MINOLTA AF-S1983

Serial Nr.1113605
Minolta Code 0474-100
Characteristics and functions
The Minolta AF-S was presented in 1983; it is motorized in the advancement
and recovery of the film. There are six different versions of the AF-S: the AF-S
is “silent”; the AF-Sv has a built-in speech synthesizer which is programmed
according to the target market in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian("Put the film on, please", "Use the flash, please", "Check the distance, please"); both exist in the Date Back version (AF-SvD and AF-SD). The last twoversions concern exclusively the Japanese domestic market where the camera
is called “Talker” and, “Talker D” the one equipped with a date back. In thisversion the speech synthesizer is programmed only in Japanese language. Thelens is a 35mm Minolta. f.2.8 with 4 lenses in 3 groups with a minimum focusing
distance of 0.85m. The electronically programmed light meter works from EV 6
(1/8" with f.2.8) to EV 17 (1/625" with f.14.5). The shutter speed with X-sync is1/40”. The measurement takes place via a CdS cell and the range of admitted
films goes from 25/15° Iso to 1000/31° Iso. The camera has taut and squarelines, the upper shell is smooth, on the left a recess contains the flash whichrises by 1.5cm during use. about; in the center there is the writing "AF-S" silkscreened in white, continuing to the right is the black circular shutter button contained in a cantilevered frame - which has a double function: in the first partit locks the focus and exposure; in the second, it releases the shutter. In therear right corner of the upper shell there is the additive frame counter with
automatic reset when the back is opened (black numbers on a white field).

Along the right side of the camera are the back door hinge and the wrist strap
attachment system for carrying the camera. In the upper part of the rear side
there are: the command for activating the flash (yellow cursor to be moved in
the direction of the arrow, to the left "Flash On" with the relative white writing);
the window of the film transport control system with the relative word “Film”; theflash ready light that turns green when the condenser is fully charged and finallythe eyepiece window. In the lower part there is on the left the release of thedoor (bring the cursor upwards) and, on the right, the black squared plastic doorof the film compartment with transparent window for viewing the type of film
loaded. To close the back, press the door until the lock clicks again. Thecamera has a transparent plastic mechanism that allows the automatic hookingof the film to the transport reel (just place the film under the tail and close thedoor). The front of the camera has a cantilevered central part that contains thelens, the autofocus-viewfinder system, the orange button for activating the selftimer and the red LED indicating the active self-timer. The CdS exposure meter
cell is located in the lens mount, at the bottom, while the sensitivity window isplaced above the lens. The words “ASA” and “ISO” appear on the sides of thesensitivity window. A circular black plastic ring placed around the objective lens
is used to set the desired sensitivity, beyond the ring are the words: "Minolta
Lens" and "35mm1: 2.8". Above the lens there is a small square orange button
that you can press to activate the self-timer. Under the button there is thewording "ST" in relief preceded by an arrow pointing downwards. A red LED
above the orange button signals the activation of the self-timer and isaccompanied by a sound "Beep". The three windows next to the red LED are
the autofocus windows (the external ones) and the viewfinder window in thecenter. In the viewfinder there is the bright frame with references for parallax inclose-up shots and, in the center, the focus area with cancelable memory.
Along the left side of the frame 2 light signals indicate: "Focus OK" (yellowsignal); “Insufficient light - Use flash” (red signal). On the front, on the left thereis the electronic flash, while at the lower end there is the white writing "AutoFocus" placed on two lines. A thin light blue stripe is arranged vertically along
the left side of the camera. The color of the strip indicates the type of set-up: infact, in the camera without a speech synthesizer the line is blue while it is red inthe "Voice" set-up. A very small chromed metal pin located at the upper rightend of the compartment of the autofocus-viewfinder windows serves as a lockfor the shutter button when the square front cap is mounted on the camera. On
the back we find on the left the plastic cap of the battery compartment (2 AA
1.5), the serial number engraved with white numbers, the threaded hole forusing the tripod, the word "Japan" and, above , the system for intentional
recovery of the film not fully exposed. To activate it, the small square frame witha central hole must be moved to the right and forward (movement indication
reproduced by the arrow under the "R"). Weight 290g. batteries excluded.
Length 122.5mm. Height 73.5mm. Depth 47.5mm.