Minolta SRT's -- Gotta Love 'Em.

I have the 201 passed down to me from my dad, even though I have not used it since my college days when I borrowed it from him. Coincidentally, I just purchased some wein cells for it, thinking about firing it back up soon. It's been sitting on the shelf because I have been more focused (pun intended) on my M6 and now also a Rolleiflex.
 
This wonderful 1961 vintage 100mm F2 Rokkor was gifted to me. It has cleaned up nicely, I unscrewed the groups, and the glass is now clean and close to perfect. The helical is nice and smooth, but the diaphragm doesn't function, so it's it's an F2 only lens right now. But WOW is it beautiful to look through. And it is a highly desired Cult Lens, I will get it CLA'ed so I can also use it with film. Merry Christmas to me 🙂

100mm F2 Rokkor on Nex 3 by Nokton48, on Flickr
 
And for some more eye candy from Minolta, here is an original SRT era lens I have my eye on (since I was seventeen years old LOL).

The 80cm F8 RF Rokkor, one of the longest Rokkors in the SRT system. Not a common lens at all. This one looks to be in collector quality. And it is an SRT-vintage lens.

80 cm Rokkor RF SRT Vintage by Nokton48, on Flickr

Still looking for one at a good price.
 
100mm F2 Rokkor 4 by Nokton48, on Flickr

The outer front casing had come off. Turns out it is left-threaded, not righty-tighty! Unscrewed the tiny grub screws, and fitted it back together. Found a 62mm filter to protect the front, and ordered a generic 62mm rubber hood, and generic lens cap, from China. Total of $3.

I want the original Minolta Hood for this lens. Shown above on my lowly Sony Nex-3. 😎
 
Lucked into some Minolta goodness this year:
Toward the end of last summer I grabbed a black XD-11 at a flea market for $60. It’s just about pristine. Hardly a scratch anywhere. It came with a very clean MD 50/1.7 (my 3rd, I think). My main shooter since about 1994 has been a very worn chrome XD-11 so I’m very happy to have a nice, clean backup. I put in fresh batteries and it fired right up.

As if that wasn’t fortunate enough, an old friend, knowing my fondness for all things Minolta, gave me his old outfit last week. Another 50/1.7 (of course... that makes 4), a nice, clean 35 and a 70-210 zoom all backed up by an X-370. Not a body I would have sought out, but a very capable body nonetheless. I’m sure I’ll have fun shooting it despite it’s rather plastic-y appearance.

I also spied my father’s SRT-101, which he’s had since the 70s, sitting unused in a closet last time I visited. I haven’t asked him for it yet, but soon... It will enjoy the company of my SRT-202 and in my fleet it will actually get used.

All this comes after a long stint with my RFs, so it’s rekindled my Minolta jones. ...and a strong desire for an 85mm! I might even look to replace the XK I parted with years ago
 
I've retired now and have time to play, so dusting off the Minoltas and will get some good use out of them! Time to respool more rolls of Eastman 5222 Double-X 🙂

So what's going on Guys? What's new with your Minoltas?
 
Nokton48 said:
So what's going on Guys? What's new with your Minoltas?
Click to expand...

I haven't forgotten them, I've just (more-or-less) repaired my MC ROKKOR-PF 1:1.4 f=58mm that has had a little accident and has now a bent filter thread and no click-stops anymore, but is still a very very fine lens 🙂
 
I love this thread!

I've long loved the SR-Ts. I came back to the States from Europe in 1981 (the last year for the SR-T line) and I wanted to buy an SR-T 201, but I had to get a job and take care of necessities first. Then the camera was discontinued. A couple of years later, I bought a used SR-T, but it was too worn and loose in the lens mount, so I sent it back.

In 1984, Tall's Camera in Seattle (I live in Washington) found a forgotten cache of new SR-T 201s in a warehouse and offered them for sale. So, I was able to buy a brand new SR-T 201 in 1984, with warranty and everything.

Since then, I've picked up an early black-dial 101, an early 102 with MLU (mirror lock-up), and two X-570s with winders. I also have a nice range of MC and MD primes. Though I'm more into medium format now, this is my main 35mm line and it is calling to me. (I also have a couple of old M42 Pentaxes with Super Takumars and Super Multi-Coated Takumars that have caught my attention again recently.)

My lenses:

28mm 2.8, late MC W.Rokkor-X
35mm 2.8, early MC W.Rokkor-HG

50mm 1.4, late MC Rokkor-PG
50mm 1.7, late MC Rokkor-X PF
50mm 1.7, late MD Minolta (x2)
50mm 3.5, late MC Macro Rokkor Celtic, with 1:1 extension tube
58mm 1.4, early MC Rokkor-PF

85mm 1.7, early MD Rokkor-X
100mm 2.5, early MC Tele-Rokkor-PF
135mm 2.8, early MD Tele-Rokkor-X
135mm 3.5 QD, early MC Rokkor
200mm 4.0, late MD Minolta

- Murray
 
CMur12 said:
In 1984, Tall's Camera in Seattle (I live in Washington) found a forgotten cache of new SR-T 201s in a warehouse and offered them for sale. So, I was able to buy a brand new SR-T 201 in 1984, with warranty and everything.
Click to expand...

Very cool! I think I remember that shop. Wasn't it on 4th and Stewart?
 
This is a new addition to my Minolta collection since I last visited this thread:


47014855341_cfeb2ebce0_c.jpg
 
Nokton48 said:
WOW this thread has been dormant for quite a while. Time to revive it.

What's going on with Minolta out there, you Guys? I know you are out there! 😀

I've got a lens coming that has got me totally stoked. I will provide more details when I receive it. I'm truly excited about getting this item.
Click to expand...
Minolta seems to get lost in all the praise of Nikon, Canon, et al. I believe that the SR-T series of cameras and period lenses are very much underrated. My first camera was a new SR-T 101, and I've since acquired several more. The 100mm f/2.5 Rokkor c is among the sharpest lenses I 've ever used/owned. Pop in a C.R.I.S adapter and a Silver oxide 392 cell, and the camera thinks that an original mercury cell is installed. Rugged and dependable.
 
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