The Minolta XD-7 (sold as the XD-11 in
North America and as the XD in
Japan) is a
35mm 35 mm may refer to:
* 135 film, a type of still photography format commonly referred to as 35 mm film
* 35 mm movie film, a type of motion picture film stock
* 35MM 35 mm may refer to:
* 135 film, a type of still photography format ...
SLR film camera
A movie camera (also known as a film camera and cine-camera) is a type of photographic camera that rapidly takes a sequence of photographs, either on an image sensor or onto film stock, in order to produce a moving image to project onto a movie s ...
manufactured by
Minolta
was a Japanese manufacturer of cameras, camera accessories, photocopiers, fax machines, and laser printers. Minolta Co., Ltd., which is also known simply as Minolta, was founded in Osaka, Japan, in 1928 as . It made the first integrated aut ...
from 1977 until 1984. It was Minolta's first SLR camera to feature both
shutter priority and
aperture priority
Aperture priority, often abbreviated ''A'' or ''Av'' (for aperture value) on a camera mode dial, is a mode on some cameras that allows the user to set a specific aperture value (f-number) while the camera selects a shutter speed to match it tha ...
automatic
exposure modes. 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
Battery most often refers to:
* Electric battery, a device that provides electrical power
* Battery (crime), a crime involving unlawful physical contact
Battery may also refer to:
Energy source
*Automotive battery, a device to provide power t ...
. 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
A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...
-bodied SLR design before the company switched to
plastic
Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials that use polymers as a main ingredient. Their plasticity makes it possible for plastics to be moulded, extruded or pressed into solid objects of various shapes. This adaptab ...
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
Harry James Benson CBE (born 2 December 1929) is a Scottish photographer. His photographs of celebrities have been published in magazines. He has published several books and won a number of prominent awards.
Life and work
Benson was born in ...
, who often acknowledged the XD-7 in the various photography books he published in the 1980s.
Specifications
* Exposure range of
EV 1 to EV 18 (ISO 100 and f1.4).
* Exposure correction from -2 to +2 EV.
* Minolta
SR lens mount
* Flash sync at hot shoe or terminal at 1/100s.
* Electronic vertical-travel metal shutter with electromagnetic release.
* Mechanical shutter mode available at 1/100s.
* Shutter speeds of 1s to 1/1000s plus bulb setting.
* Stepless control of shutter speeds in aperture-priority auto-exposure mode.
* TTL center-weighted metering (silicon diode).
* 94% viewfinder coverage.
* Acute Matte focusing screen with split-image bi-prism surrounded by microprisms. Four screens available, replaced by technician.
* 0.87x viewfinder magnification.
* Viewfinder information depends on operating mode:
** In aperture priority, shutter speed is indicated by LEDs.
** In shutter priority, aperture is indicated by LEDs.
** In manual mode, recommended shutter speed is indicated by LEDs. The chosen shutter speed is shown in a separate window.
** With Minolta X-type flashes, flash-ready is signaled by blinking over-range LED.
** Aperture setting is shown in all modes.
* Battery: 2x LR44; 2x SR44 or equivalents; or one CR1/3N.
* Mechanical self-timer.
* Depth of field preview.
* Film memo holder.
* Safe-load signal indicating film present and correctly spooled.
* Film advance release allowing multiple exposures.
* Motorized film advance possible with Minolta Auto Winder D.
References
*
*
{{Minolta
135 film cameras
XD-7