The Minolta Mac-Dual Quartz Date, a straightforward 35mm snapshot camera from Minolta, impresses with its ease of use and practical functions. It was built in Japan in the 1980s.
Equipped with a fixed lens that offers a maximum aperture of f/3.5 or f/5.6 at 35 mm and 50 mm focal lengths, it enables sharp shots thanks to the integrated autofocus. You can switch between the two focal lengths with a button.
A light meter in combination with the automatic exposure ensures optimally exposed images by automatically adjusting the aperture and exposure time.
A built-in flash is available for shots in poor lighting conditions. Power is supplied by 4x AAA batteries (eBay / Amazon*).
The special feature of the camera is the Quartz Date function. It can imprint the date on the image, which is particularly practical for archiving photos. Of course, you don't have to use the function.
Films for the camera
The camera uses 35mm film, for which there is still a large selection of color and black and white films. Recommended options are the Kodak Ultramax 400* for color images and the Kodak T-Max 100* for black and white images. Both films deliver excellent results in everyday use and in tests.
Color films are usually developed using the widely used C-41 process, which is offered by most photo labs. The camera's negatives are 24 mm x 36 mm in size, so one film usually holds at least 36 photos. The built-in motor ensures automatic film transport after each image.
The Minolta Mac-Dual Quartz Date is no longer available new, but can be purchased used. Prices vary depending on the condition of the camera.
