The Minolta 21mm f2.8 MC W.Rokkor-X is a fast wide-angle lens for the Minolta MC / MD mount. Introduced in 1973, it features 12 elements in 9 groups and incorporates a floating element for high performance at all focus distances. In its day, it was one of the best ultra-wide lenses available in any system.

The Minolta 21mm f2.8 MC W.Rokkor-X has an assuring heft and feels very well built, with a nicely damped focusing ring. The all-metal construction matches the solidity of classic Minolta SRT bodies, such as this vibrant SRT 101 custom repainted in tangerine orange.

The beautiful, the reliable, the lovable Minolta SRT101.  This camera always seems to find itself mentioned on those "best film cameras of all time" lists,  and for good reason. ⁠

⁠The Minolta SRT101 is almost entirely mechanical.  The only thing that is battery dependent is a simple light meter.  The rest of the camera is fully functional sans battery: shutter, self-timer, depth of field preview mechanism, film wind, and rewind.⁠

⁠Mechanical cameras are ideal for adventure.  On a road-trip and can't find a place to buy a new camera battery?  Camping in the middle of nowhere and your battery just died?  Playing around in the snow and the cold weather drained your battery?  No need to worry; you don't really need a battery.⁠

You might ask, ⁠"But how will I meter if my battery dies?"  Well, this is your chance to practice being your own meter.  Familiarize yourself with the Sunny 16 Rule and remember that negative film is surprisingly forgiving, especially of over-exposure.  Give it a shot!  After all, photographers metered with their eyes for decades before the light meter was ever invented. ⁠

⁠And, if you really just aren't ready for that - download a separate light meter app on your smartphone (yes, they work great)!⁠

Minolta's line of SRT cameras are durable and easy to operate.  They also open photographers up to the incredible world of Minolta lenses.  Whether you're a student, or an experienced photographer, we think the Minolta SRT101 is worth considering.  ⁠

⁠We always have a number of these cameras in inventory - many of which are fully refurbished and have a one year warranty.⁠  The "For Sale" tab, to your left, will take you right to them.⁠

dm/za/sd

Plants and wildlife aren't the only things that enjoy celebrating spring with newfound color.  Us humans enjoy our own vibrant expressions of joy; take this newly translucent red Minolta SRT 101⁠ for instance...

One of the neat projects our repair tech committed to in the fateful year of 2020 is perfecting the art of customization.  He has been honing his skills working with new leatherettes, such as this SRT 101 with snazzy red snakeskin, and perfecting new paint jobs and powder coating finishes. 

Our inventory is chock full of these customized cameras, from Canon to Pentax.  A custom camera makes for a dreamy first film camera, for that up-and-coming photographer in the family, or a desirable addition to an already burgeoning camera library.  Consider bringing in a treasured camera for a bit of a makeover, with a new leatherette.  This process generally takes 2-4 weeks and there are so many color and style options, be sure to call ahead first so that we can talk over options and nuance.  Why not treat yourself?

za/sd

There is a kind of magic involved to make a tank of a camera, like this Minolta SRT 101, appear less heavy of a machine.  Our repair tech, Mike, has mastered that magic, lightening up this camera by giving it a new leatherette in this dreamy, cerulean blue.⁠

Mike typically does all of the camera reskinning of his own volition; we love to see this creative side of him, as he decides which cameras to pair up with which colors of leatherette.  When he is not overhauling customer cameras or applying custom leatherette, he has the entire store stock of the shop as a bit of a blank canvas for him to experiment with different colors.  ⁠⁠

za/sd

(This feature is part of a series we did highlighting excellent starter/student cameras, with one camera from each of the five major brands: Nikon, Canon, Olympus, Pentax and Minolta)

Burly and reliable and somewhat misleading in it's labeling (this model is actually the SRT 101, though it has been marked with the SRT 100 name) ...  the Minolta SRT 101 is an early entry in the SRT line and it is built like a tank.   One of the most important aspects of this camera is its sheer heft.  It's a very popular choice among those who plan (or don't plan but, hey, accidents happen) to put their camera through heavy use.   While we cannot necessarily recommend this, there is popular gossip that the SRT doubles nicely as a mallet.

Introduced in 1966, the SRT 101 is the oldest camera on our recommended list of great student cameras.  It adheres to the design philosophy of that time: build it from metal and build it to last.  Half a century later, these cameras are still going strong, with no trace of the planned obsolescence so commonplace today. 

The SRT 101 is simple in design and easy to use.  Metering is quick and straight-forward, via a match needle system.  The SRT 101 is also fully equipped with a self-timer, depth of field preview, and even a mirror lock-up.  The ISO range covers an impressive 6 to 6400.  Though early models do lack a hot shoe, flash photography can still be synced via a PC port on the camera body.

In short, Minolta covered all the bases with this one.

Other Minolta models to consider for budding film photographers looking for a starter camera are the Minolta SRT 100, SRT 201, SRT 202, and Minolta X-700.

za/sd

Our repair tech has this habit of reskinning cameras and openly teasing us with the results.  He recently upgraded this Minolta SRT101 and sent this image along.  Of course, he brought the camera in a couple days later to sell on consignment - it didn't even last a single day.  So sadly, or thankfully, we cannot tempt you with this red Minolta, as it has found a new home already.  We can tempt you with the information that our tech will gladly reskin nearly any camera and the selections of leatherettes available is truly impressive.  The cost is pretty darn affordable too; while you should get a quote from him regarding your favorite medium format camera, most 35mm SLRs will run only $40.

Think of it this way: these cameras generally have lifespans long enough to be with you your entire life, why not customize and personalize it to your style just a bit?  Anything to strengthen that bond between you and your camera is bound to be a good thing.

za/sd

How nice is it when your camera matches your film?   Or vice versa.   We didn't mean to make a JCH Street Pan themed Minolta SRT 101, but sometimes happy coincidences happen.⠀ ⠀

Thanks to Bellamy Hunt, of Japan Camera Hunter, for keeping us in stock with this film and to our repair tech, Mike Knight, for colorfully revamping some of our favorite cameras. 

za/sd

Need a new camera for fall?   Get a Minolta SRT.  Why is it a good fall camera, you ask?  We are not just thinking about this fall, but the next one too...and the one after that, and the one after that.  You make an SRT your autumn camera, and you will never need to fill that need again, as long as you live.  These cameras are stalwart, stoic, sturdy, as dependable as cameras come.  They'll ignore the drizzly mornings better than you will.  They will march consistently through roll after roll come stormy days at the coast, early snow days on the mountains, or just puddle hopping in the streets of downtown.  Their exploits are unsung and a bit under appreciated but here they are, 50 years later, patiently waiting on you to pick it up and give it a roll of film to expose.

za/sd