retrofitting split image focussing screen in Minolta 110 zoom SLR MK1

[Llamarama]

Hello everyone,

I've become addicted to the split image focussing on my Praktica MTL5, for once every photo on the roll came out how I wanted!

I'm thinking of trying to fit one into my favorite camera, the Minolta 110 Zoom SLR MK1. I kow the mark 2 version has such a focussing screen and wondered if these were more or less the same part, were similar enough to sort of "wedge in" for lack of a better phrase, could be modified to fit or were just to different to even attempt.

A friend has the MK2 version but unsurprisingly was unwilling to let me have a quick poke about in it. I also can't find any service manuals for the MK2 version anywhere online.

If anyone has scans of the MK2 service/assembly manual or a diagramatic drawing of the split screen assembly confirming dimensions I'd be extremely grateful.

Many Thanks, Mike

 

[Tom1956]

What I'm curious about is what are you doing for film. As far as I know they don't make any 110 film.

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

As far as I know they don't make any 110 film.

Lomography has someone doing 110 film for them since last year. 110 is now available in colour negative, B&W and slide films.
Search this forum and you'll see it mention a few times since last year.
There's also a small group in China called Fukkatsu. They do ISO 400 colour negative 110 film: http://filmphotographyproject.com/content/features/2012/08/110-film-%E2%80%93-here-and-now

 

[VPooler]

You can also reuse the cartridges if you are crafty and load 16mm cine or microfilm in it. 16mm film is really, really cheap and abundant.

 

[Llamarama]

I've been reloading old 110 cartridges with microfilm and cut down 120 film. I can get expired stuff for a song and it works just as well as new stuff in my experience. I usually don't use the backing paper and modify the cassette to take 40-50 exposures, with holes punched in the film using a modified hole punch to limit wastage.

I just like playing I guess

 

[VPooler]

If you are a tinkerer type you could try scraping remjet off 16mm cine film, you would be getting colour film for peanuts with holes pre-punched. Or just shoot tmax in 16mm, also for peanuts I know that I am gonna do that when I finally get some spare time to look more into submini.

 

[Llamarama]

Sounds like I should be changing my shooter type to 16mm/110

 

[Llamarama]

Just out of curiosity, what are focussing screens usually made of? If they're plastic then I can just cut/file down a larger one to fit, if they're glass then I'll have to see if I can cut it precisely somehow.

From the MK1 service manual it seems to be a plain square element of unknown dimensions, i'd say maybe 10mm by 10mm as a guestimate

 

[VPooler]

I've seen both glass and acrylic. I use thin sheet of acrylic that has a piece of Lee diffusing gel taped over in one of my DIY cameras. Glass is better.

 

[Llamarama]

I managed to get one for an olympus camera from a very helpful old style photography shop (Wish these were more common) so I'll mess around over the weekend. Thinking of wet-sanding with the finest emery cloth I can find.