Film cameras
Minolta SR-1 User manual
User manual for Minolta SR-1. 60 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
60 pagesEnglish8.0 MB PDF
Loading your manual…Open PDF directly
Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minolta SR-1
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 60
- File size
- 8.0 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
Search available document text
Find a term, then jump to its page in the original PDF. Image-only pages may not be searchable; check the PDF for exact wording and diagrams.
Page 3 · Read text
Congratulations! You now own an exceptionally precise camera that far exceeds the demands
of the average photographer. The elements contained within it will meet any photographic
situation on a professional level.
All cbout your Minolto sR-t IO OI
Your Minolta SR-l features the world-famous Rokkor F1.8/55mm, F2.0/55mm or
F2.0/53mm lens treated with an exclusive Achromatic coating to give you high fidelity
sharpness particularly in color photography. The camera contains an extremely bright penta
prism viewing system and a completely automatic pre-set diaphragm. Please read this manual
carefully so that you may effectively utilize the full potential of your new Minolta SR-1. (All
illustrations used in this booklet are with the Fl.S lens. There is no fundamental
difference in usage between the F1.8 and F2.0 lenses.)View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
Minoltn SR- t Specificntions
Film Rewind and
Back Opening Knob
Penta Prism Viewfinder
Film Advance and Shutter Cock
Shutter Release
Shutter SPeed Dial
Film Counter
Fl ash Synchronization Terminal s
Lens Lock
Meter Shoe
Aperture Setting Ring
Focusing Ring
Distance Scale
Depth of Field Scale
Standard Lens
Depth of Field Pre-view
Self-timerView original page 5Page 8 · Read text
www.butkus.us
5. Focus and Frame (Eoch step is exploined in detqil on
4. Set Aperture 6. Press shutter the following poges.)View original page 8Page 9 · Read text
Filmloadi"rV,
t To open the camera back, pull out
the rewind knob until it stops. Then
with a slight extra pull, the back
will snap open.
Exposure counter will automatically
return to start posrtron.
2Insert film magazine 3 Push the rewind knob
into the chamber so down. If you should
that the axis of the have any difficulty, turn
magazine is on the the knob slightly and
bottom side of the pusb down again.
chamber.View original page 9Page 12 · Read text
Emutsionspeed indiccrr"V g www.butkus.us
As a convenient reminder, set the indicator located number of your film speed. For color film use
on the back of the camera to the emulsion speed the red figures.
number (ASA or DI N ) of the f i lm you have just
loaded. Simply turn the dial to the corresponding
Film speed chcrrf
F i l m s ASA i Emulsion speed numbers (AsA) are listed above
ILFORD HPS 400 Kodacolor X 64 for your convenience. They are also found on the
Ansco Super Hypan 500 Ektachrome X 64 instruction sheet contained with each film.
AGFA ISOPAN RECORD 650 (daylight type)
AGFA ISOPAN ISS 200 Kodachrome II 10 (daylight type) AGF'A ISOPAN IF- 100 Kodachrome X 64 Kodak Panatomic X 50 Ektachrome High Speed 160 Kodak PIus X 125 (daylight type)
Kodak Tir X 400 Anscochrome 32View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Advnncing rhe film
The shutter cannot be released
until the film advancing lever
is completely wound. If, after
advancing the lever, the shutter
release is still locked, advance
the lever again until it stops.
When winding the film advance
lever, you wi ll f eel some
resistance just before the end
of the stroke. This is normal
mechanical resistance. Keep
winding until it stops com-
pletely.
Caution:At slow shutter speeds
such as 1 second or I I 2
second, do not advance f ilm
while shutter is in motion.
The f ilm advance lever perf orms 1 .Advances the film
t h e f o l l o w i n g f i v e actions simul- 2 .Advances the film counter
taneously: 3.Cocks the shutter
4 .Sets the quick return mirror
5 .Opens the diaphragm fully
You can turu the lever either with
several short strokes or one 180
degree stroke.View original page 13Page 14 · Read text
shutter ro""o{rn www.butkus.us
The shutter speed dial is markecl with f igures 1
to 500 plus B and X.
