Minolta MF FAQ: Others
6.1 What other MF bodies did Minolta make?
Note: prices listed below in {} are example indications of value, taken from UK magazine Amateur Photographer in UK Pounds, together with the date.
6.1.1 16mm format
Minolta made a miniature camera called the Minolta 16, similar to those still made by Minox. It used 16mm film. The model shown above, with its original case, is the 16MG. {Model 16P inc. case 22 UKP 1/99}.
Introduced before the likes of still-made Minox miniature cameras, the Minolta 16QT was introduced in 1972. Constructed from a combination of metal and plastic, it measured a mere 28 x 44 x 108mm and weighed just 130g. It could take 18 frames on its 16mm film cartridge, which could also be reloaded with 16mm film stock, althought the negative area would then be reduced from 12 x 17mm to 10 x 17mm because of the sprocket holes. A direct-view optical viewfinder was combined with the fixed 23mm f3.5 lens protected by a sliding cover. Aperture was infinitely variable from f3.5 to f22 and focus was manual using 4 symbols; a sync socket allowed flash sync with the inter-lens shutter across the whole range of speeds: 1/30 to 1/250; light was measured by an external CdS meter.
There was even a special projector for 16mm slides.
A useful resoure of info on miniature cameras is http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/subminiaturephotography
6.1.2 110 format
Minolta introduced the world's first 110-format non-interchangeable lens) SLR in 1977. There were two versions, called the Minolta 110 Zoom. The Mk.1 had a 25-50mm f4.5 zoom {59 UKP 1/99}, the Mk.2 a 25-67mm f3.5 zoom with a "macro" setting. Both are considered rare collectors items.
Unfortunately, Minolta used the AutoPak name to refer to both 126- and 110-format cameras.
This photos shows the 110-format Autopak 460T.
6.1.3 126 format
Here's an example of one of the 126-format Autopak cameras - the Autopak 500.
Here are the 126-format AutoPaks:
AutoPak 400X
AutoPak 500
AutoPak 550
AutoPak 600X
AutoPak 700
AutoPak 800
All the others would have been 110-format. The 700 (126) was a very nice camera with hot shoe, rangefinder, etc., and looked a lot like the Minolta 24 Rapid from that period. All the 126 AutoPaks had f2.8 38 mm lenses {info and photo supplied by David Francis}; model 600X {20 UKP 1/99} had zone focussing.
6.1.4 Disc format
Minolta made a range of disc cameras - I have no details.
6.1.5 Cine cameras
Minolta made a number of cine cameras, eg: XL-Sound 64 Super 8 camera with 18fps or single frame capability, a Minolta 8-48mm f1.4 Zoom Rokkor-Macro lens, auto or manual exposure modes and a boom microphone. The model shown above is the XL-400 which had an f1.2 8.5-34mm Zoom Rokker-Macro lens.
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