Thoughts on Minolta XE-7?

[images39]

I haven't had a GAS attack in a long time, but there's a Minolta XE-7 w/50 1.4 listed as "mint" in my area and I'm interested in trying some old Minolta gear (just to try something different, since my 35mm gear is all Nikon). Some older posts on APUG have a lot of positive comments on the XE-7 and Minolta glass, just wanted to ask if anyone here has experience and comments on this camera and the 50mm 1.4?

Dale

 

[Sirius Glass]

I never owned a Minolta XE-7, however I never owned a Minolta SR camera, from the SR7 to X700, that was bad. They were both reliable and rugged. Not as rugged as a Nikon F, but rugged enough. I liked the f/1.4 50mm, I loved the f/1.2 58mm better.

 

[WilmarcoImaging]

Get it.

Interesting timing for this, because my Minolta fleet is being rejuvenated, with a recently gifted SR-1 (awesome camera) and a 9 I bought to replace a disintegrated 7000. I also spruced up an XG-M which will be gifted to a millenial.

As a general statement, Minolta lenses are pretty good. I like the Auto W.Rokkor-HG 35/2.8 and Auto Tele Rokkor-PG 135/2.8 that came with the SR-1. I have shot only one test roll, and the results are promising. The G lenses for Minolta AF are good. I have the 28-70/2.8 G and love it.

The 50/1.4 is likely a serviceable lens. It seems the Rokkor-branded lenses get better reviews. I like the early Rokkors I have used.

So my experience is earlier and later than the XE-7, and both data points for me are positive. I read a little about the XE-7 and like what I saw. Let us know how you like it when it arrives.

 

[Les Sarile]

The XE-7 has the smoothest film advance that has to be experienced

I've tested it against my Nikon F3 and others and it has the smoothest full stroke requiring the least amount of force.
And of course Minolta glass are great too!

 

[images39]

Thanks for the replies on this. I anticipate coming home with the XE-7 and 50mm 1.4 a couple of evenings from now...

Dale

 

[jimjm]

If it looks to be in good shape, I'd recommend it. It has a nice traditional control layout similar to a Nikkormat EL or ELW, and it's about the same size and weight. It has a few other nice features like an on/off switch which also locks the shutter button, an eyepiece shutter and a film memo holder on the back door. I don't have the 50/1.4 lens, but have read that both the MC and MD versions are very good. The other Rokkor lenses I've used have been very satisfactory.

 

[BMbikerider]

The XE7 is also known as the XE1 in UK. I have had a couple of them and they are very, very good. There are very few spares around these days so if you get the one you saw I would treat it to a service before you use it. Minolta glass is up there on par with the very best. The F1.4 is good, nay very good, but if you can get hold of a 24/35 F3.5 constant aperture zoom and a 35/70 F3,5 constant aperture zoom you will be very pleasantly surprised.

I don't know of any particular weaknesses, but unless the foam rubber has been renewed recently that is something that should be done as soon as possible.

The basic camera was so good, the design was copied on licence by Leica to form the basis for the R3.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Thanks for the replies on this. I anticipate coming home with the XE-7 and 50mm 1.4 a couple of evenings from now...

Dale

While you are waiting, why not buy film so you can use it when you get it? Enjoy.

 

[images39]

While you are waiting, why not buy film so you can use it when you get it? Enjoy.

I've got Tri-X and HP5 waiting on the shelf and ready to go. The XE-7 will be loaded up shortly after I get it in my hands (assuming the seller described it accurately and we complete the sale tomorrow)...

Dale

 

[Chrismat]

I owned it's cousin (or brother) the XE-5, and it's true about the film advance, very smooth.

 

[Pentode]

I’ve been shooting Minolta glass for almost 30 years. I’m especially fond of the earlier MC lenses, but the MDs are also excellent, many of which were designed in a partnership with Leitz.
The 50/1.4 is very good, indeed.

The XE-7 is, essentially a “consumer” version of the XK, a camera that was meant to be a professional press corps camera but never really caught on. Minolta dropped the interchangeable finders and a few other features, but the electronics are essentially the same.

I‘ve never owned an XE-7, but I shot with an XK for several years and loved it. Sadly, some of the “professional” features of the XK also led to somewhat dodgy electrical contacts so examples of XE-7s found in the wild are much more likely to be working reliably than their more expensive older brothers as they had fewer things that could go wrong.

Worn contacts in my beloved XK eventually made it impractical to repair and I gave it up. Had I been using the XE-7 it would probably still be working.

In other words, yes! Buy that camera!

 

[Chan Tran]

Never own an XE-7 but I would buy one if I run across one at reasonable price. I have the XK, SRT and XD-11 and if they are any indication then the XE-7 must be a nice camera.

 

[CMoore]

I have the XD-11. It is a wonderful camera.
I guess that was made Before this XE-7.?

 

[Chan Tran]

I have the XD-11. It is a wonderful camera.
I guess that was made Before this XE-7.?

The XD-11 was made after the XE-7. The XE-7 and XE-5 were made the same time the SrT 101, 102 etc..

 

[CMoore]

The XD-11 was made after the XE-7. The XE-7 and XE-5 were made the same time the SrT 101, 102 etc..

Oh.....OK.
It looks newer than that, to me.