List of Minolta SR-mount cameras

Minolta manufactured and marketed a line of 35mm film single lens reflex cameras (SLRs) and lenses with the Minolta SR-mount between 1958 and 1996; Minolta later introduced the Minolta A-mount system in 1985, a line of autofocus SLRs and lenses with the mechanically incompatible Minolta A-mount, which eventually supplanted the manual focus system.

Overview

The first Minolta SLRs were marketed with SR- model numbers starting from 1958 with the Minolta SR-2, which featured semi-automatic diaphragm operation with Auto-Rokkor lenses: winding the film advance lever opened the diaphragm and cocked the shutter; when the shutter was released, the iris would stop down to the selected aperture. These were succeeded by the SR-T models, which incorporated through-the-lens metering in the body, starting from 1966 with the SR-T 101. The SR-T models were succeeded by the X models, which include the X-1 flagship (1973), advanced XE (1974), and compact XD and lowered-cost XG (1977) lines; all of the X models have some form of autoexposure. ^{[1] : 25–37}

Seagull Reflex DF

Starting from the 1960s, Seagull Camera has sold SLRs with Minolta SR-mount; the first cameras were labeled DF (after Chinese :单反; pinyin :dānfǎn; lit.'Single-lens reflex'), and were largely copied from the Minolta SR-2. Most of these were produced for the domestic market in China, but some were exported under multiple brands, including Seagull. ^[2]

The modular XG line was developed into the X-700/570/370 line in the early 1980s. After Minolta introduced its autofocus A-mount system in 1985 under the trade names α (alpha, Japan), Maxxum (Americas), and Dynax (Europe), demand for the earlier manual-focus cameras dwindled. Minolta licensed the design of the X-370 to Seagull in 1987 and one more SR-mount SLR camera was released in 1990, the X-9 (aka X-300s in Europe); Minolta quietly outsourced production of the X-370 to Seagull in 1995, which continued to produce Minolta and Seagull-branded cameras based on the X-370 for a prolonged period. ^[3]

Minolta SR-mount SLR timeline

Year Market		1950s		1960s										1970s										1980s										1990s
		8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1
Professional / System		—														X-1 (XK, XM)										—
		—												SRM						X-1 (XK, XM) Motor						—
Enthusiast	Semipro	—																XE (XE-7, XE-1)			XD (XD-11, XD-7)								—
	Premium	SR-2			SR-3		SR-7					—					SR-T 102 (Super, 303)			SR-T 302 (505, 303b)					X-700
Hobbyist	Mainstream	—								SR-T 101										XE-5			XD-5						—
		—	SR-1 / SR-1s													—			SR-T 201 (101s, 101b)							—	X-600		—
		—												SR-T 100						SR-T 200 (100x, 100b)						—	X-570								—
	Entry-level	—																					XG-S (XG-9)			X-70 (XG-M)			X-370 (X-300)					X-9 (X-300s)
		—																				XG-E (XG-7, XG-2)
	Beginner	—																				XG-1				X-7 (XG-A)			—

