Guide to Minolta Cameras or What They Didn’t Tell Us in Their Docs Compiled by Petr Holub 2002 – 2003
This guide is based on experiences of people around the Internet – mostly from Minolta Yahoo group. This guide is dedicated to this group in hope that it could help to bring back discussions to the photography instead of lost expectations about D-SLRs and similar things. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK TO all the people that contributed to this guide in any way and all the people that participate in Minolta Yahoo group discussions. P. H.
Contents I would like to thank to. . . i Contents ii List of Tables iv List of Figures v 1 Foreword 1 2 Information on bodies and lenses 2.1 Minolta AF bodies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1.1 Overview of Minolta AF bodies . . . . . . . 2.1.2 Batteries for Minolta equipment . . . . . . . 2.2 Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 600si (507si, 650si) . . . . 2.2.1 Beyond the Owner’s Manual: Tips and Tricks 2.3 Dynax/Maxxum Lens Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.3.1 G Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 28 28 29 A Flash-less experiments A.1 INI files for Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual with VueScan A.1.1 Settings for Fuji Provia 100F . . . . . . . . . . . A.1.2 Settings for Konica Centuria 100 . . . . . . . . . A.1.3 Settings for Konica Centuria 200 . . . . . . . . . A.1.4 Settings for Konica Centuria 400 . . . . . . . . . A.1.
List of Tables 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 Minolta AF Bodies in Chronological Release Date Order Batteries for Minolta equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fixed focal length lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zoom lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Macro lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teleconvertors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xi zoom lenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G lenses (I) . . . . . . . . . . . .
List of Figures 3.1 3.2 Results of M42 adapter tests (1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Results of M42 adapter tests (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 19 B.1 Wireless flash experiment setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1 Foreword As noticed by many photographers around the world Minolta produces high quality products for photographers. What they lack are people capable of writing documentation of reasonable quality. . .
Chapter 2 Information on bodies and lenses 2.1 Minolta AF bodies 2.1.1 Overview of Minolta AF bodies [Author(s): Unknown, taken from Minolta AF FAQ [4].] Table 2.
2.1. MINOLTA AF BODIES 3 . . . continued from previous page Released Europe U.S. Dynax Maxxum 2002 4 4 2003 3L 3L Canada Maxxum Japan Alpha (α ) 2.1.2 Batteries for Minolta equipment [Author(s): Unknown, taken from Minolta AF FAQ [4].] Table 2.
2.2. MINOLTA DYNAX/MAXXUM 600SI (507SI, 650SI) . . . continued from previous page Body or Meter TC-1 Digital Cameras Dimge V RD-175 Exposure Meters Flashmeter V, Autometer IV F, Spotmeter F Flashmeter IV Autometer IIIF, III and II, Spotmeter M Colormeter II, Flashmeter II Flashmeter III Booster II Viewmeter 9 4 1 Batteries Used CR123A 4 1 AA 2CR5 1 AA 1 AA and 1 PX28 1 PX28 1 MN1604 6 10L14 1 PX28 1 1.
2.2. MINOLTA DYNAX/MAXXUM 600SI (507SI, 650SI) 5 2. Using 14 Segment Honeycomb Metering Mode and an attached automatic lens in AF Auto Focus mode, you can lock the exposure reading in P Program Exposure Mode, A Aperture priority Exposure Mode, or in S Shutter Speed Priority Exposure Mode by pressing the Shutter Release Button part way down. 3.
