Minolta AL-F Owner's Manual

Introduction

The Minolta AL-F is a pursable and pocketable camera having many versatile features. It is a coupled rangefinder 35mm camera with shutter-speed-first EE principle, selected over 1/30 to 1/500 of a second range with the Electric Eye aperture control provided by a CdS exposure meter cell, with Contrast Light Compensator system, built into the lens barrel. It incorporates the Easy Flash system over a scale of guide numbers between 32 and 180 (in ft), 10 and 56 (in m), allowing automatic setting of the aperture by merely focusing on the subject once the control ring is set to the guide number and flash index mark. Moreover, it is equipped with easy loading take-up spool for rapid, fumble-free loading. Please read this manual carefully before taking pictures so that you may fully utilize the potential of your Minolta AL-F.

Mercury Battery

The Electric Eye system in Minolta AL-F is powered by a long life mercury battery, which must be properly seated in the battery chamber before the camera will operate.

Instructions for Battery Insertion:

1. Remove the battery chamber cover with a coin by turning it counter-clockwise. [Image Description: A hand using a coin to unscrew the battery chamber cover on the bottom of the camera.]
2. When the cover is removed, place the battery in the chamber with its plus (+) side up, as indicated by arrow on the inside of the cover. [Image Description: A hand placing a button-cell battery into the camera's battery chamber, showing the '+' side facing up and an arrow indicating placement.]

CAUTION:

• Be sure that the plus (+) and minus (-) sides of the battery are not reversed.
• Be sure not to touch the battery terminals with moist or unclean fingers. If stained, the battery contacts can deteriorate, making the battery inoperative.
• The average life of the mercury battery is 14-18 months.
• If the camera is not to be used for over a month, remove the battery and store it in a dry, cool place.
• The Minolta AL-F uses a 1.35V, button-shape mercury battery for photographic applications (Mallory PX-13, PX-625, RM-625R or equivalent).

Parts Name

[Image Description: A front-side view of the Minolta AL-F camera with various parts labeled.]

• Film advance lever
• Shutter release button
• Film counter
• Distance scale
• Guide numbers
• Focusing knob
• Accessory shoe (cordless flash contact)
• Rewind crank
• Viewfinder
• Rangefinder
• Shutter speed ring
• CdS cell (CLC)
• Rokkor 38mm F/2.7 lens

[Image Description: A rear-bottom view of the Minolta AL-F camera with parts labeled.]

• Film pressure plate
• Finder eyepiece
• Synch. terminal
• Back cover lock
• Rewind shaft
• Battery cover
• Film take-up spool
• Sprocket
• Rewind release button
• Tripod socket
• Film speed scale

A Quick Guide to Using Your Minolta AL-F

1. Insert the film magazine into the film chamber, close the camera back and work the film advance lever until the number "1" appears in the film counter window.

   [Image Description: A hand operating the film advance lever on the Minolta AL-F camera, with a red arrow pointing to the lever.]

2. Set the film speed scale on the ASA-DIN scale. Then set the shutter speed to the red index on the lens barrel.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the lens barrel showing the shutter speed ring with numbers like 500, 250, 125, 60, 30, and a red index mark.]

3. Look through the viewfinder and focus on your subject. Check the aperture scale and indicator needle while looking through the viewfinder. If the needle is clear of the upper or lower red warning zones, the EE can be regarded as functioning properly to give you the optimum exposure.

   [Image Description: A diagram showing the Minolta AL-F viewfinder display. A diamond shape indicates the focus area, and a vertical scale with red zones at the top and bottom shows an indicator needle. The needle is shown in a neutral position, indicating correct exposure.]

4. Release the shutter gently.

   [Image Description: A person holding the Minolta AL-F camera to their eye, ready to take a picture.]

Holding Your Minolta AL-F

A good picture depends on many factors... one of which is the proper holding of the camera. If your grip is unsteady, the movement of the camera may ruin your photograph. It is a good idea to practice holding the camera (either horizontally or vertically).

