Model 16 MG-S and QT Accessories
The Model 16 MG-S camera was conceived from the first as a precision, full featured systems camera with a complete line of accessories designed to provide the maximum in photographic flexibility to the user. Described below are just a few of the more popular accessories available for this remarkable camera, a number of which will also work just as well with the QT model camera.
Case and wrist strap Each MG-S camera came with a high quality, glove leather zippered case embellished with a metal Minolta nameplate. These sturdily sewn cases were lined with velvet to protect the finish of the camera, and had a small, circular cutout at the end of the zipper's travel (when closed) to allow for the wrist chain. The wrist chain itself was a quality number, being made of either black or silver metal dependent upon the finish of the camera, and anchored to a screw in tripod bushing. Removing the bushing from the tripod socket of the camera allowed one to mount the camera to a tripod when needed (although with a low shutter speed limit of 1/30th of a second, mounting the camera on a tripod was not really needed; the tripod socket gets its biggest use in securing the camera in the copy stand accessory or as an anchoring point for the wrist chain). Two button snaps allowed you to undo a wide leather flap on the outside of the case; this could be pushed down between a person's belt and their trousers and resnapped to make a handy and secure belt case for the camera.
The case for the QT was similar in construction and design, however, it's inner lining had cutouts to accommodate the shutter release button and the exposure meter button, intended to keep the case from accidentally pressing down on these when zipped up. Additionally, the wrist strap was cloth as opposed to metal, while the screw in bushing was molded plastic.
Filtre set The MG-S filtre set came in a nice plastic roll pouch with button snap to secure the three filtres that made up the set. These were the 1A Skylight/Haze filtre, the 80B daylight colour conversion filtre and the Y48 Yellow filtre for black and white film shooting. Each of these filtres was securely mounted in a black plastic frame that slid into place on the front of the camera by lining up the flanges on either side of the filter mount with corresponding grooves in the camera faceplate and pushing down from the top edge of the mount. The large square filtre element covered the lens, while the small circular filtre element to the right of it lined up over the camera's CdS "electric eye" to allow for automatic exposure compensation when in use. The case provided individual slots for each filtre to sit in without scratching each other. An apparent variation on this set was a four slot case that added a UV filter as well.
These filtres can be fitted to the QT cameras as well, and work in the same manner.
Close up lens set A set of two close up lenses with matching metal measuring chains were sometimes provided with the camera, depending on packaging, or were available as an accessory item. In addition, an ultra close up lens designed for exclusive use with the copy stand accessory was available as a separate accessory item. The standard close up lens set consisted of two plastic cases whose flap was secured by a button snap. Undoing the flap and unfolding the case out revealed two clear plastic pouches, one housing the close up lens and the other storing the matching metal measuring chain. The chain had a hook on one end to allow it to be fastened to the ring that secured the wrist chain to the tripod bushing that came with the camera. The other end had a polished cylindrical weight which was grasped by the user and stretched out to touch the subject to be photographed, establishing the accurate distance from the camera. With the camera to their eye, the photographer let the chain hang free and took the picture. The two lenses, a 40cm/1.3 foot and an 80cm/2.6 foot type were mounted in a sturdy black plastic frame identical to the filtre sets described above, and mounted to the camera in exactly the same way. A special viewing element in the frame lined up with the viewfinder, providing automatic parallax correction when in use. The final close up lens was a separately available 25cm/0.8 foot close focusing accessory designed for use with the copy stand accessory. Mounted in an identical frame as described previously, and attaching to the camera in exactly the same manner, it differed from the other two lenses in the fact that the viewfinder portion was covered with a black plastic tab, indicating that it was never intended to be used freehand.
The close up lenses, while not intended for the QT camera, can actually be fitted to it in an identical manner, however, there are no existing distance measuring charts available for the QT with close lenses, so focus is a matter of trial and error testing.
Copy stand The copy stand is a beautiful piece of work, a 4 telescoping legged affair that stores neatly in a clear vinyl roll wrap case which in turn is stored in a heavier duty outer vinyl outer case with button snap flap. The five pieces that make up the stand are a small bucket type arrangement that secures the camera itself via a thumb screw on one end that mates with the camera's tripod socket, and the four telescoping legs that screw into the metal plate under the camera mounting bracket. The camera mounting bracket thoughtfully includes an auxiliary shutter release button, which is also threaded to accept a standard cable release. With the legs fully collapsed, distance is set properly for use with the 25cm/0.8 foot close up lens. When the locking collar at the end of each leg is loosened and the legs fully extended and relocked into place, the distance is properly set for use with the 40cm/1.3 foot close up lens. This is an elegantly designed and well machined precision device that is invaluable for document, photograph or small object photography.
This accessory can not be used with the QT camera.
Flash accessories Several different battery powered flash bulb guns were available for the MG-S and QT cameras, one firing the AG-1 "peanut" flashbulbs (still available if you look about) and another firing the more modern 4 shot flash cubes of 1960's fame. Both mounted to the left side of the camera via a screw knob that mated with a threaded hole in the side of the camera; a PC synch flash contact next to the mounting socket made the electrical connection between the camera and the flash gun.
A very popular accessory for the MG-S is the strobe adapter, sometimes referred to as the hot shoe adapter. It was available as an accessory for the MG-S, but was routinely included in cased sets of the QT (which came later, and was often bundled with a small electronic flash unit as well). This small plastic block mounted to the camera in an identical manner as the flash bulb guns, but provided a standard hot shoe mounting point for any standard electronic flash unit.
The strobe adapter was deceptively simple in appearance, but in looking at it, you begin to quickly appreciate the thoughtfulness of its design: a knurled thumbscrew secured it to the side of the camera. Any standard flash unit foot would slide into the hot shoe, after which a small, spring loaded plastic tab popped up behind the foot to prevent it from sliding backwards off the adapter. This foot mount lock could be unlocked by pressing down on a small bar at the back of the adapter to remove the flash unit, a very ingenious design. In addition, any flash unit could be used, either those with a "hot" electrical contact or older units that made contact with the camera via the PC flash synch cord: an auxiliary PC flash synch "pass through" socket was built into the side of the adapter to accommodate the cords, another very carefully thought out design element that made these adapters so versatile and useful.
Spy Finder This wonderful little device mounted on the left side of the camera using a screw knob that mated with the same mounting point the flash guns and hot shoe adapter uses, meaning that you can't use the two accessories at the same time. However, if you didn't need flash at the moment, a small prism arrangement in a housing that fit directly over the viewfinder allowed you to aim the camera at right angles to your face, for ultra discreet candid photographs.
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© February, 2002 by D. Scott Young