List of cameras

Minolta SR-mount cameras

Regional name			Special model(s)	Image	Years		Shutter speeds	Meter	Dimensions (W×D×H)	Weight	Notes / Refs.
JP [a]	NA [b]	EU [c]			Intro	Disc
SR-x cameras (1958–1971)
SR-2			—		1958	1960	B+1–1⁄1000	—	?	?	[4] [5]
SR-1			—		1959	1971	B+1–1⁄500	External	143×32×93 mm (5.6×1.3×3.7 in)	670 g (24 oz)	Updates in 1960, 1962, 1963; [4] significant updates in 1961 (automatic diaphragm) and 1965 (Model V), distinguished by rectangular eyepiece. [6]
SR-3			—		1960	1962	B+1–1⁄1000	External	?	?	Can be fitted with Minolta SR Meter; added automatic diaphragm in 1961. [4]
SR-7			—		1962	1966	B+1–1⁄1000	non-TTL (CdS)	?	?	Includes in-body, non-TTL CdS meter near rewind crank; mirror lock-up added. 1965 update (Model V) to take Series V accessories, distinguished by rectangular eyepiece. [4]
SR-1S			—		1967	1971?	B+1–1⁄1000	External	?	?	Uses SR-T 101 components & Model V accessories. [4]
Regional name			Special model(s)	Image	Years		Shutter speeds	Meter	Dimensions (W×D×H)	Weight	Notes / Refs.
JP [a]	NA [b]	EU [c]			Intro	Disc
SR-T xxx cameras (1966–1981)
SR-T 101			SR-T SC (Sears), SR-T MC (K-Mart/ J.C. Penney), both 1973–75		1966	1975	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS)	145×48×94 mm (5.7×1.9×3.7 in)	705 g (24.9 oz)	SC, MC, and late versions removed mirror lock-up. SC and MC removed self-timer. [7] [8]
SR-T 100			—		1970	1975	B+1–1⁄500	TTL (CdS)	?	?	Simplified version of 101, replaces SR-1s; removed mirror lock-up and self-timer. [7]
SRM			—		1970	1975	B+1–1⁄1000	—	?	?	Includes permanently-fixed motordrive unit. [7]
SR-T Super	SR-T 102	SR-T 303	—		1973	1975	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS)	145×89×94 mm (5.7×3.5×3.7 in) (with 50mm f/1.4)	1,020 g (36 oz) (with 50mm f/1.4)	Aperture setting visible in viewfinder. [7] [9]
SR-505, 505s	SR-T 202	SR-T 303b	—		1975	1980	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS)	?	?	Similar to 102 but mirror lock-up removed; minor updates in 1977. [7]
SR-101, 101s	SR-T 201	SR-T 101b	SR-T SC-II (Sears), SR-T MC-II (KM/ JCP), both 1977–80		1975	1981	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS)	145×47.5×95 mm (5.7×1.9×3.7 in)	705 g (24.9 oz)	Removed mirror lock-up, compared to 101; CLC removed from light meter in 1977 (101s). Some features stripped for SC/MC. [7] [10]
SR-T 100X	SR-T 200	SR-T 100b	—		1975	1981	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS)	145×47.5×95 mm (5.7×1.9×3.7 in)	690 g (24 oz)	Simplified version of 201; CLC removed from light meter in 1977. [7] [10]
Regional name			Special model(s)	Image	Years		Shutter speeds	Meter {modes} [d]	Dimensions (W×D×H)	Weight	Notes / Refs.
JP [a]	NA [b]	EU [c]			Intro	Disc
Xn cameras (1973–1996)
X-1	XK	XM	XK Ritz (1978)		1972	1981	B+16–1⁄2000	TTL (CdS, Si) {AM}	147.5×48×109.5 mm (5.8×1.9×4.3 in)	895 g (31.6 oz)	Professional modular system camera with interchangeable finders. [11]
XE	XE-7	XE-1	—		1974	?	B+4–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	?	?	Shutter developed with Leitz and Copal; related to Leica R3
XEb	XE-5		—		1975	1977	B+4–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	?	?	Simplified version of XE; multi-exposure added for XEb
X-1 Motor	XK Motor	XM Motor	—		1976	1981	B+16–1⁄2000	TTL (CdS, Si) {AM}	147.5×83×171 mm (5.8×3.3×6.7 in)	1,445 g (51.0 oz)	Integral motor drive with detachable battery pack. [10] [11]
XD	XD-11	XD-7	XD-s		1977	1984	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {ASM}	136×51×86 mm (5.4×2.0×3.4 in)	560 g (20 oz)	Related to Leica R4–R7 [10] [12] : 179–180  [13]
XG-E	XG-7	XG-2	XG-SE		1977	1984	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	138×52×88 mm (5.4×2.0×3.5 in)	506 g (17.8 oz)	Replaced XE-5, compact SLR; XG-SE included "Accu-Matte" screen. [14] [15]
—	XG-1		—		1978	1981	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	135×52×88 mm (5.3×2.0×3.5 in)	490 g (17 oz)	Simplified version of XG-E [10] [12] : 179–180
—	XD-5		—		1979	1979	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {ASM}	136.5×51×87 mm (5.4×2.0×3.4 in)	525 g (18.5 oz)	Simplified version of XD [10] [12] : 179–180  [13]
XG-S	XG-9		—		1979	1981	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	?	?	Replaces XG-E. [14]
X-700			—		1981	?	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {PAM}	137×51.5×89 mm (5.4×2.0×3.5 in)	505 g (17.8 oz)	[12] : 179–180
X-7	XG-A		—		1981	1984	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {A}	138×52×85 mm (5.4×2.0×3.3 in)	485 g (17.1 oz)	Simplified version of XG-1. X-7 released in Japan, 1980; autoexposure mode only. [12] : 179–180  [14]
X-70	XG-M		—		1981	1984	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (CdS) {AM}	136×52×89 mm (5.4×2.0×3.5 in)	515 g (18.2 oz)	Update to XG-9; includes provision to add motordrive. [12] : 179–180  [14]
X-500	X-570	X-500	—		1983	?	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {AM}	137×51.5×89 mm (5.4×2.0×3.5 in)	505 g (17.8 oz)	Simplified version of X-700 [16]
X-600			—		1983	1984	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {AM}	?	?	Includes focus confirmation, features similar to X-570
X-370		X-300	X-7A, X-370s		1984	?	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {AM}	137×51.5×90 mm (5.4×2.0×3.5 in)	470 g (17 oz)	Simplified version of X-570, replaced XG-line. [14] [17]
X-9		X-300s	—		1990	?	B+1–1⁄1000	TTL (Si) {AM}	?	?	Updated X-370

