Minolta SR-2 User manual

Plecrse reod very csrefully  !
      The Minolta SR-2 is a versatile high quality preci-
        sion camera which rnust be used properly for maxi'
     mum results. Among single lens reflex cameras:
        with penta.prismp the Minolta SR-z is one of the
      most advanced cameras today with many unique
         features. You can get the most satisfactory results
        with this .camera if you make proper use of  vari-
       ous important features. After fully familiarizing
         yourself with these features you will be ready fot
         shooting the first roll.
       However. since this camera has a completely auto'
        matic fool-proof mechanism, once you remember
          all thq operational 'phases, you would not have
      any trouble getting the maximum results from
        your Minolta SR-2.


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One of the principal virtues of
the penta-prism single lens re-
flex camera is through-the-lens
viewing-focusing. Regardless of
the focal length of the lens be-
ing used the final subject  is
viewed through the lens directly
untn the ground glass and
therefore eliminates the parallax
problem. Depth of field and
true perspective of tb" subject
can accurately be seen, enabling
this camera to be used with
extension tubes, microscope and
telescope.
In  addition, the Minolta SR-z
has many unique features such
as a completely automatic pre-
set diaphragm which opens
fully by just advancing film and
closes down to the pre-set f
stop automatically by just  re-
leasing the shutter, also the
worlds first non-rotative single
shutter speed setting dial for
thefocal plane shutter and a
selftimer and anautomatic  f ilm
counter that no other single
lens reflex camera has,
                       3

f
Main feolures of Mlnolto 5R,-2
Interchangeable Lenses : Auto-Rokkor PF F 1.8-55mm 6 elements, double coated lens (Eliminates
(Standard Lens)         the usage of Haze cutting filter).
                  The lens consists of a new rare earth Luntinium and Flint Optical Glass.
                        Bayonet-type interchangeable lenses.
Shutter  :               Focal plane shutter with a non-rotative single shutter speed setting dial.
                     B. l  sec, r/2,7/+, 1,8, 1.,15, 130, 160, I 125, 1250, 1500, 11000.
                            Built-in self-timer and adding light value scale.
Diaphragm  :             Auto-pre-set and click stop diaphragm, with automatic opening.
                      Adding light value scale.
Finder  :'               Pentagonal prism viewfinder with fresnel field lens.
                        Detachable eye piece ring.
Mirror  :               Automatic quick-return mirror.
Film Advance Lever     180 degree single stroke (or several short strokes) simultaneously ad-
                       vances film, cocks shutter and opens diaphragm fully.
Sychronizition   :          X-contact for speed light and  . FP contact for FP flash bulbs. Speed
                           light synchronized at l,/so sec. and slower. FP bulbs synchronized at all
                          shutter speeds.
Film Counter  :         Automatic zero-return film countet.
Film Rewinding  :      Crank rewinding lever and film release button.
Filin Loading   :        Hinged camera back with positive-lock located in the rewinding knob.
Film Indicator   :      ASA DIN film indicator dial.
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6 Steps before shooting





g Load film.          2 Advance lever.        3 Set shutter speed.



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(each step is explained in detail on the following pages)





                                                                               shutter.& Set F stoP.         5 Frame subject and focus 5 Click

I Fllm .loodlng





                                                            a       6. Advance the film lever (6)    Lood and unlood4, Using the knurled base of     5. Notice that there is
  the film take-up spool (5)      small hook underneath the     by making several short    the   f ilm in  the  turn until the film catch-      film  clip. SliP the film      strokes until both sides
  ing clip ,4) faces the up-      leader under the film cliP      of the film perforations     shodow ond never
  per side.                     along the bottom side of     are engaged properly in    under      direct                                the take-up sPool so that     the  film sprocket gear
                            the small hook catches       teeth (z). When the film       sunlight.
                                  the second perforated hole      advance lever stops release
                                of the film'                the shutter (8) so that
                                                   you can advance further.


                                                                                                                      I

7. Please make sure that the      8. Again advance the lever    9. Notice the film counter
   film is placed parallel to        (6) until it stops and then     window. A red arrow will
  the cametra body before      release the shutter (8).      indicate that the first film
   closing the camira back.     Repeat this action twice     frame is in position to be
                      and advance the  lever     exposed and you  are
                              once more, then you are     ready for the first shot.
                                ready to shoot.



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10

2 Advcncing
     rhe film




                                                                                                     P.

 Do not odvonce the                                                             !s                                   +
 lever whi'le ther-shutter                                                            .w.::;
  is still in motion               tr




                         The film advancing lever performs the following five actions simultaneously
                                          1. Advances the film one picture frame.
                                        2. Advances the film counter to the next number.
                                     3. Cocks the shutter mechanism.
                                       4" Sets the quick-return mirror mechanism.
                                        5. Opens the diaphragm fully.
                         You can turn the lever either by making several short strokes or by one 180
                                degree stroke until it stops as it is illustrated in the pictures.

