Minolta XD SLR

Posted by: Tim Lewis aka Paps July 20, 2025

Minolta XD SLR

It's always enjoyable to write about your favorite vintage camera. I have been using my Minolta XD without issue for a few years now, and I am finally getting around to explaining why it's my favorite. This camera was known as the "XD" in Japan, the XD-7 in Europe, and the XD-11 in the United States. Although I live in the U.S., my camera was purchased from Japan and thus, is called the XD.

In addition to the names listed above, which are identical cameras, there was also a budget model made that is called the XD-5.

The XD's little brother, the XD-5

It contains fewer bells and whistles than the others but is essentially the same. As eBay pricing is driven by what is perceived as professional versus consumer, the XD-5 sells for less on the used market.

The XD was released in 1977, but there are slight variations that can be used to distinguish the earlier models from the later models. Mine is a second generation, but there are essentially five different generations of the same camera that can be determined by subtle differences, such as the placement of the exposure compensation tab. The camera was produced until 1984.

The XD line was created in collaboration between Minolta and Leica. It was a landmark in the development of SLRs and was the last camera Minolta would make with this type of build quality. After this, the next model would be the Maxxum 7000 in 1985 (with auto focus) and the introduction of large amounts of plastic.

The chassis of the XD was the basis for the Leica R4, R5, R6, and R7 cameras, and the camera retailed at about $690.00 with a lens. This would be just shy of $3,000.00 in today's money. The XD was the flagship of the Minolta line, and it was considered a premium camera for serious photographers. Today, I've seen them for around $200.00 in mint condition, which is about what I paid for mine.

As I said, it would be their last all-metal-bodied SLR, but it still managed to be smaller and more ergonomic than the SRT line before it. The competition for the XD at the time was the Olympus OM-1, and it was a culmination of all of Minolta's technology so far. Though not marketed as such, and never written in any of its manuals, the camera has a "hidden", full auto-exposure mode. I'll explain that shortly.

What is easier to see is that the XD has an Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, Manual Mode, and, of course, the "hidden" full auto-exposure mode or "Program" mode on most cameras (not seen at all). The camera is manual focus and can use any of the SR mount lenses, such as Minolta's MC and MD lenses.

With the release of the XD, Minolta also released the MD lenses that take advantage of the camera's automation. The MC lenses released before this will work on the camera, but may have issues when using the Shutter-Priority Mode. To be certain of exposure, when using that mode, try to use the MD lenses. The MD lenses also work on the earlier models of their SLRs, such as the SRT line, so I always try to avoid collecting any MC lenses and focus on the MDs simply to keep life simpler.

Let me list the geeky stuff first and get all of that out of the way....

*The shutter is a vertically traveling Seiko MFC metal-blade shutter. It contains an air piston that cushions the mirror slap and makes the camera a joy to shoot.

* The shutter has speeds of 1 to 1/1000, plus Bulb, plus a mechanical 1/100 setting for using the camera without a battery. This is marked as "O" on the shutter speed dial. Of course, the meter will not operate without a battery.

* The flash sync is 1/100 with a hot shoe. The camera will automatically set to that speed when using any of the Minolta flashes.

* The XD uses TTL metering, and the exposure compensation dial can be moved by two stops in either direction.

* There is a self-timer of 10 seconds (which we know to never use on vintage cameras!)

* The XD has a depth of field preview button near the lens, and there is a red window on the back to warn you that film is loaded.

* Two LR44 batteries are required to make it all run (unless shooting in the "O" emergency mode), and they typically last a very long time. The meter does not activate until your finger is placed on the shutter button, which undoubtedly helps this to be the case.

* There is an eyepiece shutter (lacking on the XD-5) to make certain no light comes through the viewfinder when shooting long exposures.

* The XD will accept the "Auto Winder D" if you desire it and can find one. It will deliver a blistering 2 frames per second!

* It will also accept a standard cable release.

Now that we have all of that out of the way, let's talk about actually using one and how it might assist or detract from your shooting. The camera is one of the quietest you'll find for an SLR, particularly one of this era. It is a smooth shutter press that quickly becomes addictive and very satisfying, yet muted 'click'.

The viewfinder is bright, and focusing is extremely easy, even in low light. The meter is displayed on the right side of the viewfinder, and is essentially a 'tree' of lights that illuminate next to the aperture setting that you or the camera has chosen. At the bottom of the screen, you can see your shutter speed displayed. The meter will also display an up or down arrow if you are outside the range of being properly exposed.

