Minolta Freedom 100

	Lens:		35 mm f/4.5
	Exposure Control:		EV 9.6 to EV 16.2
	Maximum shutter speed:		1/200th? sec
	Battery:		two AA
	Dimensions (inches, WxHxD):		5.1 x 2.8 x 1.9
	Weight (without batteries):		210 gm / 7.5 oz

This is the first camera that I ever used in a rocket, other than the Astrocam. The camera rocket was built about 1982 and at that time, camera selection was not that great. The only requirement that I had was it had to have auto film advance and the camera had to be tripped electronically. I had to modify the camera to be activated from a timing circuit that would close a relay. Size was not an issue since at that time they did not have the 3" diameter body tubes and no camera would fit into the 2.56" body tubes. The 4" body tube had plenty of room for camera and electronics.

This camera was flown once on an unnamed rocket listed under the Miscellaneous Rockets page but did a splashdown in a pond in Florida. After removing the batteries and letting it dry out completely, it was ready for another flight. Later, it flew several times with the first version of the Eye in the Sky camera rocket. The Minolta Freedom 100 flew several times at LDRS 7 and 8 in Hartsel, Colorado and I even wrote an article about it for the Tripolitain in 1988. The camera was eventually lost flying it on a high altitude launch on a J125.

At the time it was flown, the Freedom 100 provided satisfactory pictures. It was easy to modify but the slow shutter speed only provided a few clear shots for an entire roll of film. There are many other cameras available today that would outperform the Freedom 100.