Minolta Alpha 3

Manufactured by Minolta in the 2000s, the Alpha 3 SLR camera offers convenient operation and a wide range of automatic functions without sacrificing manual adjustment options.

Depending on the market, the camera was sold under different names: As Dynax 4 in Europe, as Alpha 3 (α-3) in China, in other countries it was available as Dynax 3 – not to be confused with Dynax 3L. In Japan, it was offered as the α-Sweet II L (Alpha Sweet II L).

Lenses

Thanks to its interchangeable lens mount, the camera is capable of accepting a variety of different lenses. There are lenses compatible with the Minolta A bayonet for almost all major focal lengths. Zoom lenses are also available.

The camera has an automatic focusing system that is very useful for snapshots. In low light, the focus light assists in adjusting focus. There is also an option to focus manually.

Exposure meter

An indispensable attribute of this camera is the built-in light meter that supports various film sensitivities. Manually, ISO values can be set from 6 to 6400 in 1/3 increments.

With automatic detection, ISO values from 25 to 5000 can be used. These values are detected via the encoding of the film cassette. If this coding is missing, the manual setting should be used.

When using the flash, ISO values from 25 to 1000 can be used.

Exposure settings

The Minolta Alpha 3 is equipped with a variety of exposure modes to suit different shooting situations and creative needs.

P mode (program auto) automatically controls both aperture and shutter speed for optimal exposure.

A (Aperture Priority) mode allows the photographer to manually set the desired aperture while the camera adjusts the appropriate shutter speed.

In S mode (time preset), the reverse happens: The photographer sets the desired shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture accordingly.

In M (Manual) mode, the photographer has full control over aperture and shutter speed.

PA/PS (Programmed Aperture/Shutter Speed) modes offer a mix of manual control and automatic adjustments for specific shooting scenarios.

In addition to these exposure modes, the Minolta Alpha 3 offers five scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports, and Night Portrait. These scene modes optimize the camera settings for the specific shooting situation to achieve the best possible results.

Shutter speeds and aperture values

The Minolta Alpha 3 uses an electronically controlled focal-plane shutter that operates vertically. It can support shutter speeds between 1/2000 second and 30 seconds, and has a Bulb mode for long exposures.

The possible aperture values depend on the lens used.

Integrated flash and connectivity for external flash

The camera has a built-in flash whose guide number is 12. With an ISO setting of 100, the flash can achieve a maximum range of up to 4 meters.

There are several flash modes, including auto flash, auto flash with red-eye reduction, fill flash, and flash cancel. It is also possible to connect an external flash. The sync speed is 1/90 second.

The Minolta Alpha 3 is equipped with a self-timer that offers a 10 second lead time. A cable release can also be connected, but it must be special Minolta cables, either the RC-1000S or RC-1000L type.

A mode for multiple exposures is also available. There is a thread on the bottom of the body for attaching to a tripod.

The Minolta Alpha 3 has a compact size of 12.7 x 8.7 x 6.05 cm and a weight of 315 grams without lens. This makes the body very compact for a 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses.

Battery-powered camera

The Minolta Alpha 3 is powered by two CR2 batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which are still readily available. Battery life depends on usage.

If the flash is used for 50 percent of the shots, one set of batteries can hold about 14 rolls of film with 24 frames each.

Film Options for the Minolta Alpha 3

The Minolta Alpha 3 is designed for use with 35mm film. There are still a variety of 35mm films that are readily available and compatible with this camera.

Various types of films are available for purchase online for this renowned SLR camera from Japan. For example, the Ilford Delta 100* for stunning black and white images and the Kodak Gold 200* for vibrant color images. Both films are known for their wide range of applications.

Color film can be developed using the C-41 process, which is offered at most professional photo labs. In Germany, this service is also available at some well-known drugstore chains. For the development of black and white films, a special black and white developer is required.

Film transport mechanism

The Minolta Alpha 3 is designed with a 35mm format exposure area of 24mm x 36mm. This corresponds to an aspect ratio of 2:3. With its motorized film transport mechanism, the camera automatically moves the film along after each shot. It can shoot about 1.7 frames per second. When the film is fully exposed, it is automatically wound back into the cartridge. For a 24-frame film, this process takes about 8 seconds; for a 36-frame film, it takes slightly longer.

Current market value

The current market value of the camera depends, of course, on the fact that it is no longer in production and is only available as a used item. One copy currently costs around 55,01 Euro. However, the actual purchase or sale price may vary depending on condition, functionality, and included accessories.