A similar thread caused me to ask this question -- along with some additional information.
I had always thought that Minolta made their own flash units. They were always unique -- like many of their cameras -- and designed to be used with the unique features of their cameras, such as TTL flash.
As many of you know, in the 1980's Minolta moved their manual-focusing camera and lens production to the Seagull factories in China. After Minolta stopped manual-focusing camera and lens production, Seagull continued making the Minolta cameras and lenses -- BUT with the Seagull label attached (and several other labels as well -- Kalimar, Vivitar, Kinon, etc.). Many of the Seagull cameras and lenses had cosmetic or functional changes & improvements, but they were basically the same. Here are two examples -- a DF5000 (really a X-570 in sheep's clothing) and a 17mm f4 (really a Rokkor-X in sheep's clothing):
My question concerns the Minolta flashes. I can find no evidence that Minolta flash production was ever moved to China. Seagull produced several electronic flashes, but none of them have much in common with any Minolta flash units. Most are totally manual exposure only. It makes me wonder if some company(s), other than Minolta, made the Minolta flash units -- in part because it appears that it was never moved to China.
Anyone care to speculate?
I had always thought that Minolta made their own flash units. They were always unique -- like many of their cameras -- and designed to be used with the unique features of their cameras, such as TTL flash.
As many of you know, in the 1980's Minolta moved their manual-focusing camera and lens production to the Seagull factories in China. After Minolta stopped manual-focusing camera and lens production, Seagull continued making the Minolta cameras and lenses -- BUT with the Seagull label attached (and several other labels as well -- Kalimar, Vivitar, Kinon, etc.). Many of the Seagull cameras and lenses had cosmetic or functional changes & improvements, but they were basically the same. Here are two examples -- a DF5000 (really a X-570 in sheep's clothing) and a 17mm f4 (really a Rokkor-X in sheep's clothing):
My question concerns the Minolta flashes. I can find no evidence that Minolta flash production was ever moved to China. Seagull produced several electronic flashes, but none of them have much in common with any Minolta flash units. Most are totally manual exposure only. It makes me wonder if some company(s), other than Minolta, made the Minolta flash units -- in part because it appears that it was never moved to China.
Anyone care to speculate?
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