The Minolta Legacy 1928 - 1939.

My first Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera was a Minolta XG1 back in 1982. Since then I have owned the XD7, X700 and the X500 MD mount Minoltas. When Minolta switched over to the AF A mount, I bought two A 9000s. My last film SLRs.
When Sony took over Minolta's camera division and came out with their fantastic Alpha 100, then only I migrated to the digital format. Now I own an Alpha 100, an Alpha 580 and an Alpha 77.
It is only natural that I am proud of the Minolta Legacy and would like to list it here.

Established in 1928 by Kazuo Tashima, The Minolta Co. was originally named Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shoten (Japan-Germany Camera Co.). Its name was changed to Minolta Camera Co. Ltd due to it increasing camera sales. Later its name was changed again to Minolta Co. Ltd. as it diversify into other bussiness. Shortly after merging with Konica, the company sold off its camera division to Sony and withdrew from the camera and photo-business in 2007. It is such a great loss as Minolta had always being in the forefront of camera technology in the past.

1929. Nifcalette folding camera.
 Minolta's first folding camera. 40 X 65mm on 127 film.

1932. Semi Minolta foldin camera.
 Minolta's first die cast folding camera that carried the Minolta name. Produced 65 X 90mm image.

1933. Strut folding dry plate camera.
 The first fully Japanese manufactured Minolta.

1934. Baby Minolta. 
 A bakelite body with pull out lens camera using 127 film.

1934.  Minolta Vest. Strut-Folding Dry-Plate Camera.
A collapsing camera with bakelite body using 127 film. The first of
its kind manufactured in Japan.





1935. Auto Minolta.
A strut folding dry plate camera. First press rangefinder camera to be manufactured in Japan. Comes with 65 x 90mm image.





1935.  Minolta Six.
A bakelite body collapsing camera using 120 film.









1937. Minolta Auto press strut folding dry plate camera.
First ever press camera with built in flash synchronisation
made in Japan.

1937.  Auto Semi Minolta Folding Camera.
A 60 X 60mm on 120 film rangefinder camera with automatic film wind-on spacing.








1937. Minolta Flex twin lens reflex camera.
 Minolta's first and used 120 film.

1939. Minolta Flex Automat twin lens reflex.
 First self cocking TLR manufactured in Japan.

 

Ref:Photoclubalpha.http://www.photoclubalpha.com/minolta-history-seven-decades/

Sony Alpha Wikipedia:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Alpha

A History of Minolta:http://www.ehow.com/about_6718514_history-minolta-cameras.html

The Minolta Legacy 1940 - 1969.

The Minolta Legacy continues. 1940  to 1969.

1946.  Semi Minolta IIIA Folding Camera
A 45 X 60mm on 120 film. The first with a Rokkor lens and was the first to be exported after WWII.

1947.  Minolta 35.
Minolta's first focal plane shutter camera with coupled rangefinder and self-timer. It used the standard Leica lens.

1949.  Minolta Memo 45mm leaf shutter camera.
First 35mm leaf shutter camera with lever wind built in Japan.







1960.  Minolta Uniomat.
First Japanese leaf-shutter with program shutter controlled by the light meter.




1960.  Minolta SR-3.
A SLR (35mm) that can coupled on a Cds meter.

1960.  Minolta 16 II.
A submaniature camera using 16mm film.

1962.  Minolta Hi-Matic.
The famous Minolta that flew into space.

1962.  Minolta 16 EE 16mm Camera.
The first Japanese 16mm submaniature camera, with buit-in exposure meter.





1962.  Minolta SR-7 35mm SLR Camera.
The world's first 35mm SLR with built-in Cds exposure meter.





1962.  Minolta Sonocon.
The first 16mm camera with built in radio.

1962. Minolta ER.
The 35mm SLR with in lens shutter.

1963.  Minolta Hi-Matic 7.
The world's first 35mm leaf shutter camera with Cds photocell
in the lens barrel.

1964. Minolta 16PS 16mm camera.
This submaniature camera introduced symbols for exposure settings.

1964. Minoltina P 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
The first 35mm camera to use the 38mm 2.8 lens, which became the industry standard for the next 30 years.