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T2

fhe shutferr-  speed setffng




  The.shutter speed dial is rnarked with figures B to
  1000. The figures L,2, 4,8,15,   1000 indicate
  respectively shutter speeds of 1 second, /2 secr:nd,
  /4 second, 1,i'8 of second, l.'15 of second .... 1zl1@0
  of second.
  The B Bosition or bulb enables you to keep the
  shutter opened as long as the shutter button  is
  pressed down. This position is used when more
  than one second exposure is required.
 The red letter-X corresponds to about L/50 of second
  speed. This position or speed is used with strobes
 or electronic flash equipment. (Please read page 28).
                                                                Pull up the black knurled part of the speed
                                                                         dial and turn until the desired shutter speed
                                                                    figure is next to the center red line, then set
                                                  down the speed dial. The shutter speed can
                                                be set either before or after advancing the
                                                                                   lever.



                                                                                13

Sbnlng the                                            4                                                           dlophrogm

The aperture stops are used
for control of exposure on
the film, and at same time
to control the depth of field.
In order to check the depth
of field in the foreground
aqd back ground of the sub-
ject, adjust the diaphragm
before cocking the lever.
(see page 20 for  detailed
 information).

How to use "lhe llghr vqlue tcole"

                                    The lower part of the shutter speed dial and
                                             the diaphragm setting ring are marked with
                                               small yellow figures 0$ that are the divided
                                                   light values-i.e. any combination of figures
                                      between the shutter dial and diaphragm
                                             rings would correspond to a light value.
                                                            If you have an exposure meter with Light
                                                  Value. Scale, you can get the proper ex-
                                      posure setting by using .the yellow figures
                                   marked in the shutter. dlal and in  the
                                        diaphragm ring.





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16

"fhe llghr yolpe 3colo"

First, read off the light value numbgr indicated by your exposure meter and
then divide this value between the shutter speed dial light value and the
aperture ring light value.
For example, if the light value number of your exposure rneter is 11, you
may divide it into 6 on shutter side and 5 on aperture side as in the right
illustrations or 5 on the shutter side and 6 on the aperture side. You will
get the proper exposure as long as the combinations add up to 11. In  this
case 6 and 5, 7 and 4, 8 and g 9 and 1.7.
Which side the priority in combination will be given to depends upon the
subject you are about to shoot. For instarrce,  if you are to shoot a fast
moving subject, it is necessary to use a fast shutter speed. Assuming that a
speed of 7/zso of sec. is sufficient set the shutter speed light value index to
8-(I/250 of sec.) and then, using the example that the light value given by a
exposure meter is 11, set the aperture light value index to 3 (f 2.8) (11-8:3)
If you wish to give priority to aperture setting rather than to shutter speed
in order to achieve a greater depth of field it is necessary to use a larger
number on the aperture light value index.





                                                                               L7

Focuslng ond                                                  5                                                               fromlng of sublecr


 This is one of the biggest advantage of the Minolta
 SR-2 that there is no parallax correction prollem,  i.e.,
 however close you may get to your s'rbject you do
 not have to worry about parallax compensation. What
 you see through the view-finder is exactly what you
 will get on the film negative.
 Further advantages are followings  :
 you can see 1) The real relationship between subject,
               background and foreground.
           2) The actual color condition when us.
                ing filters.
           3) Depth of field changes in accordance
               with the change of aperture settings.
These results can be obtained before advancing the
winding lever which will automatically open the dia-
phragm fully. Should you desire the above advantages
O adjust the aperture and the shutter speedn @
focus the lens approximately and view the subject, @
advance the film and @ focus the lens critically.
                                      When using inf rared film  you
                                                     must move back the focused distance
                                                                     indicated by A mark to "R" position.

                                                                                19

When you release the
   shutter button:
   1) The aperture will
     close automaticallY
       to the pre-set f stop.
   2) The mirror will rise
    up to allow ex'po-
     sure to be made.
   3) The shutter curtain
      will open to expose
     film    . at    pre-set
      shutter speed.
   4) The mirror  will      instantly return to    How. to olm:
        its original position.    The camera may be held accordingly for eitlrer horizontal or vprtical pichrres. It is
                               best to press the gamera firmly against your face and to reledse the shutter with a
                                  slbw. prJssure to avoid all movelhents and insure sharp negatives. Whicltever eye is
                                 conve-nient for you to focus and view with may be used although for sequence shots
                                                                                                                            lever.                                      iii"  uJoi".bl" to ose th" right eye to permit fi"" ,6e of the rapid winding
                      The lever contains a double exposufe prevention mechanism and therefore the film
                         can be adyanced only alter you release the shutter. Unless the lever is. advanced
                                completely, t}re shutter can not be released.

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24

Attentlon  ;
When using shutter speeds of Vts sec.
and slower it is best to use a tripod to
avoid camera movement. If a tripod  is
not available, set the camera on some-
thing or hold the cam era against something
 steady.

A Cable release may be screwed into the
shutter release button. trt is best to use a
cable release (1$ when using a tripod.      .

When using slow shutter speeds such as
Yz of sec or I second, please' be careful
not to advance film while the shutter
mechanism is still in motion.




