Technical details
Type:
35mm single-lens reflex camera with autofocus and multi-mode exposure control
Film format:
24 x 36mm
Lens mount:
Minolta "A"-type bayonet, self-lubricating stainless steel
Film-to-lens-mount distance:
44.6mm
Autofocus system:
Minolta TTL phase detection type; working range: EV 2 to 19 at ISO 100; LED focus signals in viewfinder for both manual and automatic focusing
Shutter:
Electronically controlled vertical-traverse focal-plane type. The shutter blades are made of aluminium alloy, while the actuating arms are titanium.
Shutter-speed range:
In P and A modes: stepless 1/4000 to 30 sec.; in M and S modes: 1/4000 to 30 sec. in full-stop settings; "bulb" operates in M mode
Metering systems:
TTL center-weighted averaging by compound silicon photocell at bottom of mirror box, or spot metering for midtone, highlight or shadow using center portion of same SPC; spot-measurement area: 5.5mm circle in center of focusing screen, approx. 2.7% of film frame; center-weighted averaging range: EV 1 to 20 with ISO 100 and 50mm f/1.4 lens (e.g. 1 sec at f/1.4 to 1/4000 sec at f/16)
Film speed settings:
ISO 6 to 6400 in third-stop increments; automatic film speed setting for DX-coded films can also be set manually: manual setting for non-DX films also possible
Exposure modes:
Program AE with automatic multi-program selection of wide, standard, or tele program and program-shift capability; aperture-priority AE; shutter-priority AE; metered-manual exposure
Flash exposure modes:
Direct (TTL) autoflash metering by same SPC; in all modes for ISO speeds 12-1000; program AE: automatic setting of X-sync to 1/250 sec. (above EV 13 at ISO 100), 1/125 (EV 12-13), or 1/60 (below EV 12); aperture-priority AE: X-sync set to 1/250 sec.; shutter-priority AE and metered manual: 1/250 or slower speeds usable, speed automatically reset to 1/250 sec. for manually set speeds above 1/250 sec.
AE lock:
Works in P, A and S modes; used in all exposure modes for highlight- and shadow-based spot metering; used for slow-shutter sync with dedicated flash
Exposure adjustment:
-4 to +4 in half-stop settings
Viewfinder:
Eye-level fixed pentaprism type with built-in eyepiece correction adjustable from -3 to +1 diopters; field of view: 94% of film-frame area; magnification: 0.81x with 50mm lens at infinity
Data displays:
Top panel: LCDs indicate shutter speed, aperture, film speed, exposure adjustment, "bulb" elapsed time Viewfinder: LCDs indicate exposure mode, metering mode, shutter speed, aperture, film speed, exposure adjustment, and exposure deviation in metered-manual mode.
Shutter release button:
Touch switch activates metering and continuous autofocusing; meter stays on for 10 sec. after finger is lifted from button; pressing halfway holds focus; pressing all the way releases shutter
Film transport:
Manual film advance: Film-advance lever has 30° offset angle with 128° movement in single or multiple strokes Film rewind: Manual by rewind crank Frame counter: Additive type; camera set to 1/4000 sec. and lensī minimum aperture until "1" appears in frame counter
Mirror:
Semi-silvered swing-back type; secondary mirror for metering and autofocusing
Audible signals:
With main switch at "on with audible signals" position, camera "beeps" when using focus hold, focusing manually, and during self-timer operation
Self-timer:
Electronic with 10-second delay; operation indicated by blinking LED and audible "beeps"; cancellable
Power:
Two AA-size 1.5v alkaline-manganese, carbon-zinc, or 1.2v rechargeable nickel-cadmium batteries
Preview switch:
Used for checking depth of field; operates in all four exposure modes; pressing partway down stops down and locks lens diaphragm at aperture setting shown in data panel and finder; when used, "F" blinks in data panel.
Multiple-exposure button:
Enables making more than one exposure on a single frame; when pushed all the way in, shutter can be recocked without advancing film; frame counter does not advance during use.
Others:
Sync terminal, eyepiece shutter, remote-control terminal, film window, user-changeable focusing screen
Construction:
Main body chassis, mirror box and front plate are made of die-cast aluminium-alloy. The bottom cover is stamped brass. The lens mount is stainless steel. The remaining cover panels are polycarbonate plastic. Inside, wires have been eliminated where possible by the use of over 50 gold plated pressure contacts at the edges of the circuit boards. The camera contains nine gold-plated switches. The film advance system is of hard steel, with ball bearings and bronze bushes, however the coupling between the wind gears and film drive sprocket is made of plastic.
Dimensions:
53 x 92 x 139mm
Weight:
645g without batteries and lens
