The Minolta AL-2 is a rangefinder camera. It was presented by Minolta in the 60s. It was produced in a factory in Japan. It is the successor of the Minolta AL.
The 35mm camera comes with a fixed lens. The name “Minolta Rokkor-PF 45mm f/1.8” adorns the lens. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.8 with a focal length of 45mm. There is no autofocus system on this model. Instead, there is a rangefinder. The minimum distance you have to keep to the subject is 90 cm with the 45 mm lens.
Shutter speed and aperture can be set manually on this model. The aperture can be set between f/1.8 and f/22. For shutter speeds, there are values from 1/1000 second to 1 second. Additionally, there is the Bulb mode for long exposures.
The camera comes with a selenium light meter. It can be used with films from ISO 6 to ISO 800. The light meter, and the camera in general, does not need batteries. On the other hand, the meter can lose accuracy over the years or stop working completely. It is very difficult to repair the light meter if it stops working.
A flash can be connected to the Japanese camera with a cable. It can be attached to the hot shoe. A hot shoe flash cannot be connected directly to the camera. Instead, there is a connection for a tripod and a cable release. A self-timer is not available.
Films for the Minolta AL-2
What is needed for the Minolta AL-2 is 35mm film. The film has to be transported further after each picture. There is a quick release lever for this purpose. After pressing the lever, the frame counter also jumps up one number. The film is also rewound by hand. To do this, the small button on the bottom must be pressed in and then the crank turned. Only after this step, the back of the camera may be opened and the film removed.
Great films for the Minolta AL-2 that are still available today and can be purchased online are the Kodak ColorPlus 200* and the Kodak T-Max 100*. Of course, there are a variety of other 35mm films available for this camera. So there is suitable film material from Fujifilm, Rollei, Adox, Lomography, Foma and of course Ilford.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Rangefinder camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Manual |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Lens name | Minolta Rokkor-PF 45mm f/1.8 |
| Focal length | 45 mm |
| Biggest aperture | f/1.8 |
| Minimum focus distance | 90 cm / 2.952 ft |
| Focus | Manual |
| Rangefinder | Yes |
| Exposure times | 1/500 second to 1 second, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Light meter | Selenium light meter |
| Supported film speeds | ISO 6 to 800 |
| Exposure modes | Manual mode |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | PC-Flash |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | Not necessary |
| Country of production | Japan |