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Minolta X-1

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Minolta X-1
A black-finished single lens reflex camera made by the Minolta Corporation; this camera is equipped with a normal lens of 50 mm focal length and a distinctive viewfinder with a vertical line bisecting its profile which provides aperture-priority autoexposure.
Minolta X-1, with AE finder
Overview
MakerMinolta
Type35mm SLR camera
Released1972
Lens
Lens mountMinolta SR-mount
Sensor/medium
Film format135 film
Film speedASA 12–6400
Focusing
Focusmanual
Exposure/metering
Exposuremanual, aperture priority
Flash
Flash synchronization1⁄100 sec.
Shutter
Shutter speeds16–1⁄2000 sec. + B, X
Viewfinder
Viewfindereye-level pentaprism
Optional viewfinderswaist-level, high-magnification
Viewfinder magnification0.8×
Frame coverage98%
General
Battery2×SR44 (S76)
Dimensions
    • 109.5 mm × 48 mm × 147.5 mm (4.3 in × 1.9 in × 5.8 in) X-1[1]
    • 171 mm × 83 mm × 147.5 mm (6.7 in × 3.3 in × 5.8 in) X-1 Motor[2]
Weight
    • 895 g (31.6 oz) X-1, w/out lens
    • 1,445 g (51.0 oz) X-1 Motor, w/out lens

The Minolta X-1 (XK in North America, XM in Europe and elsewhere) was the professional model in the Minolta SR-mount line of single-lens reflex cameras (SLR), released in 1972 after ten years of development, which was the first X-series camera in the Minolta SLR system; prior to the X-1, specific Minolta SLR models were branded SR-T, and afterward, they included X in the name. The X-1 was the first SLR to combine an electronically-controlled shutter with interchangeable viewfinders.

History

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The X-1 was the first of the X-series, and debuted at Photokina '72; it was released in Japan in 1973;[3]: 31  the X-1 Motor, a variant with an integrated motordrive, followed in 1976.[4]: 12  By 1981, Minolta had discontinued the original XK in the United States, selling only the XK Motor.[5]

A completely new designed lens line was introduced and labelled with 'MC Rokkor-X' in the North American market (the rest of the world kept the plain 'MC Rokkor' designation). The most striking attribute was the new waffled rubber coating of the focus grip.

The X-1 and its export descendants were available in black finish only.

Minolta released the XE (aka XE-7 in North America and XE-1 in Europe) in 1974 which incorporated many of the same features as the X-1, including an aperture-priority autoexposure mode.[3]: 33 

Design

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  • Minolta XM, as branded in Europe, with AE finder
    Minolta XM, as branded in Europe, with AE finder
  • Minolta XM (left) and XM Motor, both with AE-S finders
    Minolta XM (left) and XM Motor, both with AE-S finders
  • XM Motor with AE-S finder and Standard Battery Pack
    XM Motor with AE-S finder and Standard Battery Pack

The X-1 has a pressure-sensitive "Senswitch" on the front panel, which switches the camera shutter and viewfinder meter on automatically when held in a shooting position;[4]: 12  the feature was panned in an initial look, published in 1975 by Ivan Berger for Popular Mechanics.[6] There is an auxiliary power switch for the meter on the AE and AE-S metering viewfinders.[1]: 16  If the shutter is released while the camera is in autoexposure mode without the meter being switched on via the "Senswitch", the camera will open the shutter for 30 seconds; to close the shutter immediately, switch the shutter speed selector to X and then back to AUTO.[3]: 318 

The focal plane shutter has horizontally-traveling titanium foil curtains, capable of manually selecting speeds in steps from 16 to 1⁄2000 sec., or continuously variable speeds between 4 and 1⁄2000 s in autoexposure mode with the AE Finder;[6] this was extended to 8 seconds with the AE-S finder.[3]: 33  There are two mechanically-timed speeds: labeled "X" for flash synchronization, 1⁄100 s, and "B" for "B"ulb or "B"utton, where the shutter stays open as long as the shutter release is depressed.[4]: 17  The shutter speed is selected on the viewfinder, rather than the body.[4]: 16 

Power for the shutter and metering viewfinders is supplied by two SR44/S76 1.5 silver-oxide button cell batteries, housed in the body.[4]: 20  On the X-1, these are in a small chamber accessed on the baseplate of the camera.[1]: 17 

The camera further has both a flash contact (next to the rewind crank) and a PC socket (on the side of the lens mount escutcheon) for flash synchronisation.[1]: 16–17  The lens mount also has a button which combined the mirror lock-up feature and stop down lever for depth of field preview.[1]: 16  Multi-exposure capability was provided by depressing the film advance release button on the base of the camera.[1]: 17 

X-1 Motor

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The X-1 Motor offers the same features as the original X-1, but has an integrated motor that provides automatic film advance at 1, 2, 3, or 3.5 ("H") frames per second, or a "S"ingle frame advance setting. It draws power from the Standard Battery Pack, which screws into the tripod socket on the bottom of the handgrip and takes 10 AA batteries.[4]: 17  In addition, the X-1 Motor offers motorized film rewind. The X-1 Motor retains the manual film advance lever and rewind knob from the standard X-1, so film transport is still possible without power.[3]: 320–322 

In addition to the standard battery pack, Minolta offered two other battery packs which also took 10 AA batteries:[7]: D2 

  • "Separate Battery Pack", connected to the motor drive unit by a cord 4 ft (1.2 m) long
  • Cylindrical "Battery Grip", with a short 8+1⁄2 in (220 mm) cable and shutter release button, intended for use with the 250-Frame film back

