Changes: Minolta A

Revision as of 20:45, 6 February 2011

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, A-3, A-5, 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:

In French:

Minolta A on www.collection-appareils.fr by Sylvain Halgand

[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.

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