135compact.com 16mm film ultra compact cameras Minolta 16 QT
The
Minolta 16 QT was first released 1972, shortly after the launch of 110
film cassettes. It's the last 16mm model for Minolta. It had the bigger picture area, similar to 110
film. It was a top class camera for 16mm Minolta cartridge
film* (see below). It
has a very good lens, the only focusable lens for Minolta 16mm cameras,
as tall the others were fixed focus. There is only a choice of 2
speeds, apertures
from 3.5 to 22 and a built-in CdS meter. There was a wide choice of
accessories
available, those from the MG-S mostly fit.
*
16mm film is a movie film format, as was 35mm film. In the early
days it was cut from 35mm film and thus had perforations on one
side (single perforation). Please note, that the perfs and their area
of 35mm are bigger than those of modern 16mm film. As soon as 1923
Kodak introduced a set with camera, projector, tripod,
screen and splicer (or was it a slitter?) aiming at amateurs. The new format was rapidly
adopted by still camera producers to build smaller devices. The film
usualy sits
in a cartridge, but no standard has been established, many have 2
cassettes, one feeding and one taking. So every maker made his own
system. Some, like Minolta, even sold a choice of readily available
film cassettes. If you want to use your camera, you should at least
have one (pair of) cassette(s).
16mm
film is still made. There is double perf, single perf and unperforated
film. Check, which one suits your camera. Some need perfs to advance.
Smaller picture formats can use double perf film, bigger ones would
have the perfs (or sprockets) visible in the picture area. There is
10mm of usable space between the perfs of double perf film, 12.5mm to
the side of single perf film. Film can also be s(p)lit from other
formats like 120.
The camera's main features are:
23mm
F3.5 Rokkor lens, 23mm, 3 elements in 3 groups, F3.5-F22, min. focus 1.2m Shutter speeds 1/30 and 1/250 12x17mm picture format, Minolta cartridge, can use only single perf or unferfed 16mm film Size 109x45x28, Weight 150 gr. 50 - 400
ISO, viewfinder with parallax compensation marks, CdS meter, manual aperture, many accessories
The Minolta 16 QT.
It's very small and light.
Camera
closed, lens well protected. Shutter release is
blocked when the camera is closed.
Camera front open.
Back view.
The viewer shows the distance setting, a warning when 1/30s is set and
2 LEDs for over- or underexposure. It has parrallax correction marks.
To the right: film advance.
Seen
from the top. Exposure setting and a switch which turns on the metering
if pressed. You can easily press the switch and turn the setting with
one finger. The next switch chooses
the speeds, 1/30s or 1/250. The shutter button sits near
the front edge. Film counter counts backwards from 18. At film
start
and end you need to advance twice. Film advance wheel. Set 1/250s speed.
Seen
from below. Slider for distance setting, set to hyperfocus setting. Film compartment lid with opening button. No tripod socket.
Film
compartment with battery compartment. The old PX 30 battery is no
longer made. You can put a CR2450 battery and some coins, as on the
picture. Don't mix up polarity. The CR2450 has a slightly bigger
diameter, but just fits in.
This
camera is very easy to use, silde it open and it's ready.
It has 2 shutter settings, the aperture is to be set via the meter LEDs in the finder. You have to set the distance, which is also indicated in the finder. Then frame, which is easy via the bright
framelines. After taking
a picture, you have to turn the advance wheel for film advance and shutter
cocking. Putting a film is easy as well,
you drop the film into the compartment, advance to the first frame and that's it.
It's
an advanced point and shoot camera
with a very good lens and nice picture quality, good quality
finish in a very small pocketable body. This camera feels solid.
It's a major advance that the lens can focus. Picture results
were good. It has the bigger 12x17 format, which means +
50% of picture area.
