Minister D Controls

[aridley21]

Hi, I'm new to rangefinders... just got my Minister D today, seems to be in pretty decent condition apart from the light seals. I just have a question regarding the operation of the camera.

I understand that I am to adjust the LVS ring in accordance with the light meter, and that the aperture will adjust accordingly. But I'm confused by what is in between. I don't really understand the shutter speed control and coupling rings... am I supposed to adjust these?

If someone could clear up the camera controls I would appreciate it.

I apologise for my ignorance 🙂

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Here's a link to a Minister II manual at butkus.org site. The operation of the LVS system is described here. (I'm assuming the LVS system is the same as on your Minister D.)

And, we should all send money to butkus.org for the camera manuals that are such a great resource.

 

[aridley21]

Thanks for that, some helpful information. My shutter speed ring won't move until I push the aperture up past 16 or down past 2.8... I gather that is normal from reading the manual, i'm just struggling with how to determine which shutter speed I should choose.

 

[petronius]

First you choose the speed according to the situation, then you turn the LV ring to the number shown by the lightmeter. This will get you the aperture according to the chosen speed. If no match is possible you have to choose another speed.
The initial speed choice is completely yours; to get the ideal aperture/speed combination is a thing of experience.

 

[aridley21]

Ok, great... thanks for clearing that up 🙂 I'll do some research on choosing the right shutter speed. I'm assuming that I'll be looking at around 60-30 on average, moving down to 1 for low light and up to 500 for strong light?

Thanks

 

[BradM]

Congratulations on your Minister-D. I have one, it's a great camera.

Now, anything slower than 1/30 you will require a tripod or some sort of brace otherwise your handshaking will blur your shot.

For handheld shooting you are working within the 500-60 range to be safe.
There are plenty of websites that explain to you the relationship of shutter speed, aperture and what you get on the film. I'm sure you have looked at some already.

As an example, say the meter gives you a reading of "12".
You dial in "12" on the ring and this gives you a range of 1/500s at f2.8 down to 1/15s at f16. (If handheld the 1/15~f16 and 1/30~f11 settings may cause blurring.)

The camera will let you choose any of those six settings as the amount of light hitting the film (the exposure) is the same. The aperture is the key to what you want to do with the picture.
It controls the Depth of View - or how much of your subject is in focus.
Again, manuals and basic photography books and websites will explain all.

The shutter speed is not as important to learn about straight away. Certainly you want to have a fast shutter speed if you are photographing moving objects (sport, kids, pets, vehicles) but if you are photographing still objects it's not as important as the aperture is for what you want to achieve.

 

[aridley21]

Thank you for the information and advice BradM.

I think i'm still a little confused about choosing the aperture and lens speed, maybe I just need to get out and give it a go for real.

I just took a quick video, can you just let me know if the lens rings are normal... notice the shutter speed doesn't change until you frag it past f2.8 or f16... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axe1XVZJgTs

Thanks

 

[BradM]

Yeah, that's looking right. What you are doing is moving it as normal, then when you are hitting the aperture stops at 2.8 and at 16, then in your video you are changing both the LVS ring and the shutter ring. I think you are trying to make things more complicated than they are!

You set the LVS ring to the figure you are reading off the light meter.

Then you only move the inner ring (Yashica call it the 'coupling ring') to set the camera to the coupled speed and aperture.

For example, I just stepped outside with my camera. It's an overcast day here, I can just make out where the suns position is through the clouds.
I have my meter set for ASA 200 speed film. I point the camera at the target, press the red button, the needle swings exactly half way, reading "11".

I set the outer ring to "11". By just moving the inner ring, we see the fastest speed we can select is '250' with the corresponding aperture of 2.8.
By moving the inner ring to the left, we can move it the five aperture steps down to where it is a speed of "8" and aperture of 16. It won't move any further.

This is the range the camera will give the same exposure to the film.

The manual says 1/500 down to 1/30 can be used handheld, any slower you need to brace it or use a tripod to avoid shake.

Being handheld I know I can shoot in four positions on the ring, 250/2.8, 125/4, 60/5.6, or 30/8.

I hope that helps!

 

[aridley21]

Thanks BradM, that was a lot of help. So basically I set the LVS ring to the number on the light meter and then make a call on 1 of 5 options for the aperture/shutter speed combination. Hopefully i'll get some time to shoot a roll this weekend, see how it goes 🙂

 

[aridley21]

hey, just thought i'd post some results from my first attempt at shooting with the minister d. i used a roll of fujicolor 200.

 

[BradM]

You can't complain about those shots!

 

[stratcat]

You can't complain about those shots!

I agree! Very nice pictures you made there!

 

[aridley21]

thanks! I'm pleased with the results. seems I did a good job on the light seals too 🙂