The Minolta X-1 (XK in North America, XM in Europe and elsewhere) was the professional model in the Minolta SR-mount line of single-lens reflex cameras (SLR), released in 1972 after ten years of development, which was the first X-series camera in the Minolta SLR system; prior to the X-1, specific Minolta SLR models were branded SR-T, and afterward, they included X in the name. The X-1 was the first SLR to combine an electronically controlled shutter with interchangeable viewfinders.
The X-1 was the first of the X-series, and debuted at Photokina '72; it was released in Japan in 1973;[3]:31 the X-1 Motor, a variant with an integrated motordrive, followed in 1976.[4]:12 By 1981, Minolta had discontinued the original XK in the United States, selling only the XK Motor.[5]
A completely new designed lens line was introduced and labelled with 'MC Rokkor-X' in the North American market (the rest of the world kept the plain 'MC Rokkor' designation). The most striking attribute was the new waffled rubber coating of the focus grip.
The X-1 and its export descendants were available in black finish only.
Minolta released the XE (aka XE-7 in North America and XE-1 in Europe) in 1974 which incorporated many of the same features as the X-1, including an aperture-priority autoexposure mode.[3]:33
Design
Minolta XM, as branded in Europe, with AE finder
Minolta XM (left) and XM Motor, both with AE-S finders
XM Motor with AE-S finder and Standard Battery Pack
The X-1 has a pressure-sensitive "Senswitch" on the front panel, which switches the camera shutter and viewfinder meter on automatically when held in a shooting position;[4]:12 the feature was panned in an initial look, published in 1975 by Ivan Berger for Popular Mechanics.[6] There is an auxiliary power switch for the meter on the AE and AE-S metering viewfinders.[1]:16 If the shutter is released while the camera is in autoexposure mode without the meter being switched on via the "Senswitch", the camera will open the shutter for 30seconds; to close the shutter immediately, switch the shutter speed selector to X and then back to AUTO.[3]:318
The focal plane shutter has horizontally-traveling titanium foil curtains, capable of manually selecting speeds in steps from 16 to 1⁄2000sec., or continuously variable speeds between 4 and 1⁄2000s in autoexposure mode with the AE Finder;[6] this was extended to 8seconds with the AE-S finder.[3]:33 There are two mechanically timed speeds: labeled "X" for flash synchronization, 1⁄100s, and "B" for "B"ulb or "B"utton, where the shutter stays open as long as the shutter release is depressed.[4]:17 The shutter speed is selected on the viewfinder, rather than the body.[4]:16
Power for the shutter and metering viewfinders is supplied by two SR44/S76 1.5 silver-oxide button cell batteries, housed in the body.[4]:20 On the X-1, these are in a small chamber accessed on the baseplate of the camera.[1]:17
The camera further has both a flash contact (next to the rewind crank) and a PC socket (on the side of the lens mount escutcheon) for flash synchronisation.[1]:16–17 The lens mount also has a button which combined the mirror lock-up feature and stop down lever for depth of field preview.[1]:16 Multi-exposure capability was provided by depressing the film advance release button on the base of the camera.[1]:17
X-1 Motor
The X-1 Motor offers the same features as the original X-1, but has an integrated motor that provides automatic film advance at 1, 2, 3, or 3.5 ("H") frames per second, or a "S"ingle frame advance setting. It draws power from the Standard Battery Pack, which screws into the tripod socket on the bottom of the handgrip and takes 10 AA batteries.[4]:17 In addition, the X-1 Motor offers motorized film rewind. The X-1 Motor retains the manual film advance lever and rewind knob from the standard X-1, so film transport is still possible without power.[3]:320–322
In addition to the standard battery pack, Minolta offered two other battery packs which also took 10 AA batteries:[7]:D2
"Separate Battery Pack", connected to the motor drive unit by a cord 4ft (1.2m) long
Cylindrical "Battery Grip", with a short 8+1⁄2in (220mm) cable and shutter release button, intended for use with the 250-Frame film back
Accessories
Viewfinders
Minolta XM with finders (L–R): AE, W, P, H, AE-S
