Gear Archeology is something you fall into slowly without much thought. Although I try my best to avoid it, the collecting bug always seems to bite me. Sometimes, it’s a major item, like a pristine Minolta-35 IIB or an X-600. But, often, the search for that one little thing takes up a lot of time and is just as satisfying. I refer to these searches as “gear archeology.” The urge to search for those little items starts as mild curiosity, and if you are not careful, it can grow into a mild obsession.
The realization that I had set out on an expedition came while looking for a hood for my Minolta Semi P folder. The lens is very sharp and renders beautiful colors, but being from the 1950s, it flares badly. A hood was the obvious solution, so the search began. Being unable to determine whether an OEM hood existed, I searched for substitutes. In the meantime, I decided a hood for the Konica Pearl II would be a good investment, as well. Since more info is generally available for Konica Pearl cameras, I expected quick (and maybe, expensive) success. Nope.
On various forums, the Pearl II was stated to have a filter size of 30.5mm, so I looked for a hood and filters in that size. They did not fit. Finally, I found a 32mm slip-on adapter that would accept 30.5mm filters. Konica Pearl problem solved.
I thought things were looking up when a seller on eBay had a Minolta Semi III with a hood for sale. I made an offer for the hood and the yellow filter that came with it. The hood fit the Semi P, but only when the yellow filter was attached. The yellow filter has two surfaces, one side works with the Semi P, and the other with the Semi III. However, the hood and filter together work only with the Semi P. The hood alone does not fit the Semi III, but it does fit the Semi P. Apparently, the Semi III has multiple variants.
Finally, I learned that Kodak made a range of standard accessories (hoods and filters), and Series VI items were the closest in size to the lens housing of the Semi III. I bought a set with a hood, adapter, and four filters. Now, I have hoods and filters for all my folding cameras—but it required a lot of searching.
Being a glutton for punishment, I did the same for my Minolta Autocord and LTM lenses. In both cases, chance, favoring the prepared mind, saved the day. The Autocord hood was among a set of miscellaneous items that a seller was eager to be rid of. Later, I came across a seller with a complete set of Minolta-brand Bay 1 contrast filters, which are hard to find. Bingo!
Thanks to Kodak, getting hoods and filters for LTM lenses is easy. However, Minolta OEM items are rare in the US, so I never expected to find anything like that. But again, a seller put a Minolta hood for the Super Rokkor 50mm f/1.8, which is itself relatively hard to find in the US. He didn’t know which lens it fit, and I wasn’t certain, but I bought it anyway because it was clearly a vintage item and inexpensive—perfect fit. So now I have hoods and filters for my 1950s LTM lenses, folding cameras, and most fixed-lens rangefinders—all the bits and bobs needed for sunny days and black-and-white images.
It seems my expedition days have formally ended. I can say this with certainty because a hood for the Minolta MD (III) 50mm f/1.4 lens was on eBay for 35.00. I have hoods for all the other Minolta 50mm SLR lenses from 1958 on, except the MD (III), and after looking at it for a week, I removed it from my watch list. Hopefully, I’m cured.
When I got my Minoltina AL-S, I knew that I would at least want two filters for the odd 40.5mm size: skylight and yellow. Surprisingly the yellow one I found was a Minolta one and listed compatibility with other Minoltas of the era, like the AL!
Wow, you got lucky!
40.5mm Minolta filters are hard to come by and often expensive. Recently, I saw 40.5mm Minolta filters on eBay for 40.00.
I must have lucked out on the price, too, as I only paid $10 plus $5 shipping.
Very lucky. Many times, even regular filters cost $10.