2.2. MINOLTA DYNAX/MAXXUM 600SI (507SI, 650SI) 6 Flash Auto Program: The Minolta 507si, 600si, and 650si camera selects a flash program when the retractable flash head or an accessory flash unit is activated. However, in Program Exposure Mode with sufficient available light, the camera will not use the flash unless you press and hold the Flash Control Button during exposure.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 7 blur a distracting background while keeping both the subject’s nose and ears in focus. In selecting an aperture-shutter speed combination, the system considers such factors as focal length, subject reflectance and contrast, subject distance and type, and the reproduction ratio, or degree of magnification.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 8 Table 2.3: Fixed focal length lenses Lens Elements / Groups Angle Of View 180 Min. Focus [ft] .7 Max. Magnification 1/6.6 16mm f/2.8 Fisheye *20mm f/2.8 20mm f/2.8 [RS] *24mm f/2.8 24mm f/2.8 [RS] 28mm f/2 28mm f/2.8 *35mm f/1.4 G 35mm f/1.4 G [RS] *35mm f/2 35mm f/2 [RS] *50mm f/1.4 50mm f/1.4 [RS] *50mm f/1.7 *50mm f/1.7 [RS] *50mm f/1.4 [RS] *85mm f/1.4 11/8 10/9 10/9 94 94 .8 .8 8/8 8/8 84 84 9/9 5/5 10/8 Dimensions (dia.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART . . . continued from previous page Lens EleAngle ments / Of Groups View 400mm f/4.5 APO G 500mm f/8 Mirror Reflex *600mm f/4 600mm f/4 G [HS] 9 9/7 6 10’ Min. Focus [ft] 9.9 Max. Magnification 1/6.5 Filter (dia.) 7/5 5 13 1/7.7 integral 10/9 10/9 4 10’ 4 10’ 20 20 1/9 1/9 integral integral Dimensions (dia. length) [in] integral 4–1/4 10–3/4 67 3–1/8 4–5/8 23–7/16 17–11/16 17–11/16 194 194 Dimensions (dia.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART . . . continued from previous page Lens EleAngle Of ments / View Groups *28–135mm f/4–5.6 35–70mm f/3.5–4.5 MZ 35–70mm f/4 10 Min. Focus [ft] Max. Magnification Filter (dia.) 13/16 75 – 18 5 (.82) 1/11(1/4) 72 mm 7/7 63 – 34 1.6 1/6.6 49 mm 6/6 63 – 34 3.3(1) *35–80mm 8/8 f/4–5.6 35–80mm 8/8 f/4–5.6 II *35–105mm 12/14 f/3.5–4.5 *35–105mm 12/10 f/3.5–4.5N *70–210mm 9/12 f/4 *70–210mm 12/12 f/3.5–4.5 *70–210mm 10/10 f/4.5–5.6 MZ 70–210mm 10/10 f/4.5–5.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 11 . . . continued from previous page Lens EleAngle Of ments / View Groups 100–300mm f/4.5–5.6 APO (D) 100–400mm f/4.5–6.7 APO Min. Focus [ft] Max. Magnification Filter (dia.) 11/10 24 – 8 10’ 4.9 1/4 55 mm 14/11 24 – 6 10’ 6.6 1/4 72 mm Dimensions (dia. length) [in] 2–7/8 4 3–1/8 5–7/8 Weight [oz] 17–1/8 29–1/2 – These lenses have the same glass as the previous MZ models. No Focus scale. No focus lock button. Table 2.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 12 . . . continued from previous page Lens Elements / Dimensions (dia. Groups length) [in] *2 2 APO II APO [HS] Weight [oz] 6/5 2–9/16 1–11/16 7–7/16 6/5 2–9/16 1–11/16 7–7/16 Compatibility 300 f/4 APO G 400 f/4.5 APO G 600 f/4 APO G 200 f/2.8 APO G 300 f/2.8 APO G 300 f/4 APO G 400 f/4.5 APO G 600 f/4 APO G 200 f/2.8 APO G 300 f/2.8 APO G 300 f/4 APO G 400 f/4.5 APO G 600 f/4 APO G – Manual focus only Table 2.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 13 focus-hold buttons. Minolta will continue to expand its G-series as the needs and demands of professional photographers grow. Table 2.8: G lenses (I) AF 17–35mm f/3.5 APO AF 35mm f/1.4 AF 85mm f/1.4 (D) Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Circular Aperture Floating focus Internal Focus Anomalous Dispersion Glass Asperhic Elements Focus Hold Button Yes Yes No No AF 28–70mm f/2.8 Yes Yes No No AF 80–200mm f/2.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART . . . continued from previous page Lens EleAngle Of ments / View Groups 14 Min. Focus [ft] Max. Magnification Filter (dia.) 600mm f/4 G 10/9 4 10’ 20 f/32 integral 17–35mm f/3.5G 28–70mm f/2.8 G 80–200mm f/2.8 APO G 15/12 104 – 63 .98 1/6 77 mm 16/11 75 – 34 2.3 f/22 72 mm 16/13 30 – 12 30’ 5.9 f/32 72 mm Dimensions (dia. length) [in] 6–5/8 17–11/16 3–1/4 3–1/5 3–1/4 4–9/16 3–1/2 6–9/16 Weight [oz] 194 21–1/16 26–7/16 45–1/8 2.3.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 15 f/5.6. Revised Foot/Meter focus scale in all white paint. The new lens is optically the same as the original. AF 35mm f/2.0 RS Rubber focusing grip. Circular aperture up to f/5.6. Revised Foot/Meter focus scale in all white paint. The new lens is optically the same as the original. AF 50mm f/1.7 RS Rubber focusing grip. ABS plastic focusing barrel. Foot/Meter focus scale in all white paint. The new lens is optically the same as the original. AF 50mm f/1.
