The history and functions of self-timers on analog still cameras are diverse and have evolved over time. Early mechanical cameras often did not have built-in self-timers, but it was possible to connect external self-timers. These were often powered by clockwork mechanisms that created a delay between the shutter release and the shot being taken. Often this accessory was attached to the cable release connector. This gave the photographer enough time to position himself in the picture or to avoid camera shake with longer exposure times.
Later, cameras with built-in self-timers came onto the market. In most cases, the self-timer had to be cocked. By pressing the shutter button, the mechanics ran and the recording was captured on the film material.
In analogue cameras with integrated electronics, which came onto the market later, the triggering was then triggered by an electronic signal. In the 1990s, most 35mm cameras had a built-in self-timer. The lead time, i.e. the time between the start of the self-timer and the recording, was usually ten seconds. Some models also offer the option of taking several pictures in a row.
Areas of application for a self-timer
There are many different uses for the self-timer on analogue cameras. Here are some of the most important:
Group photos
When trying to take a group photo, it is often difficult to get everyone in position before the photo is taken. With the self-timer you can put yourself in the picture after placing the camera on a tripod or a stable surface.
Self-portraits
When trying to take a self-portrait, it’s often difficult to release the camera’s shutter button in time while staying in position. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then go into the picture in peace.
Long exposures
When you want to take a long exposure, you often have to hold down the camera’s shutter button for several seconds or even minutes. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then activate the self-timer. This allows you to let go of the camera while the photo is being taken.
Avoiding camera shake
Holding the camera by hand can easily result in camera shake, which blurs the image. With the self-timer you can place the camera on a tripod or a stable surface and then activate the self-timer. This way you can avoid camera shake and take sharp pictures.
Experimental Photography
The self-timer can also be used for experimental photography. For example, you can place the camera on a tripod and activate the self-timer before dropping the camera or exposing it to some other unforeseen event. In this way, interesting and unusual images can be created.
Model overview
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 50
The Minolta Maxxum 50 is a camera from Minolta for the North American market with built-in flash and autofocus.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 5000
The Minolta 5000 is an early 1986 autofocus and program auto single-lens reflex camera for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 5000i
The Minolta Maxxum 5000i is an SLR camera with program automatic and built-in flash for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 500si
The Minolta Maxxum 500si is an SLR camera with flash, interchangeable lenses and multiple exposure function from the 1990s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 500si Super
The Minolta Maxxum 500si Super is a 1990s data back and panoramic camera for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 530si RZ
The Minolta Maxxum 530si RZ is a 1990s camera that was sold exclusively at Ritz Camera in the US.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 550si Date Panorama
The Minolta Maxxum 550si Date Panorama is a single lens reflex camera for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 5xi
The Minolta Maxxum 5xi is a 35mm camera for the American market with interchangeable lenses and autofocus system.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 600si
The Minolta Maxxum 600si is a 1990s SLR camera with built-in flash and various exposure modes for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 650si
The Minolta Maxxum 650si is an SLR camera from the 1990s with built-in flash and automatic exposure controls.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 7
The Minolta Maxxum 7 is a professional 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 70
The Minolta Maxxum 70 is one of Minolta's last analog SLR cameras for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 7000
The Minolta Maxxum 7000 is an SLR camera from the 1980s with autofocus and automatic exposure.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 7000i
The Minolta Maxxum 7000i is an autofocus 35mm format SLR camera from the 1980s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 700si
The Minolta Maxxum 700si is a camera made by Minolta in the early 1990s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 7xi
The Minolta Maxxum 7xi is a modern SLR camera from the 1990s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 8000i
The Minolta Maxxum 8000i is a 90s interchangeable lens camera with autofocus system for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 800si
The Minolta Maxxum 800si is a modern SLR camera for the 35mm format from the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 9
The Minolta Maxxum 9 is a camera made by Minolta for professional photographers in the USA in the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 9000
The Minolta Maxxum 9000 was the Japanese manufacturer's first 35mm SLR with autofocus system for the North American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 9Ti