What makes the XD unique is that it will meter the shot twice. The last time it meters is just before the shutter fires, and this is where the "hidden" full, auto-exposure mode comes from. To get there, though, I need to talk for a minute about the two marked modes.

Placing the camera in Aperture-Priority is fairly straightforward. You choose the aperture, and the camera will choose the correct shutter speed so that the image comes out properly exposed.

Placing the camera in Shutter-Priority is the same, with the exception that you have to set the lens aperture to the smallest setting. On all MD lenses, this is marked in green on the lens barrel. The camera will then choose the proper aperture to coincide with your shutter speed.

Placing the XD in Shutter-Priority mode requires moving the XD lens to the green (or smallest) aperture setting.

This is where the "secret" fully-auto exposure mode comes into play. In either of these modes, if your settings are preventing a proper exposure, the camera will take full control of both as you push the shutter button. This feature is always on, and the only way to intentionally over- or under-expose an image is to use Manual Mode.

So, essentially, either one of the two modes, shutter-priority or aperture-priority, will put the camera into auto-exposure. The XD will try to use your chosen settings, but if, according to the meter, it cannot, it will change your choice after it makes that 'second' exposure check (just before it releases the shutter).

The story behind all of this secretiveness is that Minolta was afraid to market the camera as having a full-auto exposure mode. In 1977, the XD was the first SLR to have both aperture-priority and shutter-priority modes. The Canon AE-1 had aperture-priority only, and the Nikon FM was manual only.

Wishing for the XD to be taken seriously by professional photographers at the time, the conscious decision was made not to mention this built-in safety mode. The fear was that the camera would be viewed as some sort of 'beginner model'. Also, since these automatic modes were new to the market, they didn't want to confuse consumers by trying to explain the "hidden" mode that would almost guarantee that your image would be properly exposed.

Additionally, priorities were different then. Minolta chose to market the robust build of the camera and the fact that they were in partnership with Leica. This was far more appealing to professional photographers than any kind of auto-exposure. This preserved its premium status without it being compared to lower-end, fully automatic cameras.

The XD and its cheaper brother, the XD-5, are fast and easy to shoot. The camera actually gets out of your way when you are using it, and the focusing is quick and easy. Even in fully manual mode, the meter makes adjusting the exposure easy. The truth is that unless you are trying to create bokeh or some other creative aspect to an image, there is no reason not to throw the XD into one mode or the other and just take photos. They do a great job of metering correctly.

The camera is heavy, but it's small and easy to carry. Knowing that it is made of metal is reassuring as it bumps along on the floor of the car or in the back of your bike, in the pannier. The batteries last forever, and should the battery or the electronics fail, you can still finish the roll by putting the camera into the "O" mode on the shutter dial. You'll likely need an external meter or wing it with the Sunny 16, but it's not a show-stopper.

When I leave town, I take two cameras with me. My primary is the XD, which, despite the aging electronics, has not failed me yet, and the secondary is one from the fully mechanical SRT line. My thought is I can finish a roll in the XD at 1/100th of a second and then use the SRT to finish photographing the apocalypse, or at least the vacation.

The Snap

Having finished this glowing review of my favorite camera, I will admit my bias. I have an emotional attachment to anything Minolta, as many in my generation do. For years, I used Nikon digital cameras and lenses, and they were great. I never had one fail on me over the years.

However, for those of us who grew up in the 70's, particularly around the time that the SRT and the XD lines were released, Minolta was seen as the premier camera company of our time. As high school kids, those of us who dreamed of being battlefield photographers or other glamorous jobs coveted these cameras. But they were the top of the line and well beyond our reach.

I freely confess that despite the many cameras I have owned in my life, the fascination with these highly engineered film cameras has stayed with me. It probably jades many of my opinions about cameras in general, and is why now, shooting these cameras that I could only dream of when I was young, is such a joy to me.

From a pure hobbyist/photographer point of view, setting all of that aside, the XD is a great camera for anyone, young or old, new or seasoned. My favorite way of using this camera is keeping it in shutter priority mode, set at my ISO film speed, and then trying to guess what the camera will choose for an aperture. A way of practicing the Sunny 16, at least until I need to take total control over it in Manual mode.

And as "unprofessional" as it may be, it's nice to know that the camera will save me from myself when I'm trying to take a photo in a hurry. In either automatic mode, the XD will "double-check" my work and correct it before releasing the shutter. What could be better?

Below are some images I took in order to write this post. Not surprisingly, they look very similar to the other posts here, on the SLR lines of cameras because they use the same lens.