Minolta XD

An Ode to the Endling - The Minolta XD Series

6/24/2016

"Endling" - an individual that is the last of its species.

-The journal Nature-

Chrome XD7 with New Leatherette and Inboard Exposure Compensation Lever

Updated Feb. 6, 2021

Meet the last great manual focus Minolta...the XD (XD 11 in North America/XD 7 in Europe). Steady on, now! Wasn't the X-700 (1981) an award-winning camera with a more extensive and capable system of accessories?! Yes...yes it was, and it sold very well (2.1 million copies versus 750,000 XDs)...and lived a much longer life...and it has TTL flash...and a real motor drive...yadda, yadda, yadda. Just pick up an example of each and stroke the film advance lever. Case closed. Well, not really closed...I'm just getting warmed up ;-). Now the objective of this article is not to denigrate the X-700. (That would be rather unappreciative, seeing as it was my first real camera, it got me hooked on photography, and it is a good camera.) But a funny thing happened when I was looking for a backup body, back in 2000. I chanced upon a black XD 11 at my local pusher...I mean camera store, and for $50 less than I had paid for the X-700! Fast forward 16 years, and the 11 is still with me while the X-700 was sent down the road a few years back. Why?

What Makes the XD Special?

Minolta began development of the XD shortly after the introduction of the XE in 1974 (coincidentally, at almost exactly the same time, Canon started development of their revolutionary AE-1). They were pushing the technological envelope, adding a shutter-priority mode to the XE's aperture-priority and manual modes, adopting a more sensitive Silicon Photo Diode (SPD) meter instead of the cadmium sulfide (CdS) meter of the XE, introducing a new, brighter Acute-Matte focusing screen, an LED viewfinder display, and notably, (thanks to the AE-1 ;-)) a microprocessor. But the most visible difference from the XE was the result of another SLR's influence.

In 1973, Olympus had introduced it's groundbreaking OM-1, the first truly compact SLR. The XE was too close to production to make the transition to this new form factor. But it's not hard to see the effect of the OM-1 in the XD. The XD is 220 grams (almost 8 oz.) lighter than the XE and within a few millimeters of the OM-1's dimensions. The XD provided all of the XE's capability and more in a lighter, smaller package. And it was aimed at the enthusiast photographer, not the average consumer (as opposed to the Canon AE-1 and Minolta's later X-700). So it retained the vertical-travel shutter configuration of the XE, metal top and bottom plates, very nearly the same silky film advance, the eyepiece shutter, and multiple exposure capability (although it used the system from the professional-level XK, which, ironically, was not as refined as the XE's). Now, Minolta obviously made XD production more efficient and cost-effective than that of the XE. But the drop-off in build quality was minimal, especially when compared to the XD versus the X-700.

Sleeker XD Shows OM-1 Influence

Size comparison: XD to XE

XE Shows Classic Big Body Styling

Some other features of the XD are:

It nestles snugly and solidly in the hands. Controls move with a satisfyingly positive and well-damped feel.
The meter is activated by a slight press of the shutter release, not so much that you accidentally trip the shutter, but just enough to be comfortable. No more OFF/ON switch (I'm looking at you XE ;-)) to forget about and drain the batteries after leaving it ON. Although the release is electronic it still accepts a standard cable release.
Film advance, as stated above, is wonderfully smooth and positive.
The mirror features an air damper and the Seiko MFC-E shutter is a beauty, so noise and vibration are kept to a minimum (for an SLR).
Another nice touch with the black models is the finish. As with the XE, Leitz collaborated with Minolta on the XD, with it serving as the chassis for their R4 through R7 models. Leitz had developed a black chrome finish for their cameras and Minolta used this on the XD. It has a nice semi-matte look and is very durable.
Another feature introduced with the XD was Minolta's "Final Check" metering. Basically, the camera snatches another meter reading after the lens has stopped down to the taking aperture, and fine tunes the exposure by adjusting the shutter speed slightly if necessary. This enhances exposure accuracy and is one of the features that made it to the X-700. Nikon also adopted this feature for its FG model. This did increase the shutter lag from the XE's stellar 38 milliseconds to 60 milliseconds, but seeing as the standard reaction time of a photographer is around 200 milliseconds, it's not a huge adjustment.
The viewfinder is a gem with changing display masks for the 3 exposure modes (M, A, S). The user can adjust shutter speed and aperture without taking their eye from the viewfinder because the meter reading and pertinent settings for shutter and aperture are all there, in every mode. This is in contrast to the X-700's less comprehensive (read: cheaper) viewfinder.

XD versus X-700

The X-700 was Minolta's second-generation reply to the tremendous success of the Canon AE-1 and served as the direct competitor to its progeny, the AE-1 Program. It is not difficult to see the influence of Canon on Minolta's approach. Whereas the XD was targeted firmly at enthusiasts and carried an appropriate price tag, the X-700 was all about getting to the average consumer and sold for around $75 USD ($210 in 2021) less than the XD on its introduction. To accomplish that price reduction Minolta basically took its bottom-of-the-line XG chassis and hot-rodded it with more advanced electronics and a few bits from the XD (like the SPD "final check" meter). To appeal to the desire of people that just wanted to "point and shoot", the X-700 introduced Program mode (replacing the XD's Shutter-Priority mode) to the Minolta universe. The camera set both shutter and aperture, requiring the user only to focus and shoot (further proof that the X-700 was aimed at consumers: the camera did not display the aperture it had selected in Program mode). The X-700 also debuted Minolta's TTL (through the lens) flash metering, its most notable improvement over the XD (but tellingly, one that did not require any large outlay for new components). An even brighter Acute Matte focusing screen, a proper Motor Drive (instead of just an Auto Winder), and AE (Auto Exposure) lock rounded out the improvements over the XD. However, the subtractions are eerily similar to Canon's approach pioneered by the AE-1:

Out went the vertical shutter for the cheaper horizontal type
No more multiple exposures
A less informative viewfinder, particularly in Program and Manual modes
No more integrated eyepiece shutter
Plastic and more plastic (top and bottom plates, and much of the innards)
The film advance is XG (plastic gears) all the way: OK, but nothing like the XD's

Black Chrome XD11

Top Deck Comparison of XD11 & X-700

X-700

X-700s sold like crazy. Minolta sold more of them in the camera's first three years than it did XDs (including the slightly de-contented XD-5: same mechanicals, but with no aperture readout in the viewfinder, no film safe-load signal, and no integrated eyepiece shutter) in eight years. The X-700 stayed in production until 1999, meaning there are oodles of them still available. Prices are lower than for an XD in equivalent condition, but have been inching closer in recent years. So, should you buy one instead of an XD?

I sold my X-700 and kept my XD for a few reasons. They may or may not be pertinent to your situation:

The TTL flash metering and the Motor Drive 1 are the two biggest advantages of the X-700, in my mind. When I was shooting weddings, they were essential! I am mostly a landscape shooter now, so my need for those two features has lessened. Manual film advance goes to the XD, hands down. And the Auto Winder D (2 fps) is enough when I need automatic film winding (which is very rarely).
When I bought my X-700, Program was a big deal for me because I was a newb. But it wasn't long before I came up against its limitations. It favored higher shutter speeds (logically, I might add) versus smaller apertures. As soon as I wanted to control depth of field (DOF), Program became superfluous. I used Aperture Priority from then on. I stayed away from Manual mode because the camera only showed the suggested shutter speed in the viewfinder, requiring me to take the camera away from my eye to visually confirm the shutter speed setting on the dial. The XD displays both the meter's suggestion and the actual setting on the dial in the viewfinder. This allows you to keep the camera to your eye and focus more on composition rather than messing with the camera.
Do some research on the X-700 and you will sooner or later come across the word "capacitor". This issue affects many of Minolta's X-xxx series cameras (mostly the X-3xx/X-7A/X-9 and X-700 as they were produced much longer than the X-570, and capacitor quality really began to fall off only after the X-570 ceased production in 1985). I learned about this through an experience with my own camera around 2001. I picked it up one day, went to snap a picture, and...nothing. The shutter wouldn't fire. So I took it to my local store (which has always been good to me). They sent it away, and I got it back in a couple weeks, as good as new...with a $150 repair bill. Two 10-cent capacitors (in the quantities Minolta would have been purchasing them) were at fault. With the XD, Minolta had used top quality solid tantalum capacitors for the release circuit, but the cost pressures of meeting the AE-1 & AE-1 Program head-on with the XG- and the X-xxx series took their toll. There was also a massive price increase in 1979-80 for tantalum capacitors that led to many electronics manufacturers, including Minolta, switching to (cheaper) aluminum liquid electrolytic capacitors by the mid-'80s. The trouble with these capacitors is that they eventually have their liquid electrolyte evaporate or leak and boom...dead camera. I was a bit disappointed with Minolta. I know, I know...when you're producing millions of cameras, 80 or 90 cents per camera looms large. But I have never had that problem (or any problem, for that matter) with my XD 11. That's not to say I never expect to have a problem with an XD. Anything can happen anytime with any camera (and tantalum capacitors can also fail, but it is a much rarer occurrence). I admit that my love for my X-700 was weakening. I still kept the camera for another 9 years, but I didn't have the same level of confidence in its reliability. It now became the backup to my XD 11. I cannot help but view the higher build quality of the XD as a distinct advantage over the X-700. And the XD has that backup mechanical shutter speed of 1/100 sec. just in case :-).
Over time, I came to like the "feel" of the XD more than the X-700. This is admittedly a very personal decision, but for me the ergonomics of the XD are more suitable, and the camera just feels solid in my hands, more so than the X-700. There is no locking of the shutter speed dial, because the mode switch is separate on the XD instead of being integrated with the dial as on the X-700. The XD gets out of my way in a manner that the X-700 cannot match. And the X-700 went back to a power switch (albeit a very good one, and necessary because of its "touch switch" shutter release), but the XD is ready to shoot instantly. I also do a lot of long-exposure tripod shooting and the integrated eyepiece shutter and mechanical Bulb setting of the XD are a better fit than the X-700's Bulb setting (which maxes out at about a 3-hour exposure because it uses electricity to hold the shutter open) and slip-on eyepiece cover (which is a pain to mount on a strap wider than the piddly factory strap). (Just remember to take out the XD's batteries for this kind of photography as the meter will still be activated in Bulb mode and that will drain the batteries.) These are certainly little things, but they add up over time.

Conclusion

This is not to say that the XD is perfect. On early versions, the exposure compensation lever is located in an area where it can be accidentally dislodged. Later versions had the EC lever moved inboard to prevent this. Also, the leatherette shrinks badly on the earlier-production copies. But you can work that in your favor if you are looking to purchase one. The shabby looks can knock the price down a bit. And then you have the opportunity to dress up the look of the camera with a custom covering, which comes in a wide variety of materials and colors for $15 to $30 USD depending on the source. If you are hesitant to do it yourself, 678 Vintage Cameras offers kits & installation for $60 CAD + shipping. You can factor that in when considering buying an XD, with prices generally ranging from $100 to $200 USD for a body in decent nick (excepting the ridiculous prices for 50th Anniversary models: with nothing added other than a badge; and the limited production XD-s model, with its built-in diopter adjustment in place of the eyepiece shutter).

The XD was the final Minolta manual focus body in development before the Canon AE-1 changed the SLR industry forever. As such, it was designed and produced according to the build quality standards of the early to mid 1970s. Although it came out a year after the AE-1, it was aimed at the more established enthusiast rather than the average consumer. Post-AE-1, every manufacturer had to make compromises in components and construction if they were going to successfully compete on price with Canon. Minolta was not immune to this, and so the lower-end XG series was born in the same year, 1977, as the XD was introduced. It was a direct response to the AE-1. The XG sold as many units in its first 15 months as the XD sold in its entire eight-year lifespan. So it is really no surprise that when Minolta looked at what it would use as the basis for the X-xxx series of cameras, which would be up against Canon's improved AE-1 Program (1981), there would be far more XG DNA present than that of the XD. Minolta would also consolidate the two lines of cameras into one, which would further cut production costs. The X-700 would try to be all things to everyone. That involves compromise. AKA "good enough". And the X-700 is good enough. But not "great".

The XD is the last Minolta manual focus body that moved the bar higher in several areas: more exposure modes, more accurate metering, better vibration control, miniaturization, auto winding, brighter viewfinders, and all without compromising component and build quality. It was striving for the best in state-of-the-art technology. Its descendants would make further refinements in TTL flash metering, and better accessories. But "good enough" would now be given priority over "best", especially when it came to components. The race was now a race to the bottom. How far could an SLR be stripped down qualitywise and still be "good enough" to satisfy most users? It is a pattern that continues to repeat itself, not only in photography, but in all sorts of manufactured goods. That, to me, is what makes the XD an "endling", the last manual focus Minolta of its kind. And one of Minolta's all-time best.

References:

   Minolta XD, XG, & X-series @ http://www.rokkorfiles.com/Cameras.html
Minolta XD11 Brochure XDC 709E-A1
   Minolta X-700 Instruction Manual @ www.butkus.org
Minolta XD11 Manual @ www.butkus.org
   Canon Camera Museum 1976-1986 @ http://global.canon/en

30 Comments

Chris Jackson link

12/31/2016 01:40:10 am

Hi there,

I have just purchased a minolta xd and 320x flash and was looking for some advice.
I assume I need a sync cord to go from body to flash but am unsure of type or size.
I have a female/male 2.5mm sync cord, female end goes into camera body end fine but male end is not able to go into the flash end, just inside the terminal on the flash there seems to be a 'silver' looking flat metal piece, which has some give to it but I don't want to break anything.
I am not sure if this is the wrong pc sync cord or if there is an obstruction in the flash terminal.
Any info/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Regards and Happy New Year,

Chris

C.J. Odenbach

12/31/2016 05:53:16 pm

Hi Chris,

Nice to hear from you. I deleted my previous comment because I misunderstood your statement about the PC cable. As far as needing a PC cable for the 320x on an XD, it is not necessary with the flash mounted on the hot shoe as long as the hot shoe is functional. The 320x also will provide a flash ready signal via an LED in the viewfinder. If you are planning to use the flash off camera, you will require the PC cable. The little silver tab is basically a spring loaded contact. When inserting the male end of the cable you should only need to wiggle it slightly and it should slip right in. If it does not, don't force it. I hope that helps and I apologize for the confusion in my first answer. Feel free to PM me via the Contact Us page for pictures or more info. Have a great time with your XD, they are a wonderful camera.

Take care,

Colin

Roel van Gestel

9/17/2017 02:29:03 pm

Excellent article! I own the XD5, ot the XD7/11. These are starting to get expensive these days. The XD5 still does what it should do and is very reasonably priced. Maybe a tad more plastic was used, but the quality still is superb.
The X-700 is good, but I am leaning more to the underrated (and better) X-500/570. You get rid of P and gain manual pleasure. Since the X-500/570 only was built between 1983 and (I think) 1988, this is the camera to own from the X-series.
For fun you should take out the XG9 if you have one. Plastic-fantastic compared to the XD5, but with more A-features. Only built between 1979-1981, still available for a song.
Enjoy your wonderful XD!

9/17/2017 04:34:14 pm

Hi Roel,

Thanks for your comments. XD-5s are indeed excellent cameras, and I would definitely take one over an X-700, any day. You make a great point about the X-570/-500, they are the pick of the litter among the X-bodies. It's funny you should mention the XG-9. My Dad had one, and that's what put me on to Minoltas in the first place ?. Happy shooting with your Minoltas ??!

9/18/2017 01:44:27 am

I started with Minolta in 1987. Bought an X-300 which I still have and still is operational, despite serious abuse over the years (seals are still perfect, btw). So the X-bodies may be tougher than we think after the 'tank-like' XD's. Since I shoot in A mostly, a well-used X-700 still sees action.

I like the XG's for how they feel and handle. There is a certain style I find attractive. The XG9 is the XG to have of the old ones (1,2,9 here), although I am about to receive a cheap XG-M to complete my collection. I guess that is a very underrated camera.

Interesting that you started because of you dad's XG9. We all lean on our comfortable part of history and why shouldn't we?These are wonderful cameras!

9/21/2017 10:09:05 pm

It's nice to hear that your X-300 is still going, Roel. I think you will like the XG-M. I tracked one down for a friend for his first SLR a few years ago. It is kind of a cross between the XG9 and the X-500, having a very similar control layout to the -500 but with the meter and non-TTL flash shoe of the XG. It is the only XG that can take the MD-1 motor drive. The XGs and Xs are pretty reliable in my experience, besides the capacitor issue. If you can avoid that problem, you are pretty much set :-).

9/22/2017 05:44:40 am

Yes, the XG-M is wonderful. The periscope to read the aperture isn't working, so I will get that fixed together with an internal cleaning. Exterior is almost new. It is now on display next to the X-500 and they are like twin brothers, although the XG-M is like 8% heavier (!).
Yesterday I received my second XD5 and that still is 'the king'. Over-designed build quality. Very cheap to buy too, with everyone on the hunt for the XD7/11... :-) I am not complaining..

Howie Dewing

9/24/2020 02:21:09 pm

Three years late, but here I am. You'll enjoy your XG-M. I dearly miss mine, sold at the onset of digital while it was still worth anything.. My SRT-201 had been stolen (!), so my dad bought me a new XG-M in early '82. MUCH lighter than the old SRT, and yet it had that magical for the time (to me) autoexposure. Paired with the 50mm Rokkor f/1.4, it was amazing. With digital, to this day, I shoot almost exclusively in Aperture Priority, perhaps as an homage to that XG-M, but I basically prefer to control depth of field. I too, three years after your post, am seeking an XD 11, but would be happy with an XE 7. Or both. Yeah, both. .

Randall Dunphy link

9/25/2018 09:43:56 am

Great article. My first camera was the XD-11 way back when. I have just purchased an excelleny copy on ebay and can't wait to get back to my roots and shoot some FILM!

9/25/2018 12:51:07 pm

Thanks, Randall. And welcome back to FILM! Enjoy your new/old XD 11 :-)

Gary & DFaisy

6/2/2019 05:04:05 pm

Why are so many people today worried about weight? I'm 75, started with a Graphic 4x5, electronic flash and 20 film packs running around a football field in cold and rain for the school's newspaper. 1958. I have a NIB XD-11 and XE-5 and am still amazed at the low prices of Minolta's 35mm lenses! I think NASA used Minolta even! Generations favoring cheap crap over quality today. I started with FILM and had my own darkroom in 1957. Film and analog music is still the best - it's more natural!

I use an Olympus E-500 for quick stuff but still favor film and vinyl records and tube amps! Kids today have no idea what they're missing....!

6/2/2019 05:51:56 pm

It’s funny how everything is relative. If I were to pick up a Graphic 4x5 today, I would probably buckle a bit at the knees ;-). But an XE or XD feels just fine because they are what I started out with. I recently handed my XD with a 58/1.2 to a young friend that has grown up with an iPhone, and she said “that’s so heavy”. I couldn’t help but smile. Digital definitely offers more convenience, but it’s nice to slow down and widen one’s perspective and analog is great for that. I do think about weight when considering how much equipment to put in my pack for hiking, but many times today I think it’s used more for marketing purposes than actually getting people to think about their actual capabilities and needs. Thanks for sharing your experience; kids today will have no idea what their missing...unless someone lets them know about it. Take care, and please keep sharing the joy analog gives you with others :-).

