Minolta XD-7

Last updated
Minolta XD-7 (Minolta XD-11, Minolta XD)
Minolta XD-11.jpg
A chrome Minolta XD-11
Overview
Maker Minolta
Type 35 mm SLR
Released1977: Minolta XD (Japan), Minolta XD-7 (Europe), Minolta XD-11 (North America); 1979: Minolta XD-S (Japan).
Production1977-1984
Lens
Lens mount Minolta SR mount
Sensor/medium
Film format 35mm
Film size 36 mm x 24 mm
Focusing
FocusManual focus
Exposure/metering
Exposure Shutter, Aperture priority autoexposure; manual
Flash
Flash Hot shoe and PC terminal
General
Dimensions 51 x 86 x 136 mm, 560 g
Made in Japan

The Minolta XD-7 (sold as the XD-11 in North America and as the XD in Japan) [1] is a semi-professional 35mm SLR film camera manufactured by Minolta from 1977 until 1984.

Contents

History

The Minolta XD/XD-7/XD-11 was developed in collaboration with Leica, and its design influenced the Leica R4. Marketed in 1977, it was sold in Europe as the XD-7, in North America as the XD-11, and in Japan as the XD. It was avalaible in two versions, one chrome and one black. It was Minolta's first SLR camera to feature both shutter priority and aperture priority automatic exposure modes, as well as a program automatic mode, albeit not described as such on the camera or in the manual. The camera also offered fully metered manual exposure as well as depth of field preview and an eyepiece shutter. Also, included were fully mechanical "O" (1/100 sec) and bulb settings, which allowed it to operate without a battery. The XD-7 was the top-of-the-line Minolta camera when it was in production and retains a reputation for quality. It was Minolta's last metal-bodied SLR design before the company switched to plastic with the X-700.

There was also a less-expensive version of the XD-7 called the XD-5. Introduced in 1979, the XD-5 was mostly identical to the XD-7 but without some higher-end features like the eyepiece shutter or the display of the selected shutter speed in the viewfinder in manual exposure mode. A black variant with a viewfinder diopter instead of the eyepiece shutter called the XD-S was also offered in Japan.

Many professional photographers have used the XD-7. One of the best known is Harry Benson, who often acknowledged the XD-7 in the various photography books he published in the 1980s. [2]

Specifications

Black Minolta XD7 Minolta xd 7 black IMGP5756 wp.jpg
Black Minolta XD7

References

  1. Mel (2023-03-30). "The Last of Us - Minolta XD Series - XD, XD7 and XD11". High 5 Cameras. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  2. Benson, Harry; Benson, Gigi (1982). "Equipment". Harry Benson on photojournalism . Harmony Books. pp. 56–63. ISBN   0-517-544490. LCCN   82-1005. I use the Minolta system for 35 mm and have for years—they're lightweight, yet strong. The Minolta lenses are very fast and incredibly sharp. I use the Minolta XK body series with motor drive, but I prefer the XD11 or XGM with autowinder for mobility when I'm on location.

Sources

See also