Minolta Autocord lightmeter ?

[gliderbee]

How can I recognize on pictures if a Minolta Autocord has a built-in lightmeter ? They all look the same to me, but I've only seen pictures of them.

Are there more desirable versions ?

Stefan.

 

[historicist]

It will either have a selenium cell or a big eye above the two lenses, it should be fairly obvious from pictures.

I've never seen a selenium version (I dare say it looks a lot like the rollei meter though, a smallish waffle pattern) but the cds metered version has a massive eye on it, it's hard to miss.

EDIT: found a couple of pics with google image search:

 

[gliderbee]

Ok, thanks.

I'm looking at this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260656442395&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123#ht_500wt_1154

What do you think ? What would be a reasonable price ?

 

[dfatty]

Looks good but you really never know until you get it. Make sure to ask if the focusing lever moves easily, that's the one weakness of the autocord.

In the US, around $150-200US seems to be an average price for an autocord. Some go for less (usually because they have issues) and some for more (ones that have been recently CLAd), but when I was recently searching, that seemed to be a realistic range.

 

[PMCC]

The model you are looking at has a built-in, uncoupled selenium meter. No batteries required. You can see the meter on the side that doesn't have the winding crank. The case even has a little "ear" to cover it.

I don't know why it should be so, but it seems that the selenium cells in Japanese cameras of the 50s and 60s often remain active and linear long after the selenium cells in German cameras of similar vintage (Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, even Rolleis) have gone wonky or expired.

Back to the camera in question: it *looks* like it's in good nick and might well fetch over US$200. I think the models with Optipher (older) or Citizen shutters (newer) may be viewed as very slightly more desirable than ones equipped with Seikosha shutters, for ease of service. +1 to Dean's advice regarding the focusing lever. If the lenses are clean, it will be serviceable, in both senses of the word.

 

[sevo]

I don't know why it should be so, but it seems that the selenium cells in Japanese cameras of the 50s and 60s often remain active and linear long after the selenium cells in German cameras of similar vintage (Zeiss Ikon, Voigtlander, even Rolleis) have gone wonky or expired.

Whoever supplied the German makers with their cells (the last spares I could get were AEG or Siemens branded, but these had gobbled up all smaller German electronic component makers in the preceding decades) obviously used a inferior sealing compared to the Japanese and US makers.

Selenium cells themselves actually are pretty permanent - the photoelectric effect itself does not wear out or "age". What is critical is the bonding to the upper electrodes and the wire hookup - both are very vulnerable to oxidation, and must be protected against air and humidity. The quality of the sealing/potting (and a stress free mount inside the meter/camera so that the coating does not develop stress cracks) is pretty much the only factor that determines the life span of a cell.

 

[PMCC]

I tend to prefer using TLRs w/o inboard meters, just to bypass the commonly associated issues (meter death, battery workarounds, PITA EV systems, etc.) and because using a modern hand-held meter is more reliable. In addition, going hand-held (or even meterless) is far hipper, which goes to the heart of why one would bother with a dark, slow, cranky old TLR to begin with.

Sometimes, however, I relent in the face of superbly implemented coupled systems. When they are working, the coupled CDS meters in late model Yashica Mats (124-124G) and the selenium meters in the Rolleiflex F series are miraculously convenient. Other drawbacks, however, apply: selenium is not so good for low light sensitivity, and CDS suffers from memory effect.

The bald truth is that I just like TLRs, and my devotion is pretty indiscriminate.