Minolta Electro Shot

The Minolta Electro Shot is a rangefinder camera. It was introduced in the 1960s. The model was produced in a factory in Japan.

The photo camera comes with a fixed focal length lens. The name of the lens is “Rokkor-QF”. The lens has a focal length of 40 mm and a maximum aperture of f/1.8. You have to focus the lens manually by hand. The coupled rangefinder helps with this. The closest focusing distance, how close you can get to the subject, is 80 cm with this lens.

The Minolta Electro Shot was the first rangefinder camera from the Japanese manufacturer with a CdS exposure meter. The photographer can set a sensitivity from ISO 25 to ISO 400. Accordingly, the camera technology selects the appropriate aperture and shutter speed. There is no manual mode on this model.

The use of a flash is possible with the PC flash port and the hot shoe. When using a flash, a fixed shutter speed of 1/25 second is used. According to the set guide number of the flash and the distance, the camera selects the appropriate aperture.

With a size of 13.9 x 7.9 x 6.7 cm, the Minolta Electro Shot weighs 660 grams according to the manual. There is a thread for a tripod on the bottom. There is also a self-timer and a connection option for a cable release.

An Excell RM-1R battery is responsible for the power supply. Unfortunately, these mercury batteries are no longer manufactured.

Films for the Minolta Electro Shot

Films for the Japanese camera are still being made, however. For example, there is the Kodak Ultramax 400* and the Ilford Delta 100*. Both films deliver solid results. Of course, there are many more films from other manufacturers.

Film advance is manual with the camera. After each frame, the film has to be transported a bit further. The return transport at the end of the roll is also manual. Only when the film is back in the cartridge may the back of the photo camera be opened.