Description
Minolta SRT-303 Zebra Camera
General
Minolta SRT-303 Zebra Camera: – An unusual ‘Zebra’ style Minolta SRT-303 (serial 3048961) manufactured in August 1974 paired with a near-mint MC Rokkor PF 50mm f1.4 lens (Serial 5990925). This is a version of the 303 WITH the Mirror Lock Up (MLU) fitted. Minolta deleted this halfway through production. This model does have the spilt image focus screen which was applied to most 303 models.
The ‘Zebra’ style was a result of the refurbishment of this camera.
Camera and lens have been completely serviced and tested with our professional quality test equipment to ensure both camera and lens are working perfectly.
The camera has been serviced to a very high standard which includes replacement of all internal seals, relubrication of its shutter mechanism and tuning and calibration of its shutter and meter to bring the camera to original factory specification together with many new parts.
Camera body is very clean and although non-standard is very appealing as most of the external parts have been replaced with factory fresh parts. The lens is very clean with a smooth focus feel after servicing but does have a minor loss of coating on the extreme edge of the rear optic. This will have no effect on images captured using this lens.
Supplied with a good quality after-market lens cap
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.
About
Manufactured between 1973 and 1975 the SRT-303/Super/102 were the flagship models of the SRT range.
The SRT series was revolutionary in its 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 and led to a range of models including the top of the range SRT-Super/303/102 models which featured a split image focus screen and aperture display in the viewfinder plus retained the mirror lock up feature. As a result the 303 model is much sought after.
The major specifications of the SRT-303 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 (on most examples)
- Exposure control needle, selected shutter speed and aperture visible in viewfinder
- Flash synchronisation (X and FP)
- Mat-Fresnel-field focusing screen with split-image spot surrounded by microprism band (on most examples)
- Automatic reset film counter
- Accessory hotshoe
- Self timer
- Depth of field preview button
Restoration
Camera had a number of faults on arrival including a damaged top cover and advance lever. Camera shutter was completely jammed due to corrosion caused by a battery leakage and poor storage.
Unfortunately we lacked sufficient parts to restore the camera to its original silver finish and opted to create a ‘Zebra’ with a mix of black and silver parts which has creates a rather unique camera with a style of its own.
The camera has had many new-old stock ex-factory parts fitted during a complete overhaul and now returns superb performance with an accurate shutter and meter and smooth operation.
All issues original resolved with an extensive service and CLA which includes replacement of the following parts which are ex-factory new/old stock.
- New meter cells
- All internal foams and seals replaced
- New light seals and mirror bumpers
- New top plate
- New apron plate
- New mirror
- New mirror box mask
- New self-timer
- New shutter safety
- New battery holder
- New shutter speed knob and index plate
- Replacement base plate
- New advance lever
- New self-timer lever
- New lens mount plate
- New aperture follower
- New rewind capstan
- New leather
- Jon Goodman light-seals
Lens has been completely serviced with new lubricants and gives a smooth feel to the focus and of course a snappy and reactive aperture.
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
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