MINOLTA TLR CAMERAS
There are several confounding factors with Minolta TLRs, but it also applies to many other cameras of the same time period. The Minolta TLR cameras changed and evolved over time, but frequently the official name of the camera did not. For example, you might see the same name on a camera but with different lenses, different shutters or different features. In addition, these variations might be unoffically referred to as model I or model II, but Minolta never used those designations. In other instances, Minolta used the exact same name for cameras that are clearly very different.
To make matters worse, Minolta used various confusing names: Minoltacord, Minoltaflex, Minolta Autocord, Minolta Automat, Minoltaflex Automat, etc. It gets pretty messy. Keep all of this in mind when exploring these Minolta TLR cameras.
The later models used a bayonet filter style and Minolta made about a dozen different filters. Filters from other manufacturers can also be used. If you are able to provide more accurate information than is listed here, please contact us.
(1937) The Prince Flex has little to do with Minolta except that the Prince Flex was made by two former Minolta employees who left Molta (Minolta's original name) to start their own camera company, and produced the first Japanese-made TLR in the summer of 1937 -- something that Molta had been working on for over a year. Neumann and Heilemann (whose names appear in their new company's name, as well as on the Prince Flex TLR) were Germans living in Japan -- where German-made Rollei TLRs were very popular at the time. Neumann and Heilemann saw this as a great opportunity, and went on to make other TLRs -- but not nearly as many as Molta (soon-to-be-named, Minolta).
(1937) Although sometimes listed as a 1936 camera, Molta's first TLR was developed in 1936, but did not appear until at the end of 1937 -- shortly after the Prince Flex. Still, it has the honor of being the first TLR made in Japan to have a double-exposure prevention mechanism. Surprisingly, it bares the Minolta name, instead of Molta. It typically has a 75mm (f3.5) lens, and shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/300, but is seen with different lenses (with different apertures) and different shutters (with different speed settings). It uses 120 film. It is often referred to as the Minoltaflex I to separate it from the later Minoltaflex models.
(1939) The first Japanese TLR to use the Rollei system of film advance -- the film is automatically stopped without the need to check numbers in a window. 75mm (f3.5) lens made by Asahi (of later Pentax fame). Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/300. Used 120 film. Lots of minor variations over time.
(1943) A special military version with interchangeable lenses -- 75mm (f3.5) and 150mm (f4.5) lenses. Shutter speeds of T, B; 1 - 1/400. Used 120 film or 35mm film.
(1948) Yet another model that stands out because of its 85mm (f2.8) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/300. Used 120 film. Interchangeable lenses. Prototype only. Never marketed.
(1950) Often referred to as the Minoltaflex II (in an attempt to keep things straight), it was the first post-war, Minoltaflex model. More significantly, it is the first with a lens labeled "Rokkor" -- a 75mm f3.5 lens in a Konan (see Minolta's 16mm cameras) shutter with speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. There were minor variations over its two years of production.
(1953) 75mm (f3.5) Promar lens made by Asahi. Used 120 film. Two models existed using slightly different shutters.
(1952) Yes, it was officially labeled the "II B" -- at least on the owner's manual. It has a 75mm (f3.5) lens and shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film.
(1954) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film.
(1955) 75mm (f3.5) lens. New, self-cocking shutter with speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Auto-stop winding -- hence the "AUTOcord". Used 120 film.
(1955) Minolta turned everything upside down with this model. In fact, they mounted the feeder and take-up spools backwards! Why would they do that? They determined that this would increase the tension on the film and create flatter film -- and hence sharper images. It later became standard practice in TLR cameras from most companies. It's called the "Automat" because the shutter is "automatically" cocked when the film is advanced -- unlike the earlier Minoltacord.
(1955) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/400. Used 120 film.
(1955) 75mm (f3.5) lens. This was the first Japanese camera to be fitted with an EV-based exposure meter, and it made picture taking much easier. The meter was not coupled to the shutter speed or aperture scale, but it was easy to use. First, dial in the film speed into the meter. Then the meter produced a single, EV number instead of an f-stop and shutter speed combination. This EV number -- Minolta called it an LVS number -- is then dialed into the shutter/lens assembly. The f-stop and shutter speeds are assigned LVS numbers and the combination must equal the LVS number from the meter. This system was used later on the 35mm Minolta SR-7, and other Minolta cameras, as well. It sounds awkward, but it worked well, once you got the hang of it. Yet another Minolta first. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. Built-in selenium meter. Two models existed.
(1955) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/400. Used 120 film.
(1956) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/400. Used 120 film. Same as original, but a depth-of-field scale was added to the side of the crank.
(1957) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/400. Used 120 film. Several images sizes. It has a removable panel just above the hub of the wind lever which allows different sets of gears to be installed by the user to generate film spacing for different film formats.
(1958) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Improved version of the RA with a new shutter with speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Other features were the same. Prototype only.
(1959) Much smaller than the other Minolta TLRs because it used the smaller 127 film for 4x4 images instead of the 120 film which made 6x6 images. It has a shorter 60mm (f3.5) lens and shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Only about 5,000 of these were made so they get pricey.
(1961) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. Lens marked Chiyoko Rokkor.
(1961) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film.
(1962) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. Lens marked Minolta Rokkor.
(1962) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. First Minolta TLR to be marked "Minolta Camera Co."
(1965) An updated version of the original Autocord -- the camera just says Autocord, and the Minolta literature refers to this as the Autocord Stardard, but photographers often refer to it as the Autocord I or Autocord model 1 which leads to a lot of confusion -- since it is not the first Autocord model and the "I" or "1" never appears anywhere. 75mm (f3.5-22) Rokkor lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Used 120 film. Front plate changed from earlier Autocords to include a small "MINOLTA" above the "AUTOCORD". Built-in double-exposure control -- and over-ride. M and X synch at all shutter speeds. Built-in pop-up magnifier and eye-level sport finder. Built-in self-timer and cold flash shoe.
(1965) The Autocord CDS is an improved version of the Autocord with a built-in CDS meter. The meter is built into a panel above the lens and meters a 15 degree angle (designed for semi-spot metering) -- viewable as a large circle in the middle of the focusing screen. It accepts film speeds from ISO 6 to 25,000 and has a HIGH and LOW setting -- as well as OFF. The meter uses an EV scale on a large knob on the left side of the camera -- making it easy to read from the viewing position. Uses a single PX-1 battery or equivalent.
(1966) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. This was the first Japanese camera designed to use 120 film or 220 film -- by rotating the pressure plate. Since the film counter only ran to "12", with 220 film the counter was reset to "0" for the 13th through 24th exposure. It was short-lived and quickly replaced by the Autocord III, so it is hard to find.
(1966) Improved version of the Autocord II with a built-in CDS meter. It was short-lived and quickly replaced by the Autocord CDS III, so it is hard to find. Uses a single PX-1 battery or equivalent.
(1966) 75mm (f3.5) lens. Shutter speeds of B; 1 - 1/500. Designed to accept 120 or 220 film by rotating the pressure plate -- without having to reset the counter after the 12th picture! The film counter can be set for 12 (120) or 24 (220) shots.
(1966) Improved version of the Autocord III with a built-in CDS meter. Uses a single PX-1 battery or equivalent.
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