Minolta XG-1

[pvdhaar]

Yesterday, I saw an XG-1 with 50/2 for a price so low that I just 'had to have it'..

So first I need to know: 'is it any good?' 😛

Just kidding, of course. For what I paid for it, it's better than good. In fact it's in immaculate shape, as if it's never been out of the box.. same goes for the lens 🙂

Now on to my real question.. Most of the camera is self-explanatory, except for one thing. There's a slider on the lens that I first thought was a step down lever of some sort. After a while I figured out that it's a minimum aperture lock. But what I can't for the life of me figure out is whether I'm supposed to set the lens to f22 and lock it if I put the camera in 'A' mode.. Anyone know? 😕

Well, all in all, this looks like a nice camera to do a one-camera/one-lens thing as per Keith's suggestion ( http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=66991 )

 

[mcgrattan]

There's an XG-1 manual on the [incredibly useful] Butkus site:

http://www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_pdf/minolta_xg-1.pdf

Looking at the manual, the A setting is aperture priority. So you set it to A and then set the lens to whatever aperture you want. It's not a program mode [i.e. not like when, for example, you set a Pentax lens to 'A' and let the camera choose the aperture].

No idea how you manually meter with it.

 

[Rogrund]

Congratulations on your XG-1! It's a great camera, I bought one (first version) in 1979 when I was twelve.

I've noticed that slider on newer lenses, and frankly I don't know the purpose of it.

However, since the XG-1 is aperture priority, you set the aperture you wish and don't worry about the slider!

 

[pvdhaar]

Thanks mcgrattan and Antti ! That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.. and what's more, it tells me two things..

1st. It appears I don't have an XG1 (even though it says so on the camera), but a XG1n.. 😎 Not sure whether that matters a lot.

2nd. The XG1n manual explicitly tells not to use the aperture lock... 🙂

Guess I'm ready to shoot now!

 

[teo]

It's only for the X-700, that also had "Program" mode (auto shutter time and auto aperture). I's the same thing as the lock you find on Nikkor lenses to use them with a camera with a "P" mode...

 

[pvdhaar]

Weird.. manual metering is done Rube Goldberg style.. 😕

You've got to set the shutter dial to A, look at the shutter readout, make a mental note, then transfer what you think you've remembered to the shutter dial again...

A bit oddball, but I think I'll manage.. Heck, come to think of it, it's a good exercise to measure the light just once and don't ride the exposure..

 

[SergioGuerra]

I already had one... nice little camera, and the pancake 45mm f2 is pretty sharp..
A pitty it shares the same problem with Minolta CLE... no metered manual mode...

Happy photos with it!

 

[capitalK]

I saw an XG-series (it may have been the XG-1) on the shelf at a local thrift store recently inside the Minolta never-ready case. The case had a flat top (looked more like a RF case than SLR at first glance) and even though it was far too large I was hoping it would be cheap CLE.

I don't need another SLR system so I left it for someone else to enjoy.

 

[mbisc]

The "slider on the lens" (which is only on the newer/later MD lenses) is for Minolta cameras with either Program mode or shutter-priority mode (e.g. the XD-series cameras and the much-later X-700). For those you needed to set the lens to the smallest aperture for it to work properly -- hence the lock, so you don't accidentally change it...

Congrats on the camera -- all of the old Minolta bodies were great (I just wish all of their lenses matched that level of quality. They are hit-and-miss, although your f2/45 pancake is quite good)...

 

[Kin Lau]

That's a nice light and bright combo. The VF on X series Minolta's were very good.

As already mentioned, this works best in A mode, just set the aperture (visible thru the VF btw) and shoot away.

 

[rolleistef]

It wasn't before the X300 that you can see the selected shutter speed in the VF. The reason why is that the technology is derivated from the XD-7, on which the selected speed was shown through a periscope. I have to say it's pretty unconvenient, especially when the A Mode isn't working properly...
Have fun with your Minolta! The lenses are fantastic!

 

[oftheherd]

Had one of those with the 40mm pancake. Great little camera. I gave it to my daughter along with a kit of lenses a couple of weeks ago in the hopes it would get her back into photography. She hasn't used the ST 801 in some while. Keeps visiting with her boyfriend; they go places together, but don't photo. And he was a photo major in college. Go figure.

And she keeps talking about wanting a digital P&S. Anybody know what that is? 😀

 

[blazejs]

Light meter is not working in manual mode in this camera. Mine has broken after 6 months of (hard) using. Turn on/off switcher broke. But I have one more MD camera and lots of lenses. Rokkors are great lenses and you should be satisfied with it (though 50/2 was economy class lens, I have not any experience with it. But got 45/2 which was also economy class and it's quite nice. I'd recommend 50/1.4 though..).

 

[pvdhaar]

Thank you all for all the responses!

50/2 was economy class

Correct.. it's built with quite some plastic in. Looks quite nice nonetheless. 😎

Had one of those with the 40mm pancake. Great little camera. I gave it to my daughter along with a kit of lenses a couple of weeks ago in the hopes it would get her back into photography. She hasn't used the ST 801 in some while. Keeps visiting with her boyfriend; they go places together, but don't photo. And he was a photo major in college. Go figure.
And she keeps talking about wanting a digital P&S. Anybody know what that is

The solution, as ever, is simple; tell her she'll get the digiPS if she drops her boyfriend.. That should make clear about which of the two she's really serious.. 😀



Guess I'll have to post some pictures taken with it sometime.. Let's start with a picture of the XG1n itself..

 

[oftheherd]

...

The solution, as ever, is simple; tell her she'll get the digiPS if she drops her boyfriend.. That should make clear about which of the two she's really serious.. 😀

...

LOL, I might try that. Not. 😀

 

[feenej]

My MD 50 f2 is remarkably sharp at f8.

 

[le vrai rdu]

Thanks mcgrattan and Antti ! That's exactly the kind of info I was looking for.. and what's more, it tells me two things..

1st. It appears I don't have an XG1 (even though it says so on the camera), but a XG1n.. 😎 Not sure whether that matters a lot.

2nd. The XG1n manual explicitly tells not to use the aperture lock... 🙂

Guess I'm ready to shoot now!

the slider is for the minolta bodies that can set themselves the diaphragm, the XG1 is only aperture priority 😉