Steve Ember link

10/30/2019 03:56:22 am

Hello CJ,

Delighted to have stumbled upon your pages while searching for a bit of information on my recently purchased Minolta XD-S.
Indeed I am writing you in the wee small hours as a result of being - willingly - coerced down the rabbit hole of your site and very much enjoying the level of content, expertise, and your engaging writing style. Oh, yes, and the fact we suffer from the same "affliction." ;-)

Anyhow, as to my question on the Minolta...
As you own this same basic SLR, you probably have the answer quite handy. I've noticed that - at least on my lovely copy - unlike just about any metering SLR I've used, the meter indication lights up for only as long as I keep the shutter release partially depressed, rather than staying on for, say, 16 seconds.

So, I'm wondering if your XD-11 behaves in the same manner or whether mine may have an issue. I don't think it's battery-related, as the LEDs are entirely bright. It would just help if they stayed on for longer, without having to maintain pressure on the shutter release, allowing for more convenient setting of aperture or shutter speed.

Thanks for any guidance based on your first hand experience with these lovely cameras.

Cheers,

Steve Ember

10/30/2019 08:52:30 am

Hi Steve,

Afflictions are better shared than suffered through alone ;-). And welcome to the XD club. Unfortunately for convenience, I have to confirm that the XD’s LEDs only stay lit as long as a half-press is maintained on the shutter release. I have never paid it much thought, until now, as I just got used to it before I had other SLRs that did indeed keep the display up for a longer period. That probably explains why my XD has been the most frugal of my vintage fleet when it comes to battery life: I have put three sets of silver oxide batteries through the camera in two decades (probably two or three rolls per year) and I always leave them in (not best practice nor would I recommend it in higher humidity locations, but I haven’t had any leakage issues to date ;-)). Hopefully, it won’t be too much of a hindrance for you. Thanks for reaching out and I hope you get plenty of enjoyment from your XD-s.

Take care,

C.J.

Mel Jones

11/26/2019 09:24:36 am

Thanks again CJ. I picked up an XD7 for the ludicrously low price of £25. The wrecked leatherette probably put people off and 'Xenia' (because all my cameras have names) was absolutely filthy. She has however scrubbed up to be very beautiful in her black finish. A change of leatherette, new seals and a thorough clean and she looks almost new. I haven't run any film through yet but I have no doubts she will perform well. I have to say its one of the most beautiful looking 35mm SLRs and handles beautifully too. Small and compact with silky controls and an amazingly bright viewfinder.

As a life long member of the church of Zuiko ( blessed be the OM1 which produceth manna from celluloid) I have to say the XD7 is a marvel - much nicer to handle, much slicker.

I just curse the fact that no photo dealer ever showed me one back in the day.

11/26/2019 01:10:55 pm

Uh-oh, Mel. This is beginning to sound serious. First the SRT and now an XD7? That is getting into intervention territory ;-). All kidding aside, congratulations again on a great find and for giving Xenia a new lease on life. That is one of the most satisfying parts of this “affliction” for me: finding a scruffy-looking, neglected knockabout and with a bit of TLC and elbow grease seeing it come back to life. I am sure you are going to enjoy her even more when the film rolls through; the XD meter is one of my favourites and has never let me down. For my money, it’s a tall order to beat an XD when it comes to feel, Minolta just got so many things right. You can tell that the designers and engineers were photographers themselves and not just throwing a bunch of parts together to meet some specification.

Now, as to the matter of your other affliction (Zuikosis), I can only say that we XD-philes owe Olympus (Maitani-san, especially) a debt of thanks for the OM-1 & OM-2 which motivated Minolta (not to mention the rest of the industry) to get their act together and reduce their SLRs size to reasonable proportions.

As far as missing out on the joys of the XD earlier in life, all I can say is better late than never, and you got Xenia for a song (as opposed to an average month’s wages back in the late-‘70s, early-‘80s) if that’s any consolation ;-). Thanks for sharing, Mel.

Best regards,

C.J.

11/27/2019 06:13:35 am

Ah I am over an addiction (isn't that what all adicts say :) )

In truth I started a small collection which was to be every camera I ever owned. But I realised quite soon that some of them were horrors and/or didnt look good on a shelf. I hated the AE-1 back in the day but thought time would have softened my view but as it turns out after getting a mint one I hate it even more now. The AE-1 was a turning point both for the history of cameras and my own collection because after the AE-1 I decided I would focus (pun intended) on just have the best of the various manufacturers.

