Minolta 16II, Amazing little camera

[Nokton48]

Nokton48;
That's a good deal on carts if he has them. Eight carts! You must plan on shooting a lot. I've collected up 10 or 12 but that took me about 5 years.

I talked to Igor again a couple of days ago. He was heading out on a buying trip but he took care of me. I did buy his GOLD 16MG so I will have two 16mm cameras (for different films!). Identical cameras, one in silver, and one in Gold. 🙂

He also had the eight Minolta cartridges for me. I asked him to count what was left over. He has sixteen Minolta cartridges left to sell, with no boxes, just the cartridges. $10 each!

www.igorcamera.com

Remember he is away on a buying trip right now!

 

[zuiko85]

Sure you do! Right here at the RFF Gallery. Very easy to use it as an online intermediary...

I'll look into that today. Thanks Doug.

 

[zuiko85]

You can also buy film from ORWO. They have 16 mm single and double perforated film in 100 to 1000 foot rolls. ASA 100 and 400. Also 35mm stock and some dupe films.

Thanks Rich. Who sells ORWO here in the US? I didn't see it on the B&H site. The film I bought has a rimjet backing because it is intended for reversal processing so I'll use a pre-wet to remove that before regular processing as a negative. Is the ORWO film a negative film or is it intended to be shot as reversal film?

Ah, found ORWO site! Yeah, looks good. Think I'll order 100ft. of the single perf, 100 ISO film. Good prices too. Thanks for the tip, wish I'd knew about them earlier.

 

[Nokton48]

right here

http://www.orwona.com/brands/ORWO.html

 

[RichL]

Thanks for the ORWO link, you beat me to it. Had to smile over the "Remember he is away on a buying trip right now!". I've been dealing with him for years and that's not to far off the mark.

 

[RichL]

Thanks Rich. Who sells ORWO here in the US? I didn't see it on the B&H site. The film I bought has a rimjet backing because it is intended for reversal processing so I'll use a pre-wet to remove that before regular processing as a negative. Is the ORWO film a negative film or is it intended to be shot as reversal film?

Ah, found ORWO site! Yeah, looks good. Think I'll order 100ft. of the single perf, 100 ISO film. Good prices too. Thanks for the tip, wish I'd knew about them earlier.

I shoot a MEC 16SB and a Rollei 16 and was getting rather desperate because the various places that carried 16mm film were usually back ordered so I started a search in the best tradition of Sam *****.

Late one dank and drizzly night as I slogged through the desolate ispscape I happened to glimpse a red blinking light far away across the German border. While dancing around the establishment after my joyous arrival I discovered the U.S. site.

 

[RichL]

Must be Political Correctness time. Sam ***** would be Sam alternate name for small shovel. 🙂

 

[Nokton48]

Here is my new GOLD Minolta 16MG with eight more film cartridges.

2016-03-31 11.56.28 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[zuiko85]

Here is my new GOLD Minolta 16MG with eight more film cartridges.
2016-03-31 11.56.28 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Congratulations! Nice score. Back in 1971 or so the MG was my first 16mm submini. I sold it when I got into 35mm but always toyed with the idea of getting a Minolta 16 again. It was not until about 2003 that I did some research on the Minolta 16mm cameras, by then made so easy by the internet. I found you could pick up 16II's all day long for $10 to $20 and they always seemed to work. Of all the models it has the most versatility for the least money and except for the lens being fixed focus at 2.5 meters and the need for both minus diopter lens for landscape and plus diopter lenses for closer shots it is a nice compact camera. If only Minolta had made the same model with a focusing lens it would have been perfect.

 

[Nokton48]

I wanted two identical cameras for different film types; plus they operate and handle the same. I just compared both meters; they are reading the same.

 

[Nokton48]

One more shot, taking an inventory of stuff. Almost everything is finally here.
Need to clean up the carts.

2016-03-31 15.46.18 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Timmyjoe]

2016-03-31 15.46.18 by Nokton48, on Flickr

That's very cool. And very gold. 🙂

Having the two different color bodies will make it easy to tell them apart when you're out shooting.

 

[Nokton48]

That's very cool. And very gold. 🙂

Having the two different color bodies will make it easy to tell them apart when you're out shooting.

Thanks. That's the plan. One could have ISO 25 and the other ISO 400.
Both easily fit in my little Swedish Medical surplus bag, along with my other day stuff.

 

[zuiko85]

The white residue from original tape should not cause any problem. Main thing is, grit and dirt stuck in the felts. Sometimes I use those tiny dental brushes to drag through the film slots. That and compressed air to blow out the slots. I always tape my cartridges with blue painters masking tape. It comes off without leaving a residue on the carts.

I'm sure you know this but, anyway.....
When loading carts in total darkness, take-your-time
Every foul up I've done, and I've done plenty was when I rushed, thinking "ah, I know what I'm doing", and then Bam! Kobayashi Maru

 

[Nokton48]

I'm about ready to start shooting some film. Maybe this weekend.
JOBO reels should be arriving today. That is the last thing to get started.

I found some AG1B bulbs, and tested, both camera fire bulbs (which is good!).
What is a good price to pay for AG1 & AG1B bulbs?
With B&W film is it better to use the clear bulbs? Do the blue ones work OK with B&W?
I have thirty six bulbs but I imagine those will go fast.

 

[Timmyjoe]

The white residue from original tape should not cause any problem. Main thing is, grit and dirt stuck in the felts. Sometimes I use those tiny dental brushes to drag through the film slots. That and compressed air to blow out the slots. I always tape my cartridges with blue painters masking tape. It comes off without leaving a residue on the carts.

+1 Everything he said.

 

[Nokton48]

I made the homemade "spinner stick", that will be handy. And now I'm ready to load some film. I found some old Panatomic-X, and Efke KB25, for slow stuff. And some good 'ole Tri-X which seems like a good place to start. I can get two rolls of 16mm from each 35mm cart.

2016-04-01 17.05.35 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Tommorrow it would be great to shoot a few rolls. We will see.

 

[zuiko85]

This all brings back memories. I had moved to Chicago from rural Indiana to find work. I think I bought the Minolta MG the next summer, in 1970, of course I didn't load my own film or save cartridges, simply no need back then. The first place I used it, with some ASA80 color negative film was a trip to the Museum of Science and Industry. I remember taking pictures inside the U-505 submarine, with flash bulbs of course. Standard print size was 3.5 X 5 inches. Wish now I still had those prints and negs, long lost in some move or the other.

Sorry, old folks like to reminisce sometimes.

 

[Nokton48]

This morning I loaded up two cartridges with Tri-X. Loading the carts was pretty straightforward, but one thing I discovered, is that I can get exactly three 18" strips from a 36 exposure roll (which is all I ever use), which is a good thing!

I did re-do the light traps on the bottom lid of each camera, so the cameras are loaded and I am ready to start shooting. Shown behind are carts are two JOBO 16 reels, which will hold two films per reel. Now comes the really fun part!

Oh, and I bought 144 AG1B bulbs, so I won't run out any time soon.

2016-04-03 10.54.29 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Timmyjoe]

Have fun.

Here's my issue with the cameras. While I love my 16QT and toss it in my pocket most times when I'm walking out the door, it does lead to the situation below.

Lots of exposed carts stacking up and not having the time to process it all.

But they are truly fun cameras.

Best,
-Tim