for toting RFs.
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tedwhite
Guest
I dunno. The Maxxum 7000 series, introduced in, I think, 1984 or 85 caught the entire SLR world with their pants down with its AF lenses. And it wasn't a big camera at all. However, when the Maxxum 7 was introduced, with its LED screen on the back that made everyone think it was a DSLR, it was huge. I think the 7D is essentially the same chassis. Sorry I can't answer your question. Then, of course, there are the Canon DSLRs. Huger (I'm not sure that's a word, but it was fun to write it).
Ted
Ted
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Ted: The 7(s/sII) predate that by quite a few years. Think SRT line for Minolta, and Autoreflex T series for Konica. For the Konica, scroll down to the T3.
You know you're making me feel old, eh?
You know you're making me feel old, eh?
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tedwhite
Guest
Oops. My apologies, Trius (and all that gorgeous wine in your avatar is making me thirsty. Do you know how long it would take to make tequila from the cactus in my avatar?)
I saw the "7" and just took off. Thanks for the links. That Konica T3 looks amazingly like my Pentax Spotmatic SP, except it's a bit more sophisticated.
But to get back to the thread originator's question. "Big" unless defined by measurement, comparison, or other means, is at best a relative term. As I have several dead Minolta SRT series cameras in a box in the garage, I don't see them as being big. I always thought the Yashica GSN was "big" for a rangefinder camera. But the Minoltas and Konicas in question don't seem any bigger than a Pentax Spotmatic, which in my opinion isn't big at all.
I saw the "7" and just took off. Thanks for the links. That Konica T3 looks amazingly like my Pentax Spotmatic SP, except it's a bit more sophisticated.
But to get back to the thread originator's question. "Big" unless defined by measurement, comparison, or other means, is at best a relative term. As I have several dead Minolta SRT series cameras in a box in the garage, I don't see them as being big. I always thought the Yashica GSN was "big" for a rangefinder camera. But the Minoltas and Konicas in question don't seem any bigger than a Pentax Spotmatic, which in my opinion isn't big at all.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Those are agave cacti in your avatar, Ted? Cool! I only see the final product around here. The process from seed/cuting(?) to my welcoming glass is 20 or 25 years from what I understand. Most of that time is waiting for the cactus to grow; the actual fermentation,distillation, and aging are comparable to other, lesser potables?tedwhite said:
Rob
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tedwhite
Guest
Actually, they aren't agaves, but you could employ the same process of fermentation/distillation. You'd definitely get an alcoholic drink but I have no idea how it would taste. Agaves have many long, spear shaped "blades" with unbelievably sharp points at the ends. They also grow to a height of three to four feet, whereas these "paddle" cacti, of which we have many varieties, tend to be ground huggers.
And yes, agaves, of which I have several on my property, take years to mature. When they are totally mature, they shoot up a thick seed stalk ten feet high. Then they die.
The best tequilas come from the tequilas grown in and around the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. There's also a lot to the aging process, perhaps in wood casks. I'm not sure, but it's an easy google.
And yes, agaves, of which I have several on my property, take years to mature. When they are totally mature, they shoot up a thick seed stalk ten feet high. Then they die.
The best tequilas come from the tequilas grown in and around the town of Tequila in the state of Jalisco. There's also a lot to the aging process, perhaps in wood casks. I'm not sure, but it's an easy google.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
Eventually I'll need to go there (Jalisco)and check it out for myself. But I might not want to come home so I'll need a fairly good sized pile of $ and the retirement account isn't piled deep enough yet. Soon enough, though.When it's in my favor, compund interest makes me happy. 🙂
Rob
Rob
Kim Coxon
Moderator
IMHO, it was nothing out of the ordinary. If you think of the first version of the Canonet QL's, they were also about the same size. The search fo "compact" came later and indeed Konica followed suit with the S3.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
The Minolta 7(s) and Konica S2 are bigger than the Oly 35 series, much less the smaller RC/RDs, Konica C35, later Canonets, etc. So, yeah, "big" is a relative term. (Note I haven't handled a Konica S2, so I'm just going by what others have said here.)
But when you pick up a 7(s) it just feels big. (It's also pretty heavy.) No one would say my 35SPs are small, but set next to the 7s they are clearly smaller, and the feel is entirely different. The 7s feels awkward, as if it not really balanced. JMO, of course.
OT, but I have recently shot with my RC and an original hood which I bought on ePay. I find the RC just a tad small in my hands, but workable. With the hood, though, it's very difficult to focus as the lens has no focusing tab. The search for "compact" wasn't always a total success.
But when you pick up a 7(s) it just feels big. (It's also pretty heavy.) No one would say my 35SPs are small, but set next to the 7s they are clearly smaller, and the feel is entirely different. The 7s feels awkward, as if it not really balanced. JMO, of course.
OT, but I have recently shot with my RC and an original hood which I bought on ePay. I find the RC just a tad small in my hands, but workable. With the hood, though, it's very difficult to focus as the lens has no focusing tab. The search for "compact" wasn't always a total success.
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pshinkaw
Guest
Y. Maitani, a designer/engineer at Olympus is credited with ushering in the age of really compact cameras. Although he was not given a lot publicity until the OM-1, he really started back in the 60's with the haf-frame Pen series.
I think he must have started influencing Olympus designs about the time of the original Pen and later the Ollympus SP. Before the SP the Olympus cameras were much larger. The overall style looked different too. Eventually, in order to remain competitive, the other manufacturers had to "go small" with their 35's.
The Minolta 7s seems to be a little taller than the Konica S2, but the Konica feels heavier. Most of the 35's of tha time used shutter preferred automation because that's what they knew how to make. I think the Yashica Electro 35 was one of the earliest large volume aperture preferred auto 35's. It was made possible by the use of an electromagnetic shutter.
Preferred size is largely a matter of personal preference. The size of the negative/transparency is the same whether you use an Olympus RC or a Yashica Lynx 14.
-Paul
I think he must have started influencing Olympus designs about the time of the original Pen and later the Ollympus SP. Before the SP the Olympus cameras were much larger. The overall style looked different too. Eventually, in order to remain competitive, the other manufacturers had to "go small" with their 35's.
The Minolta 7s seems to be a little taller than the Konica S2, but the Konica feels heavier. Most of the 35's of tha time used shutter preferred automation because that's what they knew how to make. I think the Yashica Electro 35 was one of the earliest large volume aperture preferred auto 35's. It was made possible by the use of an electromagnetic shutter.
Preferred size is largely a matter of personal preference. The size of the negative/transparency is the same whether you use an Olympus RC or a Yashica Lynx 14.
-Paul
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ruben
Guest
a) Sorry if I am wrong, but haven't pre-WW2 Leicas been quite smaller that Konica S-2/Minolta 7 ?
b) Anyway, were the Konica S-2/Minolta 7 just a waist of materials in terms of size ?
b) Anyway, were the Konica S-2/Minolta 7 just a waist of materials in terms of size ?
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pshinkaw
Guest
Screew-thread Leicas are much smaller. However, they did not contain auto exposure mechanisms and the pre-war models did not have flash synchronization equipment.
I doubt that conservation of materials was much of an issue in the 60's and 70's when these cameras were being built and marketed. Also, light-weight carbon fiber plastics had not yet been put into commercial use. Both the Minolta nd Konica have a lot of empty space "under the hood". That's why even dented up cameras still work.
-Paul
I doubt that conservation of materials was much of an issue in the 60's and 70's when these cameras were being built and marketed. Also, light-weight carbon fiber plastics had not yet been put into commercial use. Both the Minolta nd Konica have a lot of empty space "under the hood". That's why even dented up cameras still work.
-Paul