2.3. DYNAX/MAXXUM LENS CHART 2 16 APO Tele Converter The converters were redesigned with new gear and IC ROMs. External changes include TYPE II designation. It is OK to use old-style converters on new lenses. Using a new converter on an old, nonupgraded lens will cause slower focusing Warning: THE APO CONVERTERS CANNOT BE USED WITH THE 80-200MM APO LENSES. If mounted together, the front element of the converter will contact back element of the lens and damage both. 2.3.
Chapter 3 Flash-less photography 3.1 Photographing with M42 / Minolta AF lens reduction [Author(s): Petr Holub.] Needs more testing!!! Tested in following setup: Date: 2002–08–13 20:30–23:30. Place: Flamenco concert, Brno, CZ Minolta Dynax 600si Russian mirror lens: 500/6.3 – 3M-6A (or ZM-BA – Russian alphabet???) N840247 with M42 M42 / Minolta AF lens reduction Fuji Superia 1600 (with 4th layer) pushed to 3200 ASA Testing showed that metering doesn’t work correctly.
3.2. MORE ON PHOTOGRAPHING WITH M42 / MINOLTA AF LENS REDUCTION 18 3.2 More on photographing with M42 / Minolta AF lens reduction [Author(s): Chingfeng Au. Reviewed by: Petr Holub.] Part 1 This is just a fast test. All metering were segment metering (maybe I should use spot instead of segment) http://auching.duc.auburn.edu/TEMP/pentax_minolta.htm In F8.0 test, Pentax SMC Takumar under about 1.5 EV – 2.0 EV. But when I set the aparture to F1.4, the shutter time seems near correct.
3.3. ALTERNATIVE TESTING OF VIGNETTING 19 F IGURE 3.2: Results of M42 adapter tests (2) 1. Set the zoom to the 35 mm focal length. 2. Set the exposure mode to M (manual), the shutter speed to “bulb”, and the aperture to the maximum (f4 at 35 mm focal length). As the maximum aperture varies with focal length on the 24–105 zoom, remember to set the aperture AFTER setting the focal length. 3. Remove lens cap, lens hood, and filter. 4.
3.5. MINOLTA MOUNTS 20 9. Remove the lens hood and attach the filter. I will assume that you are using a Hoya filter with a standard-thickness mount. Repeat step (7). Now there is a difference – as the area of darkness approaches the lower left corner, a second area of darkness emerges from the lower left corner and travels towards the upper right, eventually meeting the darkness approaching from the upper right.
3.6. DISABLING THE LENS MOUNT CHECK 21 1a) Minolta made some Leica-compatible RF screw mount lenses for various rangefinders (both screw and focus cams work on both brands) 1b) Minolta made some Leica-thread, incompatible RF screw mount lenses for various rangefinders 2a) early SR/SRT mounts lacked the aperture tab found on all MD mounts and most (or all?) MC mounts: bayonet fits, but auto-metering doesn’t work.
3.7. REMOTE RELEASE CORD 22 . . . continued from previous page Camera Procedure 505si Super Press and hold Self Timer and SPOT buttons and move power switch from LOCK to ON. XTsi Press and hold the Selftimer-Drive Mode button and Spot/AE button while sliding the Main Switch to ON (OFF appears in LCD panel). 600si Press and hold the LENS RELEASE button and FILM SPEED button with the lens removed and move the power switch from LOCK to ON.
3.7. REMOTE RELEASE CORD 23 Anyway, for the connector, I had another solution from the news : It’s to buy the cord which connect the camera to the IC R1 infrared remote device. The only problem is that this device only deal with the shutter release and I’m afraid that this cord only have two pins connected. November 2002, Csaba JOZSA adds: I would like to add a comment: on the Dynax cameras (at least on the Maxxum/Dynax 5) the shutter release works only if the focussing is not switched off.
3.7. REMOTE RELEASE CORD 24 where r=red, -=none, w=white, s=shield (colours don’t matter, but it’s just to number the pins). You’ll work to obtain: 1 2 3 r - w With a very little scewdriver push a little thin strip that holds the metal shield contact in the plastic connector: this way the metal contact should slip off the connector. Now you can cut the shield wire where it joins red and white ones. Your next step is to file down the plastic connector to make it fit the camera hole.
