Minolta SRT's -- Gotta Love 'Em.

Noserider said:
Hey Nokton48 I see you use the Freestyle one; I'm not totally certain that its exactly the same to the Kodak version; Kodak had the X factor (ha sorry) of the mercapto and as far as I know this still remains a secret and propriety of Kodak patents. The Ilford version is close as is the home-brew but in my experience the Kodak version has less grain and gets a wonderful creamy feel in the highlights when used repenished. I've noted the kodak suggestions regarding the mixing of replenisher in their recommended method but luckily I picked up many (15+) 1 gallon bags of real Microdot-X replenisher and as you know using 1/2 an ounce per roll one gallon can last a while!
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Wow you were very lucky to get all that Microdol-X replenisher. 🙄
Do you find that the Microdol-X you use is holding up OK, I would imagine it's getting rather old at this point? Ilford Perceptol is similar to Microdol-X but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some chemical differences.

I do like the Legacy Mic-X, I just bought three more gallons to use in the future. But my three-year old gallon stock solution is still going strong. It's similar to Kodak Microdol-X but I pretty sure it's not exactly the same, as you say. But it does work very well for me.
 
Yeah what works with you, works with you. Using traditional (" ") photo materials for as long as I have and being aware of what it was a generation or two ahead of me has taught me to learn to use well what you have access to. The Legacy MDX may or may not contain that magic mercapto (as I've discussed on other film chemistry forums) that makes that Kodak Microdol-X exactly Kodak Microdol-X. My personal guess is its not; that Secret X apparently stays tucked into the shirt pocket of someone somewhere.
Anyway I only save my replenished stock for something interesting; the mixed gallon is extraordinarily robust separated into 3-4 glass bottles and as I pointed out 1/2 an ounce can take a while to get thru. Its the regular Microdol-X packages that are getting hard to find...
 
Thanks. I'll keep my eye out for a black 101 at a friendly price, I think. And maybe a later SRT after that.
Were the black dial early models also made in black finish? Ie. black dial/black paint? Not that it really matters.
Cheers,
Brett
 
Sarcophilus Harrisii said:
Thanks. I'll keep my eye out for a black 101 at a friendly price, I think. And maybe a later SRT after that.
Were the black dial early models also made in black finish? Ie. black dial/black paint? Not that it really matters.
Cheers,
Brett
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Hello Brett,

Yes the SRT-101 early (black dial) came in all black finish. Here is one of mine on the left, with the 35mm F1.8 MC Rokkor, correct Minolta Hood & real Minolta filter, and covered in Red Ringneck Lizard (from Cameraleather). On the right is my much newer SRT-202, with 28mm F2.5 MC Rokkor, correct Minolta Hood, real Minolta Filter, and covered with Dark Griptac Material (also from Cameraleather). I know a fellow out in Colorado who builds SRT's combining parts from different cameras, so he ends up with bodies having unique feature sets. Since you work on these, perhaps that is an option for you to think about.

Anyway, the oldest (approx) and the last of the last. Again I would emphasize that these cameras are plentiful, inexpensive, and easy to acquire and get properly serviced (at least here in the USA).

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
Noserider said:
Yeah what works with you, works with you. Using traditional (" ") photo materials for as long as I have and being aware of what it was a generation or two ahead of me has taught me to learn to use well what you have access to. The Legacy MDX may or may not contain that magic mercapto (as I've discussed on other film chemistry forums) that makes that Kodak Microdol-X exactly Kodak Microdol-X. My personal guess is its not; that Secret X apparently stays tucked into the shirt pocket of someone somewhere.
Anyway I only save my replenished stock for something interesting; the mixed gallon is extraordinarily robust separated into 3-4 glass bottles and as I pointed out 1/2 an ounce can take a while to get thru. Its the regular Microdol-X packages that are getting hard to find...
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Yeah I'd agree with all of that, Freestyle says it's "close" to the original formula. I'm not a chemist, but I do mix my own developers, and as far as I am concerned, Freestyle Mic-X works well for me, $10 for a gallon is good, and is easily available. It's probably NOT the real deal.

Microdol-X I see on Ebay seems really expensive, does the powder turn brown over time, and do you notice any effects from this? Just curious...
 
Nokton48 said:
Hello Brett,

Yes the SRT-101 early (black dial) came in all black finish. Here is one of mine on the left, with the 35mm F1.8 MC Rokkor, correct Minolta Hood & real Minolta filter, and covered in Red Ringneck Lizard (from Cameraleather). On the right is my much newer SRT-202, with 28mm F2.5 MC Rokkor, correct Minolta Hood, real Minolta Filter, and covered with Dark Griptac Material (also from Cameraleather). As you can see, the SRT-202 DOES have a stop-down lever, I mispoke on that.

Anyway, the oldest (approx) and the last of the last. Again I would emphasize that these cameras are plentiful, inexpensive, and east to acquire (at least here in the USA).

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr
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Thanks. Great information. I think an early-ish black 101 would be quite the thing to look out for!

SRTs used to be dirt cheap here in Australia a couple of years or so ago. On eBay at least, they seem to be fetching a bit more now. Prices can vary of course but I've seen some good bodies alone make $50 a few times, something that would have been out of the question two or three years ago. It seems that, finally, the word is getting out.

I suspect a part of the reason for some variation here is simply because the size of the Australian market has always been smaller. The sheer quantity of kit sold in/to the USA must mean that, given the decline in values generally, post-digital, there is still a relative abundance of bodies and lenses at good prices (relative being the operative word, perhaps top grade used stuff is less common than, say five years ago, but compared to Aus, nevertheless).

