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When SRT 101's are working, they're good cameras and offer a few nice features such as metered manual operation, a hot shoe for flash, and a nice mostly metal build quality. They have an all-mechanical shutter, so you can use them without a battery. The battery just runs the light meter. And they're a Minolta Manual focus camera, which is one of the cheapest and most available manual focus lens mounts out there. However, they do have some issues. All will need new light seals and mirror bumper foam if this job hasn't been done; the old stuff becomes tar-like and loses its elasticity. The shutters get slow on them with age as lubricants dry up. Sometimes the second shutter curtain can hang up on them giving you pictures that get progressively overexposed from left to right. Also, the battery voltage they were designed for is not readily available today, so sometimes the 1.5V alkaline batteries will skew your light meter readings (sometimes they're pretty close, though). To deal with these problems, I recommend either sending SRT's to a pro who will check for all these problems and fix them for about $50-150, or do the light seals yourself and film test the camera. I waffle between giving this camera 3 and 4 stars. its not a bad camera, but there are better options out there. The XD-11 or X-570 are better cameras for not much more money, and XG-M's and X-370's are better cameras for about the same money. Even if you want the features of the SRT-101, you would probably be better served with an SRT 102 or 202, which add a few features over the 101. That said, the 101 could be a good second body or backup to one of these other models. If you want more information on this camera and the Minolta manual focus system in general, check out the guide on the subject that I wrote and google the rokkorfiles website.Read full review
With all the digital gadgets in the world today, it's sometimes nice to go "vintage" and try taking photographs the way they did "back in the day". Like many people my age, I learned the basics of photography on my own Minolta camera many years ago. I purchased this Minolta Film Camera to get back to basics again, after many years of shooting digital. Having to go back to a camera that is so "mechanical" has really caused me to think about my f/stops, film speed, shutter speed, depth of field and lots more. Of course, shooting film will always cause any professional or amateur photographer to stop and consider before "pulling the trigger" as you would on a digital camera. The Minolta SRT 101 does have some "luxury items" such as a built-in light meter, interchangeable lens, a "hot shoe" for flash and depth of field preview button. Of course, it is quite a bit heavier than most of today's digitals and, in a camera bag with several lens, it will work-out more than just your photographic skill. It's a real "work horse" and, in my opinion, will become more and more difficult to find in good, clean condition as the years go on. In short, the Minolta SRT 101 or 202 is a classic camera that will never lose it's value to students or those who just want to bring their photography to a new and different level. It's fun to challenge yourself and the Minolta SRT could be just the camera to purchase if you want to "kick it old school" and learn or re-learn the marvelous art of photography.Read full review
Great well built manual SLR . Timeless style, quality Bought from Japan Ebayer, camera was well cared for.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
When it was released in April, 1966, the SRT 101 was a huge step forward in SLR technology. Even today, it remains a top quality film camera. It features shutter speeds of 1 second to 1/1000, mirror lock up, self-timer, and large mirror with no image cut-off. It has a built in light meter that automatically adjusts to lenses mounted. This camera is tough, all mechanical construction. If properly maintained, it could work into the next century. The Rokkor series lenses that work with this camera are top-notch in quality, rivaling any made in the era. If you are into film photography, this camera can do anything you want, but you need to know how to do exposures. This camera is all manual, meaning you actually need to know how to properly expose film. If you don't, you will need to learn, or buy an autoexposure camera instead.Read full review
Photos are at the lab right now, but I have gone through several rolls already (just bought it a couple of weeks ago). The sound of the shutter and the heavy pull of the film advance is very addictive. I love this camera. It doesn't require batteries to operate like most cameras. You do need a battery for the light meter but that's not required to function. I have been shooting without the light meter because I really want to hone my photography skills. I recently bought a Canon AE-1 and I couldn't test it because the battery was dead. I love this camera, if you have an opportunity to buy one, just do it.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
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