Changes: Minolta A

Latest revision as of 07:56, 25 March 2012

Minolta 'A' 1st version with early rewind knob,
'Chiyoda Kogaku' on bezel.

Minolta 'A' top shutter speed dial

Minolta 'A' lift-off back.

The Minolta A was launched by Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō in April 1955^[1] as the first of their new series of rangefinder cameras. It featured an optical viewfinder with superimposed coupled rangefinder, a shutter speed thumb wheel on top of the camera and a rapid wind advance lever. Earliest version had two-blade Konan Flicker shutters with speeds B, 1/2sec to 1/200sec. The second version had Optiper -MX shutters with B, 1-1/300s and the version released in 1956 had Citizen -MX shutters with B, 1sec to 1/300sec^[2]. All were M and X flash-synchronized. Its coupled 45mm f3.5-22 'Chiyoko Rokkor' lens, with 4 elements in 3 groups, was the first in a Japanese camera to use an equally spaced linear aperture scale^[3].

It was an entry level camera for advanced 35mm photography that was ahead of more expensive popular American rangefinder camera models. The Minolta 'A' series was developed through the A-2, A3, A5, and then into the AL series that were marketed alongside the Hi-Matics.

References[]

↑ JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p194.
↑ Sugiyama/Naoi "The Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras", code numbers 3431, 3432, 3433.
↑ JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p91.

Links[]

Column in the October 1955 special issue of Photo Art.

In English:

Minolta A at Silverbased
Minolta A repair notes at Dan Mitchell's camera site
In www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand
- Minolta A

[1] JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p194.

[2] Sugiyama/Naoi "The Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras", code numbers 3431, 3432, 3433.

[3] JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p91.

[1]

[2]

[3]

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+{{Flickr_image
-{{stub}}
+|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989794@N08/5422137321/
+|image=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5422137321_8bc44d24ee_m.jpg
+|image_align=left
+|image_text=Minolta 'A' 1st version with early rewind knob,<br/>'Chiyoda Kogaku' on bezel.
+}}
+{{Flickr_image
+|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989794@N08/5422137331/
+|image=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5018/5422137331_dafd63beed_m.jpg
+|image_align=left
+|image_text=Minolta 'A' top shutter speed dial
+}}
+{{Flickr_image
+|image_source=http://www.flickr.com/photos/32989794@N08/5422137327/
+|image=http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5139/5422137327_f70d8722c8_m.jpg
+|image_align=left
+|image_text=Minolta 'A' lift-off back.
+}}
+{{br}}
+{{br}}
+The '''Minolta A''' was launched by [[Chiyoda Kōgaku Seikō]] in April 1955<ref>JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p194.</ref> as the first of their new series of rangefinder cameras.  It featured an optical viewfinder with superimposed coupled rangefinder, a shutter speed thumb wheel on top of the camera and a rapid wind advance lever. Earliest version had two-blade [[Konan]] Flicker shutters with speeds B, 1/2sec to 1/200sec. The second version had [[Optiper]] -MX shutters with B, 1-1/300s and the version released in 1956 had [[Citizen]] -MX shutters with B, 1sec to 1/300sec<ref>Sugiyama/Naoi "The Collectors Guide to Japanese Cameras", code numbers 3431, 3432, 3433.</ref>. All were M and X flash-synchronized.  Its coupled 45mm f3.5-22 'Chiyoko [[Rokkor]]' lens, with 4 elements in 3 groups, was the first in a Japanese camera to use an equally spaced linear aperture scale<ref>JCII/Lewis, ed. "The History of Japanese Cameras" p91.</ref>.
+It was an entry level camera for advanced 35mm photography that was ahead of more expensive popular American rangefinder camera models. The Minolta 'A' series was developed through the A-2, A3, A5, and then into the AL series that were marketed alongside the Hi-Matics.
+<br>
+== References ==
+<references />
 == Links ==
+{{Flickr_image
-* [http://www.daniel.mitchell.name/cameras/minoltaa/minoltaa.html Shutter cleaning notes]
+|image_source= http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebollo_fr/2127808458/in/pool-camerapedia
-* [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/minolta/html/Minolta_A.php Minolta A] at www.collection-appareils.fr
+|image= http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2137/2127808458_f2bfed693b_m.jpg
+|image_align= right
+|image_text= ''Column in the October 1955 special issue of [[Photo Art]].''
+}}
+In English:
+* [http://silverbased.org/1955-minolta-a/ Minolta A] at [http://silverbased.org/ Silverbased]
+* [http://pheugo.com/cameras/index.php?page=minoltaa Minolta A repair notes] at [http://pheugo.com/cameras/ Dan Mitchell's camera site]
+* In [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/general/html/francais.php www.collection-appareils.fr] by Sylvain Halgand
+**  [http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=11538 Minolta A]
 [[Category: Japanese 35mm rangefinder]]
-[[Category: Minolta stub]]
 [[Category: M]]
 [[Category: A|A, Minolta]]
+[[Category: Minolta|A]]