Minolta's entry SRT SLR — match-needle CLC meter, mechanical shutter, MD mount, 1975.
The Minolta SRT 200 was introduced in 1975 as the entry model of the revised SRT range, sitting below the SRT 201 and SRT 202. It continued the SR mount and through-the-lens metering of the SRT line while offering a simplified feature set for budget buyers.
It is a mechanical 35mm SLR on the Minolta SR/MC/MD bayonet, here labelled Minolta MD. The horizontal cloth focal-plane shutter is mechanically timed and fires without a battery. Metering is through-the-lens, match-needle and centre-weighted using the CLC system, with a lower top shutter speed and fewer finder readouts than the SRT 202. Exposure is set manually.
The SRT 200 suits beginners, students and cost-conscious users who want a coupled TTL meter in a simple mechanical body. It handles like the rest of the SRT range but pares back features to reach a lower price, while keeping the battery-independent mechanical shutter.
On the used market, test the cloth shutter for pinholes, even travel and working slow speeds. Foam light seals and mirror-damper foam commonly perish and usually need renewal. The meter was designed for a 1.35V mercury PX625/625 cell no longer sold, so verify the needle responds and consider a voltage adapter or handheld meter. Check the prism for haze, feel the advance and rewind, and note the shutter fires with a dead battery.