Minolta Vintage 35mm Cameras
Many people still enjoy the old school look of photos taken with 35mm cameras. Photographers can find a number of different film camera options including those made by Minolta. If you are considering obtaining a 35mm camera, then you may have some questions.
What type of 35mm film cameras did Minolta make?The company made a variety of 35mm cameras including:
- Rangefinder cameras: These cameras have a 39mm screw lens-mount and take a 50mm lens for photography.
- Single lens reflex (SLR) 35mm camera: These cameras have a bayonet mount and instant return mirror while some offer through-the-lens metering.
- Multimode 35mm compact SLR cameras: These cameras feature aperture and shutter priority settings in the same camera body.
- Compact 35mm cameras: These cameras had small bodies with fixed lenses.
- Automatic focus SLR cameras: These cameras feature autofocus with some having voice-chips to assist with focusing and flash.
A 35mm camera has many parts including:
- Lens: This allows light into the camera allowing the image to be captured on the film.
- Viewfinder: A photographer looks through this part of the camera to take a photo.
- Shutter release: This button is usually located on top of the camera and opens the shutter.
- Shutter: This opaque piece located inside the camera's body opens and shuts to allowing light to hit the film.
- Shutter speed control: This part controls how long the shutter remains open.
- Aperture: This part of the camera determines how much light is allowed to enter the camera. Turning a ring on a ring on the lenses changes this on some cameras while others do it automatically.
- Flash: Some cameras come with a built-in flash while others have a place to attach a removable flash.
- Film compartment: This part is where the film is loaded and advances to the other side of the camera after being exposed to light.
- F-stop control: This part controls the camera's aperture settings, and it can be either automatic or manual.
There may be many different types of 35mm film available including:
- Black-and-white negative film: This film captures monochrome images.
- Color negative film: This film captures true-to-life colors and contrasts.
- Color transparency film: This film produces images that can be mounted onto slides for slide projectors.
- LomoChrome Purple: This film captures images and gives them a purple hue.
- Redscale: This reverse-roll film gives captured images a red hue.
- Color Impulsion: This film captures images with a prominent grain structure while giving them a red hue.