Minolta AL-E, any experience ?

D

Dingo

Well-known
Local time
4:15 AM
Joined
Dec 26, 2003
Messages
650
This is my second fixed lens RF bought recently :

attachment.php


Question one : What exactly is the function of the round knob in front when it is turned to the V position ?

Question two : How good is the lens compared to other fixed lens RF ?

Thanks.
 

Attachments

  • AL-E.jpg
    AL-E.jpg
    81.8 KB · Views: 0
BTW: when I was about 16 (1961) I had a fantastic Ricoh that remind me closely your Minolta. The meter was broken and I returned the camera with a lot of regret. I have never been able to remember the model or identify it on the net. May be you, in your country may help me.
Do you know the year of production of your AL-E?
 
Dingo said:
This is my second fixed lens RF bought recently :

attachment.php


Question one : What exactly is the function of the round knob in front when it is turned to the V position ?

Question two : How good is the lens compared to other fixed lens RF ?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Answer #1: I don't have many Minoltas, but on every one I've got that has a switch or knob that you can set to V, it means self-timer.

Answer #2: They're not Leicas, but Rokkors are very good indeed.

Most any decent rangefinder, provided that you're using normal or wide angle lenses on it, will leave any type of SLR, using any lens you can name (of roughly the same focal length), in the dust. SLR lenses just don't work very well unless they are telephotos. It's an inherent problem with retrofocus designs. SLRs can't put the lens at the optimum distance from the film plane, because they have to make room for a swinging mirror. This actually works out well for SLRs, if you use telephotos, but it works rather less well for normal lenses and very badly indeed for wide angle lenses.
 
Last edited:
FallisPhoto said:
Answer #1: I don't have many Minoltas, but on every one I've got that has a switch or knob that you can set to V, it means self-timer.
Click to expand...

Thanks. About the function of the round knob, I can still trigger the shutter when it is on V position. Does it need to operate with another knobs or something (beneath the lens barrel, for example) ?
 
Dingo said:
Thanks. About the function of the round knob, I can still trigger the shutter when it is on V position. Does it need to operate with another knobs or something (beneath the lens barrel, for example) ?
Click to expand...

I have an AL-F, a Hi-Matic 7S, and a Hi-Matic 9. I've handled a few other Minoltas (mostly Hi-Matics), but have never had an AL-E. In short, I don't know. I can't find an instruction manual that is free either, although I found several with a price attached. All I can say is that on all the other models of Minolta I've ever handled (that had a V), the V stands for self timer.

One thing you might consider is that on about 1/3 of the working Minolta rangefinders I have ever handled, the self timer is broken, has been disabled, or has actually been removed. The self timers are the Minolta rangefinder's weak point and are notorious for jamming the cameras up solid. The self timers are very difficult to get at too, for repairs -- which is ,no doubt, why so many people have either broken off the lever/knob or otherwise disabled them.
 
Last edited:
daniel~ said:
Congrats, it's a beautiful camera. :)
and FYI, there's the thread about my AL-E:
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47535

Mine will shoot at f/16 only, if I activate selft timer with the lever beneath the barrel, but leave the dial in normal(red dot) mode. Does your AL-E does the same thing?
Click to expand...

Don't dare to try since a lot of warnings from internet information state that the self-timer is the most fragile part of most fixed lens camera and using it will propbably end up with a jammed shutter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom