Minolta XK

[z a n e]

Anyone have any experience with these things? I've been really considering this camera. Would a Canon F-1 Or Nikon F2 be a better option? (I already own some Minolta glass)

 

[frank]

If you already own Minolta lenses, that's your answer. As far as bodies go, I preferred both the F2 and F1n over the XK. I didn't like the meter switch on the XK.

 

[Malinku]

The xk is a very good camera. but buying one is a bigger risk then the other pro cameras. As hardly anyone repairs them. And the system is the most expensive due to it not being very popular back in the day.
But even with all that it is the top tier Minolta camera and a good working copy is going to give ya photos for years to come. But I can only reccommend one if you have Minolta lenses you can't give up. otherwise I'd invest in one of the other pro cameras.

 

[Les Sarile]

Anyone have any experience with these things? I've been really considering this camera. Would a Canon F-1 Or Nikon F2 be a better option? (I already own some Minolta glass)

If all you need is a Minolta mount body then there are many great choices along with the XK.

Is it because you want/need not only a Minolta mount but also interchangeable viewfinders and screens, 1/2000 shutter speed, 1/100 sync speed as well as a robust build?

 

[pbromaghin]

As I understand it, the XK is an almost exact copy of the Nikon F1 but it takes MC and MD lenses. I think you would be better off with the X570, 370, 700, or whatever, even the SRTs, because they are later-generation cameras with more capabilities.

 

[Nokton48]

I have a Minolta XK, and most of the focusing screens, and heads, and I like it. On the right is my camera with the rare AE-S head. I sent mine to Essex Camera repair for a total rebuild (figured I better while I could), it was expensive, but they did a fabulous job, it took about six weeks. A month after I got it back, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, and Essex went out of business. I wonder who will work on the XK at this point?

Dead Link Removed by Nokton48, on Flickr

Minolta SRT-101 #16 LS2000 by Nokton48, on Flickr

 

[Les Sarile]

I have a Minolta XK, and most of the focusing screens, and heads, and I like it. On the right is my camera with the rare AE-S head. I sent mine to Essex Camera repair for a total rebuild (figured I better while I could), it was expensive, but they did a fabulous job, it took about six weeks. A month after I got it back, Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast, and Essex went out of business. I wonder who will work on the XK at this point?

By overhaul do you mean a CLA (clean, lube adjust) or was there something else wrong?


Technologically speaking - and feature wise, the Minolta XK is more advanced then it's 1970's peers and more comparable to the Canon New F-1, Nikon F3 and Pentax LX.

Of the lot of horizontal titanium shutter types, the XK achieves the highest sync speed of 1/100 which is faster then even the later releases.
Unlike the 70's Canon and Nikon, the XK was the first of the lot with aperture priority auto exposure.
It has exposure lock and a very clever manual override control (+ or 2 stops) that I have not found in any other camera.
In mirror lockup mode, it seems to be the quietest of the lot that I have tried.
If you need a motor drive, you will need to find the fixed motorized version.
It is the only Minolta MC/MD mount with interchangeable viewfinders as well as 1/2000 shutter speed.

You can read more about it at Photography in Malaysia XK and Dead Link Removed

 

[Paul Howell]

As I understand it, the XK is an almost exact copy of the Nikon F1 but it takes MC and MD lenses. I think you would be better off with the X570, 370, 700, or whatever, even the SRTs, because they are later-generation cameras with more capabilities.

The XK was a much different camera than the F, more in line with an F3, electronic shutter, but an exact copy. The camera was well reviewed, but did not really catch on with Pros, at least PJs as it does not have a motor drive, you had to buy a motor drive body with an integrated drive. When I was a working PJ in the 70s and 80s I don't recall ever seeing a XK in the field, I saw other X bodies that took winders, 101 and 201s but not an XK.

 

[pbromaghin]

The XK was a much different camera than the F, more in line with an F3, electronic shutter, but an exact copy. The camera was well reviewed, but did not really catch on with Pros, at least PJs as it does not have a motor drive, you had to buy a motor drive body with an integrated drive. When I was a working PJ in the 70s and 80s I don't recall ever seeing a XK in the field, I saw other X bodies that took winders, 101 and 201s but not an XK.

Thank you for the correction!

 

[pbromaghin]

I'll swear on a stack of bibles that the SRT-101 is the finest camera I've ever gotten to know. I love this thing, and see no reason to shoot any other manual focus Minolta.

I'm really digging the 58mm f/1.4 lens that I picked up for $40 for it too. Fun wide open! Maybe not as extreme as the 58mm f/1.2, but at least I can nail focus at 1.4.

As for repair, definitely contact John Titterington! He had my SRT-101 modified (swapped in a SRT-102 screen and recalibrated for a silver battery) and repaired, under budget, in less than two weeks. Best repair service I've *ever* had.