                             25

Fllm rewlnding



 When you have finished tak-
 ing all pictures (20 or 36 ex-
 posures), you will not be able
 to advance the lever any fur-
 ther. If you force it  further,
 the film will tear or pulled but'
 of the film magazine and it
 will be impossible to rewind
 film back into the magazina
 It is absolutely necessary to
 rewind the film back into the
magazine in order to unload                                   1. When you have finisheri tak-     2. Raise up the winding crank  t21)the film from camera.                                         ing all pictures, push in the re-       and rewind in a clockwise direc-
Attn: When operating the             winding release button CI$ and         tion as the arrows on the knob
crank rewinding lever, please                       it will click in to place,the button         indicate until you feel that you
do not pull up the rewinding            should remain in after releas-        can not wind anyfurther, then
knob. If you do so, the cam-              itrg your  finger, if the trut-        open the camera back to take
era back will open and the              ton pops up again then advance       out the rewinded film maga-
entire film will be exposed.            the lever very slightly while         zine. (see page 6)
                                         pushing the button down and         Occasionally the film may slip
                                                              it will click into place.               out from the clip of the take-up
                                                                                       spool and you will feel a sudden
                                                                                   release of tension while wind-
                                                                                          open the cam-                            www.butkus.us               ing. It is safe to                                                                            era back when this happens.
26

.  Flosh photography


       It is recommended using flash for night shots and
     for filling in dark shaded areas.
    You can use either regular flash or strobe light.

  When you use flqsh     When you use q strobe
    bulbs:                      llghr (Electronlc flosh) :
     Please make sure you use FP.    Please malce sure the shutter
      class bulbs. (Focal Plane bulbs)    speed dial is set on the red mark
   The camera is synchronized at      ,,Xrt.                                                               The important factor in
       all shutter speeds from 1 second    Speeds slower than X (about 1/50            flash photography is the     to 1/1000 of second when using    of sec.) may be used.                                                                         aperture setting. The
      FP.' class bulbs..                With strobe light the camera is            aperture setting is deter-
                                      synchronized at speeds from I          mined by the brightness                                     second to I/50 of second.                                                                                  of flash and the distance
                                                                        from the light to subject.
                                                     As these factors vary
                                                                                             greatly, precise informa-
                                                                             tion on instructions  is
                                                                                    attached with flash bulbs
                                                                     and strobe light units.
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28

lnterchonglng
  lhe lenceg





Automatic pre-set lenses can     To remove lens                 To olfqch lens
be changed even after ad-      While pushing down the lens       Insert the lerrs into  the
 vhncing the lever and still       change-button  (20)turn the lens       bayonet mount by lining up
 maintain the fullest aperture       barrel counter-clockwise until       the red dot on the lens barrel
 opening.                                         it stops (L/8 of a turn) and      with the red dot on  the
                                              still holding unto tbe lens      camera body and turn the
                                      barrel lift up carefully.            lens clockwise until it stops
                                                                       (L/8 of a turn)

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30,

n'Rokkor"         lnterchongeoble Lenses for Minoho 5R,-2                                                                            rl

        A single lens reflex requires neither separate viewfinders nor
             rangefinders when using interchangeable lenses of various. focal
              lengths, since focusing is done directly through the lenses and
              there is no parallax correction problem. Especially telephoto lenses
              of focal lengths longer than 135 mm have an extremely shallory
             depth of field and present a constant parallax problem with non
               single lens reflexes. But with this Minolta SR-2 single lens reflex
            camera, you can enjoy the maximum effectiveness of telephoto
              lenses free of parallax.
                  It has long been impossible for a single lens reflex camera to use
          a wide angle lens with focal lengtlrs shorter than 45 mm due to the
              rear element of the lens interfering with the mirror action of the
           camera. However, since creation of the Retro-Focus type lens,
               this problem has been completely eliminated. Now you can use
           such wide angle lenses as 35 mm and 28 mm lenses with your
             Minolta SR-2.

           Each lens has an exclusive bayonet-type lens mount.



                                                                   31

Auto Rokkor PF                                        Auto
                      55mm F 1.8                                W. Rokkor HG
                                           (Standard Lens)                               35mm F 2.8




6 elements                                                             7 elements
Automatic' Pre-set APerture                                              Automatic Pre-set APerture
Angle of view: 43o                                                 Angle of view: 64oNearest focusing distance : 19.6 in.                                   Nearest focusing distance :  9'8 in'
                                                                                                                                             f.22f stops : fI.8 to F22                                                                                                          f stops : f.2.8 to

This is the lens which ChiYoda Kog-                                            Specially designed Retro-Focus Type
aku Seiko K. K., the makers of                                        lens is recommended and ideal for
Minolta camera is most Proud of.                                                                   group photos, scenic snaps and sub'Complete elimination of flare zLnd
utmost color balance gives you Ultra-                                             jects which require great dePth of
Hi - Fidelity color photograPhY. A                                                        field.
special feature is the double coat:ed
lens which eliminates the use o{ a
haze filter. This lens is undoubtably            www.butkus.us
the all purpose lens in photography.