Minolta manual focus SLRs

This page deals with the various manual focus SLRs that were built by Minolta from the mid-sixties to the early eighties. (It should be noted that a few models, including the X-700 from 1982, are still in production!) I've tried to give at least some rudimentary information on all types, but the focus is on the cameras I own and have worked with.

These are all my personal opinions, based on my experience with (single examples of) the cameras described. In other words: your mileage may vary!


SRT-101

The SRT-101 could be considered to be the classic Minolta. It is to Minolta what the FT(b) is to Canon and the Nikkormat is to Nikon. It is a fully mechanical camera, needing battery power only to operate the light meter. This is fortunate, as the SRT-101 uses a 1.35V mercury battery that is being banned for environmental reasons.

SR-T 101

The SRT-101 features a rubber cloth focal plane shutter (speeds ranging from 1/1000 to 1 second) and a large mirror that can be locked up manually. Its metering system is something of a specialty. Minolta used two CdS cells in the prism housing, each of which looks at a different part of the image. This system essentially provides simple two-field evaluative metering; it was called the contrast light compensating (CLC) system. The CLC system tends to overexpose high contrast subjects slightly. This is fine for print film, but to achieve correct exposure on slide film one should set the ISO dial 1/3 to 2/3 stop higher than the actual film speed (e.g., expose ISO 100 film at ISO 125 or 160).

In addition to the original SRT-101, Minolta built several other SRT-series cameras, including the simplified SRT-100(b) and the SRT-303. Generally speaking, the higher numbers indicated more advanced cameras. The SRT family relations are confused by the fact that the cameras were labeled differently in the various countries where they were sold.

I only bought a SRT-101 quite recently, so I don't have a lot of experience with it. Its mechanical construction seems to be of high quality, similar to the XE-1. After some estimated 25-30 years, the metering system on mine needs recalibrating, but as the mercury batteries it uses are being banned for environmental reasons, it hardly seems worth the expense. (Rumour has it that the Minolta service deptartment can adapt SRTs to accept silveroxide or lithium batteries, at an estimated cost of around 150 Dutch guilders.) I'm planning on using the SRT-101 mainly for nightly time exposures, though; it doesn't eat batteries and the mirror can be locked up!

Over the years, the SRT family grew to comprise an impressive number of different models, sometimes only varying in details. Generally speaking, the higher numbered models, such as the SRT-303, are the more advanced and have a broader range of shutter speeds and more comprehensive viewfinder indications. For more information on these mechanical Minoltas, take a look at the link section.


XM / XM-Motor

The XM (1974) and its motorised cousin, the XM-Motor (1976), are the only Minolta manual focus SLRs squarely aimed at the professional market. Which was at that time, unfortunately, already firmly in the capable hands of Nikon, Canon, and Leica, so these Minoltas were less than successful in a commercial sense.

I do not own an XM. This is something I regret, as I think that it is the most desirable of all manual focus Minoltas. I suspect that it is even nicer to use than the XE-1. However, the XM is quite rare and, when in a good condition, commands a considerable price. The XM-Motor was ridiculously expensive back in the seventies, so I think very few have been sold. I've only seen one in a shop once; there was no price tag and I really didn't dare to ask...

XE-1

XE-1

The XE-1 (1974) is my all-time favourite Minolta SLR. It is heavy, large, and built like a tank. It uses the same CLC metering system as the SRT series, which is a bit of an acquired taste. It has many useful features, including aperture-priority autoexposure, a locking depth-of-field preview button (press to engage, press to release again) and a multiple exposure facility. Unforunately, it lacks an autoexposure lock (AE-lock) and mirror lock-up.

The XE-1 uses the so-called Copal-Leitz-Shutter (CLS) developed for the Leica R3. As a matter of fact, the XE-1 and the R3 share their basic design as the result of a cooperation between Minolta and Leitz (which also resulted in the Minolta XD7/Leica R4 and the Leica CL rangefinder camera). The CLS is an electronic shutter; fortunately, the X (1/100 sec) and B settings are also available in the absence of battery power.

To me, the XE-1 is one of those classic cameras from the age of fine mechanical engineering that you just have to pick up to fall in love with. The camera feels very robust and everyting operates very smoothly. It is totally unlike the modern lightweight SLRs made from high-tech plastics and composites. I don't doubt that the modern ones will outperform the XE-1 by almost any standard, but I still prefer to hold and to handle the latter...

In the context of usability, it should be noted that the XE-1, and all Minolta manual focus SLRs from this model onward, use commonly available 1.5V silveroxide batteries (two LR-44 or SR-44 batteries, or a single 3V lithium battery)! Accordingly, the ban on mercury batteries does not affect these models.


XD7

The XD7 is the next best thing, right after the XE-1. Again. it shares its design with a Leica camera (the R4) and is is very nice to handle. It is, however, a great deal smaller and lighter than the XE-1. According to the history books, the XD7 was the first SLR to feature both aperture-priority and shutter-priority automation. When comparing the XD7 to the Canon A-1 - which has very similar features - the elegant and simple design of the Minolta really stands out. Unlike the Canon, it uses a single switch to operate all three exposure modes; all other settings are made through the shutter speed dial and the aperture ring.