The figures l, 2, 4, B, 15, etc., indicate shutter
speeds of 1 second, I 12 second, I l4 second
up to 1/500 second.
The B position, or bulb, enables you to keep the
shutter open as long as the shutter button is
pressecl down. This position is usecl when more
than one second exposure ls requlrecl.
'fhe X position corresponcls to about 1/50 seconcl
speecl. This speeri is userl with electronic f lash
equlpment.
Sening the shuttcr
Turn the dial to the desired speed, lining it up with
the center red line.View original page 14Page 15 · Read text
sertins the dioph."r{t
The diaphragm ring has aperture f igures f rom 1.8 through the lens. For example, &t f 16 the diaphragm
to 16. Turn the diaphragm ring so that the desired is closed down to a pin-point opening; at f 1.8 the lens
aperture figure coincides with the white dot. is wide open. The relationship between aperture and
The click stops enable you to use intermediate aperture light volume is shown on the scale below.
openings between any two f /stops. The larger the Diaphragm can be set either before or after advancing
aperture f igure, the less light volume is permitted the film lever.
An..,ur"
Lightvolume O
{View original page 15Page 16 · Read text
Whor is q completely qutomqtic pre-set www.butkus.us
dicphrcgm?
One of the superb f eatures of the Minolta SR- 1 is the shuttter is released. Consequently, focusing can be
its completely automatic pre-set diaphragm. In a quickly determined through the extra bright viewfinder
conventional single lens reflex camera, when the lens no matter what aperture you have preselected.
is stopped down the visual f ield of view becomes When the shutter is released, the diaphragm closes to
darker thus making it dif f icult to focus. In the pre-set aperture, the mirror clears, the picture is taken
Minolta SR- 1, the lens is completely automatic ancl the mirror returns, the diaphragm re-opens to maximum
pre-set;aperture is always at maximun opening unti I aperture...all simultaneously, all automatically.
E]Eilril
$$$View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Depth of ,,",{r,
The depth of fielcl of a lens
is the range of clistance
within which all subjects
are in relatively sharp
f ocus. This range varies
with the aperture opening.
It is greatest when the
lens is stoppecl down ( f 16)
anrl least when it is f ul ly
opern( f l.B ). Tht: photographs
sirle illustrate relation-ship.
'l'he
same subject was taken
-. at rlifferent aperture settings.
t|W:::
,,) :tWView original page 17Page 18 · Read text
The principles goyerning depth of field www.butkus.us
(lr
D e p t h
B o c k g r o u n d
F o r e g r o u n
e p t h o f f i e l d
1. The depth of field is greater as the distance is increased or the aperture is stopped down. $
2. The depth of field grows less as the distance is
decreased or the aperture is enlarged.
ll. The depth extends greater into the background
than into the foregrouncl.
4. The depth of f ield is greater with a shorter focal
length lens and shallower with a longer focal
length lens.
Because the depth of field can be controlled by the
aperture stops, you can either bring to sharpness
both bac,kgrouncl and f oreground or emphasize the
subject sharpness only by purposely making the
background out of focus.View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
How ro use rhe pre-view ,,r*o{t,
You may pre-view depth of f ield, if you wish by
pressing the pre-view button which manually closes
the diaphragm to its pre-set aperture. When you
do this you can inspect through the viewer the
precise effect of depth of field.View original page 19Page 22 · Read text
Hishryerccurqrecds rishr merervt www.butkus.us
Your Minolta SR-l should be used with the highly receiving angle is only 30o. Hence, you measure the
accurate detachable CdS light meter. It's powered l ight ref lected by the subj ect only. Extraneous
by a mercury battery and extremely sensitive, I ight does not upset exposure readings. The meter
covers an extensive range from candlelight to is coupled to the shutter and, as you will read on
bright outdoors (0.56-37,000cd/m2). The light the fol lowing pages, very easy to use.
