On Minolta Autocord, Part 1

I got a Minolta Autocord some 10 years ago but haven’t used it much due to it’s condition. The lenses are good but the leatherette were all cracked and peeling off. I decided to peel them off completely (except for the front cover) with the intention of replacing them at some point. Well, it’s taken a decade but I finally went to Camera Leather and got a cheap replacement skin. I think I got the restoration leather. Here’s what my re-skinned camera look now:

Minolta Autocord, this model was from 1958

Minolta made several versions of this camera—check out Dante Stella’s write up to learn more about this camera.

My particular camera has Seikosha MX leaf shutter. The shutter settings are 1, 1/2, 1/5, 1/10, 1/25, 1/50, 1/100, 1/250, 1/500 second, and Bulb (B). They seem to be pretty accurate for the age of this camera. Aperture settings move smoothly from f/3.5 to f/22. There are no click stops.

The taking lens is a coated 75mm f/3.5 Rokkor while the viewing lens is a View-Rokkor 75mm f/3.2.

The camera’s serial number is 162732 which makes it a 1958 vintage.

If you read Dante Stella’s article, you’ll know that this camera has a very sharp lens. It’s a Tessar-type 4-element lens, similar to the Rolleiflexes of the same period. The Rolleiflexes, though, are pretty expensive machines.

What I really love about this camera is it’s portability. This sucker is super light and so easy to use. The only problem I have using it has nothing to do with the camera itself. I just need to get used with the viewfinder and keeping the horizon straight.

Below are a few photos taken this past weekend. The film is Fuji Neopan Acros. I mostly shot at 1/250 sec. and between f/8 (some where at f/11). The film was processed with Caffenol CL, stand development for 70 minutes at 68 °F and fixed with Ilford Rapid Fixer (1:4 dilution) for 2 minutes.