Minolta XDs

[rolleistef]

Hello,

My third Minolta X let me down.... After the X700 (shutter caping), the XGM (shutter stopping), my X300 stop working. Not for the first time though. Alas, I have a serious bunch of Minolta lenses, among which the famed 35-70 3.5 Macro and the 70-210 MF-beercan, and I don't want to drop them.

I had thought a couple of months ago about a XD7 but they were getting pricey. I saw a good looking XD5 for 66 shipping including on the bay, which looks honnest, but I would like to know if the famous Seiko shutter had the same problem than later models, so that I can make my mind about buying an "automated" camera or a purely mecanical SRT100 (not 101! too much electronic! 😀)

Thanks,

Love and film,

 

[colyn]

Leica used the same shutter that was used in the XD-series. I would say that makes it reliable. However....anything man made can and will eventually break.

The XD's are very good cameras..

 

[Landshark]

The Srt100 & 101 only use the battery for the meter and are pretty much the same camera mechanically.

 

[kuzano]

The Rokkor Files Web Site.

The Rokkor Files Web Site.

See Here:

http://www.rokkorfiles.com/XD11.html

This page talks about the XD being used as the basis for the Leica R4.

The XD, XD7 and XD11 were all the same camera, with the model designations denoting home market, European Market and US Market. The XD5 was essentially the same camera with less information in the viewfinder.

I've had all those models, and currently have an XD5 and XD11.

The only real bad part of the camera was not operational or reliability. The double sided adhesive that held the covering on was an abysmal failure, with the covering rising at the edges on most I have seen. I shoot my XD11 with no covering, and it's a great camera. Cameraleather.com has a full covering kit for $27. But I understand they are hard to get hold of at the moment.

There was a time in the not to distant past where you could get any of the XD models cheap because they looked so crappy. However, the prices have risen on the three top models regardless of looks. The XD5 is a great way to get virtually the same camera for less money.

The price you mentioned, if with a lens, is good for a good camera that's been cared for.

In fact, the older SRT models and the XD models are the only Minolta's that I know that don't have some kinky or chronic issue. The issues you've experienced have all been chronic for the models you listed.

Well, there is the Professional XK, and I'd love to have one of those, but I won't spend the money.

 

[rover]

The SRT 101 is the gem of the Minolta fully manual camera. Like Landshark says, there are no electronics in it, match needle metering, easily serviced.

 

[shadowfox]

Get the XD-11/XD-7.

It's a whole level of quality compared to the X700, X370 etc.

You can get one below $100 in good condition, just need to be a bit patient.

 

[rolleistef]

Hello,

Thanks a lot for your answers. Yeah, the reliability of the shutter is my main issue, but after reading your answers it doesn't seem to be an issue at all on those cameras!
By the way, I was walking down the street this morning and found, near the trash, a XK with a Minolta 135/2 lens on it... no sorry it's not true, I've just got up and might still be dreaming...

Cheers,

 

[bean_counter]

The achilles heal of the XD series is the flexible PC board - when it goes, there are no replacement parts. I had an XD-5, great camera, but the PC board died - made it a paperweight.

I use a SRT-102 and an X-570 now - mostly to use the same two lenses you listed. The 50/1.4 Rokkor-X is no slouch, either.

 

[unclescarMT]

I will second Bean Counter's rave on the 58/1.4. I LOVE mine. They seem to be plentiful and cheap compared to the 58/1.2. A freind gave me an xd5 that she found sitting beside her neighbor's trash. It's a fine little SLR and, at least for me, has been reliable.

 

[Fawley]

I have a stable full of Minoltas and acutally find them the most reliable camera type I own. Unless you particularily want shutter priority, why not consider an XE7. This camera is the forerunner of the XD series, also designed in conjunction with Leica, with the same vertical traveling shutter. I don't own an XD5 or XD11, but I gather they are slightly smaller than the XE7. XE7's are similiar in size and weight to the SRT cameras, all metal body with the exception of the pentaprism, manual aperture priority automatic and they feature complete aperture and shutter speed info in the viewfinder, making manual metering very easy (unlike the X700). Like other posters have said, I love my SRT's too, but I have always found they have an excessively hard, noisy mirror return, making hand held shots at low shutter speeds difficult. When I want a simple manual only camera, I tend to use my old Pentax Spotmatic.

