Film cameras
Minolta AL User manual
User manual for Minolta AL. 25 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minolta AL
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 25
- File size
- 5.0 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 4 · Read text
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The camera, provided with extremely fast lens, F 2, with brilliant view finder, cross
coupled exposure meter with shutter speed and diaphragffi, Minolta AL has many other
advanced features which modern camera should have.
Lens : World famous coated Rokkor F :2 lens delivers the needle sharp professional
perform ance.
Shutter: optiper-citizen MLT shutter provides 1l speeds from a full second and
bulb to a fast 1/1000second...plus a light value scale and built in self-timer.
View Finder : Parallax compensated, three window type bright lumi-frame finder
promises you quick and accurate forcussing and.composing.
Exposure Meter : Built in exposure meter cross coupled with the shutter is available
from ASA 10to 800,wide enough range for practical all picture fields.
winding Lever : winding lever advances film and cocks the shutter automatically.
Rewinding : Easy rewinding handle is very smooth, and quick rewinding is possible.
Film counter: Film counter automatically returns to the starting point as the
camera is ooened.
still.........
very well designed camera body in compact size and weight enables the photo-
grapher work on this camera at ease.View original page 4Page 7 · Read text
r Load the film. 2 Wind the filrn 3 Set the film speed
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Eaeh step is explained in detail on the following pages.
rniffi{31*,*x
4 Set either shutter speed or dia- 5 F-ocus 6 Compose picture frame through
phragm (Generally, shutter speed view finder, and press the shutter
is selected as the first choice, button.
and corresponding diaphragm is
automatically set by means of
cross coupled exposure meter).View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
r Pull out back locking 2 Pull up rewind knob AS 3 Insert a roll of film, 4 Pull out enough film
tab and swing camera f.ar as it goes. then push back rewind to insert it in slit.
back wide open. knob.
www.orphancameras.comView original page 9Page 11 · Read text
I Seiting Film Speed (ASa or DIN rotings)
Set the film speed indicator on the camera back to the film speed of
the film you have just loaded in your AL. For example, if the film
speed is ASA 100 (DIN 2l), you simply set the indicator to the figure
100. In case the film speed is ASA 80, which is not listed on the dial,
you set the indicator pointer to a spot between 100 and 50.
t Whot ore Film Speeds qnd ASA or DIN Rorings ?
Film speeds or ASA (American Standards Association) or DIN ratings are a means
of classifying film according to their light sensitivity. The higher the numerical
rating, the more sensitive the film is to light. A film with an ASA of 200 is more
sensitive to light than a film rated ASA 80. You need less light to take a picture with
a film rated at 200 than you would with a film rated at 80.
! Where ro tlnd rhe ASA or DIN roilng of ihc fitm you're uring.
Inside every box of film you buy is a sheet giving information about the film. On this
sheet you'll find the ASA or DIN rating,
www.orphancameras.comView original page 11Page 13 · Read text
The actual exposure is depending on the three factors (film speed, shutter speed and diaphragm
opening), as you know, in the basic photographic theory.
In Minblta AL, all these factors are cross coupled, giving always correct exposure. All you have
to do is to select either shutter speed or F stop as the first choice, and these two factors are auto-
rnatically cross coupled to each other on the pre-set film speed at any time. This advanced
mechanic might be unfamiliar to the photographer who is not well acquainted with cross coupled
exposure system. For example, even though the camera is set at the right exposure value, you { cannot take picture, practically, at F 16: I second, in handheld position. This is the reasonwhy
the shutter speed is to be the first choice. But, when you are taking pictures of large group of
people, focus should be deep enough for all people in the frame, thus iris stop is become the first cnolce. I
Genercrl Informqlion
1. Set the ASA (DIN) speed of the film used.
Turn adjusting lever for the film speed, finding the right ASA speed in the film speed window.
The camera is designed for ASA I0,25,50, 100, 200,400 and 800 films. The mid points between
ASA 10 and 25 is considered to be 16, between 25 ?ntj 50 is ASA 32 and ASA 160 falls between
100 and 200. For DIN emulsion, consult the conversion table found on the back of the camera
at the film indicator.
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l0 www.orphancameras.comView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
2. Set the shutter speed.
Turn the shutter speed ring to the adequate
shutter speed for the object. For general
purpose, 7/250 at fine weather and I/I25 in
cloudy days at ASA 100 emulsion, while I/60
is recommended in the bright indoor pictures.
For fast moving object, 1/500^,1/1000 is bet-
ter.
Notice :
3. Set the light meter needle to the index. If the needle of the light meter does not
match the yellow index either in right or left
Holding the camera in front of the object, turning of the diaphragm ring, the shutter
read the nteter and turn the diaphragm ring. speed set first is not the right one for the
brightness of the object. You should then When the needle of the meter match the read just the shutter speed faster or slower
yellow index, the camera is set at the right depending on the'brightness of the object.
exposure value. All you have to think about If you would still cannot set the needle of
the meter to the index, you had loaded the
is to press the shutter release. camera with the wrong film, or the lighting
condition is not suitable for taking pictur e
at all.
Attention Film speed Operation range
Exposure meter of AL camera works within ASA 2OO LV 8-18
the following LV operation range, and it will 100 7 -17 il not give the correct reading if it is used at 25 5-15
l n r r r a r T \ f . r a l r r a f h a n c t a n i f r o A r q r . ( t a ln /',^.rlLView original page 14Page 15 · Read text
For the front lighted object, no readjustment of the light meter reading is required, but when the
light sourse is not behind the camera, the meter reading is to be readjusted following the next hints.
