Film cameras
Minoltacord User manual
User manual for Minoltacord. 20 pages in English. Read the original PDF, download or print a copy without registration.
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Document details
- Brand
- Minolta
- Model / document
- Minoltacord
- Document type
- User manual
- Language
- English
- Pages
- 20
- File size
- 2.0 MB
- Category
- Film cameras
- Document date
- Not specified in catalog
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Page 3 · Read text
m inoltqcord
'if' ]!ltr'. *-i
An important feature of, the A,IINOLTACORD is its
focal adjustment by means of a l-lELlCOlD LEVER. lt
provides one hand operation in focusing leaving the
other hand free for holding an off-the-camera flash gun
for better flash modeling. The focusing lever can be
operated by the index finger while the camera is cra-
dled in the palm oF the hand.
r$
N
The View Promar F/s.z-75mm. Viewing Lens produces rk
a brilliant image on the viewfinder screen for accu- ;ffi
rate focusing adjustment. IH l$
The Minoltacord is manufactured by Chiyoda Kogaku itIESeiko K. K., one of the oldest camera and optical works in
Japan devoted exclusively to the production of cameras
and other precision optical equipment.
The MINOLTACORD Lens is the nored Promar-S-ll[ lr+
Fls.s-z5mm., which is well recognized for its acute
def inition.
It has the " Optiper MXS " precision shutter, which is
manufactured by the Citizen Watch Co., Ltd., under
close technical collaboration with us.
www.butkus.usView original page 3Page 5 · Read text
A. Vie,ar Promar F I s.2-7 5mm. Coated. B. Promar Fls.5-75mm. Coated. C. lris Diaphragm Lever. D" SelF-Timer. E. Flash Synchronizer. F. M-X Lever. G. Focus Adjusting Lever. H. lnFrared Ind icator. l. Shr.rtter Release Button. J. Shutter Speed Lever. K. Set Lever. L. Film Winding Crank. M. Exposure Counter.www.butkus.usView original page 5
Page 6 · Read text
w
V
N. MagniFier.
O. Fye-level Finder.
P. Flap Release Button.
O. Ant i-reFlection BaFFle.
R. Film Start Mark.
S. Counter Release Button.
T. Film Spool Knob.
U. Take-up Spocl Knob.
V. Accessories Mounting.
\7. Beck Cover Opening Button.View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
OPERATIh.{G INSTRUCTI ONS
l. The viewfinder hood on top oF the
camera opens when the rear edge is
lightly pushed upward with the index
f inger.
2. A Viewtinder magniiying lens is folded
into the Top Cover which forms the
tront oF the lrood und can be released
by pushing the top cover lightly From
the outer side.
3. To use the eye-level finder (O)' push
the top cover from the outer side until
it snaps into its " down " position-
To release, press the release button
(P) on the rear oF the hood.
4. To close the Hood, the toP cover
must be returned to its ttuPtt posiLion,
then depress the magniFier. The Hood
rvill now fold automatically by pushing
down the Top Cover.
5. The Shutter Speed Lever (J) should
be set at the indication on the dial
for the desired shutter sPeed. The
dial markings 1,2, and 5 to 400 mean
shutter speeds of 1, 16, and lrk to
rrh,gg seconds respectively. The mark
indicator When the means bulb. "8"
Il open as long as the shutter release remains shutter on (( set is B " the
Button ( I) is held down and closes when the Button is released dLI
The Optiper MXS shutter, like all precision shutters, must be cocked
beFore it can be released. Lever (K) must be pushed down as far as it
w,ill go to cock the shutLer; aFter which it will function at the speed
which has been selected by the shutter speed lever.
6. To select the diaphragm opening for the correct exposure set the L'ever
(C) at the correct indication on the dial. Refer to page 9 for a table
oF ., Relative Diaphragm openings to Shutter Speeds " to understand how
the two combine to contr:ol the exPosure.
www.butkus.us
@View original page 7Page 9 · Read text
Loadittg Film
Note: Use No. '|20 Film onlY- The
Film spools oF No. 62A Film will
noL fit this camerd.
t. Open the Ba:k Cover bY Pulling
the Button (W).
2. Place an empty Film SPool in the
upper film chamber while li[ting
the Take-up Spool Knob (U). Turn
the Knob until it en3ages the slot
to the end oF the sPool and snaPs
don,n so that the sPool turns with
it.