I can apply this context to all manner of kit. Eg. Rolleicords never change hands for $25-50 at garage sales here in Australia. Almost unheard of. Probably getting rare in the USA, too, but can still occur, apparently, (craigslist, lucky finds, estates, etc.).
Cheers,
Brett
 
To illustrate local pricing here's the list of SRTs on eBay Australia that actually sold recently.

Yes there is the odd $10-15 cheapy, but, looking to the details shows various issues: mouldy lenses; intermittent shutter speeds; flaky meters; and so on. Most prices even for body only kick in at $30 or so, and head north from there. Aussie dollars, yes, so, in USD still pretty sweet. But when you are an Aussie paying Aussie dollars, that's small consolation...
 
Yes I would agree with all of that. Prices have always been all over the place. Many opportunities exist.

The SRT-202 I purchased from the RFF classifeds for $40 at the beginning of this thread. I did eventually send it to John Titterington for a thorough CLA. The black SRT-101 I bought on Ebay for $30 and had John overhaul that as well. If I bought an old car I wouldn't drive it hard right off, I'd have it overhauled. Same thing goes with camera bodies and lenses (I will open lenses but don't mess with helicals). John Titterton and Greg Stelz have been very good to know and are my two main Minolta repair guys.
 
Yay got my new to me SRT-202 and the first roll with the HG 35mm f/2.8 and SI 24mm f/2.8 look very nice indeed. Does anyone have a good option for a 55m hood for the 24mm?
 
I sent one of my Minolta SRM motorized cameras to Greg Stelz recently. When thumbing the advance lever (or firing the motor) the shutter would not fully wind.

Here is his response: I opened it up and discovered a plastic gear in the shutter mechanism has broken teeth. This gear is a common weak point on SR-T cameras until Minolta started using an improved, more durable, and less brittle plastic gear sometime during the production run. I will install a newer plastic gear.


Camera is now on it's way back to me. Happy Days! 😀😎😀
 
According to MINMAN, the 35-70mm f3.5, 80-200mm f4.5, and 70-210mm f4 Minolta zooms were developed by Minolta and Leica adapted them: http://web.archive.org/web/20070122181927/http://members.aol.com/xkaes/zoom.htm

I have the 35-70mm f3.5 (macro and non-macro versions) and the 70-210mm f4 and they are excellent lenses.

More on Minolta and Leica from MINMAN: http://web.archive.org/web/20060221224754/http://members.aol.com/manualminolta/leica.htm

The MINMAN site is a great source of detailed information on Minolta manual focus cameras, lenses, and accessories: http://web.archive.org/web/20070312081005/members.aol.com/manualminolta/index.htm
 
Here are my Minolta "X" Cameras, I like these, they are still from the end of the SRT-era. On the left is my XE-7 with 58mm F1.2 MC Rokkor, genuine Minolta filter, and Minolta hood. As far as I know I have never seen a dedicated hood for the 58mm F1.2

On the right is my XK (same as XM) with the rare AE-S finder, 100mm F2.5 MC Rokkor (a gem!) original Minolta filter and genuine Minolta dedicated hood. I was lucky enough to have Essex Camera repair in New Jersey overhaul the XK body and two meter finders and this took about six weeks to complete, and was very expensive. They did a beautiful job and about a month after I got everything back, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast and put Essex out of business. So I -really- lucked out! Question --- Does anybody anywhere work on the Minolta XK? I searched and searched, as Essex was it, at the time. What about now?

I know I have enough bodies !!! but at some point I will buy a nice XE-5. Then I have the trio of Minolta "X" cameras from the time.



001 by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
Yeah I have the XK with the AE finder, and it is great. I actually like the Herman Munster look more than the AE-S as it is so distinctive, but I always wanted to try an AE-S out.
This XM + AE-S + 3 lens kit cost less than just the AE-S finder has sold for on ebay!
It was a buy it now auction that was just posted, and I lucked out to have looked at the right time.
 
Starting the restoration of the motorized Minolta SR-M 250 Exposure Film Back. Have removed the backing paper along the bottom of the unit (very sticky black goo) I think used to be adhesive foam. Can use the old sticky paper as a template to cut a new fresh piece of adhesive foam. Thickness is critical because the contact pins on the back and camera must make contact perfectly to make the back functional. Will be an interesting project this winter. This back was new in the box with papers, never used.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
After forty-five years of sitting in it's original box, the Minolta SR-M 250 Exposure Film Back is now working, and operating properly! Next step is to re-do the rear light seals. This will require longer than 18 inch strips of foam light sealing material, which I will make with my rotary trimmer. The back to be re-foamed is shown above the camera body.

003 by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
Wow!!!

Wow!!!

Nokton48,
Always enjoy your posts, especially when you have come up with some obscure Minolta accessory. I believe you have out done yourself with this 250 Exposure Back as I have never seen one before. Thanks for sharing your "finds" and I encourage you to keep them coming!!



Nokton48 said:
One more view of the motorized SR-M with 250 Exposure Back. Shown with extra battery pack and film cartridges. Now fully functional.

005 by Nokton48, on Flickr
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Huss said:
Yeah I have the XK with the AE finder, and it is great. I actually like the Herman Munster look more than the AE-S as it is so distinctive, but I always wanted to try an AE-S out.
This XM + AE-S + 3 lens kit cost less than just the AE-S finder has sold for on ebay!
It was a buy it now auction that was just posted, and I lucked out to have looked at the right time.
Click to expand...

Good buy for 135 USD😀
 
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