Minolta XE-7, any user experience?

[IGMeanwell]

With the shutter failing on my X-370

I want to continue to use my favorite lenses

I have been given a few suggestions, top of the list is the XD-11/XD-7

they are not very easy to find these days especially in black

Now the X-700 will seem familiar to me, I love the size

but one camera keeps popping up on my searches and some hate it/some praise it.

The XE-7, the model which was the base for the Leica R3

From all accounts the copal shutter is praised, though if the camera fails it is supposedly very difficult to find someone willing to fix this body. Plus its minolta's biggest body

Mind you I am a sucker for Aperture Priority cameras and yes the SRT series has crossed my mind.

My main question, has anyone on this forum (I trust the majority of the opinions on this forum which is why its posted here) had any experience with the XE-7?

Is it as cumbersome as some say? Is the XD-11 worth the search or would the X-700 serve just as well?

My main use for this camera is to use with mostly with my 58mm 1.2, with slide film and especially Kodachrome ... it will be exposed to the elements on occasion (with proper protection)

Thanks ahead of time

 

[zuikologist]

I G - I was given an X500 by an RFF member a long time ago. It is plastic, but has one of the best viewfinders I have ever used and ergonomics are good. The shutter is super smooth, but it is electronic. The meter is accurate and versatile.

 

[gyuribacsi]

Hi IG
I have a XE7 and would fully agree with sitemistic. It is a very well built camera and very reliable too. And it is heavy - about 750 gramms without lens. It is my workhorse SLR. The mirror slap is a little bit louder than at the R3 but this is also depending on the maintenence of the camera. The finder on the R3 is much brighter but the XE7 finder is (for me) absolutely sufficient in low light situations, never had any problems.

I have made wonderful slides with this gear and Ektachrom 64 film. Because of the metering mode of the XE7 you have to underexpose Ekta 64 by 1/3 f-stop. BTW I have a very rare lens for the Minolta MC/MD mount, it´s a 2,8/24mm VFC wideangle. I is specially made for architecture and landscape shots. The days I have bought it, it was very expensive (for me) and I have collected money about two years untill I could afford one.

The XD11/XD9 or the X700 are wonderful cameras too, but for me, they have too much electronic parts inside wich can fail or brake down.

Please forget the fairytale is told of the R3/XE7. The only part they have both is the copal shutter. There was only a joint-venture of Leitz an Minolta in developing a modern SLR in the early 70-s.

Regards
George

 

[thawkins]

XD cameras

XD cameras

As a user of both the X700 and the XD11, I'll leave a few comments with you. I have used the X700 heavily for the past seven years. I bought one just overhauled with a 50mm F2 MD lens. The camera makes great images but has ongoing electrical problems that no can seen to repair. I supplemented it with an XD11 four years ago and it is now the go to SLR with the X700 being the back up. I purchased the XD11 from KEH.COM iin Atlanta, Ga. The XD11 is heavier than the X700 and does not have that cheap plastic feel of the X700. I cannot advise you on the XE7 other than what I have read about it. It supposedly is Cadillac of the Minolta manual focus SLR line and is always highly spoken of. I just purchased a Leica M3 with a 50mm Summicron DR lens. Needless to say my SLR inventory is about to be reduced!!!
Good luck.

Tom

 

[Kin Lau]

I have the XD-11, X-700 and XE-7. Size wise, the XD-11 & X-700 are the same and the XE-7 is a bit larger, basically the same size as the SRT series.

I prefer the VF on the XD-11, X-700, but the best is the X-570 which also shows the shutter speed in the VF.

The X-700 & X-570's are cheap and easy to get a few for spares.

 

[Nokton48]

I've been using an XE-7 to compliment my SRT system. I wanted an auto body that would work with all my MC lenses. I did have it cleaned and overhauled, when I first got it.

It's a great camera, but keep it turned off if you are not using it. It will completely drain the batteries if left on overnight.

The auto-aperture metering works very well. But I do wish I could "lock" the exposure, then fire. In those cases, I use the EV override.

Great camera, as many have stated.

 

[kuzano]

Re: XD 11/7

Re: XD 11/7

The XD series of cameras are great, but black is definitely hard to find. You will find black more often in the XD or XD7. There were 3 identical camera's in the series. The 11 was for US consumption, the 7 was European market, and the XD was the japanese home market model. Almost all the 11's appear to have been silver for the US. I have most often seen black in the home and Euro market models.

I have purchased a few of these XD's and been fortunate in the reliability department. Cosmetically, the XD series used a very poor self adhesive synthetic covering that is coming off all the cameras, or at least curling with a very ugly yellowish (the adhesive) edge. Plan on recovering them. Cameraleather.com has a kit in the grain pattern used on the XD series. The real sleeper in that series is the XD-5, which has one or two less of the more exotic electronics of that series. Usually a lot less expensive, but easily as much camera as most of the other X series.

I agree that the XD's can be more electronics problematic as one of the early cross-over cameras into the fully metered manual/program era. But, I have been fortunate the the half dozen of them I have had.

The X700 is a good choice, lighter, dependable, but with more plastic. I also agree with the comment on the X570. The 700 abounds in numbers and tends to be priced accordingly. X570's are harder to find, and because of the popularity of the X370, tend to be a little pricey for what they are.

Can't speak on the XE, but I do know I have had bad luck with the XG's and stay away from them.