3. Place a roll oF film in the lower
film chamber so that the PaPer
teader unwinds over the sPool, i- e.
the outside oF the PaPer leader
remains outside as it is Pulled
across the back oF the camera, and
fix the spool in place with Knob
(T) in the same way the Take-uP
Spoo! was locked in.
4. Turn the Take-up Spool so that
its longer slot fuces ouLward and
thread the end oF the film paPer
leader into the long slot oF the
Take-up Spool.
5. Then wind the filrn with the V/ind-
ing Crank until the two \Z marks
appear on opposite edges oF the
paper leader. The crank will onlY
turn a halF revolution ufter which
it is turned back to the starting
point and another halF turn is made.
Place these \Z marks so that they
www.butkus.usView original page 9Page 10 · Read text
coincide with the film start marks
eachN side(R) seenoF theon camera.the film railsThenon close
the back cover tightly.
6. AFter closing the bac,k cover, a mark
\Z will appear in the Fxposure
Counter Window (M). The winC-
ing crank shoufd then be turned
from its sLarting position as far a,
i,,iii: it will go and reperted for a total
oF four times. During the fourth
lirii::ii:i:l turn the number ...|,' wilt appear in
i :i:i the Windon,, but the fourth turn
shoufd be compteted. 'fhe first
Fllm trame is then in place for Digitally signed by mike butkus
cn=mike butkus, nraking a picture. mike DN:o=orphancameras, ou=29,
Date: 2017.12.07 18:48:09 -05'00' f ir st butkus theN AFterpicture,youadvancehave madethe filmyourto email=mike@butkus.org, c=US
next frame by winding the film
N handle forwurd as lar as it will go
as was explained in the Operating
lnstructions, again being careFul
not to allow the Film Crank to
slip backward at any point dcrring
the winding.
t,nui 7. AFter you have made twelve (12)
i;:ii'iit
:::r:l'i:lii pictures, as shown by the exposure
iii'i"ii counter, tlre Film Crank should
then be turned repeatedty until all
the film has been wound onto the
Take-up Spool. Then the camera
N-l should be leFt unloaded untess you$iiiiilil!i\li\i
are going to make more pictures
il torightloadaway.the cdmeralt is alwaysuntil better.the duynot
ilil you intend to use it end to use
up all the f ilm in the camera beFore
putting it away [or long periods
oF stoi'age.
H
:iliiView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
Relative Diaphragm Openings to
Shutter Speeds.
The Diephragm Openin3 oF a Lens controls the Volume of Light that
reaches the fiim in a giverr period of exposure. The Dial Markings
indicate this Volume oF Light in the Following ratio.
F, No. 22 3s 4 56 I ll 16
gF iil vorumes f) {-} {:} s;i {F $ V8 )ft tlz 1 Vz ,4 oF lisht 1.3
22 numbers 4 to the dial by on the inCicatsd openirg Each Stop $ con- or the lens through oF light passing amount 6y 25, the reduces
versely, opening the lens From one mark to the next f rom the number
22 to 4 doubles rhe amount oF light passing through the lens. The
murk 3.5 only allows one third more light to pass through than at 4'
These numbers are called f, stops and are inCicated on exPosuremeter
scafes as F 3 5,f 4, F5.6, etc. and the speed of a lens is designated
by the largest F stop on its diaphragm, such as F 3'5' The shutter
controls the amount oF light reaching the film by the length oF time
it remains open, i. e. 'l second, 26, secondt y5 second, etc'
Now, supose you have determined by an exposure meter reading or
other mes^s that the corre:t exposure for your lilm under certain
light conditions is Yi;o second at f B, und you want to use a faster
shutter speed because ycur subject is in motion. A shutter speed T
oF 1,,'rug second cuts Lhe exPosure in halF, so ycu must oPen the lens
one stop to f 5 6 which will allow twice as much light to Pass t
through and the amcunt e[ sxposure will be the s:me as belore.
Conversely, iF you need to stop Cown the lens for greater depth of
F 22 field (See expf snation oF Depth oF Field next) and you select
as the correct stop opening you have reduced the amount oF light
to 1/a. Then you must give the film an exPosure 8 times as long
or /6 second, in this case you select the nearest shutLer speed
which is ]i second.