1964. Minolta Repo-S 35mm Half Frame Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A built-in match needle half-frame 18 X 24mm camera.







1964. Minoltina S 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
The world's most compact camera with cuopled exposure meter in its days.

1965. Minolta Electro Shot 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
Minolta's first electronically controlled autoexposure camera with built in Cds meter.

1965. Minolta 24 Rapid Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A 35mm rapid system with built-in Cds exposure meter.

1965. Minolta Autocord CdS.
A 120 film TLR camera with built-in Cds exposure meter.










1966. Minolta SRT-101.
Minolta's first 35mm SLR with TTL full aperture metering.

1966. Minolta Autopak 500 126 Cartridge Camera.
This camera with auto switch to auto flash was launched together with Kodak's 126 instamatic, but is considered better built.

1967. Minolta SR-1s 35mm SLR.
A 35mm with clipped on Cds meter.

1968. Minolta AL-E 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A shutter priority compact.

1969. Minolta Autopak 800 126 Cartridge Camera.
An instamatic catridge with automatic film wind-on camera.

1969. Minolta Hi-Matic C 35mm Leaf-Shutter Camera.
A collapsible lens compact camera.





Ref:Photoclubalpha.http://www.photoclubalpha.com/minolta-history-seven-decades/2/ http://www.photoclubalpha.com/minolta-history-seven-decades/3/

Long Tail Macaques

A mother restraining her baby.

The long tail macaques (Macaca fascicularis), sometimes called the crab eating macaques are distributed widely in S.E.Asia.

Weighing from 7 to 26 pounds, the males are larger than the females. They live in groups or troops of about 30 members. Though arboreal, they do spend a portion of their time on the ground for food and play. Their foods consist of seeds, shoots, fruits, insects and small animals. Sometimes, if they are living near the coasts and mangrove forest, they do relish crabs too, hence the name crab eating macaques.

This macaque can breed anytime during the year. After a gestation or pregnancy that lasts 160 days the baby will be born. They will be weaned at about 420 days. The males reach sexual maturity around year 6 while the female achieves theirs at age 4.

Due to development, many colonies of these monkeys are being isolated up in forested limestone hills surrounded by housing estates. Sometimes they do move into houses to forage for food and as such making themselves a pest.

Until recently, they were still caught and sold for scientific experiments. But now the pressure has being lifted as those used for medical researches are being bred domestically.

A mating pair.

Three juveniles playing.

A mother and its child.

Curious.

On the look out.

A family of three.

A seaside dwelling macaque.

THE HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL

The Hungry Ghost Festival is traditionally a Chinese Taoist Festival celebrated on the 15th night of the 7th lunar month. This month is generally referred to as the ghost month, when the ghosts and spirits are released from the ‘lower realm’ to roam in the human world. As such, travels, weddings and other auspicious celebrations are generally avoided during this time.


Both Taoist and Buddhist temples will hold special prayers for the departed souls. The most elaborate ceremonies are found in Taoist temples where Chinese operas, stage shows together with dinners are usually held in the temple premises or their vicinities. To the uninformed, those few empty tables and chairs at the front of the stages are reserved for ‘visiting ghosts’ that might want to join in the fun.

Believers would bring offerings and other paraphernalia made from paper and bamboo strips for their departed relatives. Taoist priests will perform rituals, chant prayers and do their elaborated moves, accompanied by beats from cymbals and drums to bring peace as well as to help the ghosts to go on their ways safely. These ceremonies are also meant for those homeless and hungry ghosts that have nobody to pray for them.

The climax of the month long festival is the burning of the effigy of the Deity “Da Shi Ye” or Guardian God of Ghosts.

Taoist priests chanting, while doing their
 intricate movments to bless the departed souls.



The priest's helper carrying the altar of
the departed to the paper boat so as to
send them on their ways back to the lower realm.



Family members being blessed by the
priests by circling the prayer area.

These roasted pigs were donated by
believers. In the background was the effigy
of the "Da She Ye".

Helpers helping to chop up and
distribute the roast pork to believers. 

Some of the paper horses offered to
 be burnt at the end of the festival.

One of the performers.

The priests were doing their final chanting of prayers.

All paper effigies, including the Diety "Da She Ye"
or God Of Ghost being burnt at the end of the festival.