Holding the camera horizontally

This position assures you of a better grip with less chance of moving the camera as you can hold it firmly with both hands. Press your elbows tight to your body and release the shutter gently in order to avoid movement of the camera. It is best to focus with the right eye for sequence shooting in order to prevent the film advance lever from coming into contact with your face.

[Image Description: A person holding the Minolta AL-F camera horizontally, with both hands, looking through the viewfinder.]

Holding the camera vertically

In this position the shutter release button may be pressed with either the thumb or index finger. Use whichever is more convenient for you.

[Image Description: A person holding the Minolta AL-F camera vertically, looking through the viewfinder.]

Loading the Film

1. Pull the back cover lock up about 1/8 inch and the cover will automatically "pop" open.

   [Image Description: A hand pulling up the back cover lock on the Minolta AL-F camera, indicating it is about to open.]

2. Place the film magazine into the film chamber. If the magazine axis does not set properly on the rewind shaft, turn the film rewind crank clockwise or counter-clockwise, until the magazine falls into the proper position.

   [Image Description: A hand placing a 35mm film canister into the film chamber of the Minolta AL-F camera. The rewind shaft is visible.]

3. Insert the film leader about 1/2 inch into one of the slots in the take-up spool. Be sure that a film perforation is engaged with the tooth in the slot.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the film leader being inserted into a slot on the take-up spool inside the camera.]

4. Engage the sprocket gear teeth with the film perforations. Advance the film advance lever slowly with one full stroke, while pressing the film gently against the sprocket. Then close the back cover.

   [Image Description: A hand operating the film advance lever, showing the film perforations engaging with the camera's sprocket teeth.]

5. When the back cover is closed, a large red dot appears in the film counter window. Now, advance the film advance lever until it stops and press the shutter release button. Repeat this action until the number "1" appears.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the film counter window on the Minolta AL-F camera, showing a red dot and then the number "1" appearing after operating the film advance lever.]

CAUTION:

• You have to advance the film advance lever with one full stroke.
• The film advance lever has a 20° of clearance angle for rapid shooting.
• Before releasing the shutter, return the film advance lever at starting position.
• Be sure to load or unload the film in the shade to prevent it from being damaged from exposure to direct sunlight.

Taking EE Photography

The Minolta AL-F is equipped with a highly accurate Electric Eye system. Once the Minolta AL-F is set shutter speed, you need only focus and press the shutter release button. You can get correct exposure over the range from EV 7.9 (f/2.7, 1/30 sec) to EV 18 (f/22, 1/500 sec).

1. Set the film speed rating by moving the lever of the ASA/DIN* scale at the bottom of the lens barrel to the corresponding number of the film's speed. Both ASA and DIN scales are engraved; 500...200...100...50...25 ASA, 28, 24, 21, 18, 15 DIN.

   NOTE: The dots (.) denote ASA 400, 320, 250, 160, 125, 80, 64, 40 and 32.

   *ASA and DIN indicate units of film sensitive to light.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the lens barrel showing the ASA/DIN film speed setting scale, with a lever used to select the film speed.]

2. Set the shutter speed to the red index by turning the shutter speed ring.

   NOTE: For ordinary outdoor photography in good weather, it is recommended to set 1/125 sec. For fast moving subject or on seashore, sunlit snow, set 1/250 or 1/500 sec. In dim light or rainy weather, set 1/30 or 1/60 sec.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the shutter speed ring on the Minolta AL-F camera, showing speeds like 500, 250, 125, 60, 30, and a red index mark.]

3. Look through the viewfinder and focus on your subject. Check the aperture scale and indicator needle while looking through the viewfinder.

   A) If the needle is clear of the upper or lower red warning zones, the EE system will function to give you proper exposure. The needle indicates proper taking F-number (aperture figure). Press the shutter release button.