The Minolta Maxxum 9Ti is a single lens reflex camera from the 1990s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum 9xi
The Minolta Maxxum 9xi is a flagship SLR camera with interchangeable lenses and autofocus for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum GT
The Minolta Maxxum GT is an entry-level SLR camera with automatic exposure from the 2000s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus
The Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus is a 35mm camera for the Minolta A lens mount from the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum Panorama Elite
The Minolta Maxxum Panorama Elite is a panorama SLR camera for the American market from the 1980s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum QTsi
The Minolta Maxxum QTsi is a single lens reflex camera for the American market with an exposure automatic.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum RZ300si
The Minolta Maxxum RZ300si is an SLR camera from the 1990s that was sold exclusively at Ritz Camera in the USA.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum RZ400si
The Minolta Maxxum RZ400si is a 1990s SLR camera for the American dealer Ritz Camera.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum RZ430si
The Minolta Maxxum RZ430si is a data-back SLR camera that was sold exclusively by Ritz Camera in the US in the 1990s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum SPxi
The Minolta Maxxum SPxi is a single lens reflex camera with autofocus for the American market from 1992.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum STsi
The Minolta Maxxum STsi is a single lens reflex camera with a built-in flash for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta Maxxum XTsi
The Minolta Maxxum XTsi is a single lens reflex camera with panorama mode and quartz date function for the American market.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Minoltina AL-S
The Minolta Minoltina AL-S is a rangefinder camera from the 1960s for the 35mm format.
- Viewfinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Minoltina-P
The Minolta Minoltina-P is a viewfinder camera from the 1960s for the 35mm format.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Minoltina-s
The Minolta Minoltina-s is a rangefinder camera from the 1960s with 40 mm f/1.8 lens.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta P’s
The Minolta P's is a compact camera with panorama function that was sold mainly to amateur photographers in Japan.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Panorama Zoom 28
The Minolta Panorama Zoom 28 is a point-and-shoot camera from the 90s with a panorama function.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Prod-20’s
The Minolta Prod-20's is a snapshot camera from the 1990's with a retro look.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva 100AF
The Minolta Riva 100AF is a basic compact camera with a 34 mm lens and a built-in flash from the 90s for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva 35 ST
The Minolta Riva 35 ST is a compact 35mm camera with built-in flash and fixed focal length.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva AF 35
The Minolta Riva AF 35 is a fully automatic camera from the 90s for the 35mm format by the Japanese company.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva AF 35 EX
The Minolta Riva AF 35 EX is a 1990s camera with a fixed lens in a compact body by the Japanese company.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva AF 35c
The Minolta Riva AF 35c is an automatic camera from the 90s for amateur photographers.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Mini
The Minolta Riva Mini is a compact camera from the 90s with a fixed 34 mm lens.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Panorama
The Minolta Riva Panorama is a camera introduced by the Japanese company in the early 90's.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Twin 28
The Minolta Riva Twin 28 is a compact camera with two lenses from the 90s.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 105
The Minolta Riva Zoom 105 is a compact camera with different modi for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 105EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 105EX is a 35 mm camera with 38-105 mm zoom in a compact body.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 105i
The Minolta Riva Zoom 105i is a compact camera with zoom function with a somewhat unusual look.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 115
The Minolta Riva Zoom 115 is a classic camera with compact body and zoom from the 00s for beginners.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 115EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 115EX is a 35mm camera with zoom from the 90s with built-in flash.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 125
The Minolta Riva Zoom 125 is a compact camera with 37.5mm-125mm zoom lens made in China.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 125EX is a compact camera from the late 90s with a zoom lens.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 130
The Minolta Riva Zoom 130 is a compact camera with 37.5-130 mm zoom for amateur photographers.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 135EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 135EX is a compact camera with various automatics from the 90s.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 140
The Minolta Riva Zoom 140 is a camera from Minolta from the 2000s with a zoom function.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 140EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 140EX is a compact camera with 38-140 mm zoom lens for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 150