Its a small collection but all the cameras are runners and in use. I have you to thank for pointing out the Minoltas.

11/28/2019 07:39:20 am

Glad to hear that your collection reflects more than just having something for the sake of having it, Mel. And that a couple Minoltas made the cut :-). Ironically enough, I have the AE-1 to thank for getting me into Minoltas (although are not my cup of tea, either). The family friend that got my Dad into SLRs had an AE-1, but my Dad ended up with a Minolta XG. He only had it for maybe 5 years, but it was enough for Minolta to stick in my mind. Fast forward 15 years, and when I got into photography...it was an X-700 that got me started...then an XD11 and finally an SRT-102 (funny how that works ;-)). Best wishes on enjoying your stable of runners.

11/26/2019 01:25:48 pm

Two years later I am happy to say I own 1 XD5, 2XD7's and a black new logo XD7. Interesting story about the new logo XD7's is that the old logo sometimes can be found underneath the additional front plate. Mine had nothing there, but some grey or black new logo camera's have the old logo, without the rising sun, just a few screws away. Old stocks, new marketing.

I also love the X-500 (or X-570). It gives more information in M-mode than the X-700 and that is a big plus. Also, one capacitor instead of two (P-mode asks for another one). Tantalum caps were used on X-series until 1985-86.

But X or XD? -> XD!

11/26/2019 03:30:09 pm

Hi Roel,

Good to hear from you and thanks for the update. Glad to hear your XD fleet is growing. I agree that the X-500 is the pick of the X-xxx litter. Too bad it came along right at the end of the MF era and was quickly forgotten about in the wake of the AF transition. But, on the other hand, it didn’t have to suffer the indignity of aluminum electrolytic capacitors, another connection it shares with the XD. It makes a great second fiddle to the XD, and if you want TTL flash, it’s the best MF Minolta around :-).

Happy shooting,

C.J.

Thomas

1/20/2020 07:30:33 am

Hello CJ,
as your posting dating back from 2016 still attracts comments speaks for the XD series by itself :)
I run two of them, one bought used back in 1982 (first series)and one handed down from my father ( later series with EC lever pointing to the inside.
The early one is still going strong as I never stopped shooting manual film;the later series lets me down sometimes when the shutter is handicapped by the aperture release magnet. The battery consumption is astonishingly low, can't exactly remember when I changed them last time.
And of course you had to be careful with flimsy tab on the collecting spool not to be broken.
Meanwhile I added some predecessors (SRT; XE; X1 ) as well as follow ups to them (X500).
Cheers
Thomas

1/20/2020 12:51:24 pm

Hello Thomas,

It’s very nice to hear from a nearly four-decade XD user. Undoubtedly, that regular use has been the best treatment for your original XD, and I’m sure it appreciates it ;-). You have a lovely variety of Minoltas there (I still lack an X-1/XK and an X-500/-570 at this point). Thanks for sharing the tip about the spool and happy shooting :-).

Peter Rand

4/12/2020 01:32:58 am

Hi CJ,

Thank you for this interesting read.

I bought an XD-7 with f1.4 50mm around 1979. Key reason was the availability of shutter and aperture priority modes. I used it right up until it was stolen in a buglary in 2006. It was eventually replaced with a Canon Powershot A95 which I also used when diving with a Canon housing.

Recently I purchased a Nikon D7500 which is an amazing piece of technology but the more I use it the more I miss that amazing little Minolta XD7!

So I am looking for another XD7 identical to my original.

I look forward to using this great camera again!

Regards

Pete

4/12/2020 02:02:29 pm

Hi Pete,

Glad you enjoyed the article and it’s a treat to hear from another longtime XD user. There is just something about them...I enjoy using many other SLRs and my D300 with manual focus Nikkors, but the XD never fails to put a smile on my face when I pick it up or when I am processing the results (aside from user error ;-)).

Best wishes on your quest to find a replacement. Feel free to contact us if there is any help we can render along the way.

