Modern
Classic SLR Series |
But since the older Rokkor MC/MD lenses are not compatible anymore with the new autofocus Maxxum or Dynax class AF bodies. Your possible investment could lack a migration path should there is a necessity to upgrade into an Minolta's autofocus camera in the future. Anyway, this is a extremely well made SLR camera, if your primarily interest is not on autofocus or modern fancy metering, this can be a very attractive used entry camera model to be seriously take into consideration. Of cause, other than compatibility issues with the new AF mount design, the biggest advantage for such older series of manual focus Minolta cameras is because it is more economical if you have a tight waist belt to spend. This could have answered most photographic request if you got hooked or getting a little serious about photography later. In the used market, the is a great pool of cheap, used lenses, accessories for you to look into.
The meteoric rise of the electronic, super-compact SLRs such as the Olympus OM-2n, Pentax ME forced many camera manufacturers into a game of catch-up. But Minolta chose to set its own standards with the XD-7/11. Among other innovations, the XD-7/11 settled the debate over aperture-preferred vs. shutter-speed-preferred automation because it was a both - it gives you a choice between either mode.
The universal XD-7 shares essentially the same configuration with the XD-11, which is a US designed model. Although competition was keen from the later Canon A-1, Nikon FE, Olympus OM2n or even from Fuji with their Fujica AX-5 but it was the Minolta XD-7 that has kicked started the full and sophisticated automation in camera design in 1976.
The chapters followed here are to help someone that are hungry for such information to have a basic knowledge of this very much under-rated camera produced by Minolta, Japan - the company that brought you many fine cameras like the XK-1, the X-700 and the revolutionary Maxmum class AF cameras in the eighties and eye-start AF in the Dynax series cameras.
Credit: Image(s) courtesy of Brian Balogh® from Brian's Camera Shop (formerly Fotoworks) 674 Elgin Street Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 3B4 Canada (905)868-8256-phoneImage copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.
The camera is called the XD-11 in the US market. While the rest of the world is referred as 'XD-7'.Since the XD-7 is a 35mm electronically controlled SLR with choice between aperture preferred or shutter-speed preferred operation and you can enjoy the ease and convenience of automation in camera operation. It has a electromagnetic release shutter, full range of manually calibrated shutter speeds as well as automatic exposure control. In the viewfinder, there is a LED readout displays of shutter speed or f/stop which the camera will automatically program. It uses Silicon photo diode (SPD) photo sensor to provide full-aperture metering with a film-speed range from ASA 12 to ASA 3200.
It can be powered by either two 1.5V silver-oxide batteries (S-76, G-13, MS-76, or RS-76) which house inside the battery compartment at bottom of the camera body. Even if there is situations where it is without any batteries installed inside or power is depleted - there are a few mechanical speeds to operate which are independent of battery power. The XD-7 is employed with a Seiko MFC vertically traveling metal focal-plane shutter. Electronic shutter-speed control at auto and manual settings with two mechanically controlled settings - bulb and 1/100 second. The shutter has a travel time of approx. 6.0 to 6.9ms measured across a 20mm distance. However, the self-timer mechanism is mechanical.
Credit: Image(s) courtesy of Brian Balogh® from Brian's Camera Shop (formerly Fotoworks) 674 Elgin Street Newmarket, Ontario L3Y 3B4 Canada (905)868-8256-phoneImage copyright © 2008. All rights reserved. Please respect the visual property of the contributing photographer.
The XD-7 accepts all the manual focus Minolta MD lenses. The flange-focal distance is 43.7mm ( + 0.02 - 0) measured from lens-mounting ring to pressure-plate rails. I am doing my best to provide a proper site to let you understand this camera better - for its effort that leads to further development of such fine classic system SLR bodies such as the X-700 and the professional class of XK|XM|X-1 model earlier. Not to mentioned - eventually the Maxxum series of body integrated autofocus camera that kicked started the AF revolution.Caller: IF you have a XD-7 / XD-11 | XK / XM models or any nice images relative to the camera or motor drive/winder/lenses set up, please mail me to make this site more complete. Appropriate credit will be given.
NEW: Minolta X-700 and Maxxum 7000 sites have been uploaded for preview !
Basic Camera Operations (Instruction Manual) : 5 Parts
Specification: HTML | PDF
Main Reference Map: HTML | PDF (193k)
A good resource for Manuals for other Minolta SLRs/accessories - External Link
A highly recommended site on Minolta bodies, Rokkor lenses & other Minolta SLRs/accessories - External Link
| Minolta X1/XK/XM | Minolta X-700 | Minolta Maxxum 7000 |
| Message Board | for your favourite Minolta XD-7/XD-11 SLR camera(s)
| Message Board | for your Minolta Optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically tor Dispose or Looking for Minolta Photographic equipmentOther Minolta (now Konica-Minolta) resources on the web:
Free Instruction Mannuals in PDF format downloads for:
Minolta X-370 (300) (2.9 MB) | Minolta X-570 (1.9 MB) | Minolta XG-1 (1.8 MB) | Minolta XG-7 (1.5 MB) | Minolta XG-A (1.8 MB) | Minolta XG-M (1.9 MB) | Minolta SR7 (1.5 MB) | Minolta SR-T (7.0 MB) | Minolta SR-T 102 (1.8 MB) | Minolta SR-T 200/201/202 (2.8 MB) | Minolta SR-T 303 (1.7 MB) | Other models & system accessories (USA) All works courtesy of Mr. Jim, lensinc. Ltd. Thank him, as these are not my effort.About this photographic site.
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Copyright © 2000 leofoo® MIR Web Development Team
Credit: Satosh Oka for some of the very high quality images for the Minolta CD-7 and XK Motor used in this site. Oleg Volk, who has offered some help during the initial stage of development of this site; Stephen Schwartz on the few new images of XK; Mark Wasmer for the original Brouche of the few Minolta cameras; Dick Sullivan whom I used some of his info as reference in this site; Mr Poon who has helped me eith some of the images used in this site. Minolta, XD-7, XK, XM, X1, Rokkor, MC lenses are either registered tradenames or trade mark of Milnolta Optical Co. Ltd, Japan. Asite dedicted to all Minolta fans worldwide.