1. Read the meter at as close as possible to object and measure it, otherwise the result
the objeet. would be silhouette. Pay attention to the
strong light beam, which strikes the photo
The light meter installed in Minolta AL electric cell of the camera.
camera is an reflective light meter, and you
must always measure the reflected light from 2. For open scene measuring.
the object. When taking portraits, move When the scene includes very bright sky as
camera toward the face at about one foot as the background, you cannot obtain a correct
close. For contrasty scene, measure both exposure, if you hold the camera straight
light and dark parts seperately and determine ahead. Hold the camera tilting it downward
correct exposure average. f or measurement, which avoids the bright
For backlighted object, move close to the sky light coming into photo cell.
L2 www.orphancameras.comView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
3. When you eannot approaeh the objeet.
When you are trying to take aminals in a This single stroke film advance action auto-
cage, for example, you cannot move close to matically advances the film, cocks the shutter the object. Take measuring of your palm,
which represents the brightness of the aminal. and counts the exposure, all at the same time.
4. Filter faetor adjustment.
Read the following three hints on filter com-
pensations :-
( 1) Apply used filter over the photo electric
cell, for filter factor correction.
(2) Apply filter factor value onto the dia-
phragm opening or shutter speed adjust-
ment.
(3) If you use certain filter, light yellow for
example, constantly, take this filter factor
into ASA speed setting as you load the
camera with film.
Light Volue Index You can turn the lever either at one full
Light value is always shown equal even though stroke (right ) or in several strokes (left). you select the free combination of shutter
speed and diaphragm in case that transmission You ffi?y, if you wish, advance the film before
is equal. One light value means always same setting the exposure.
shutter speed and diaphragm is seperately You will not experience any hard turning
exposure value, no matter what the shutter
speed and diaphragm opening combination. when setting the shutter at high speeds after
Twice the exposure value is shown in one the shutter is cocked.
number more light value index. When you
use light meter with light value index, apply
the Iight value index to the camera light
value setting.
r.
!;..ft:;,. r3
&View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
In the center of the frame is a rectangular color
area. You will notice the part of your subject which
appears in this color area is double" As you turn
the focusing lever you will note the double image
will become one and then double again. When your
subject becomes one in this color area, you are
properly f ocused.
Out of f ocus In focus
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O This Should be ttDepth of Field"As you look through the combination range-viewfinder
window you will note a yellow lumi- frame near the Take a glance at the depth of field scale when
outer edge. The actual picture you take will be inside you have focused on your subject. The indicat-
this frame. Make sure your picture will be composed ing line in the center of the scale shows the
inside the lumi-frame. camera to object distance. Then read the F
stop lines for the F stop you are using on each
side of the indicating line and they will show
The Minolta AL finder is specially designed to correct you on the distance scale, the distance in front
automatically parallax so that the lens takes what you and behind your object which is also in sharp
see through the lumi-frame at all distances. Parallax focus. The 12; indicates that you can get sharp
is the difference between what the viewfinder "see" pictures in the distance which is shown or
and what the lens "see" at close distances. formed by Q.t.
15View original page 18Page 20 · Read text
There are basically two ways to hold your AL while taking pictures: Vertical and horizontal. As long as you
anchor the camera to your forehead and squeezethe trigger, not jerk it, you can use whichever grip or format is
a most comfortable for you. It's always a good idea to brace your camera if you can. Even when you are shoot-
ing at faster than l/30 of a second where you can safely handhold a camera, make use of any available support.
It is advisable that you use a tripod when you shoot with the shutter speed less than 1,230of a sec' At such
slow speeds there is almost always some camera movement while the shutter is open which blurrs your picture.
t7View original page 20Page 22 · Read text
Using the self-timer, you can take your own
picture. First push the self-timer lever toward
the V mark, and you will be able to delay the
shutter operation approximately 9 seconds from
the time you press the shutter release to the
time the shutter is tripped. You can also
arrange the length of delay according to the
position that you position the lever.
19View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
Your Minolta AL is internally synchronized for use
with electronic flash and flash bulbs.
1. Insert a Minolta BC flash gun or electronic flash unit in
the accessorv shoe.
2. Insert the plug of the flash gun's cord in the terminal.
3. For Class M (foil filled) flash bulbs, slide the selector to
the "M". For electronic flash, slide the selector to the "X".
20 www.orphancameras.comView original page 23Page 24 · Read text
Accessories - Minoltn B.C. Ffqsh Extremely compact, pocket size unit with collapsi- ble aluminum reflector, Folds neatly into a small vinyl zippered case f or easy portability. Also features a BC capacitator that stores energy to greatly extend the life of your batteries. Works on regular flash light batteries. Minoltq Lens Shode This is a particularly useful device to prevent extraneous light f rom entering the lens during exposure. This extraneous light f rom the sun or flash bulbs can cause glare spots or "light flare" and ruin your picture. Minoltcl Filters Filters are used to control color and haze to make sure you get the picture you actually se e outdoor color film to indoor use. Yellow Filter : Increases outdoor scenes contrast. Renders "blues" slightly darker-brings out blue- sk ies, water, clouds. Other Filter : Haze filter for haze cut. Minoltq Mini 3 5 For color slide projection (35 ffiffi, 16 mm)View original page 24
From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.