Accessories

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Viewfinders

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Minolta XM with finders (L–R): AE, W, P, H, AE-S

It had interchangeable finders; the finder model number is written on a label just below the eyepiece:

  • AE-Finder: The standard "Auto Electro" finder with a refined "Contrast Light Compensation" (CLC) metering system[6] using two CdS photoresistors, introduced by the SR-T 101. It can operate in either an aperture priority autoexposure mode or match-needle metering for manual exposure. This finder displays both shutter speeds and aperture settings.[1]: 3–6  The minimum illumination that can be read is EV+1.[3]: 314 
  • M-Finder: The Match-Needle Finder is a simpler and cheaper version of the AE-Finder and like it, contained a CdS metering element, but did not have the automatic exposure mode. It did not show metered shutter times but had only a needle to align, similar to the preceding SR-T cameras.[3]: 312  It was discontinued shortly after introduction.[3]: 31 
  • P-Finder: The plain finder, an unmetered pentaprism finder, gave the X-1 a much more compact silhouette than the bulky finders above.[3]: 312 
  • H-Finder: Unmetered finder with high (6.2×) magnification ratio and adjustable diopter setting (+3 to –5).[7]: D1 
  • W-Finder: Unmetered waist-level finder with pop-up magnifier; it has a mild (+1.2) built-in diopter.[3]: 310 
  • AE-S-Finder: Introduced with the X-1 Motor and equipped with a more responsive silicon photodiode instead of the slower CdS cells used in the earlier AE-Finder. This was necessary to permit auto exposure mode with motorized film advance at multiple frames per second. Autoexposure range is EV–2 to +17 for single-frame operation and EV+3 to +17 with continuous frame advance. In addition, the AE-S finder includes exposure compensation (±2 EV) and screen compensation (-0.5 to +3.5 EV) adjustments.[7]: D1 

Focusing screens

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The photographer has the choice of eleven interchangeable focusing screens; nine were available initially upon release,[1]: 14 [6] and two more (Types AP and L) were added later.[4]: 22–24 [7]: D4  The initial standard screen was the Type P,[1]: 14  which shifted later to the Type PM.[7]: D4 

Minolta focusing screens for X-1/XK/XM[4]: 22–24 [8]
Type Image Field Center focusing aid Notes
P Ground matte Fresnel Split-image rangefinder, 4 mm diameter Suitable for general photography. Early cameras were supplied with Type P as standard.[1]
M Ground matte Fresnel Microprism, 4 mm diameter Suitable for general photography, especially with focal lengths from 35 to 100 mm.
PM Ground matte Fresnel Split-image rangefinder, 2.5 mm diameter + microprism collar, 1.5 mm wide Suitable for general photography; standard screen shipped with cameras.
G Ground matte Fresnel [none] Suitable for general photography, especially for telephoto lenses.
C1 / C2 / C3 Clear Fresnel Microprism, 6 mm diameter Specific screen selected based on lens in use, suitable for low-light photography. In general, requires exposure compensation.
AP Fine-ground matte Fresnel Diagonal split-image rangefinder Suitable for slower lenses (with maximum aperture ≥ f/5.6); in general, requires exposure compensation.
L Ground matte Fresnel [none] Etched grid of horizontal and vertical lines at 6 mm intervals; suitable for use with Shift CA Rokkor lens.
H Ground matte Fresnel Clear, 8 mm diameter, with double cross-hair Uses dioptric / parallax focusing, for astrophotography, photomicrography, or other high-magnification uses.
S Clear Fresnel Double cross-hair Etched measuring scales, used only with H-finder. Uses dioptric / parallax focusing, for astrophotography, photomicrography, or other high-magnification uses.

Screen C1 can be used with most lenses which have focal lengths ≤ 100 mm, with the exceptions of the 16 mm full-frame fisheye lens and the 17 mm ultra wide angle lens. Screen C2 covers a similar range (≤ 135 mm), including the two exceptions (FL=16 and 17 mm). Screen C3 can be used with most lenses with focal lengths between 50 and 300 mm, and is suitable for some focal lengths less than 85 mm.[7]: D5 [8]

Other accessories

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Minolta offered a 250-frame film back which took 33 ft (10 m) of bulk 135 film and used special film cartridges.[7]: D2  In addition, Minolta offered the Intervalometer PM for the X-1 Motor, which took five AA batteries and took photographs at intervals that could be set between 0.5 and 60 seconds.[7]: D3 [3]: 327 

Flashes with a standard hot shoe could be mounted on the camera using a special adapter, which slips over the rewind crank.[7]: D3 

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Minolta XK: Electronic, automatic exposure SLR" (PDF). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. 1974. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  2. ^ "Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 12 (Specifications)" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. March 1981. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Reynolds, Clyde (1979). The Minolta SLR Way. London: Focal Press. ISBN 0-240-51023-2. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h Wolf, John C (1978). The Minolta guide. Amphoto. ISBN 0-8174-2453-9.
  5. ^ "Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 2 (X Series SLR and CLE)" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. March 1981. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  6. ^ a b c d Berger, Ivan (February 1975). "Electronic XK: Minolta's first 'convertible'". Popular Mechanics. p. 87. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Minolta Dealer Notebook, Part 5 (Accessories)" (PDF). Minolta Corporation. March 1981. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
  8. ^ a b "Interchangeable focusing screens for Minolta interchangeable-finder SLR cameras" (PDF). Minolta Camera Co., Ltd. Retrieved 17 July 2024 – via Pacific Rim Camera, Reference Library.
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This article was originally based on "Minolta X-1" in Camerapedia, retrieved on 4 August 2007 under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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