Minolta Mirror Lock Up

[JeremyLangford]

I'm trying to decide between the Minolta SRT-102 and the SRT-202. The main difference is the the SRT-102 has MLU and the SRT-202 doesn't.

Wasn't MLU added into Minolta SLRs so that some old retrofocus telephoto lens could be used? I probably won't ever need to use that lens and I don't think I will ever be shooting landscapes with 35mm and wish I had MLU to reduce the vibrations. Are there any other reasons I might want MLU?

 

[ed1234]

I will get the newer one, no matter what model it is. I have an old SRT Super sitting in the cabinet, haven't touch it since my dad got the FE2 during 85. Last year, I took it out for clean, the vibrations is much lower that the FE2 from 1 sec to 1/60 even without MLU. The SRT wasn't kept very well so there is a lot of oxidation around the edge of the focusing screen and the meter is not working. Those SRT are very well build.

 

[Landshark]

MLU was on the 101 before the 202 was a gleam in the designers eye.

 

[rxmd]

Wasn't MLU added into Minolta SLRs so that some old retrofocus telephoto lens could be used?

With telephotos you don't have a clearance problem, but there were two ancient Minolta wideangles from the pre-MC/MD era (W-Rokkor 21 f/4.5 and f/4, respectively). If you're not a collector, just get a newer wideangle such as the 20/f2.8. Minolta lenses are extraordinarily cheap anyway and the lens will be better.

 

[bmattock]

The purpose of MLU was to reduce vibration when shooting from a tripod with relatively long exposures. It can also serve to allow clearance for certain lenses. I don't know about Minolta, but with the old Canon FL system, one of the 19mm lenses had to be used with MLU or the Pellix (no mirror). MLU was once considered a 'must have' for an SLR to be taken seriously, along with DOF Preview.

 

[rxmd]

I don't know about Minolta, but with the old Canon FL system, one of the 19mm lenses had to be used with MLU or the Pellix (no mirror).

The Pellix had a mirror, a fixed one:

You can't stick the old non-retrofocus wideangles in there without breaking it.

 

[bmattock]

The Pellix had a mirror, a fixed one:

My bad, you're right. I meant it didn't flip up, so no MLU was needed, but I forgot that you could not put the 19mm lens on it. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[le vrai rdu]

I'm trying to decide between the Minolta SRT-102 and the SRT-202. The main difference is the the SRT-102 has MLU and the SRT-202 doesn't.

Wasn't MLU added into Minolta SLRs so that some old retrofocus telephoto lens could be used? I probably won't ever need to use that lens and I don't think I will ever be shooting landscapes with 35mm and wish I had MLU to reduce the vibrations. Are there any other reasons I might want MLU?

I have a SRT 101 MLU

even with MLU, tje mecanism that move the mirror works, and make some vibrations

anyway, the camera is quite heavy, so imho MLU is not realy relevant 😉

It is useful when using a ultra wide angle that need to have le mirror locked up (the 17 mm or something like that)