I need SRT-102 opinions

[Helge]

Yeh, I'm shocked that you guys would give me the go-ahead.)) Enablers. All of you.

At least I've gotten a ton of good intel on the camera which is great. It's good to hear from people who actually own and use one.

If I buy the one I'm thinking of, it will look and function like it just left the factory. It will be more expensive than a snagging an unknown version off of fleabay, but a far better value.

Don’t be too enamored with a great cosmetic appearance. There might one or more of the problems I mentioned. Or something else entirely.
Test it throughly before you put down money.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Don’t be too enamored with a great cosmetic appearance. There might one or more of the problems I mentioned. Or something else entirely.
Test it throughly before you put down money.

A pristine looking camera may not have been fired for a long times and the internal works could be gummed up requiring a CLA.

 

[ant!]

I recently got for CAD 25 + shipping a black SRT102. Sent it off to CLA, and now I have a mechanical option for my Minolta glass (had some problems in winter with batteries last year...).
I use mainly my XD7 (first version) and X570, but have also a XE7 and a black XD11 (latest version with new logo). And just new a X600 (focus confirmation!), still have to change the light seals, otherwise great condition...

 

[Helge]

Can we conclude that there is just generally something very special about Minolta?
The glass is absolutely second to none, and the bodies are with a few exceptions all with great personality and lots of small fine touches that really shows the designers thinking and caring.
I just don’t get the same feeling with Canon, Olympus or Pentax (as many qualities as they have of their own).
To some degree with Nikon, but in a different way.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Can we conclude that there is just generally something very special about Minolta?
The glass is absolutely second to none, and the bodies are with a few exceptions all with great personality and lots of small fine touches that really shows the designers thinking and caring.
I just don’t get the same feeling with Canon, Olympus or Pentax (as many qualities as they have of their own).
To some degree with Nikon, but in a different way.

I had Minoltas from 1966 to 2004 and I never had a problem with them. Since 2004 I have had Nikon cameras for 35mm.

 

[KerrKid]

Can we conclude that there is just generally something very special about Minolta?
The glass is absolutely second to none, and the bodies are with a few exceptions all with great personality and lots of small fine touches that really shows the designers thinking and caring.
I just don’t get the same feeling with Canon, Olympus or Pentax (as many qualities as they have of their own).
To some degree with Nikon, but in a different way.

Preach it, Brother!

 

[KerrKid]

A pristine looking camera may not have been fired for a long times and the internal works could be gummed up requiring a CLA.

Relax.) The seller is a Minolta repair specialist who I've bought SRT's from before. If I buy it it will come in the shape I described.

 

[Nokton48]

I started with the SRT100, with the 50mm F1.9 lens brand new when I was seventeen. Now I have many 101's, a 202, and XK with also all accessories, and two SR-M motor bodies. So happy-happy. You know, my go-to last year was the SRT100. If I was traveling light with just one body. I recovered mine with green kangaroo from Camera Leather.

 

[KerrKid]

I started with the SRT100, with the 50mm F1.9 lens brand new when I was seventeen. Now I have many 101's, a 202, and XK with also all accessories, and two SR-M motor bodies. So happy-happy. You know, my go-to last year was the SRT100. If I was traveling light with just one body. I recovered mine with green kangaroo from Camera Leather.

Green Kangaroo leather??? That is something I would do. Should do. Will do.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I started with the SRT100, with the 50mm F1.9 lens brand new when I was seventeen. Now I have many 101's, a 202, and XK with also all accessories, and two SR-M motor bodies. So happy-happy. You know, my go-to last year was the SRT100. If I was traveling light with just one body. I recovered mine with green kangaroo from Camera Leather.

I did not know! Since when do kangaroos come in green?

 

[KerrKid]

I did not know! Since when do kangaroos come in green?

These are very jealous kangaroos who get angry if you look at other kangaroos.

 

[KerrKid]

Can we include Konicas in this Minolta lovefest or is that incest?

 

[KerrKid]

Now I'm really conflicted about the camera cover. I can't see the green Kangaroo leather on Camera Leathers website but I did see the whole range of textile covers and they are nice.

I wonder how this would look on one of my SRT-101's? This sample is on a Hasselblad waist-finder. There's a pink one, too, to go with Sirius's favorite pumps.

Ok, OK, I didn't say I was actually going to do it, I'm just sayin'. Plus they didn't have anything in fur and I'm kind of holding out for that. Lol.

 

[Austintatious]

I can recommend red reptile skin as a cover. This camera has moved on but it sure was a looker

Kiev 4AM in Red Reptile with Jupiter 12 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

I will not part with my SR-T 102 or any of my many Rokkors !