   B) If the needle remains in the top red warning zone, you do not have enough light for proper exposure. Set slower shutter speed.

   C) If the needle remains in the lower warning zone, you have too much light for proper exposure. Set faster shutter speed.

   [Image Description: Three diagrams (A, B, C) illustrating the Minolta AL-F viewfinder display. Diagram A shows the needle in the correct zone. Diagram B shows the needle in the upper red warning zone (too dark). Diagram C shows the needle in the lower red warning zone (too bright).]

   CAUTION:

   • Do not press the shutter release button while you are adjusting the shutter speed.
   • Do not set the shutter speed at 1/4 position in EE photography.

Taking Flash Photography

Flash bulbs and electronic flash units are used for indoor and night photography or for shooting in shaded areas. Your Minolta AL-F is equipped with "Easy Flash" system for simplified flash photography. When you focus, aperture is automatically controlled for proper flash exposure.

1. Attach the flash unit. The Minolta AL-F is equipped with a cordless (and cord) flash contact. When using Minolta Duo-Fit Flashgun or Minolta Flashcube Gun, all you must do is to slide the unit into the accessory shoe. If you use a flash unit which has a cord, be sure to attach the terminal of the cord to the synch. terminal of the camera.

   NOTE: Be sure not to insert a bulb into the flashgun until it has been properly attached to the camera.

   [Image Description: Close-up of a flash unit being attached to the accessory shoe on top of the Minolta AL-F camera.]

2. Set the guide number to the green index on the inner lens barrel. Use the guide number which is shown on the flash unit or its instructions.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the lens barrel showing the guide number setting ring, with a green index mark.]

3. Set the shutter speed ring at 1/30 position for flash photography.

   NOTE: You can set the shutter speed ring first before setting the guide number.

   [Image Description: Close-up of the shutter speed ring on the Minolta AL-F camera, showing the 1/30 setting aligned with the index.]

4. Focus on the subject looking through the viewfinder. The easy flash working range for proper exposure is shown on the flash chart inside of the front panel of the leather case or the next page.

   NOTE: Proper flash exposure depends on the guide number and photographic distance. Be sure to refer to the flash chart inside of the leather case.

   [Image Description: A person holding the Minolta AL-F camera to their eye, composing a shot, with a flash unit attached.]

Easy Flash Working Range

[Image Description: A table showing the Easy Flash Working Range for different Guide Numbers (GN) in meters and feet.]

Focusing Your Camera

Look through the viewfinder with your right eye at the center of the eyepiece. Then turn the focusing knob until the double image, seen in the "diamond" at the center of the viewfinder, overlaps into one sharp image.

Out of Focus

When the subject is seen as a double image in the "diamond", the camera is not properly focused.

[Image Description: A diagram showing the Minolta AL-F viewfinder display with a double image visible within the central diamond, indicating the camera is out of focus.]

Proper Focus

If your subject dissolves into a single image in the "diamond" as shown in the photo, the subject is in proper, sharp focus. The distance from the camera to the subject is indicated on the distance scale of the focusing ring.

[Image Description: A diagram showing the Minolta AL-F viewfinder display with a single, sharp image visible within the central diamond, indicating the camera is in focus.]

Composing Your Picture - Viewfinder

When viewing your subject through the camera's viewfinder, you can see a "bright frame" surrounding the visual field. The area within this frame and inside edge of the aperture scale is what will appear on the film.

Parallax Correction:

Parallax is the difference between what the lens sees and what you see through the viewfinder. This difference occurs only when the subject is close, 3 feet or 1 meter. In your Minolta AL-F horizontal parallax is automatically corrected. As you focus on a close subject, you will notice the bright frame moves horizontally in order to give you a correct field of vision. For vertical parallax correction the picture should be within the arrow mark upper left side of the bright frame in the viewfinder.

