Minolta Alpha Sweet II L

The Alpha Sweet II L, a single-lens reflex camera that Minolta produced in the 2000s, impresses with its uncomplicated operation and diverse automatic functions, but also leaves room for manual adjustments.

It was sold worldwide under various model names. In Europe it was called Dynax 4, while in China it was available as Alpha 3 (α-3). Other markets knew it as the Dynax 3, which should not be confused with the Alpha Sweet II L. Japanese photography enthusiasts could purchase it as the α-Sweet II L (Alpha Sweet II L).

Lenses

The camera offers the possibility to use different lenses, thanks to its interchangeable lens mount. There is an impressive selection of lenses compatible with the Minolta A bayonet, covering most major focal lengths. Zoom lenses are also available.

The camera’s built-in automatic focus system is great for spontaneous shooting. In difficult lighting conditions, the focusing light helps with focusing. In addition, manual focusing is possible if preferred.

Exposure meter

An indispensable feature of this camera is the exposure meter, which can handle varying film sensitivities. Manually, values between ISO 6 and ISO 6400 can be set in 1/3 increments.

When the auto-detect function is activated, values from ISO 25 to ISO 5000 can be used. These values are determined by the encoding on the film roll. If this coding is not available, the manual setting should be used.

When using the flash, ISO values from 25 to 1000 are available.

Exposure settings

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L comes with a range of exposure modes tailored to different shooting situations and creative preferences.

P (Program Automatic) mode automatically sets the proper aperture and shutter speed for optimal exposure.

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

In S (Aperture Priority) mode, the photographer sets the shutter speed while the camera selects the appropriate aperture.

In M (Manual) mode, the photographer can set the aperture and shutter speed completely by himself.

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

In addition to these exposure modes, the Minolta Alpha Sweet II L offers five scene modes: Portrait, Landscape, Macro, Sports and Night Portrait. These specific modes optimize the camera settings to achieve the best results in any shooting situation.

Shutter speeds and aperture ranges

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L is equipped with an electronically controlled focal-plane shutter that moves vertically. It supports shutter speeds from 1/2000 second to 30 seconds and also has a Bulb mode for long exposures.

The accessible aperture values depend on the lens used.

Integrated flash and flash connector

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

A variety of flash modes are available, including auto flash, auto flash with red-eye reduction, fill flash, and flash cancel. In addition, an external flash can be connected. The sync speed is 1/90 second.

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L is equipped with a self-timer that has a lead time of 10 seconds. A cable release can also be connected, but this requires specific Minolta cable types RC-1000S or RC-1000L.

A multiple exposure mode is available in this model. There is a thread for tripod mounting on the bottom of the camera body.

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L measures 12.7 x 8.7 x 6.05 cm and weighs 315 grams without the lens. This makes the camera body very compact for a 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses.

Camera power source

The camera is powered by two CR2 batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which are still easy to get today. The capacity of the batteries depends largely on individual usage.

If the flash is used for about half of the shots, one set of batteries should be enough for about 14 rolls of film with 24 pictures each.

Film Selection for the Minolta Alpha Sweet II L

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L is designed for 35mm film. There are still a lot of 35mm films on the market that are compatible with this camera.

Various types of films can be found online for this Japanese SLR camera. For example, the Ilford Delta 100* for fascinating black and white photographs and the Kodak Gold 200* for vivid color images. Both films are recommended in reviews for their versatility.

Color film can be developed using the C-41 process, which is offered at most professional photo labs. In Germany, film development can also be done in some widely available drug stores. A special black-and-white developer is required for developing black-and-white films.

Film transport mechanism

The Minolta Alpha Sweet II L exposes a 35mm format exposure area of 24mm x 36mm. With its motorized film transport function, the camera automatically transports the film after each exposure. It is capable of capturing approximately 1.7 frames per second. When the film is fully exposed, it is automatically rewound into the cartridge. This process takes about 8 seconds for a 24-frame film and takes a little more time for a 36-frame film.

Current market value

The current value of this camera is, of course, dependent on its production completion and its used-only availability. The current price is usually higher outside Japan. The final purchase or sale price may vary depending on the state of preservation, functionality and included accessories.