Minolta XK - Need Advice

[DF]

I'm trying to find one, but all I need is it to be in minimal working condition - what I mean is this: I don't need the meter to work, just as long as I can set it to work manually - I set the aperature and shutter speed. Can one do that on this Frankensteinish camera because it seems to be so rooted down in its electronics. I'm drawn to it because of it's waiste-level finder.

 

[EASmithV]

If you don't already have an investment in Minolta lenses, take a look at the Nikon F series

 

[Les Sarile]

Start with a manual because not only is the XK an aperture priority camera - set aperture and it will decide the shutter speed, but it is also a full manual - set shutter and aperture, kind of camera.
It has the highest sync speed of all the pro titanium horizontal shutter interchangeable viewfinder pro bodies. It is also the most quiet shutter of the bunch.

Check out -> http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltaxk/index.htm

 

[BMbikerider]

A beautiful camera that I much coveted in the 70's but could not afford. Almost as rare as hens teeth though now.

 

[Someonenameddavid]

If you are looking for a waist level finder camera for not much money Exaktas used to be cheap, but they are holding their value. ( I really hate to say the next part) Miranda Sensorex cameras are plentiful, their lenses pretty good and you can nearly always find one for $30-60 at
www.shopgoodwill.com

David

 

[Chan Tran]

I wonder if you can find a waist level finder for the XK. It seems quite rare.

 

[Mackinaw]

A beautiful camera, one that I always wanted. Hard to find though, at least in the U.S. They do pop up on eBay, and can occasionally be found at KEH. Harder yet to find accessories. Just keep at it, it may take a few months, but you'll eventually find one.

Jim B

 

[Les Sarile]

Like its peers, you can remove the finder and use it in waist view mode. But unlike its peers, there is no shutter speed indication without a finder attached. You can use the the index pin for where the A position is in relation to the shutter speeds.

 

[Chan Tran]

OKay Les! I remember back in 84, I was 26 then, and I was photographing the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, DC at around midnight. I had to place the camera on the ground because I had no tripod. Didn't want to lay down on the ground I removed the viewfinder and composed/focused with the plain ground glass screen and the pic came out perfectly fine. Now I can't well enough doing so.

 

[John Koehrer]

Is the camera capable of working without a battery?

 

[fstop]

no

 

[Les Sarile]

Is the camera capable of working without a battery?

The same functionality as most all other aperture priority capable cameras of the era with the typical two manual speeds - sync (1/100) and bulb, when battery is dead. This is just like Nikon's top pro aperture priority interchangeable viewfinder SLR - the F3.

 

[Chan Tran]

John No! Battery dependency and no motor drive (I know there is a version with built in motor drive) were the reasons the XK was sold well compared to Nikon F2 or Canon F1.