Toble shows relotionship between operture ond shutter speeds.
"lrT"'"lralzslalsolslulrol | | | ; Shutter ( s e c .A"..) lView original page 22Page 23 · Read text
How to use the Minoltcl SR -"r"rJrn
V
lJsed correctly, this CdS light meter will give you There are two I ight-measuring scales on the top
correct exposure every time. It measures outdoor of the meter. One is for general outdoor photography,
light and indoor light as well. It's extremely the other is for dimly lit situations. In such situa-
versatile, every bit as reliable as the hand-held tions switch to low sensitivity l ight and read the
types the professionals use. It will measure the corresponding aperture f igures on the meter scale.
reflecetd light of anything that can be photographed.View original page 23Page 25 · Read text
Immediately after loading film, set the ASA film speed rating on the top of the meter. Rotate the aperture dial (A) until the speed rating of the film you are using lines up with the ASA mark (B). DIN speed ratings are also marked on the dial. (C) (D)...Battery checking mark. See page 24.View original page 25
Page 26 · Read text
- Selecting shuffer speed or qperlure J ZZwww.butkus.us You may set either shutter speed or aperture first. If you set shutter speed first, measure the light and the meter needle will indicate the correct aperture for that speed. If you set aperture first, adjust the shutter dial, while measuring the light, until the meter needle coincides with the aperture you have pre-selected. Shutter speed is usually determined by the motion of the subject. If you are compelled to use a fast shutter speed, 1/500 for example, set it on the shutter dial. The dial is coupled to the meter and automaically adjusts the meter's light value scale to coincide with the shutter speeds. In other words, 1/500 sec. for fast moving objects. the meter will indicate corretc aper- ture for any one of a variety of shutter speecls.View original page 26
Page 27 · Read text
Reodinsrhe -"n"rlru
When determining aperture setting, read along the
guide line of the light meter scale. The meter needle
will indicate the correct diaphragm opening. It will
not, however, always point directly to a f /stop number.
It may f al l between or of f to the side of guide
lines in which case an intermecliate f /stop shoulcl
be set on the aperture ring of the lens barrel.
1/30 sec. or slower in I/L25 sec. for slow
dark places. moving objects.View original page 27Page 29 · Read text
Low sENsrrvrrYswrrc"v,
When the meter needle does not register
due to inadequate light, use the low
sensitivity shift dial. Rotate the dial
((L"to the position. This shifts the ffi
meter to low sensitivity light and gives
a correct exposure reading even under
adverse lighting conditions. In some
cases the low sensitivity reading may
be one f/stop lower than the high sen-
sitivity reading. IJse the lower light
value.
(In the low position, read the orange
colored f numbers. )
*klt
O F F
When the camera is not in use, switch
the meter dial to the" OFF" position.
This will insure longer battery life.View original page 29Page 30 · Read text
Determlnlng reflected lighl www.butkus.us
Bcckllghtlng Photogrophing People Londscope Photogrophlng
In the case of backlighting, move When photographing a person, the For landscape photographing, the
close to the subject and measure light reflected by the subject subject, of course cannot be
the light ref lected from it. Be and the light reflected by the approched and exposure must be
particularly careful that the back- background may be at wide measured at the camera position.
variance, particularly in snow, atlight does not strike the light- Special care shoulcl be taken so the beach or in other bright back-receiving surface of the exposure grounds. In such cases move the that direct light from the sky is
meter. Otherwise the result will camera close to the subject and not measured. Measure the general
be a silhouette. measure the ref lected light. If lighting conditions of the area and
you cannot approach the subject, take the average reading.
light can be measured by extending
the palm of your hand in front
of the meter.View original page 30Related documents and language editions
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.