JTCamera@aol.com
John Titterington
8109 Wenonga Road
Leawood, KS 66206

I just lucked into a pristine SRT-201 for almost nothing the other day. It feels wonderfully robust, like a K-1000. You're really making me want to send it in to my guy for conversion and CLA!

 

[z a n e]

Turns out a co-worker of mine who is also a camera collecter/buyer/seller/etc. had a really nice condition XK! So I bought it from him the next day. I've only been using this thing one day, but I love it so much already!

 

[craigclu]

I had one go through my hands some years ago. I wasn't a Minolta user and only had the 50 that came with it. It was very well made and laid out. It seemed especially stable to hand hold, too. It was a very professional caliber piece with no corners cut that anyone would be very pleased to use.

 

[Chan Tran]

I just lucked into a pristine SRT-201 for almost nothing the other day. It feels wonderfully robust, like a K-1000. You're really making me want to send it in to my guy for conversion and CLA!

An SRT-201 is a good camera, not great, but a much better than the K1000.

 

[Chan Tran]

I picked the F2AS over the XK when I bought my camera in 1977 because the motor drive issue and the electronic shutter. Today the XK is worth as much as the F2AS which is worth more than other F2's.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

I picked the F2AS over the XK when I bought my camera in 1977 because the motor drive issue and the electronic shutter. Today the XK is worth as much as the F2AS which is worth more than other F2's.

Except for the F2SB, F2H, and F2T... F2AS bodies are about 75% the value of an equivalent F2SB... Makes sense, since the F2AS was made for almost three years, and the SB for less than one. Easy to get a good working, decent looking F2AS for less than $300.

Anyway, the XK is a nice camera. Just wish they'd made the motor drive separate, so it could be installed on any XK.

-J

 

[Les Sarile]

I picked the F2AS over the XK when I bought my camera in 1977 because the motor drive issue and the electronic shutter. Today the XK is worth as much as the F2AS which is worth more than other F2's.

If you wanted a pro interchangeable viewfinder camera in 1977 - with aperture priority and a motor drive, the only option was the XK Motor which was released in 1976.

 

[z a n e]

I don't get why anyone would even want a huge motor drive. I can shoot about 2 fps with just the manual film advance. I've already shot four rolls through this thing, and I have zero complaints. Exposure compensation is in the perfect place, the "senswitch" which some people complain about, I find to be right where your fingers lay, and easy to use, and the viewfinder is so nice and bright.

 

[Chan Tran]

If you wanted a pro interchangeable viewfinder camera in 1977 - with aperture priority and a motor drive, the only option was the XK Motor which was released in 1976.

It was this feature that made the XK not popular back then. Too many people people back then (including myself) think it's not right to have a pro level camera with aperture priority automation and electronic controlled shutter. Of course I was wrong.

 

[Nokton48]

By overhaul do you mean a CLA (clean, lube adjust) or was there something else wrong? [/IMG]


My XK was very erratic in operation, the meter was all over the place. And I'm sure it was gummy inside. It was a complete rebuild including the AE and AE-S metering heads. Figured I better get it while I could.

Now I feel I can rely on this camera. It was very expensive but worth it to me. It's quite accurate now.

 

[flavio81]

Anyone have any experience with these things? I've been really considering this camera. Would a Canon F-1 Or Nikon F2 be a better option? (I already own some Minolta glass)

If you like minolta lenses then the XK is by far the best option!!

It was a machine designed to be more advanced than the Nikon F2 and the old Canon F-1. And a great camera in its own right. Minolta surely built great cameras, some of them good enough to be used as platform for some of the Leica R bodies.

The Nikon F3 and the Canon New F-1 are more advanced cameras. But that doesn't mean anything. For example I sold my F3, kept the F2... but the past 2 years, I've used more the Nikon F, which is more primitive than all the others.

Now, regarding the Canon New F-1, for me it's the best 35mm SLR i've had, but the main topic should be the LENSES, and if you already have some Minolta lenses that you like, then by all means don't switch systems.

Also consider the later SRT- cameras, because they are really well built.

 

[Les Sarile]

It was this feature that made the XK not popular back then. Too many people people back then (including myself) think it's not right to have a pro level camera with aperture priority automation and electronic controlled shutter. Of course I was wrong.

Minolta was quite the innovator and may have been too far ahead of everyone for their own good!

 

[Les Sarile]

My XK was very erratic in operation, the meter was all over the place. And I'm sure it was gummy inside. It was a complete rebuild including the AE and AE-S metering heads. Figured I better get it while I could.

Now I feel I can rely on this camera. It was very expensive but worth it to me. It's quite accurate now.

Always great to hear a proper remedy for a proper camera!

 

[Marvin]

Always wanted one but when new they were very expensive. I had hoped for a X900 when the Maxxums hit but it didn't happen. I do have the pro Maxxum 9000 and 9xi an like them.