Best regards

Khusein

7/17/2020 01:06:43 pm

Minolta XD always been my favorite camera since I got into Minolta with the purchase of XG-7 in high school:) Then I managed to upgrade to X-700, but always wanted XD. Nowadays, I own black late version japanese XD with green 125 shutter speed and updated compensation dial. My only goal is to find a new logo black XD someday, otherwise I don't think I need another 35mm SLR in my life.

Great article, glad to see other people appreciate this camera as much as I do.

7/17/2020 02:35:42 pm

Thanks for the kind comment and sharing your experience, Khusein. I have the same variant as you. Best wishes on finding a black Rising Sun Logo. I have gotten my hands on a chrome parts body with the new logo, but have never held a black one. They are rare for sure. Take care.

emel

9/27/2020 08:09:16 am

My first analog camera was the x700 I bought in 2014. I sold it thinking I was bored with it. but I regretted it very much. that's when I realized how much I love minolta.
I read your article while I was looking for a new Minolta camera. now i have a black xd-s with the new logo. and with the 45mm f2 lens next to it!
I know xd has many advantages over x700. but since it is my first camera, my hands are still looking for x700. I hope I immediately adopt xd.
I wish you happy and healthy days:)

9/27/2020 08:59:04 am

Nice to hear from you, Emel. And congratulations on your procurement of a late-version XD-s. They are quite rare. I am sure you will get along with it just fine. As for obtaining another X-700, it never hurts to have another Minolta, particularly a model that means so much to you personally. Best regards :-).

2/21/2021 11:55:58 am

Hello again Mr. Odenbach. I've read that the XD 11 can actually reach 1/2000 sec. shutter speed when in 'S' mode, with the shutter speed set to 125 and the aperture on the green number on MD lenses. With that setup ("Green for Go" in Minolta lingo), if you overexpose by 1-stop, so the top overexposure arrow just comes on, the shutter will compensate and go to 1/2000 sec. Have you experienced this? I'm going to try it with mine, hopefully with fresher film. The Fujifilm Superia X-tra 400 I ran through it last time was expired and hit-and miss exposure wise. I'll get some fresh film and test each shot against my Sony a7 II with the same lens and ISO to get, or at least approximate a 1/2000 sec. shutter speed.

2/21/2021 07:51:37 pm

Hi Howie. Great question. I haven't used Shutter Priority much on my XD11, so I can neither confirm nor deny the 1/2000 sec. compensation. I would think the camera would do the same thing if you intentionally overexposed by 1 stop in Aperture Priority if that capability was built-in. Interestingly, the Leica R5, which descended from the XD, was rated for 1/2000 sec. But when tested by Popular Photography in February 1988, their copy was 1/3 of a stop overexposed at the 1/2000 setting, meaning that the actual shutter speed was in the area of 1/1650 sec. This was not abnormal by any means, as most manufacturers at the time looked for +/- 1/2-stop accuracy. 10 years earlier, Minolta may well have known that the Seiko MFC-E shutter was capable of higher speeds than 1/1000 sec., but they might have felt that they could not be confident of stable, sustained performance above 1/1000 sec. and so they did not bother to publicize the possibility of such performance. "Under-promise and over-deliver" was a more common mindset among the Japanese SLR manufacturers at that time.

When it comes to testing, detecting a 1-stop difference in exposure with print film could be challenging, as most processors automatically compensate for such variations (most print films are designed to handle 3 or 4 stops of overexposure). I would suggest using slide film, which will show even 1/3-stop differences more distinctly. I realize E6 processing is more expensive, but the results would be much more definitive if you are really wanting to find out for sure. I would also caution you about comparing your a7 II at any given ISO to a corresponding film stock. Even though they use the same terminology, it is not an apples to apples comparison. Even among different digital manufacturers, there are sometimes differences in their actual ISO outputs at the same numerical rating. I would be interested to hear what you find out. Best regards.

Not-so-random thoughts

An Ode to the Endling - The Minolta XD Series

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C.J. Odenbach

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