Minolta XE/XE-1/XE-7 - best manual focus Minolta?

grain elevator · Jul 21, 2022

unwantedfocus said:
It seems like the x700 has fewer problems compared to the xd7, the infamous shutter lag made possibly one of the greatest Minolta cameras unreliable. A year or so I shipped one to a friend I hadn't had much experience with the xd7 and was wondering why there was a delay when I fired it, up on reading about the problem I figured this is a common problem, sad. X700 seems more reliable overall and the better choice longterm.

Huh? The pneumatic mirror damper that causes the shutter lag issue is easy to overhaul.
The only issue I have with the XD-7 is the lack of ae lock.

Helge · Jul 21, 2022

grain elevator said:
Huh? The pneumatic mirror damper that causes the shutter lag issue is easy to overhaul.
The only issue I have with the XD-7 is the lack of ae lock.

Could you post link to a guide?

grain elevator · Jul 21, 2022

There are instructions on how to get to the mirror damper in the repair guide, which is somewhere on the internet, named minolta-xd11-repair-guide.pdf . It's on page 47-48 of the pdf.

Helge · Jul 21, 2022

grain elevator said:
There are instructions on how to get to the mirror damper in the repair guide, which is somewhere on the internet, named minolta-xd11-repair-guide.pdf . It's on page 47-48 of the pdf.

Thanks. Not something I'd touch ever though. One thing is getting the principle a very different thing is fixing it.

M-88 · Jul 21, 2022

X-700 may be better, but XD sure feels better. Personal opinion, of course.

Helge · Jul 21, 2022

M-88 said:
X-700 may be better, but XD sure feels better. Personal opinion, of course.

Hopefully not seeming desperate to get the last word™, as a pretty extensive user of both bodies, I can say they are at about the same level in feel.
The little bit of extra metal present in the XD makes no difference. The frame on both is metal.
The wind is butter smooth on the XD. But does it feel more sturdy or reassuring? Not to me.
The touch-live SR button on the 700, is as good as a leaf switch can feel, and the shutter sound, is if not super quiet, then super reassuring and satisfying.
It's a bog standard rubber curtain and good riddance for that. It has the same speeds. The sync speed is not enough to make a huge difference in daylight. It's only with thin titanium and carbon blades that vertical bladed shutters really comes into their own.

M-88 · Jul 21, 2022

Helge said:
Hopefully not seeming desperate to get the last word™

I understand your point of view. Moreover, I could also go on and on and on about something that I like. So it's perfectly fine.

That said, I liked X-700 when I borrowed it from my buddy and I liked XD11 when I borrowed it from my other buddy. I just didn't liked "plastic fantastic" look of X-700 along with its molded finger grip and whatnot. Very 1980s look, might I add. Under (more or less) equal technical capabilities, it boils down to personal preference. That's the very reason I moved to Olympus - shutter selector around the lens mount is hated by so many, but I personally think it's a nice thing in terms of ergonomics. So in the end, I didn't stick with any of Minolta bodies for personal, subjective reasons, rather than objective reality and/or rational thinking.

Huss · Jul 21, 2022

I found the molded finger grip on the X700 made it very comfortable to handle. Ergonomically that camera is superb.

joelbolden · Jul 23, 2022

I've both an XD-11 and XE-7 and they both work perfectly....so far. As a number have pointed out old cameras wear out and need some TLC to keep going. Is it worth it? It is to me and others. Any attempt at brand shaming when it comes to these often beautifully engineered devices is BS. I know a number of 50+ year old humans who have had parts replaced to keep going and no one bats a lash. time will take it's toll.

Les Sarile · Jul 23, 2022

joelbolden said:
I've both an XD-11 and XE-7 and they both work perfectly....so far. As a number have pointed out old cameras wear out and need some TLC to keep going. Is it worth it? It is to me and others. Any attempt at brand shaming when it comes to these often beautifully engineered devices is BS. I know a number of 50+ year old humans who have had parts replaced to keep going and no one bats a lash. time will take it's toll.

Unfortunately, medical technology isn't yet to the point of being able to fully restore a person to "like new" . . .

First SLRs by Les DMess, on Flickr

Still haven't found a Minolta SR2 to include in the lineup . . .

Minolta XE/XE-1/XE-7 - best manual focus Minolta?

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