It had interchangeable finders; the finder model number is written on a label just below the eyepiece:
AE-Finder: The standard "Auto Electro" finder with a refined "Contrast Light Compensation" (CLC) metering system[6] using two CdSphotoresistors, introduced by the SR-T 101. It can operate in either an aperture priority autoexposure mode or match-needle metering for manual exposure. This finder displays both shutter speeds and aperture settings.[1]:3–6 The minimum illumination that can be read is EV+1.[3]:314
M-Finder: The Match-Needle Finder is a simpler and cheaper version of the AE-Finder and like it, contained a CdS metering element, but did not have the automatic exposure mode. It did not show metered shutter times but had only a needle to align, similar to the preceding SR-T cameras.[3]:312 It was discontinued shortly after introduction.[3]:31
P-Finder: The plain finder, an unmetered pentaprism finder, gave the X-1 a much more compact silhouette than the bulky finders above.[3]:312
H-Finder: Unmetered finder with high (6.2×) magnification ratio and adjustable diopter setting (+3 to –5).[7]:D1
W-Finder: Unmetered waist-level finder with pop-up magnifier; it has a mild (+1.2) built-in diopter.[3]:310
AE-S-Finder: Introduced with the X-1 Motor and equipped with a more responsive silicon photodiode instead of the slower CdS cells used in the earlier AE-Finder. This was necessary to permit auto exposure mode with motorized film advance at multiple frames per second. Autoexposure range is EV–2 to +17 for single-frame operation and EV+3 to +17 with continuous frame advance. In addition, the AE-S finder includes exposure compensation (±2 EV) and screen compensation (-0.5 to +3.5EV) adjustments.[7]:D1
Focusing screens
The photographer has the choice of eleven interchangeable focusing screens; nine were available initially upon release,[1]:14[6] and two more (Types AP and L) were added later.[4]:22–24[7]:D4 The initial standard screen was the Type P,[1]:14 which shifted later to the Type PM.[7]:D4
Minolta focusing screens for X-1/XK/XM[4]:22–24[8]
Type
Image
Field
Center focusing aid
Notes
P
Ground matte Fresnel
Split-image rangefinder, 4mm diameter
Suitable for general photography. Early cameras were supplied with Type P as standard.[1]
M
Ground matte Fresnel
Microprism, 4mm diameter
Suitable for general photography, especially with focal lengths from 35 to 100mm.
Suitable for general photography; standard screen shipped with cameras.
G
Ground matte Fresnel
[none]
Suitable for general photography, especially for telephoto lenses.
C1 / C2 / C3
Clear Fresnel
Microprism, 6mm diameter
Specific screen selected based on lens in use, suitable for low-light photography. In general, requires exposure compensation.
AP
Fine-ground matte Fresnel
Diagonal split-image rangefinder
Suitable for slower lenses (with maximum aperture ≥ f/5.6); in general, requires exposure compensation.
L
Ground matte Fresnel
[none]
Etched grid of horizontal and vertical lines at 6mm intervals; suitable for use with Shift CA Rokkor lens.
H
Ground matte Fresnel
Clear, 8mm diameter, with double cross-hair
Uses dioptric / parallax focusing, for astrophotography, photomicrography, or other high-magnification uses.
S
Clear Fresnel
Double cross-hair
Etched measuring scales, used only with H-finder. Uses dioptric / parallax focusing, for astrophotography, photomicrography, or other high-magnification uses.
Screen C1 can be used with most lenses which have focal lengths ≤ 100mm, with the exceptions of the 16mm full-frame fisheye lens and the 17mm ultra wide angle lens. Screen C2 covers a similar range (≤ 135mm), including the two exceptions (FL=16 and 17mm). Screen C3 can be used with most lenses with focal lengths between 50 and 300mm, and is suitable for some focal lengths less than 85mm.[7]:D5[8]
Other accessories
Minolta offered a 250-frame film back which took 33ft (10m) of bulk 135 film and used special film cartridges.[7]:D2 In addition, Minolta offered the Intervalometer PM for the X-1 Motor, which took five AA batteries and took photographs at intervals that could be set between 0.5 and 60seconds.[7]:D3[3]:327
Flashes with a standard hot shoe could be mounted on the camera using a special adapter, which slips over the rewind crank.[7]:D3
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