Minolta XE-7. Any reason to buy one?

KerrKid

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I wouldn't mind owning an XE-7 but need a compelling reason to buy one.

I currently have two SRT 101's, a 201, a 102, a 9xi, and an X-570. All are in perfect working condition with plenty of lenses.

What would the XE-7 offer that the others don't?
 

rcphoto

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KerrKid said:
I wouldn't mind owning an XE-7 but need a compelling reason to buy one.

I currently have two SRT 101's, a 201, a 102, a 9xi, and an X-570. All are in perfect working condition with plenty of lenses.

What would the XE-7 offer that the others don't?
Click to expand...

I have an xe-7 and a 102. The biggest benefit for me is the xe-7 uses regular alkaline button cell batteries.

Not sure what they sell for, I inherited mine but if it’s cheap enough, it would be worth having.
 

xkaes

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I'll add multiple exposure capability. Here's MINMAN's SLR comparison table. On the left are check boxes, select the XE-7 -- and any others that you want, and on the bottom of the table click COMPARE and it will compare the XE-7 to the others you've selected.

http://www.subclub.org/minman/slrtable.php
 

Chan Tran

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Among the Minolta's the XE-7 is a good looking one. I don't have one but I sure wish I do. Features wise nothing important although it has aperture priority which the 101 and 102 don't. But your 9xi would have the most features. The XE-7 would bring back memories of me going to Kmart with little money in the pocket. Some how Kmart only carry Minolta back in the late 70's.
 
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KerrKid

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Thanks for the 9xi! It does have a crazy amount of features, but somehow the appeal is different.
 

Chan Tran

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KerrKid said:
Thanks for the 9xi! It does have a crazy amount of features, but somehow the appeal is different.
Click to expand...

Oh sure I did tell you I hate the 9xi and I surely love to have the XE-7. I had the XK but it's not the same so I sold it. I have the XD-11 still not the same.
 
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KerrKid

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Chan Tran said:
Oh sure I did tell you I hate the 9xi and I surely love to have the XE-7. I had the XK but it's not the same so I sold it. I have the XD-11 still not the same.
Click to expand...

And I understand your hate for the 9xi now.) It is a very competent camera but does not engage me somehow. I think the way the lens focuses is part of the problem. It feels and sounds clunky and unrefined. Still, it's a great camera.

I can't warm up to the looks of the XK, so I don't care to have one.

I've never shot an XD-11, but I have yet to put a roll of film through my X-570 and couldn't really tell you why.

Just wondering if I'm missing anything with the XE-7.
 
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ant!

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I have a srt 102, XE7, XD7(=XD11), X570.
I love the XD7 and the X570 for a small kit. X570 for TTL flash. Just running the first film through the SRT, was afraid it's too large for me, but actually do like it. I should mostly aperture priority, so all the others have something over the SRT, and it's battery issue (I use hearing aid batteries).
My XE7 just developed a problem with the advance lever, but it's basically an in-between the SRT and the XD...
 
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KerrKid

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I really like my SRT 102 that I had John Titterington CLA. It does feel carved from billet.

So what do you like about the XE-7 out of all these cameras?
 
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ant!

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KerrKid said:
I really like my SRT 102 that I had John Titterington CLA. It does feel carved from billet.

So what do you like about the XE-7 out of all these cameras?
Click to expand...

I think the one I like the most is the XD7, mostly since it was the first which brought me back to film after a half year of digital only around 2012 (before I used traveling for about 10 years a Minolta dyxum 505si super until I broke it, and started that short digital only phase), but also it's size and smoothness.

The XE is really a bit a larger XD, or an progression of the SRT. It's difficult to point to one thing, but it's a nice package after I got used to the bit more heft.

Oh, and I have also the odd X600...
 

Les Sarile

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The XE-7 has the smoothest film advance among all the cameras I have and I think it must be experienced. Except for my XK, all my Minoltas have a smooth advance.

Kodak Gold 100-7_30-32 by Les DMess, on Flickr

Prior to this acquisition, my F3 had the smoothest advance but it has been dethroned by the XE-7.
 

Hassasin

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The XE-7 I’d put ahead of XD any day. Most people will say it’s the other way around, they can.

XK was a great achievement, but was lost case before launch as a viable competitor to Canon and Nikon pro grade cameras. So it did not succeed, partly because of some strange design / feature choices, lack of motor drive being one of them (they did make XK M if one wanted a drive, now selling for a small fortune). Still XK is a very fine camera like none other from Minolta’s line of that era.
 
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Duceman

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I own three, and it is one of my favorite cameras. It is built like a tank, but the film advance lever is one, if not the, finest on any other model camera I have ever shot.
 

Chan Tran

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Yes cameras that didn't do well became more expensive now.
 
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KerrKid

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Thanks for all the replies. They were helpful.

I've really had to do some soul-searching on this. I need another camera like a hole in the head and find myself drifting into getting the XE-7 just to get it.

The biggest problem I have right now is that my wife saw me looking at the XE-7 on the computer and asked if I was buying another camera. She clearly wasn't happy so I said, "no". Well, no matter how much I would like the XE-7 I can't lie to my wife. Rats.

The other issue is that I think it's wise to wait until I find an XE-7 through a seller that I know and trust. I'd rather have one in perfect working condition than get an eBay special and then have to send it off to get repairs.

Even then, I'm not sure that the XE-7's super smooth winder is enough to justify its purchase since I have so many other Minolta's already that are really wonderful. My SRT102 is a joy and has a very smooth winder and my other SRT's are no slouches in that department, either.

Maybe the elephant in the room is the Nikon FE that I have. No, it's not a Minolta, but it's a peach of a camera and technically pairs up well with the XE-7. And, honestly, I kind of like smaller and lighter cameras.

So, for now, I guess I'll let some time pass and wait until a forum member wants to get loose of one of their XE-7's or John Titterington has one for sale.
 

xkaes

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If you like smaller and lighter, the XE-7 is not your camera -- but I'd say the same thing about the SRT's. Maybe you should concentrate on selling off 1 or 2 or your least used "bricks" -- that would pay for something smaller & lighter. You could always sell the FE and get a XG-M or XD-11 instead.
 
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KerrKid

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I like smaller and lighter, but also like the solid heft of my SRT's and my 9xi. I'm definitely not ruling the XE-7 out. If I come across a good one at a good price, I'll get it. I just can't do that right now.

Selling one of my "bricks" is good advice, but I can't bring myself to part with any of them. Not yet anyway. They are works of art.

I'll not be buying an XG-M or XD-11 any time soon since I have the X-570 with the 45mm f2 lens on it. Very nice camera and lens combo.

I'll not be selling the FE. I just hear so many good things about that camera and it's in lovely shape. I just need to get the winder issue resolved.
 
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KerrKid

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Well, yeh, those are the Minolta's I have unless I'm forgetting one. I don't have that Maxxum 5, yet, and I know how much you love that one.)

The Nikon FE is no orphan thanks to this forum. It would really help if everyone stopped talking about cameras here.

I know that when I get an XE-7 (or XE or XE-1) it will be a keeper. I do like the silver XE body better than the black XE-7 body.
 

Paul Howell

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I have a 101, 201 and X700, what does the Xe 7 bring to the table that the X700 doesn't have? .
 

xkaes

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KerrKid said:
The Nikon FE is no orphan thanks to this forum.
Click to expand...

I only meant that the FE is out on a limb by itself -- can't use any Minolta lenses. Not in the family. Adopted, but can't be adapted. I'll agree it's a great camera -- but must feel lonely.

At least a Maxxum 5 would have a brother -- and several half-sisters.
 
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