Chapter 4 Flash photography 4.1 Flash–Ambient Control [Author(s): Phil Brandon. Reviewed by: Petr Holub.] This section is copy of one found on the web [16] (hopefuly I don’t violate any copyright by including it in this guide). It’s written by Phil Brandon from Minolta USA about 700si and paritally 800si but it seems to work for my 600si as well – so it’s probably general a bit. On the bottom of the web page [16] there are some other notes – probably about 800si.
Function number 5 Control Program flash Control Setting 1 2 Night fill-in Lowlight fill-in Frontlight fill-in Yes Low light fill-in 0 EV 1 EV or less No adjust Yes Daylight situation when the main subject is much darker than background Daylight situation when there is no big difference between subject and background brightness Dark condition or a situation which may cause blur due to camera shake Lowlight situation when background exposure is desired as much as the main subject.
4.1. FLASH–AMBIENT CONTROL 27 4.1.2 A Mode Flash In A Mode, the photographer sets the aperture and the camera automatically selects the fastest sync speed between 1/200 and 1/60 second that ambient light levels will allow. This provides the advantages of full depth-of-field control while the Expert exposure system uses multi-pattern metering or center-weighted metering to automatically determine ambient exposure and the necessary flash output.
4.2. SHORT SUMMARY ON USING FILL-IN FLASH 28 is calculated by the camera’s AE system, but the flash must be activated manually before it will fire. See the respective sections above for more information. 4.1.6 Slow-Shutter Sync. In P and A modes, pressing and holding the SPOT button while taking the picture causes the 700si to use a shutter speed slightly higher than that required for normal ambient light exposure. The flash exposure is also controlled to provide proper exposure.
4.3. SHORT SUMMARY ON USING WIRELESS FLASH 29 P and A mode (called No-Brainer mode by Gary Walts in [15]). Just press the force flash button on camera body. The result will habe about one stop underexposed background/ambient light so it’s not what you usually want as daylight-balanced fill-in flash. But it’s great for backlight. . . In P and A mode you can use SLOW SYNC method. SLOW SYNC is designed to make your shutter speed long enough to get proper exposure of ambient light 1 .
4.3. SHORT SUMMARY ON USING WIRELESS FLASH 30 As misleading as Minolta’s documentation is, you do NOT need to buy the wireless IR flash controller in order to control more than one off-camera flash! Your built-in flash can do this unaided.
Appendix A Flash-less experiments A.1 INI files for Minolta DiMAGE Scan Dual with VueScan [Author(s): Petr Holub.] A.1.1 Settings for Fuji Provia 100F [VueScan] [Device] OptionTypes=2 DiskFileName=scan0007.
A.1. INI FILES FOR MINOLTA DIMAGE SCAN DUAL WITH VUESCAN WindowXSize=1280 WindowYSize=1024 A.1.
A.1.
A.1. INI FILES FOR MINOLTA DIMAGE SCAN DUAL WITH VUESCAN [Media] SlideVendor=1 [Media-ScanDual-35mmFilm] AutoMask=0 MaskRed=800 MaskGreen=880 MaskBlue=774 [Crop-ScanDual-35mmFilm] AutoCrop=0 XOffset=750 YOffset=1209 CropSize=0 XSize=23004 YSize=34631 XSpacing=49998 YSpacing=49998 [Options-ScanDual] RGBExposure=977 NumberOfPasses=4 Filter=2 SizeReduction=4000 [Files] TIFFFileName=scan01+.tif [Window] ExternalViewer=0 BeepWhenDone=1 A.1.
A.1. INI FILES FOR MINOLTA DIMAGE SCAN DUAL WITH VUESCAN YOffset=1209 CropSize=0 XSize=23004 YSize=34631 XSpacing=49998 YSpacing=49998 [Options-ScanDual] RGBExposure=901 NumberOfPasses=4 Filter=2 SizeReduction=4000 [Files] TIFFFileName=scan01+.tif [Window] ExternalViewer=0 BeepWhenDone=1 A.1.
A.2. RECIPROCITY CORRECTIONS – BROOKS INSTITUTE 36 Filter=2 [Files] TIFFFileName=scan01+.tif [Window] ExternalViewer=0 BeepWhenDone=1 A.2 Reciprocity Corrections – Brooks Institute [Author(s): Unknown.] Table A.1: Reciprocity Corrections – Brooks Institute (1/2) M.R. 1.0” 1.2” 1.6” 2.0” 2.5” 3.2” 4.0” 5.0” 6.4” 8.