 

[IGMeanwell]

Great information everyone ... thanks

Though the decision seems just as hard 🙂

The X-700/570 would be more familiar camera, but there is something about the XE-7 that keeps calling to me 😉

 

[kuzano]

Have you heard of the XK series

Have you heard of the XK series

XK and XK motor. Built by Minolta to go head to head with Nikon and Canon professional top models. Tanks. Removable prism, interchangeable screens. See them every once in a while, but rather unique. Great reports on the camera, but built for a market where professionals had pretty much made their choices.

 

[kuzano]

Footnote on the XK... Wow

Footnote on the XK... Wow

XK and XK motor. Built by Minolta to go head to head with Nikon and Canon professional top models. Tanks. Removable prism, interchangeable screens. See them every once in a while, but rather unique. Great reports on the camera, but built for a market where professionals had pretty much made their choices.

Must not be as rare as I thought. Quite a few of them on eBay at the moment and looking in the completed listings shows the prices they are bringing. I may have to tag one myself. Always have been intrigued by the XK.

Here is a link to one currently on eBay.... These only came in black and all metal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MINOLTA-XK-XM-X...ryZ43486QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Uncle Bill]

My one and only Minolta is the XE-7, I have my brother to blame as he is a big fan of the camera. I like the on-off switch and the fact it's a kissing cousin of the Leica R3 should be good points to consider.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I am going to look for some less expensive XE-7s and one in particular I am looking at has some nice brassing on it

Then we will see how I like the model once it arrives

 

[Graham Line]

A Minolta-using colleague says the company always assigned a "7" to its best bodies, for reasons of Japanese numerology that maybe someone else can explain. If you don't want to play eBay roulette with a 15- to 20-year-old camera, www.keh.com usually has some bodies at very reasonable prices with a return policy and limited guarantee.

MD lenses and bodies are a really bargain, but great hardware.

 

[shadowfox]

I had an XE-7 and I love that camera, robust and tanklike, but be careful to ask the seller if the viewfinder has a fuzzy black band across (not distracting enough when you're actually framing, but it's very visible when you're not).

I don't know the technical jargon, but it's the material they use on the prism that deteriorate as the camera age. An expert told me that this is irreversible and will get worse unless you change the prism (hard/expensive to find spare prism, so I'm told).

So, given your choices, I'd go for an X700 (cheap, and plenty out there), so you can use one for now, and scout for the rare black XD11. When you see one, get it and let go of the X700, keep the lenses 🙂

 

[GoodPhotos]

My very first slr was an X370. I wanted the 700, but couldn't afford it or the 500 at the time. A few years later and shortly after enlisting as an Army Photogrpaher in my first duty assignment in Alaska, I added an SRT102. This came in handy because I could actually use the camera in the Alaskan winter ...I liked the X370 but at 70 below it would work for about 5 minutes and then lockup with battery drain until it got warmed up in my parka again....the SRTs didn't require juice to work and I had had the techs winterise the lubricant (graphite I think.) Just had to be really gentle when advancing the very brittle film. After getting out of the Army, I shot with four SRT102 bodies professionally for 15 years or so until I couldn't reliably get new glass of any decent quality any more then made the leap to Nikon for SLRs.

By then I had had minolta X370, X700, the several SRT 102 bodies, an XE5, an XE7 and an XK (an A2 rangefinder as well!) My favourites of all of these were always the SRT bodies. Nearly bullet proof, fully mechanical and even then could be completely overhauled or replaced for $125.

IF I needed an automatic camera at all, I'd choose the X700. They were great as long as your electronics and the film advance held up. Both can be picky with some of the X700s.

The XE5, XE7 and XK were fine cameras when you find ones that work, but for me they were were still battery dependent like the X370 and X700 but far heavier and not as ergonomic. The XE bodies are supposedly a real PITA to work on so getting one fixed if it breaks is difficult and usually costly. (easier to just replace it.) Yes, they had that cache of being associated with Leica, but that is a fashion thing and has little to do with the images that can be made with them. Once I got over the Label Lust, (after I had owned a few real Leicas, Hassy's, etc...and realised that I couldn't tell the difference in image quality between any of the decent brands) I realised that the SRT bodies made more sense for me.

Just my .02 (which with the steadily plumeting dollar is worth less and less each day!) 🙂

 

[IGMeanwell]

I appreciate all the input

I won the ebay auction for the XE-7, its a user with a decent amount of brassing, though the seller (who is a reputable camera seller) said the local camera repair shop tested it and its mechanically sound. Comes with a 50mm MC PG Rokkor 1.4 and a 28mm vivitar ... neither I need but it comes with the camera

won it for 50 bucks ... so it should be a decent gamble

If I am not happy with it, there are a few X-700s via KEH or Adorama that are priced well

 

[gyuribacsi]

Congrats IG! I hope the light seals are OK. Give your XE new batteries and you will be happy with it for a long time.

Happy Holidays!
George

 

[IGMeanwell]

So I recieved the XE-7 today

what a beauty ... it has been quite used but everything has checked out

Only a little bigger than the X-370, the handling is good, the body though hefty is not cumbersome

At first the meter seemed a little haywire, but after cleaning the battery contacts its now functioning perfectly ... put a roll of BW400CN through it; shutter is much more subtle than the X-370, the advance is very smooth

The negatives came back fine; seems accurate

The 50mm MC PG Rokkor-X 1.4 is real light, focusing is buttery smooth and the aperture is clicks as it should

Here are a few pictures

 

[Graham Line]

An older camera that's been regularly used is preferable to a closet queen. Looks pretty nice.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I agree ...

plus I have always been a sucker for brassing 😉