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Q)View original page 11Page 12 · Read text
Depth Of Field
The depth oF tield oF a lens is the range oF distunce within which
aall objects are in relatively sharp focus r^ hen the lens is set for
given distance. This ranga varies with the diaphragm opening, being
greatest when the lens is stopped doryn and least when it is open
full (See diagram on page 9). The range also varies with the disLance
for which the lens is set being least at close distance and greatest
at further distunces up to a point where it takes in everything beyond
an inteimediare distance to inFinity, which is indicated byo on the
distance scale, i. e. when the camera is set at o and the lens is
opened to f 3.5 the deprh oF field is from l09ft. to infinity. The
depth oF field table on page ]8 shows rhe relationship of the depth
oF fietd oF a lens For various distan:es and stop openings'
Accessories for the Minoltacord
The following exclusive accessoties are available for the Minoltacord
and are recommended in order to obtain the very best results with it.
l. Minolta Lens Shade.
2. Minolta Filters.
3. Minolta B. C. Flash Units.
4. Minolta-Near-Up Lens.
5. Minolta Paradjuster.
@View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
Minolta Lens Shade
The Minof La Lens Shade is squire shaped,
which is preFerred because a round shaped
shade will sometimes cut oFF the outer
corners oF the negative iF it is oF a size
t h rt will be most eFfective in cutting
do,vn stray light. A lens shade should
be used to prevent unnecessary and sLray
light f rom entering the lens w hich wil I
cause glare spots on the picture and is especially
essential in synchro-tlash work.
Minolta Filters
Filters will enable you to take
better and more elaborate pic-
tures than is possible without
them.
Five diFterent Minolta tilters
are avaifable as tollows;
l. f ndi"idually in plastic case" (Yellow, Hazy or for color)
2. Set oF 3 filters in plastic case. (Yellow, Orange and light green)
The Minolta Filter Set consists oF three filters; a Y-Filter (yellow),
and O - f ilter (Orange) and a G-filter (light green), which are
contained in a handy lined plastic case.
Use oF Filters
The Yello'w Y - filter is suited tor taking picttrres where the rel^lection
oF light is very strong, such as scenes at the beach or with snow/
and oF landscapes with sLy, parLicufarly iF strong clouds are wanted
in the sky. The Orange O-tilter is best for taking pictures oF
distant scenes and of mountains or oF the sea; where deep contrasL
oF light or color is usually preterred. For this reason this {^ilter is,
someLimes called a contrast filter.
@ www.butkus.usView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
The Red R-Filter is an inFrared tilter and when it is used with
inFrared tilm to take pictures in bright sunlight the depiction is as iF
the pictures \A,ere taken under moon light. The sky appears very
black and green trees and tolieg: aPpears white. Details in the
distance becomes very clear and eFtects will be obtainedr patticularly
with inFrared tilm, that are entirety diFferent than it is possible to
i obtain wirh ordin:ry filru. lt is also used For t:king distant views
* for greater contrast than can be obtuined with the ()-tilter' The Green G-f ilter produces unusually clear green foliage in the
I spring and early sumrrrer. tt also renders cfouds parti:ularly clear,
f and is gooC [or taking portraits.
,l The Blue B-tilter is besb for taking photographs oF sno',^/, surnmer
i I beaches or hi,Jh mountains lvhere ultraviolet. rays are stronger than
ordinory.
Minolta
B. C. Flash Unit
A smel I pocket sized un it
which operates orl the
l B C principsl oF using a
{t I condenser to store uP a
I I heavy charge which is dis-
I charged through the tlash
lI bulb producing a more
I relioble and eF[icient flash
unit. Batteries maY be used
long aFter they have become
too weak to be used in
direct contact flash uniks. ft
requires a little longer bebween flashes For the weaker batkeries to
sbore up a ch:rge in the condenser, but even so this is onlY a matLer
oF seconds.
@View original page 14Page 16 · Read text
Minolta Paradi.ttter
The Minolta Paradjuster eliminaLes
the eFFects oF Parallax under all
conditions oF close-up photography,
as wetl as the need for a sPecial
prismatic pair oF close-up lenses'
it produces the exact image on the
viewing screen that will be taken
by the lens, because the rnechanism
thiFtr the tal"ing lens while framing
and focusing for the picture. Close-
ups c6n be taken with a single
proxar (close-up) lqns by usi-ng it
iirst on the view lens while focus-
ing, then removing it qnd Placing
it on the taking lens while making
the exposure t ot two Proxar lenses
oF exactly the same characteristics
can be uiud, one on the view lens
and one on the taking fens'
Note: The Minolta Close-up Lens pairs
mentioned betore cannot be used
together with the Paradjuster, but
the taking lens of the Pair can be
used uu dlt.tibed above as a single
proxar.
