- Minolta autocord cds iii manual how to#
- Minolta autocord cds iii manual manual#
- Minolta autocord cds iii manual series#
It is the only Autocord with a Seiko shutter, but without a light meter. This particular model is an export model for North America, and was made in 1958.
Minolta autocord cds iii manual series#
The entire Autocord series was very popular and produced several variants. In my opinion, the tradeoffs are well worth the results.This is a Minolta Autocord Twin Lens Reflex camera made by Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko between the years of 19. The loading is easier, with a back that does not come off, but the tradeoff is you have to line up the red arrows (instead of using the Rollei Automat's film sensor). The Rokkor is legendary and I haven't yet encountered one person who disagrees with my assessment that the Japanese version of the Tessar wins hands down.ħ. The lens is a lot sharper than the Rollei Xenar or Tessar. The Citizen shutter is better, but it is usually attached to a much less elegant type of Autocord.Ħ. Of course, you can have it timed and go about your merry way. The downside is that the Optiper shutter runs at about half speed, and no one ever wants to fix it. The shutter runs from 1-1/400 sec, and is cocked by the wind lever. This means that it can be folded with one hand. Speaking of the wind lever, it has a folding tip to lock it in place, rather than having the entire lever fold back into place. Push a tab forward and crank the wind lever backward.Ĥ. Unlike the Rollei, the Autocord is capable of double exposures. Aperture and shutter are via sliders, not the traditional Rollei wheels. You can operate the shutter and aperture controls with the same hand, at the same time. The downside is that the lever is made of Zamak, a sometimes-unstable alloy.Ģ. There is a separate arrow for infrared films. The focusing lever sweeps an arc under the lensboard. The Autocord features a focusing helicoid, not a knob. Special features and burdens - definitely a different animal than the Rolleiflex.ġ. Works wonders for this or any other TLR.Īutopole - where would we be without this accessory? A geared dual polarizer that shows you the polarization effect, exactly as it will be on film. I would recommend cutting a piece of the Office Max fresnel bookmark magnifier and dropping it into the finder. Spiratone once made a split-screen groundglass, and you can certainly have a brighter screen cut (Beattie, etc) if you want. I have found this quite a bit easier to focus than the laminated-glass Rollei 3.5MX finders, despite the fact that the viewing lens is slower. There is a pop-down magnifier and sportfinder. Viewfinder - the viewfinder is a plain ground glass with hairlines to show the frame. Spacing between the lenses is normal, and the Minolta Autopole accessory fits over them (this is a set of geared, synchronized polarizers that shows you in the viewfinder what the effect will be on film). Main Lens - The Autocord has two lenses: the taking Rokkor, which is a 75mm f/3.5 lens and the viewing Rokkor, which is a 75mm f/3.2 lens. Left: right, deadly sharpness with pleasant bokeh Someone has a listing of all the models, but frankly, I couldn't tell you what the name of mine is - the first model. This article will discuss the common features of all of the Autocords.
Minolta autocord cds iii manual how to#
Too bad mine sat in a closet for 15 years before I learned how to use it. In sum, I have discovered that the Autocord has better optics, easier focusing, and a more logical control layout than any other TLR. These are the principal models.Īutocord L - Citizen Shutter, selenium cell meter (nameplate flips up), LVS exposure system (take the reading add the numbers on the shutter and aperture scales to match the reading).Īutocord RA - Like the Original, but with the Citizen shutterĪutocord CDS I / II / III - Like the L, but with a CdS meter instead of selenium. Why? Because it outdid the Rollei 3.5MX and Rolleicords it was designed to emulate (if you doubt this as a purpose, you will notice that the striping around the wind lever and the tripod socket are identical you will also notice "Chiyoko" where you would expect to see F&H). Japanese TLRs are a dime a dozen, but the Minolta Autocord is the only variety that steadily increases in value (on every rare occasion you see one on the resale market).
Minolta autocord cds iii manual manual#
Made in several models, which can include variously the LVS exposure system, selenium manual meter, CDS meter, Seiko and Optiper shutters. Overview - Virtually unknown 6圆 twin lens reflex. "It's a pity this planet has chosen suicide!" Dante stella stories photographs technical guestbook