SRT 102 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

 

[Richard Jepsen]

I still have my 1967 SRT 101 with an added hot shoe. Mirror lockup was dropped from the follow-on models. I have seldom used it but its nice to know its there if you need it. Its a great camera with the MC 58/1.2 attached.

 

[KerrKid]

I can recommend red reptile skin as a cover. This camera has moved on but it sure was a looker

Kiev 4AM in Red Reptile with Jupiter 12 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

I will not part with my SR-T 102 or any of my many Rokkors !

SRT 102 by Carlos Yashinon, on Flickr

That Kiev is a bit Austintatious! I like it.

Also…beautiful 102 there. I have that same lens, too.

 

[KerrKid]

I still have my 1967 SRT 101 with an added hot shoe. Mirror lockup was dropped from the follow-on models. I have seldom used it but its nice to know its there if you need it. Its a great camera with the MC 58/1.2 attached.

What advantages does the 58/1.2 have over the 58/1.4? I’ve had the f1.4 on my original SRT101 since I bought it back in the ‘70’s.

 

[Nokton48]

2015-12-27 20.15.55 by Nokton48, on Flickr

On the left, my SRT100 with Green Kangaroo. On the right, my SRT202 with Black Griptac.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Paul Howell]

Can we include Konicas in this Minolta lovefest or is that incest?

Konica was a different breed of cat, all models from the T to later modules Fs and beyond had shutter speed auto exposure, I find that the viewfinder on my T-T4 is dimmer then my Minoltas. The glass for both is outstanding, I don't think Konica made a bad lens, even their bargain lens are really good. Konica never made a pro level body while Minolta made the XK. Konica did make the first 35mm SLR system camera with integrated motor drive.

 

[Helge]

Can we include Konicas in this Minolta lovefest or is that incest?

I can’t.
While the Konica glass is pretty good, it languished for long periods with no updates. Sixties lenses are in many instances the same optically as eighties lenses.
The lenses feel cheaper overall and the lube hasn’t held up well.
The bodies range from plain uninspired crap to merely acceptable. No real innovation, only keeping up with competitors.
Never held a T3 that didn’t sound like banging on a wire fence when I fire the shutter.
FT-1 is good enough, if it works, but doesn’t offer anything above the contemporary competition. On the contrary it feels very basic.
There is a reason why they stopped doing SLRs.

Their point and shooters on the other hand is quite another story. They are superb with few exceptions.
And their rangefinders, while some a little overrated (Auto Sx series comes to mind) was also very good.

 

[pbromaghin]

Buy one of each and then rotate through them every time you start a new roll of film. That keeps the wear even.

Excellent advice.

 

[ant!]

I had listed already my Minolta SR system cameras, but of course there is more. (and not only the glass and flashes and stuff).

Love my Autocord (LMX version) and Maxxum 7 (just found a data saver DS-100!).
Hi-Matic 7s II is on the way and probably arriving tomorrow, was eyeing since years and a few days ago I saw one for a good price. (Might grab a Hi-Matic 9 or 11 as well when I see one, missed a really cheap 11 locally a few months ago). And, not the same quality but fun: For the water a Weathermatic Dual 35....

But I love also my Pentax 645n, somehow the usage is not too far from the Maxxum 7 due to the actual wheels for settings. Which Minolta would have made some medium format after the Autocords...

Leathering: I guess these funky colors aren't my thing, I prefer as close as possible to the original. Had only the Autocord done for now, some grippy black stuff. The Weathermatic is colorful though.

 

[KerrKid]

2015-12-27 20.15.55 by Nokton48, on Flickr

On the left, my SRT100 with Green Kangaroo. On the right, my SRT202 with Black Griptac.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Wow. Nice collection. That griptac is a good idea. I also like those eyecups. The XK is ugly. There, I said it. Where did you get the shutter "buttons"? Great idea. Also, who made the straps?

 

[Nokton48]

Eyecups are SRT Minolta ones. XK dosen't care about ugly. The "Softies" are T&T Abrahammson ones. Black Hairties came from local supermarket. Straps are Voigtlander (cloth) ones, also called "A&A" I think. And I like DOMKE straps and bags too, I'm an olde Press Photographer. The "Gripper" strap is nice in WIDE with big lenses. Also each body gets a Minolta SRT Diopter, my eyes are getting old

Abrahamsson Softie - Regular and M-Softie - Rapidwinder

Sometimes the simplest of things makes a big difference. There have been many variations of the Softreleases made over the years, but they were either too tall or even worse had a concave surface. This “directed” the finger to the center of the Softrelease and, of course, pushed the camera...

rapidwinder.com

I get the Classic in Silver or Black depending

 

[xkaes]

On the left, my SRT100 with Green Kangaroo. On the right, my SRT202 with Black Griptac.

001 by Nokton48, on Flickr

Nice collection, for sure, but I'm curious. Did you give up on any newer Minolta gear around 1985?