Minolta SR-2

Minolta SR-2 with 55mm f/1.8 Lens

This camera is rare. I was lucky to acquire this camera and the Nikon FE together, they are both part of my permanent collection. 

The SR-2 was introduced in 1958, before the Nikon F and Canonflex, but after the Pentax, Miranda, and Zunow. Although the SR-2 was introduced in Japan before the Canonflex and Nikon F, incredibly all three were introduced to America at the same Philadelphia photo show in March 1959.  The SR-2 with 55/1.8 had a list price of $249.50, ($2,180 in todays dollars) the Canonflex with  50/2 had a list price of $299.95, the Nikon F with a 50/2 had a list price of $359.50 (source and more valuable information can be found here: www.cameraquest.com/)

More valuable information can be found here: www.rokkorfiles.com and here http://www.pentax-slr.com/sr-2

Only about 20,700 of the SR-2's were produced (versus over 1 million of the SR-1's). This production estimate was calculated using the formula in the this link, based on a sample size of 111.  The black bodied cameras being extremely rare, they seem to be selling for up to ten times more then the silver bodies (based on Ebay listings). Based on my data only about 12% of them were made in black. My camera seems to have been made about three quarters of the way through the production run, based on the serial numbers that I have seen posted online, so it was likely made in late 1959 or 1960. The lowest serial number I have seen is 1100500 and the highest 1120859.

Current Value: collectiblend.com/Sr-2

Body Serial # 1112888
Lens Serial # 1207058 55mm f/1.8 Auto Rokkor PF

Introduction: 1958
Finish: Chrome
Shutter Speed: from 1 sec to 1/1000 sec, including X

ISO: 10-1600
Shutter: Fully mechanical cloth focal plane shutter

Exposure meter:  none

Battery: none
Flash: Yes, with PC sync (removable coldshoe, the one I have is not the original version, this one likely was released later for the SR-1)
Self-timer: Yes
Metering: Manual
Focus: Manual
Lens Mount: Minolta Bayonet MC Mount