Minolta SRT-101 Body Only

Minolta SRT-101 Body Only – A good condition Minolta SRT-101 (serial 1677601) body only.

Camera has been completely CLA’d and serviced (see Restoration Pictures) and tested with professional quality test equipment.

Camera body is very clean with just a few use marks in keeping with its age and is fully operational in all respects.

Equipped with new-old stock ex-factory meter cells and new internal seals, light seals and mirror bumper. There are a few small marks on the focus screen at the extreme upper right but these obviously have no effect on the film.

Overall a nicely serviced and ready to shoot classic camera dating from June, 1971.

Please Note: The SRT series were originally designed to use a 1.3v Mercury Battery. These are no longer available due to environmental restrictions on the use of Mercury. We recommend using a 675 Zinc-Air battery as a replacement which are cheap and plentiful – you will require an adaptor for these.

The SR-T101 was the first camera released in the SR-T Series in April 1966, and was in production for 15 years.  This ones dates from September, 1970.

The SRT1-1 was revolutionary in ita day for being the first camera will full aperture through the lens metering . The SRT101 actually incorporated the world’s first matrix metering system, called the ‘Contrast Light Compensator’ system by Minolta. The system used two separate metering cells, situated at different parts of the pentaprism. These cells measured the light falling on different parts of the viewfinder screen, and provide a reading that takes into account the contrast in a scene. As a result, the camera has the capacity to significantly reduce underexposure of shadows or other dark areas in a photo, by minimising the effect of particularly bright areas which are brighter than the real average of the scene.

The  SR-T101 was to become one of the most popular cameras of its era. Other key features of the camera included a viewfinder that displayed the selected shutter speed, mirror lock-up for use with non-retrofocus wide angle lenses, and a depth of field preview button that enabled the photographer to stop the lens down to the taking aperture to assess the depth of field.

The major specifications of the SRT101 are;

• Single lens reflex camera with through-the-lens CLC (Contrast Light Compensator) meter coupled to shutter and film speed.
• Meter sensitivity EV 3 to EV 17 at ASA 100.
• Film speeds supported ASA 6-6400
• Fully mechanical cloth focal plane shutter with speeds from 1-1/1000 sec plus B
• Shutter speeds 1-1/60 sec with electronic flash
• Oversized quick return mirror for no image cut-off even with super telephoto lenses
• Mirror lock-up
• Exposure control needle and selected shutter speed visible in viewfinder
• Flash synchronisation (X and FP)
• Fine microprism focusing with Fresnel lens
• Automatic reset film counter
• Accessory shoe (cold)
• Self timer
• Depth of field preview button

Camera has been 100% CLA/Serviced. Many SRTs for sale have never been properly serviced. This one has had a near complete strip down to remove all old internal foam, relubrication and recalibration.

The cameras original serial was 8311833 and was supplied with an incorrect top cover (the original top cover was for an SRT-101b). The camera on arrival had a number of issues including extreme oil contamination.

The camera has been stripped, cleaned and lubricated and now runs to Minoltas original factory specifications.

New parts fitted during rebuild.

• Replacement top cover to return the camera to its original state
• Factory fresh meter cells
• All new internal seals
• New light seals
• New mirror bumper

Please be aware that the cameras and lenses for sale can be up to 50 years old.  They have been serviced and/or checked and are always as good as they can be made, but please don’t expect them to be flawless as if they were made yesterday.

All lenses of this age exhibit some small particles of dust and coatings are not up to modern standards. Cameras will exhibit some wear signs and likewise may have small dust specks in their viewfinders or focus screens.  These do not affect the picture in any way.

ANY problems or issues will be described in the main text which you are advised to read carefully.If you are unfamiliar with film cameras we suggest you do some online research and read the manuals which are freely available from online resources.

We are enthusiastic film fans and spend our time hunting cameras and lenses that have been or are being unloved. We then spend hours to bring them back to fully working and clean condition, ready for a new lease of life with you. We always change the film seals, give the camera a clean/service and make sure its fully working before we sell it on to you.

Most lenses are cleaned, re-lubricated and all of their functions checked prior to sale so you know they will work, full details will always be in the text. All items are packed safely for transit using proper packing material NOT something the cat was sick in. Having been stung both on eBay and by dealers alike who often know very little about film cameras we decided to offer people a chance to experience film using a camera that will last for many years and which we can say for sure works reliably

Mel & Claire