Minolta 110 Zoom SLR, the first SLR in 110 format.

In April 1976, to celebrate my first real marketing job (a part-time marketing assistant position in the Bank of America marketing department), I bought this Minolta 110 Zoom SLR, the first SLR in 110 format.

Actually, my new boss asked me if I had a “good” camera that I could use to take pictures of merchandising in the bank branches. Of course I said “Yes” – even though I didn’t. So after work, I rushed over to the local Ritz Camera store and bought the best camera I couldn’t really afford for the assignment

Minolta produced the original Minolta 110 Zoom SLR from 1976 until 1979. I paid about $200 for it – that’s almost $950 in today’s dollars.

I still have it 45 years later, so here’s me imitating the photo from the original box. The 110 film cartridges are still sold for the camera, so I think I’ll buy a few rolls and give it a try.