Minolta · 35mm SLR · 1966–mid 1970s
Minolta premiered the SR-T 101 at the Japan Camera Show in March 1966, started selling it that April and kept it in production for about ten years with only minor changes. Its claim to fame is CLC, the Contrast Light Compensator. Two CdS cells read the top and bottom of the frame, and when the contrast between them is high the meter assumes the bright top is sky and leans toward the subject below. You set exposure by lining up two needles in the finder, one for the light coming through the lens and a follower for your settings. It takes Minolta's MC lenses, which pass the aperture to the meter, plus some older SR lenses. The cloth shutter is fully mechanical from 1 s to 1/1000 s and B, and the battery only runs the meter. The SR-T Super, sold as the SR-T 102, is its close sibling.
The variants
The SR-T Super, sold as the SR-T 102, and the later SR-T 100X of 1979 are close relatives. The 101 takes MC lenses, which couple to the meter, and some older SR lenses.
Battery
Many meters from the 1960s and 70s were built for 1.35 V mercury cells like the PX625, which held a steady voltage until almost flat. Mercury cells went off sale after EU and US laws in the 1990s, and a 1.55 V silver-oxide or alkaline cell can throw readings off in a meter that doesn't regulate voltage. There are three fixes. Zinc-air hearing-aid cells give 1.35 V but die within a few months. An adapter like the MR-9 uses a small circuit to drop a silver-oxide cell to 1.35 V. Or a repairer can recalibrate the meter for silver oxide. More on batteries and meters.
The meter was built for a 1.35 V PX625 mercury cell that's now banned in most countries, so readings depend on the substitute. The usual age problems apply. The meter movement's tiny coil can break, the back door seal and mirror foam break down, and the slow-speed timer can jam.
Buying guide
For a first SR-T 101 we'd buy the Japan dealer's body titled tested with the meter working and a Rokkor 55mm f/1.7, at $153 delivered, or the US one titled tested with a 58mm f/1.4 at $78 once you've read its description. There are more than 120 for sale, most asking $75–160 delivered, and plenty of untested US bodies sit at $40–60 below that. The shutter is fully mechanical, so it fires without a battery, and the cell only runs the meter. That meter was built for a 1.35 V PX625 mercury cell and a plain 1.5 V cell can read off, so ask which cell the seller tested with. A zinc-air cell or an adapter reads true. Ask for a video of the 1 s to 1/4 s speeds and a photo of the mirror foam, and skip the $656 kit with the 58mm f/1.2, about 5.7 times the median.
$42.95est. delivered
The lowest fixed-price SR-T 101 here, a body with a case for $43 delivered from a US seller. It makes no test claim, so ask for a video of the slow speeds and whether the meter needle moves.
Minolta SRT 101 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Only With Case
$78.41est. delivered
Titled tested with the MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4, the faster of the usual kit lenses, for $78 delivered, near the bottom of the band. The title says to read the description, so do that before you offer.
MINOLTA SRT 101 SLR 35mm Film Camera w/ MC ROKKOR-PF 58mm F1.4 Lens, TESTED READ
$153.08est. delivered
Titled tested with the meter working, and it comes with an MC Rokkor 55mm f/1.7, for $153 delivered from Japan. Ask which cell the meter was tested with, and look for clear glass in a backlit lens photo.
MINOLTA SRT 101 SLR Meter Works MC Rokkor 55mm F1.7 Lens Tested EXC+5 From Japan
$40.09est. delivered
A body titled untested and as-is for $40 delivered, about a third of the median. Buy it as a donor or a project, not as a working camera.
Vintage Minolta SR-T 101 35mm SLR Film Camera Body Only UNTESTED AS IS
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$42.95est. delivered
$30.00 + $12.95 shipping
Buy It Now$30.00
Good buy
Body only, with a case. No test claim.
Seller: craigsl_68
98.7% positive
Used$78.41est. delivered
$69.00 + $9.41 shipping
Buy It Now$69.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
With an MC Rokkor-PF 58mm f/1.4, titled tested. Read the description.
Seller: alserge.dct2
99.5% positive
Used$153.08est. delivered
$118.08 + $35.00 shipping
Buy It Now$118.08
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
With an MC Rokkor 55mm f/1.7, titled tested with the meter working. EXC+5 is the Japan dealer's grade.
Seller: haonsports
100% positive
For parts$40.09est. delivered
$33.00 + $7.09 shipping
Buy It Now$33.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Project piece
Body only, titled untested and as-is.
Seller: l0gjamm1n
100% positive
Used$61.03est. delivered
$55.00 + $6.03 shipping
Buy It Now$55.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
Body only, titled tested. The title says to read the description.
Seller: dycoo94
100% positive
![[NEAR MINT] Minolta SRT 101 Film Camera MC rokkor PF 55mm F/1.7 From JAPAN](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lUYAAeSw-ABqXL~z/s-l500.jpg)
Used$112.52est. delivered
$105.00 + $7.52 shipping
Buy It Now$105.00
Our take
With an MC Rokkor-PF 55mm f/1.7. Titled Near Mint and "From JAPAN", but it ships from the US.
Seller: upperarm
99.4% positive
Used$124.79est. delivered
$118.32 + $6.47 shipping
Buy It Now$118.32
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Check the seller
Chrome body with an MC 35mm f/2.8. eBay didn't show the seller, so check feedback on the item page.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$655.68est. delivered
$650.00 + $5.68 shipping
Buy It Now$650.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Priced high
With a Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 and two more lenses. About 5.7 times the median ask.
Seller: kebe3844
100% positive
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