Minolta SR-T Film Test
A little over a month ago, in December of 2023, I married my beautiful bride, Caroline. We met while both exploring the beauties of New Zealand, so it was only fitting we headed back for our honeymoon!
When I think about what gear to travel with, I always like to chuck in at least one toy I haven’t yet played with. For this trip, it was my Minolta SR-T Super (released as the SR-T 102 elsewhere). Holidays are perfect opportunities to play, experiment, and create.
My Minolta was gifted to me by a friend, but sat on my shelf for a couple years. I dusted it off, replaced the button battery, loaded up some Portra 160 and flew out to Queenstown. The first thing I noticed was the hefty weight of this little chonk – I love it. The second thing I noticed was how sensitive it is to light … In fact, I thought the light meter was malfunctioning because when shooting in full daylight I had to stop down the lens to F16 in order to match the exposure needle. I was nervous as that all my photos would be underexposed.
But, I decided to trust the process, and I’m so glad I did! The results I got back made me do that happy little creator’s dance when a project turns out better than expected. Not only was the trip itself phenomenal, but I reckon I’ve now got the perfect travel companion in this chonky little mechanical beast. I have a few ideas on how to shoot it better next time, but for a first roll, I was thrilled. Hope you enjoy the stunning greens & blues of the South Island.