[Image Description: A diagram of the Minolta AL-F viewfinder showing the bright frame and the aperture scale. An arrow indicates the area for vertical parallax correction.]

Depth-of-Field

When the lens is accurately focused, there is a certain depth considered to be in focus both in the foreground and the background. This is called "depth-of-field". Depth-of-field becomes deeper as the aperture opening is made smaller (closing the diaphragm) and shallower as the aperture opening is made larger (opening the diaphragm).

[Image Description: Two images of a collection of traffic signs. The left image shows signs with a shallow depth of field, where only some signs are in focus. The right image shows signs with a deeper depth of field, where more signs are in focus.]

How to Read the Depth-of-Field Chart

When the distance from the camera to the subject is approximately 10 feet (3 m) and the lens aperture is set at f/8; according to the chart, everything from approximately 6 feet (1.9m) to 23 feet (6.8 m), both in front and behind the subject, will be in sharp focus.

[Image Description: A detailed chart showing depth-of-field calculations for various F-numbers (apertures) and subject distances, providing near and far focus limits in feet and meters.]

Unloading the Film

1. To unload the film, depress the rewind button on the bottom of the camera. The button will remain depressed if you remove your finger. If, however, it returns to its regular position, rewind the film for approximately 2 revolutions while depressing the button. Then turn the film advance lever completely without depressing the button. And depress it again. This should lock it into the depressed position.

   [Image Description: A hand depressing the rewind button on the bottom of the Minolta AL-F camera.]

2. Lift the rewind crank and turn it clockwise. This will rewind film into the magazine. When all but the film leader is completely rewound and off the camera's spool, a slight resistance is felt. After one or two more turns, the film, including leader, has left the spool and completely rewound.

   [Image Description: A hand lifting and turning the rewind crank clockwise to rewind the film back into the canister.]

3. Once the film has been rewound, open the back cover and remove the film magazine.

   [Image Description: A 35mm film canister, labeled "36 EXPOSURES", being removed from the opened back of the Minolta AL-F camera.]

Accessories

Minolta Filters

[Image Description: Two circular Minolta filters, one labeled "MINOLTA" and the other also showing "MINOLTA".]

• UV: This filter absorbs excessive ultraviolet light when shooting mountains, snow, sea and other distant scenes.
• Y-48 (Yellow): For black and white photography. This filter renders red and yellow objects lighter than the eye sees them. It can also be used to darken sky; emphasize clouds.

Minolta Lens Shade

The lens shade prevents extraneous harmful light from entering the lens, and is recommended for all outdoor photography.

Minolta Self-Timer

The self-timer delays shutter release for about 10 seconds after you press the shutter release button, thus allowing time for you to get into the picture yourself.

Minolta Flash Units

[Image Description: Three different Minolta flash units are shown: a large De Luxe Flashgun with a reflector, a compact Duo-Fit Flashgun, and a small Flashcube Gun adapter.]

• Minolta De Luxe Flashgun: The powerful Minolta De Luxe II Flashgun enables you to take photographs at any time and in any place.
• Minolta Duo-Fit Flashgun: This compact flashgun has a unique design for extremely efficient operation. When used with the Minolta AL-F, it operates without cord. It is also equipped with a self-stored cord for use with cord terminal camera.
• Minolta Flashcube Gun: This compact adapter is exclusively designed for use with four-shot flashcube.

Specifications of Minolta AL-F

Maintenance and Care of Camera

Be sure not to touch the camera lens. If this is accidentally done, wipe it gently with a clean soft cloth. If the chrome parts of the camera are stained, use a soft cloth and benzine to clean them. If the camera is not to be used for over a month, be sure to remove the mercury battery. When storing the camera, keep it where temperature and humidity are relatively low. Also, do not store the camera near chemicals which contain salt. It is advisable to keep the camera in an air-tight container together with silica-gel (drying agent).

[Image Description: A hand gently wiping the lens of the Minolta AL-F camera with a soft cloth.]