Notes

1. Japan and Asia
2. North America
3. Europe
4. All X-series cameras include (M)anual metering mode unless otherwise noted. All X-series cameras additionally include (A)perture-priority, (S)hutter-priority, and/or (P)rogram autoexposure modes.

References

1. Reynolds, Clyde (1979). The Minolta SLR Way . London: Focal Press. ISBN   0-240-51023-2 . Retrieved 20 July 2024.
2. McGloin, Joe (2022). "Seagull -- Before Minolta". Minchin: Non-Minolta 35mm Rokkor-mount SLR cameras. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
3. Odenbach, C.J. (March 16, 2021). "Last Man(ual Focus Minolta) Standing - The X-370". 678 Vintage Cameras. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
4. Hands, Antony. "The Minolta SR Series, 1958 - 1971". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
5. "Minolta SR-2 (brochure)" (PDF). Chiyoda Kogaku Seiko K. K. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
6. "Minolta SR-1 (brochure)" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
7. Hands, Antony. "The Minolta SR-T Series, 1966 - 1981". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
8. "Minolta SR-T 101 (brochure)" (PDF). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
9. "Minolta SR-T 303 Bedienungsanleitung" (in German). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
10. "Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 12: Specifications" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. March 1981. Retrieved 22 July 2024– via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
11. Hands, Antony. "Minolta X-1 / XM / XK, 1973 - 1981". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
12. Shipman, Carl (1982). How to select & use Minolta SLR cameras. Tucson, Arizona: H.P. Books. ISBN   0-89586-044-9. LCCN   80-81594 . Retrieved 22 July 2024.
13. Hands, Antony. "The Minolta XD Series, 1977 - 1984". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
14. Hands, Antony. "The Minolta XG Series, 1977 - 1984". The Rokkor Files. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
15. "Minolta XG-7 Owner's Manual". Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
16. "Minolta X-500 Bedienungsanleitung" (in German). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
17. "Minolta X-370s Instruction Manual". Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 5 August 2024.