Minolta Frankencamera

brian d · Feb 11, 2011

Trying to get a ring flash I picked this monstrosity up on the bay. The mirror,shutter & light meter have all been removed from the camera and the kodak lens installed. It is a well done conversion and everything works like it should. I was wondering if anyone else has seen a setup like this or know anything about it?
As it turns out the flash is threaded to fit the old series VI filter threads and is too small to fit the lens I had in mind to use it with without modifications. Oh well gives me a new project anyway.

dnjl · Feb 12, 2011

That is one ugly hack. How on earth do you focus that thing?

brian d · Feb 12, 2011

waltereegho said:
That is one ugly hack. How on earth do you focus that thing?

Yes its WAY ugly
The oblong piece between the lens and the flash has three lenses for different levels of magnification and there are 3 sets of rods that attach to the front, each matched in length to one level of magnification. In theory at least you would select the lens you want to use then corresponding set of rods would hold it the proper distance away from the subject to have the proper focus. I havent put any film through it yet.
I guess its meant to be hand held, when its all assembled there are no provisions to mount it to a tripod. For the pictures I posted I had took off the existing screw that holds the flash on and used a longer bolt so I could mount it to a tripod.
I'll try to put up different pictures tonight.

dynachrome · Feb 14, 2011

This type of set-up would be more useful if you had a longer focal length lens. If the lens is extended too far from the body your working dstance is very short.

photoncatcher · Feb 14, 2011

brucemuir · Feb 14, 2011

I bet at those distances you have to stop down ALL the way.
Are there any power settings for the flash unit?

I have a similar unit made for Hasselblad.

Interesting.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 14, 2011

My guess is someone with machine tool skills and not enough budget decided they wanted to do macro work but couldn't afford the actual Minolta macro lens. So they carved up an SRT101 and a Kodak Pony or somesuch instead.

Dan Fromm · Feb 14, 2011

Looks like a fixed focus macro camera, possibly for intra-oral photography. I've never paid much attention to the Lester Dine line of cameras, but this could well be one of his early products.

brian d · Feb 14, 2011

Sorry I did not get more pics up yet, some kind of a flue bug or something. I've spent most of the last couple of days sleeping.

No adjustments available on the flash. The previous owner had covered most of the flash tube with black tape as if maybe it was too bright for his needs. It was a real mess but it cleaned up ok.
Dan, yes there is a note that came with it on a dentist's letterhead saying use such and such f-stop with 64 slide film at each given magnification

Minolta Frankencamera

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