A.2. RECIPROCITY CORRECTIONS – BROOKS INSTITUTE . . . continued from previous page M.R. Velvia Ekta100+ Ekta200 4.0” 4.9” 9.0” 6.3” 5.0” 6.5” 12” 8.2” 6.4” 8.8” 16” 11” 8.
Appendix B Flash experiments B.1 Wireless flash experiment B.1.1 Experiment setup [Author(s): Petr Holub.] Basic experiment information: Date: 2002–08–11 11:00am Place: Brno, CZ Minolta Dynax 600si, 24–85/3.5–4.5 set to 85 Kodak ProFoto 100 (expiration 07/2004), scanned on Noritsu QSS-2901 digital minilab/scanner in Base4 resolution (theoretically 1536x1024, actually 1486x1024) ambient light 5.6/2” heavy cloudy, spot metering on windows made 5.6/8 on average and 5.
B.1. WIRELESS FLASH EXPERIMENT . . . continued from previous page # aperture/speed position 1 10 9.5/60 – 11 5.6/60 – 12 5.6/60 – 13 5.6/60 – B.1.2 39 position 2 5400HS wireless control + flash button 5400HS wireless control + flash button 5400HS wireless 5400HS position 3 3600HS(D) 3600HS(D) – – Experiment results and discussion Table B.
B.1. WIRELESS FLASH EXPERIMENT 40 F IGURE B.1: Wireless flash experiment setup Table B.3: Wireless flash experiment: results # picture # 1 2 3 4 continued on next page. . .
B.1. WIRELESS FLASH EXPERIMENT 41 . . . continued from previous page # picture # 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 continued on next page. . .
B.2. FLASH TEST – ADI/PRE-FLASH/BOUNCE/WIRELESS . . . continued from previous page # picture # 42 picture 13 To summarize what I got from this experiment: When placing wireless flashes around your subject be careful about distances you place your flashes from the subject and the powers of flashes since you can create different ratios unintentionaly 1. You can have ratio wireless off-camera flashes even without dedicated wireless flash controller despite what Minolta says in 5400HS flash manual.
B.2. FLASH TEST – ADI/PRE-FLASH/BOUNCE/WIRELESS 43 may see, the camera was badly tricked by the fluorescent lighting in the room and the picture “24-85 Preflash 5600 Vertical” is severely underexposed, though the flash still provided some weak light. :-((. If we accept the sample picture, “28-80D ADI 5600” as perfectly exposed one, then the 4–segment metering comes the best after it with about 1/2 overexposure regardless the lens flash combination used.
B.2. FLASH TEST – ADI/PRE-FLASH/BOUNCE/WIRELESS picture 24–85 Preflash 5600 # 24–85 4S 5600 24–85 4S 5400 24–85 Preflash 5400 . . . continued from previous page # picture 44 Table B.5: Flash experiment: 28–80D lens continued on next page. . .
B.2. FLASH TEST – ADI/PRE-FLASH/BOUNCE/WIRELESS # picture 28–80D 4S 5600 28–80D 4S 5400 28–80D ADI 5600 28–80D Preflash 5400 . . . continued from previous page # picture 45 Table B.6: Flash experiment: Wireless continued on next page. . .
B.2. FLASH TEST – ADI/PRE-FLASH/BOUNCE/WIRELESS WL 5400 = 5600 WL 5600(1) 5400(1) Built-in(1) WL 5600(1) 5400(2) # WL 5400(1) 5600(2) . . .
Bibliography Literature about Minolta and Minolta-compatible equipment [1] Maschke T., Burian P. K., Magic Lantern Guide to Minolta Maxxum 600si, Magic Lantern Guides (A Laterna magica R book), 1995, ISBN 1-883403-34-0 [2] Damian Dinning, Complete Minolta User’s Guide: Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 600Si (Hove User’s Guide), Watson-Guptill Pubns, ASIN: 1874031606, February 1996, ISBN: 1-874031-60-6 Web links about Minolta and Minolta-compatible equipment [3] Minolta Users Discussion Group, http://groups.yahoo.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 48 Lens [13] Photodo Minolta lens tests, http://www.photodo.com/prod/lens/minolta.shtml\#Minolta [14] Minolta 35mm F2.8 SHIFT CA Lens, http://members.aol.com/cldphoto/shift_ca.html Flash [15] Walts, G. Minolta Photographs by Gary Walts Minolta Photographer, http://home.imcnet.net/˜waltsman/flash.html [16] Brandon, P. Flash Exposure by Phil Brandon from Minolta USA, http://www.geocities.com/minoltacamera/tip/0004.html [17] Greely, J. Tech notes from Glamourcons, http://www.munitions.