Minolta AF-Tele Super

The Minolta AF-Tele Super was presented by Minolta in the 1980s as a snapshot camera. In the USA, it was offered as the Minolta Freedom Tele. Minolta Mac-Tele was the name of the model in Japan. Based on this model, there was also the Leica AF-C1 and there is also a variant with a data back.

A fixed lens is installed in the 35 mm camera. It can be switched between two focal lengths. A normal lens with 38 mm and a maximum aperture of f/2.8 or for portrait photography an 80 mm with a maximum aperture of f/5.6.

The focus is set automatically by the camera technology. The minimum distance to the subject should be 70 cm. There is no manual focus adjustment option.

In general, there are no manual adjustment options for the general settings. Aperture and shutter speed are set automatically. The camera reads the film speed from the coding on the film cartridge. Values from ISO 50 to ISO 3200 are supported. If the film has no encoding or is not in this range, ISO 100 is set as the default value.

The photo camera comes with a built-in flash. The flash fires automatically, but can also be forced.

The 35mm photo camera is equipped with a connection option for a tripod on the bottom of the body and has a self-timer function, which is ideal for group pictures or selfies. The self-timer’s lead time is 10 seconds.

According to the manual, the dimensions of the Minolta AF-Tele Super are 13.6 x 7.6 x 5.5 cm. It weighs 450 grams. The required power for the camera comes from a 2CR5 battery (eBay / Amazon*). The battery also powers the LCD display that shows some information, such as the number of pictures taken.

Films for the Minolta AF-Tele Super

The Minolta AF-Tele Super is a camera designed to use 35mm film according to its instructions. The 35mm format is still very popular due to its simplicity and reliability. There are still some producers that make film for this format. A good choice for color images is the Kodak Ultramax 400*, while the Ilford Delta 100* is good for black and white images. Of course, there are films from other manufacturers to choose from as well.

The common development process for color film in 35mm format is the C-41 process, which is offered by most photo labs. In Germany, for example, films can be dropped off for development at many drugstore chains. The development steps for black-and-white films are slightly different from those for color films, but can be done at home with the right instructions and photochemistry.

The Minolta AF-Tele Super negatives are 24mm x 36mm, which allows about 36 exposures to be taken with a standard 35mm film. The camera automatically advances the loaded film with a motor after each frame.