Minolta SR-1 model V User manual

Congratulations! You now own an exceptionally precisecamerathat far exceedsthe demands
of the average photographer. The elements contained within it will meet any photographic
situation on a professional level.
IO All cbout your MinoltosR-t 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 cameracontains an extremely bright penta
prism viewing system and a completely automatic pre-set
diaphragm. Please readthis 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.)
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conrenrfT
Specifications
.'.. ........
1
6 steps
to perfect pictures .......;,.... g
Film loading .............5
Advancing
the film ..........9
Shutter speeds ......10
Setting
the
diaphragm.... ............
11
Automatic
diaphragm .................12
Depth of fielcl ........
|
3
How to use the pre-view
button .......:.....15
How to use
the Minolta SR meter..................
lg
Focusing
and
framinc...... ..............29
Holding the camera .. ............30
Unloading
film......... .............32
Setting the self-timer..
.. .......
34
Flash photography .......3b
Interchanging lenses .....3g
Accessories....... ........40

Minoltn SR-
t Specificntions
Film Rewind and
Back Opening Knob
PentaPrism Viewfinder
Film Advance and Shutter Cock
Shutter Release
Shutter SPeed
Dial
Film Counter
Flash 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-timer
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Film Pressure
Plate
Take-up Spool
Sprocket Gear
Shutter Curtain
Rewind Shaft
Rewind Release
Button
Viewer
Tripod Socket

6 steps to perfect piclr.lr
l. Loacl film '2. Advance lever
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4. Set Aperture 5. Focus and Frame
6. Press shutter (Eoch step is exploined in detqil on
the following poges.)

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
into the chamber so
that the axis of the
magazine is on the
bottom side of the
chamber.
3 Push the rewind knob
down. If you should
have any difficulty, turn
the knob slightly and
pusb down again.
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4 Turn the knurled base
of the fi
lm take-up
spool unti
I the f
ilm
catching clip faces
upward.
5 Insert the film leader
into the take-up spool.
Make sure the sprocket
gear teeth are engaged
with the f
ilm perf
or-
atrons.
6 Advance the film lever
untiI both sides of the
f
ilm perlorations are
engaged properly with
the sprocket gear.
When the advance
lever stops, release the
shutter so you (:an
advance further.
Film loading or unloading
should be done in the
shade.
When loading the film,
be sure not to touch the
shutter curtain.

7 Please make sure the film is
parallel to the camera body
before c
losing the camera back.
8 Advance the lever until
and then release the
Repeat this action twice
are readv to shoot.
rt stops
shutter.
and you
The film counter window
indicates when the first film
frame is in position ready to be
exposed.
If the film is loose in the cart-
ridge you can tighten it very
slowly by turning the rewind
knob clockwise.
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Emutsion
speedindiccrr"V g
As a convenient reminder, set
on the back of the camera to
number (ASA or DI N ) of the
loaded. Simply turn the dial
the indicator located
the emulsion speed
film you have just
to the corresponding
number of your film speed. For color film use
the red figures.
Film speed chcrrf
Films ASA iEmulsion speednumbers (AsA) are listed above
for your convenience. They are also found on the
instruction sheet contained with each film.
ILFORD HPS
Ansco Super Hypan
AGFA ISOPAN RECORD
AGFA ISOPAN ISS
AGF'A ISOPAN IF-
Kodak Panatomic X
Kodak PIusX
Kodak Tir X
400
500
650
200
100
50
125
400
64
64
Kodacolor X
Ektachrome X
(daylight type)
Kodachrome II
(daylight type)
Kodachrome X
Ektachrome High Speed
(daylight type)
Anscochrome
10
64
160
32

Advnncing rhe film
The shutter cannot be released
until the film advancing lever
is completely wound. If, after
advancing the lever, the shutter
releaseis still locked, advance
the lever again until it stops.
When winding the film advance
lever, you wi ll feel 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 film advance
the followingfive
taneously:
lever perf
orms
actions simul- 1.Advances the film
2 .Advances the film counter
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.
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shutter ro""o{rn
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
, I12 second
, Il4 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 secondexposure ls requlrecl.
'fhe X position corresponcls
to about 1/50 seconcl
speecl. This speeri is userl with electronic flash
equlpment.
Sening the shuttcr
Turn the dial to the desired speed, lining it up with
the center red line.

sertins the dioph."r{t
The diaphragm ring has aperture figures from 1.8
to 16. Turn the diaphragm ring so that the desired
aperture figure coincides with the white dot.
The click stopsenable you to use intermediate aperture
openings between any two f/stops. The larger the
aperture figure, the less light volume is permitted
through the lens. For example, &t f 16 the diaphragm
is closed down to a pin-point opening; at f1.8 the lens
is wide open. The relationship between aperture and
light volume is shown on the scale below.
Diaphragm can be set either before or after advancing
the film lever.
An..,ur"
Light
volume O
{
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Whor is q completely qutomqtic pre-set
dicphrcgm?
One of the superb features of the Minolta SR-
1 is
its completely automatic pre-set diaphragm. In a
conventional single lens reflex camera, when the lens
is stopped down the visual field of view becomes
darker thus making it diff
icult to focus. In the
Minolta SR- 1, the lens is completely automatic ancl
pre-set;aperture is always at maximun opening untiI
the shuttter is released. Consequently, focusing can be
quickly determined through the extra bright viewfinder
no matter what aperture you have preselected.
When the shutter is released, the diaphragm closes to
pre-set aperture, the mirror clears, the picture is taken
the mirror returns, the diaphragm re-opensto maximum
aperture...all
simultaneously,
all automatically.
E]Eilril
$$$

Depth of ,,",{r,
The depth of fielcl of a lens
is the range of clistance
within which all subjects
are in relatively sharp
focus. This range varies
with the aperture opening.
It is greatest when the
lens is stoppecl down (
f16
)
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:::
,,) :tW
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The principles goyerning depth of field
1.The depth of field is greater as the distanceis
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 field 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,kg rouncl and f
oreground or emphasize the
subject sharpness only by purpose
ly making the
background out of focus.
(lr
$Dept
h
Bockground Foregroun
epth of f
ield

How ro use rhe pre-view ,,r*o{t,
You may pre-view depth of field, 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.
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Deprh
of field r.o,fr.
The arrow mark A on the scale indicates
the distance detween camera and focused
subject.
The two sets of figures on both sides
of the arrow mark are aperture stops
and the distance f
ramed by the two
same figures shows the depth of field.
For example, if you focus on a subject
15 feet away and use an full aperture,
read the distance opposite the two
figures tr. In this case the depth of
field is approximately 10 feet to 37
feet. Within that distance range all
subjects are in relatively sharp focus.
You can also check depth of field
the depth of field scale marked on
This indicates in feet and meters
which everything will be in focus.
by ref
erring to
the lens barrel.
the range within