The Minolta Riva Zoom 150 is a compact camera from 2000 with zoom.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 160
The Minolta Riva Zoom 160 is a camera from Minolta with a zoom lens and a built-in flash.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 70
The Minolta Riva Zoom 70 is a camera from the Japanese company for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 70c
The Minolta Riva Zoom 70c is a compact camera from 1991 with 35-70 mm zoom for amateur photographers.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 70EX
It is a compact camera from the 90s with a zoom lens and a built-in flash for the 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 70W
The Minolta Riva Zoom 70W is a compact camera with a 28-70 mm zoom lens from the 1990s.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 75w
The Minolta Riva Zoom 75w is a basic automatic camera for the 35mm format with a zoom lens and built-in flash
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 90
This a compact camera from the 90s with a 38-90 mm zoom lens for the 35mm format by the Japanese company Minolta.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 90c
A compact camera with zoom from Minolta from the 90s for 35mm format.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom 90EX
The Minolta Riva Zoom 90EX is a compact camera from the 90s with a 35-90 mm zoom lens.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Riva Zoom Pico
The Minolta Riva Zoom Pico is a snapshot camera with zoom lens from the 90s.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Silver Streak Zoom
The Minolta Silver Streak Zoom is a 35mm camera with zoom function for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR 101
The Minolta SR-T 101b is an entry-level camera from the 1970s for the North American market from the Japanese manufacturer Minolta.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-1
The Minolta SR-1 is the second SLR camera for the 35mm format from the Japanese photo giant.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-1s
The Minolta SR-1s is an SLR camera made by Minolta in the 1960s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-2
The Minolta SR-2 was the first SLR camera from the Japanese manufacturer.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-3
The Minolta SR-3 is a single lens reflex camera from the 1960s for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-7
The Minolta SR-7 was the Japanese manufacturer's first SLR camera with a built-in light meter.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 101
The Minolta SR-T 101 is an SLR camera from the 1960s from Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 101b
The Minolta SR-T 101b is an entry-level camera from the 1970s for the European market from Minolta.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 102
The Minolta SR-T 102 is an SLR camera from Japanese production for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 201
The Minolta SR-T 201 is an entry-level SLR camera for the 35mm format from Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 202
The Minolta SR-T 202 is a 35mm format SLR camera with interchangeable lenses from the 1970s for the American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 303
The Minolta SR-T 303 is an SLR camera from the 1970s for the 35mm format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T 303b
The Minolta SR-T 303b is a 35mm SLR camera from the 1970s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR-T Super
The Minolta SR-T Super is a 35mm SLR camera from the 1970s made in Japan.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta SR505
The Minolta SR505 is a 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses for the Japanese market from the 1970s.
- Snapshot camera
- 35mm
Minolta Supreme Freedom Zoom EX
The Minolta Supreme Freedom Zoom EX is a compact camera from the 90s. There were several editions of it.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Uniomat
The Minolta Uniomat is a 35mm camera from the 1960s with a built-in rangefinder.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Uniomat II
The Minolta Uniomat II is a 35mm camera with rangefinder from the early 1960s.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta Uniomat III
The Minolta Uniomat III is a rangefinder camera from the 1960s and the last model in the Uniomat series.
- Rangefinder camera
- 35mm
Minolta V3
The Minolta V3 is a mechanical rangefinder camera from the Japanese camera manufacturer.
- Underwater camera
- APS
Minolta Vectis Weathermatic Zoom
The Minolta Vectis Weathermatic Zoom is an underwater camera for the APS format.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-1
The Minolta X-1 was the first 35mm SLR with an electronic shutter for the Japanese market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-300
The Minolta X-300 is a manual focus SLR camera from the 1980s.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-300s
The Minolta X-300s is one of the last manual SLR cameras from the 1990s from Minolta.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-370
The Minolta X-370 is a 1980s mechanical SLR camera for the North American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-370N
The Minolta X-370N is one of Minolta's last manual focus SLR cameras for the North American market.
- Single lens reflex camera
- 35mm
Minolta X-370s
The Minolta X-370s is the last manual focus SLR camera from Minolta.