XD7

On the XD7, Minolta introduced the so-called "final check" metering system. The camera measures light intensity normally (using photodiodes in the viewfinder) at maximal aperture for the viewfinder indications. When taking a picture, the aperture closes to its calculated (shutter priority mode) or preset value (aperture priority mode). Then, before the mirror flips up, the camera takes a second measurement at the actual aperture. This second measurement determines the exact shutter speed required for maximally accurate exposure, compensating for possible errors in aperture control. In practice, the XD7 exposes very accurately indeed, so it would seem that the system works well. Five years later, a similar system was employed on the X-700 to allow fully programmed auto-exposure (program mode).

It should be noted that the final check systems is only supposed to work with MD lenses. The older MC lenses may work (in aperture priority mode), but apparently the kinetics of the aperture spring mechanism are different and may thus cause exposure errors. More noticably, MC lenses lack the second tab on the aperture ring and consequently cannot communicate their smallest aperture value to the camera. Hence, the camera simply cannot be used in shutter-priority mode with MC lenses.


XG series

The XG series was introduced at the same time as the XD7. At first it consisted of the XG-2 only, which was superseded by the simpler XG-1 and the more advanced XG-9. The last XG model, the XG-M, was introduced in 1981, just before the X-700, and indeed had more in common with the later X-series models than with its predecessors.

I don't own any XG-series Minolta, and, to be honest, I don't really want to either. Although these are without doubt very fine cameras to use (and quite cheap to obtain as well), I don't think they are very remarkable among the many electronic SLRs of the late seventies.

X-700

The X-700 is not really a classic camera; although it was introduced in 1982, it is still available today (new, that is). It was the first Minolta SLR to feature a program mode, in addition to the aperture-priority and manual modes of previous models. Its other claim to fame was the TTL flash exposure meter. However, the X-700 uses a old-fashioned rubbercloth shutter (apparently an improved version of that of the XG-series cameras), so the fastest sync speed is only 1/60 sec.

To allow program mode autoexposure, the X-700 employs the "final check" metering system (for details, see the description of the XD7), which works with MD lenses only. Although Minolta apparently advises against it, most older lenses can be used normally in aperture-priority mode.

The X-500 and X-300 models were introduced in subsequent years. The X-500 was quite similar to the X-700, except it lacked the program mode (and thus the "final check" system). On the X-300, the TTL flash mode and DOF preview facility were also omitted. On the other hand, these cameras gained a very useful display of the selected shutter speed (in manual mode, that is) in the viewfinder, which the X-700 lacks.

I think the X-700 is a fine camera. It earned the "European Camera of the Year" title in 1982, and was reviewed favourably by many magazines. Even by today's standards, it is a very usable camera. It should be quite reliable, though I think the older models fare somewhat better in that respect. The shutter on my nearly 10 year old X-700 has jammed, which - as far as I've gathered from other people's comments on the Internet - seems to happen occasionaly. (I don't know yet whether it will be expensive to have it repaired.)


Minolta manual focus SLRs: brief overview of features

Please note that the list below is not entirely complete. There have been some additional models, like the SRT 100X and SRT 101b. These were mostly slightly improved or downgraded models, based on an existing model, and differ only in some minor details, such as a reduced top shutter speed (1/500 instead of 1/1000 s).

CameraYearTypeLensesWeightExp. modes MeterShutterSpeeds
SR-T Series
SRT 1011966mechanicalMC, MD~750 gM CdS (CLC)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
SRT 1001971mechanicalMC, MD~700 gM CdS (CLC)rubber cloth1/500-1 s, B
SRT 3031973mechanicalMC, MD M CdS (CLC)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
XM / XM-Motor
XM1972electronicMC, MD670 gA, M CdS (CLC)titanium foil1/2000-16 s, B
XM-Motor1976electronicMC, MD1450 gA, M CdS (CLC)titanium foil1/2000-16 s, B
XE Series
XE-11975electronicMC, MD775 gA, M CdS (CLC)metal blade1/1000-4 s, B
XE-51976electronicMC, MD A, M CdS (CLC)metal blade1/1000-4 s, B
XD Series
XD71977electronicMD560 gS, A, M Si (c.w.)metal blade1/1000-4 s, B
XD51979electronicMD525 gS, A, M Si (c.w.)metal blade1/1000-4 s, B
XG Series
XG-91979electronicMD500 gA, M CdS (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
XG-21977electronicMD A, M CdS (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
XG-11979electronicMD490 gA, M CdS (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
XG-M1981electronicMD A, M CdS (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-1 s, B
X Series
X-7001982electronicMD505 gP, A, M Si (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-4 s, B
X-50019??electronicMD, MC505 gA, M Si (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-4 s, B
X-3001984electronicMD, MC470 gA, M Si (c.w.)rubber cloth1/1000-4 s, B

(Data for the XM / XM-Motor refer to the camera body including the interchangeable AE-finder. Abbreviations: CdS - Cadmium sulfide resistor, CLC - Contrast Light Compensating metering system, c.w. - centre-weighted metering, Si - Silicon photodiode, P - program mode, S - shutter-priority autoexposure, A - aperture-priority autoexposure, M - manual exposure)

These data were compiled from various sources, including the books mentioned below, various Minolta brochures and a series of articles in the Dutch magazine "Camera Beurs" (nowadays called "Camera Magazine").

The pictures on this page were taken by the author using a Fuji MX-700 digital camera, resampled to reduce image size, and saved as JPeG at a high compression ratio to reduce file size. You may observe some compression artefacts that were not present in the original image. B.t.w., I know I should have removed the camera straps before taking the pictures but I'm a bit lazy sometimes.


References / Further reading (in Dutch)


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Last updated on: February 19, 2000