The Advantages oF the Paradjuster
are:
'the picture taken is exactly .as l.
it was seen on the viewFinder
screen.
()Lt The relative position oF objects in the picture taken are the
sarne as they were seen in the finder'
J. The picture doesntt have unexpected rellections that were not
seen in the view finder because oF its slightly diFFerent position
from that oF the taking lens'
4. pictures are free from distortion olten produced by prismatic
pairs oF Close-uP Lenses'
5. No slip-ups because oF misadjustment oF the prism with a pair
oF prismatic Close-uP Lenses'
6. Two or more Proxars can be put togebher to toke pictures even
more close-up than can be produced by one Proxar. @View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
Since the establishment oF
Chiyoda Kogak.,r Seiko K. K.
in 1927, more than ten diFterent
models oF camei"as have made
their debut on the market. They
have meL the reguirements oF the
general public so successFully
that now the Minolta is the
favorite oF a large and growing
famity oF camera users the
wor ld over.
Perhaps among the following
camera names that have been
produced in this quater centurY
since our founding will be one
you will recognize as a favorite
camera oF your own in the
past: NiFcarette, NiFcaklaPPr
NiFcadox, NiFcasport, HuppY
Minolta Baby, Minolta Vest,
Minolta Six, Minolta Semi,
Minolta Press,Auto Press Minolta,
Auto Semi Minolta, Minoltaflex,
Automat, etc. Since 1945, an
irnproved model oF the Minolta
Semi, Type-P has made its
debut while the production oF
the Minolta Memo has been su-
spended. The improved model
Minolta-35 Typ. [, now on
the market is the latest design
oF its kind. Similarfy the pre-
vious MinoltaFlex ltB has been
superseded by the new Minolta-
tlex l![, and at the same time
the production oF its sister
model the " Minoltacordr " and
the " Minolta Autocord " was
begun. Also a 16 mm type
carnera, the Minolta 16, and a
35 mm type camera oF low price,
the Minolta 'A' are presentlywww.butkus.us under production.View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
A distinctive feature oF Minolta
cameras is the fact that the produc-
i;; oF the entire camera f rom
Formulation oF the oPtical glass'
its melting, crystalizing, gtin^Cing'
polishing und finul assembly of the
tenses, production oF the shutters
und .u*"ru bodies and assemblY and
,"tting oF the comPleted Product
are alt carried out within our own
respective factories. At the same
time, however, in view oF Providing
fo, turther exPansion oF our own as
wetl as the general camera industr:y
throughout JaPan, we have 'adoPted
the use oF the notbd Seikosha ,, Rapid r Shutter in our new Minolta-
Flex l![, and oF the Citizen "Optiper
MXS" Shutber in our new Minoltacord
and Minolta Autocord- Both oF these
shutters are produced to our speci-
fications and under close technical
coltaboration between ourselves and
.their respective munuFucturers'
Csaka Head Of $ice:
3-chome, Kitakvuhoji-machi, Hietashi-ku,
OSAKA.
Tokyo Branch O$$ice:
3-chome, Ginza, Chuo-ku, TOKYO'
Head Of$ice FactorY:
Minoltaflex, MinoltaAutocord, Minolta- S".i, Minolta l6 are made in this f actory.""a
Itarni FactorY:
Optical Glass Production'
Sakai FactorY:
PolishinE and Finishins q[ Lenses to be
is done Cameras Minolta in vurio,r, ,t.J- for and Prisms Lenses udJition f'r"i.. t"
various overseas customers are being.made
i" thir factorv. Also the entire Mirrolta-35
Camera is Produced here.
Toyokawa FactorY:
The home oF the Mirroltacord, and the Minolta 'A'.
Nishinomiya Reserch Laboratories :
Reserch in Optical glass formulation
;;i- th" devi"ins and- testins o$ new
lenses is done here.View original page 18From the M. Butkus archive. Original publisher and archive notices are retained.
Check the model and edition against your equipment.
PDF verified 2026-10-10.