Minolta XD7

The Minolta XD -7 (in the U.S. than in Japan and marketed as XD11 XD) was produced by the Japanese manufacturer Minolta SLR camera for the 35 - mm camera format.

It was introduced in 1977 on the market. The XD -7 was the first camera that offered in addition to manual exposure setting both time and shutter priority. Coinciding with the new for Minolta auto iris lenses were modified offered externally identifiable by "MD" and the additional driver on the aperture ring to transmit the smallest aperture value.

More features

The XD -7 was in its appearance, the top model of their manufacturer and therefore had some at the time outstanding features. In addition to the automatic Multi included an acute matte focusing screen, which provided an extremely bright viewfinder image, whose proprietary technology also came for Hasselblad medium format cameras used, whereby the viewfinder has also been significantly improved. In addition, the camera could also be restricted operated without batteries as they offered two fully mechanical shutter speeds. Specifically, these were to "O" ( 1/100 second) and "B" for long exposures. For the XD- 7, a Winder ( Auto Winder D) was available, allowing one image sequence of up to 2 frames per second. The XD -7 had a remote release socket, could be operated on both the mechanical and electrical remote release.

During the production period, there was a small change in the position of the lever for manual exposure compensation. This was below the ring of film speed setting for the first models so unhappy outside of the housing such that it could be changed unintentionally by the strap. To prevent this, the position of this lever in subsequent models was offset by about 90 degrees clockwise to the inside.

In addition to the XD- 7, there was a Minolta also called the XD -5 camera, which had been reduced compared to its sister model, some features and was offered correspondingly cheaper. So lacked the XD5 example, the display of the preset aperture in the viewfinder and the integrated in the viewfinder eyepiece cover which prevents a faulty metering when shooting from a tripod or with self-timer.

A special feature of the models XD -7 and XD -5 is the " Programmable arbitration logic " in the Auto Iris setting "S". This automatically compensates for the underlimit of the setting of aperture or shutter speed setting to the other so that no incorrect exposure occurs. If, for example, selected an exposure time of 1/125 sec and the poor lighting conditions but can be an exposure - even in the greatest possible aperture open - not so the camera adjusts the shutter speed down until a correct exposure is guaranteed. An over or below the set aperture or shutter speed is shown with an upwardly tapering [ exceeded ] or pointed downward tapering triangle [ shortfall ] in the camera viewfinder. This is just - as the camera even all causes other - for information of the photographer. Through conscious choice of very short or very long exposures, a corresponding trend programming can be made.

The XD- 7 and XD -5 does not yet support TTL flash metering, this was not realized until the successor models X - 700 and X -500. With a suitable flash but the flash is ready to be displayed in the viewfinder.

Has been widely appreciated the robust metal housing of the XD -7, which largely corresponded to the Leica R4 because of the time working closely with Leica. In the follow-up model X -700 was replaced by a lighter metal and plastic housing.

Newer version of the camera with a different position of the lever for exposure

Minolta XD -7 with Auto Winder D

Auto Winder D, back

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