 

[rolleistef]

Eventually found an XD11 with a Winder D for 40€, I find myself lucky!
Has anyone used this winder btw?

 

[Sonny Boy Havidson]

I have owned a XD-5 during 2 years before selling it to come back to Sr-Ts (I do prefer mechanical cameras and I enjoy the lockable DOF button). It is a really good camera. Not as compact as a Pentax MX or an Olympus OM but a greater viewfinder.

The lightmeter is also great and accurate (in fact it was used under licence in the Olympus OM2n): one lightsensor in the pentaprism and a second one on the film to re-check exposition. The only drawback is that this system does not allow an exposition memory. Having 3 exposure modes (manual, aperture priority, speed priority) is also great provided you have MD lenses.

It also a very silent camera for its days. In fact, this is the only SLR I have been able to use in the same way than a RF. I also used the winder-D: loud as any 70s winder but usefull for action.

 

[racoll]

I love the XD11, which is close to the same size as my OM-1/OM-1n. Of all of my classic SLRs it's probably my favorite, but the SR-T 102 is a very close 2nd. Awesome camera...enjoy yours!

 

[rolleistef]

Thanks, looking forward to getting it...

 

[rolleistef]

the XD5 has finally arrived from Pacific Rim Camera to Italy in just 13 days, with a 50/1.7 body cap attached. What a beautiful object!
You really need to remove the top to know that it was made in metallised plastic. Interestingly enough it's as "heavy" as my X300 but the balance is different. The leather, although crinkled, has got a very nice feeling, much better than the plastiky things Minolta later made.
The only drawback is the absence of shutter speed reminder inside the viewfinder, but well, you can't have everything! Especially with such a quiet shutter and effortless film transport!

 

[rolleistef]

By the way, I've read a couple times that you could turn your XD into a "program" camera but I didn't quite understand how it worked... something with the shutter slowing down automatically under certain conditions...?

 

[racoll]

If you have the camera set to shutter priority and you pick a setting that isn't adequate for the scene, the camera will automatically shift the setting to one that will sufficiently expose the scene. It was the first camera to do this and is credited with being the first camera to have a sort of program mode.

Andy

 

[thawkins]

My first real SLR was a Miranda. This dates me back to the sixties doesn't it. The Miranda was troublesome so it was replaced with an SRT101 which is still going strong. Along the way a number of plasticky bodied automated cameras came and went. The only one that stayed was an XD11.............it is a marvelous camera; very reliable, excellent metering and great lenses. The XD11 is a keeper along with the SRT and a great number of RFs.

 

[rolleistef]

Had a go with that little marvel. I now understand the "RF" feeling of the camera, and have to say it's even more comfortable than my Hi-Matic 9. It's incredible how well thought and balanced is the mechanical motion inside this camera. The slightest touch on the trigger actuates the shutter, and the camera remains really stable down to 1/15th of a second.
The microprism/split ,screen is actually clearer than the rest of the focusing screen, which is very convenient for focusing. It's a very advanced tool, much nicer to use than my multimode, matrix metering Nikon F75, and yet it remains a completely "no worry" worry camera if you put all the green dots together (min aperture, 1/125, shutter priority), ensuring your picture will be sharp whatever happens. Perfect for a "notebook camera" along with a 28mm, though I admit I prefer my Himatic F for that!

It's also very nice that you don't need to switch the camera on/off, as the meter is activated but half-depressing the shutter button, and among other things, even if it tends to shrinkle, the real leather is a joy to stroke...

Hope to post the first results here soon!

 

[KenR]

I second Fawley's nomination of the XE-7. I've had one since 1977 which is still going strong (serviced periodically for new meter switches). To me it always seemed more solid than the later cameras which had a more "plastic" feel to them.