Ansco Anscoset/Minolta Uniomat question

[khingdheano]

Greetings all,
I have this interesting little shooter that I picked up for 5 bucks in mint condition---- getting great shots from it. It's an EV style RF with a coupled selenium meter match-needle system. I have no manual for it, pretty self explanatory, really, except for one thing: There's some markings A thru E on the body next to the lens, apparently they are related to a distance scale that is on the inner part of the lens housing. This is not related to focusing, as that's on a different ring. Anyone know what these letters indicate? I've attached a photo of the camera, the letters in question are to the right of the lens, just under the engraved ANSCO.
Thanks if anyone can help.
R. Dean
aka khingdheano

[wierdcollector]

Hi khingdheano,
On my Anscoset ll, the letters A-E coincide with the flash guide table attached to the rear of the camera door. In case yours has fallen off (they're only glued on):
A-strobe X-more than 7 feet
B-Anscolite AG-1B, 7 feet or less
C-Anscolite AG-1, M2B, 6B, AG-1B
D-M2.6, AG-1, 5B,25B, M5B, M25B
E-5, 25, M5, M25

C,D,E are all varieties of bulbs

Hope this helps and you get plenty of use from your Anscoset. By the way, your camera is made by Minolta as you probably guessed by the excellent Rokkor lens.

[khingdheano]

Thanks Curt, for clearing that up. You are correct in surmising that there is no flash guide on the back of my camera, it must've as you said fallen off. I was quite happily suprised when I found out this was a Minolta, I did some investigating on the web about it. I found it in a "make me an offer" bin at a camera show and got if for 5 bucks, case and all. Thought it might just sit on the shelf for show, but I have been very pleased with the results I have gotten from it. The lens is as you say excellent, and I am getting great exposures from the metering system. This one is now my "keep in the car" shooter.
Regards,
R. Dean

[wierdcollector]

Glad I could help. I hope you enjoy your Anscoset as much as I do mine. Good luck and good shooting.

[junior]

Hi guys,

I've been trying to see if anyone has the Minolta A5 and if they have any photos to share. I noticed that the Uniomat probably has the same 45mm/f2.8 Rokkor lens. Anyone have any photos to share? Does it have 7 aperture blades. How is it wide open?
Thanks!