Cool Vintage 1980s Yellow Minolta Weathermatic A Underwater Camera Working

ONE OF THE FIRST MODERN UNDERWATER CAMERAS WAS THIS COOL LOOKING YELLOW MINOLTA WEATHERMATIC A 110 CAMERA FROM 1980. IN GOOD CONDITION. VIEWFINDER SETTINGS TESTED WITH BATTERY AND SEEMS TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION. NOT FILM TESTED NOR UNDERWATER TESTED.
 
Minolta created a weatherproof camera for each of the popular film formats, 110, 35, and APS, for the 20 plus years the Weathermatic line was in production. The first entry in this all-weather camera line was the 110 film, 1980 Minolta Weathermatic A.
 
The Weathermatic-A dates from 1980 and Minolta's decision to bring out a waterproof camera for the 110 format probably reflects the growing popularity of scuba diving and other such sports. The camera is waterproof to 5 meters, and as well as its large controls, designed to be easy to use with gloves, there is also an intergral padded wriststrap which can be attached to either right or left side of the camera. The yellow and black colour scheme also denotes its design relationship to diving gear,
 
The controls are large and simple to use. On the top of the camera are two knobs, one for focus, with a series of symbols to indicate distance, the other, which changes the aperture, has two weather symbols, for sun and cloud and flash. Next to this is the shutter button, a large rubberised pad. On the underside of the camera is the frame advance lever. The lens is a f3.5 26mm Rokkor, with a close focus distance of 0.9m or 3ft; the shutter is set at 1/200th only.
 
The viewfinder indicates the focus setting with a red transparent tab that moves over the same series of distance symbols. There is also a simple parallax indication, and a red underexposure warning. This is powered by a single AA battery (TESTED AND WORKING), used for both metering and the built-in flash. However the shutter itself is entirely mechanical.
 
Embossed on the underside of the camera body is a numerical key for the distance symbols in both feet and metres, and "actual flash-range on land"; these are also printed on both sides of the strap toggle. The flash distances are given for 100 and 400 ASA film: the camera has the film speed pin to sense either low or high cartridges.
 
The camera back has two locks for its rear seal, these have clips that need to be lifted before each lock can be rotated in opposite directions. Inside this, both film and battery can be loaded separately.

The Weathermatic-A, uses 110 cartridges with double-perforated 16mm Kodak Photo Instrumentation film. The Weathermatic-A is a typical 110 camera in that it needs perforations to function: the shutter release does not work unless the internal pin connects to a perforation.
 
MARKINGS: MINOLTA WEATHERMATIC
 
SIZE 20CM WIDE 7CM DEEP 4.5CM HIGH
 
CONDITION: IN GOOD CONDITION. VIEWFINDER SETTINGS TESTED WITH BATTERY AND SEEMS TO BE IN WORKING CONDITION. NOT FILM TESTED NOR UNDERWATER TESTED.
 
MINOLTA (1928-present):
Minolta Co., Ltd. was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta Co., Ltd., which is also known simply as Minolta, was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as Nichi-Doku Shashinki Shōten. It made the first integrated autofocus 35 mm SLR camera system.
 
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