MINOLTA 126 CAMERAS
126 cameras have come and gone. The original intent was to make a 35mm
camera with drop-in film loading. But most 126 cameras were of poor
quailty and they never became popular since the results were much lower than
the SLIGHTLY harder-to-load 35mm cameras. Minolta's 126 cameras, however,
were star performers. And the good news is that you can still buy 126
cassettes today, so you can still use these cameras.
This list is inaccurate and incomplete. If you are able to provide more accurate information than is listed here, please contact us.
(1966) Kodak introduced the Instamatic film format and camera in 1963. Minolta's first 126 camera was a full-featured camera (unlike most 126 cameras) and was based on their successful 35mm rangefinder line of cameras. The Autopak 700 looked, operated and felt like a standard 35mm rangefinder. And this is how Kodak marketed the 126 camera to the public. They stated that these cameras would have the quality of a 35mm camera with drop-in-film ease. In fact most didn't have this quality, due to cheap lenses -- one of the reasons that the 126 format died out. And so Minolta's top-of-the-line 126 camera was an immediate commercial flop. It was a quality shooter that was far too pricey when compared to the typical $10 126 cameras on the market. It had a fast, 38mm f2.8, rangefinder-coupled, focusing lens with four elements in three groups. It had automatic, semi-automatic, and manual exposure modes with a behind-the-filter CDS meter. Shutter speeds could be selected from 1/30-1/250 (plus B), and apertures varied from f2.8 to f22.0. And of course, a hot shoe, cable release connection, PC contact, and tripod socket. It was probably the only 126 camera to offer all of these features. But Minolta learned its lesson -- you can't sell expensive 126 cameras! As a result, the Autopak 700 was very different from all of the later Minolta 126 cameras. It uses one 625 battery.
(1966) The next year Minolta redesigned their 126 camera and boy, what
a change! It still had the same fast 38mm (f2.8) lens with four elements
in three groups, but now it is a zone-focusing lens and it is not
rangefinder-coupled. In addition, the manual settings were dropped
and the shutter speeds set by a selenium meter -- not the more expensive
CDS meter. It was designed to be used with a flash cube always in place.
The meter determined whether it needed to be fired or not. The
500 uses two AAA batteries -- for the flash cube only -- but the camera will
work correctly without them.
Same as the Minolta Autopak 500 with a different nameplate. It was available in different color "shades", such as white, light gray, and pale pink.
Same as the Minolta Autopak 500 with a different nameplate.
(1969) An updated version of the Autopak 500. It had the same 38mm (f2.8), with four elements in three groups, zone-focusing lens, but now the aperture is set by a CDS meter. Single speed of 1/90. Uses two AAA batteries -- for the flash cube only. The camera will work correctly without them.
(1969) Top-of-the-line 126 camera. Features include Rokkor 38mm f2.8 lens, with four elements in three groups, with rangefinder focusing, electronic aperture control, flash cube connection, manual/automatic flash, and a spring motor drive -- capable of about 1 fps. Speeds of 1/45 and 1/90. CDS meter provides programmed exposure control. Uses one 625 and two 825 batteries.
(1969) One of Minolta's forays into the 126 market was through the 3M Corporation which sold the Revere line of cameras. The 43mm lens on this Revere camera was made by Minolta and is marked "Rokkor". In fact, Minolta probably made the entire camera, but it was never sold as a Minolta camera. It was fairly basic in features with a 43mm, zone-focusing lens and a flash-cube socket. It came in a variety of color combinations, such as olive-drab.
(1971) 38mm (f2.8), with four elements in three groups, zone-focusing lens. Dual speeds of 1/45 (for flash) and 1/90. Aperture set by CDS meter from f2.8 - 22. Close focusing to four feet. Takes Magicubes -- which are controlled by the meter. Uses a 640 battery.
(1973) The last Minolta 126 camera had a 34mm (f8), fixed-focus lens in a very stylish, compact package. Dual speeds of 1/45 (for flash) and 1/90. Aperture set by selenium meter from f8 - 27. Takes Magicubes. The shutter release could be retracted to prevent accidental exposure.
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