Minolta X-1
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherTemplate:Wikidata imageScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 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
The X-1 was the first of the X-series, and debuted at Photokina '72; it was released in Japan in 1973;[1]Template:Rp the X-1 Motor, a variant with an integrated motordrive, followed in 1976.[2]Template:Rp By 1981, Minolta had discontinued the original XK in the United States, selling only the XK Motor.[3]
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.[1]Template:Rp
Design
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Minolta XM, as branded in Europe, with AE finder
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Minolta XM (left) and XM Motor, both with AE-S finders
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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;[2]Template:Rp the feature was panned in an initial look, published in 1975 by Ivan Berger for Popular Mechanics.[4] There is an auxiliary power switch for the meter on the AE and AE-S metering viewfinders.[5]Template:Rp 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.[1]Template:Rp
The focal plane shutter has horizontally-traveling titanium foil curtains, capable of manually selecting speeds in steps from 16 to <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄2000 sec., or continuously variable speeds between 4 and <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄2000 s in autoexposure mode with the AE Finder;[4] this was extended to 8 seconds with the AE-S finder.[1]Template:Rp There are two mechanically timed speeds: labeled "X" for flash synchronization, <templatestyles src="Fraction/styles.css" />1⁄100 s, and "B" for "B"ulb or "B"utton, where the shutter stays open as long as the shutter release is depressed.[2]Template:Rp The shutter speed is selected on the viewfinder, rather than the body.[2]Template:Rp
Power for the shutter and metering viewfinders is supplied by two SR44/S76 1.5 silver-oxide button cell batteries, housed in the body.[2]Template:Rp On the X-1, these are in a small chamber accessed on the baseplate of the camera.[5]Template:Rp
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.[5]Template:Rp The lens mount also has a button which combined the mirror lock-up feature and stop down lever for depth of field preview.[5]Template:Rp Multi-exposure capability was provided by depressing the film advance release button on the base of the camera.[5]Template:Rp
X-1 Motor
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.[2]Template:Rp 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.[1]Template:Rp
In addition to the standard battery pack, Minolta offered two other battery packs which also took 10 AA batteries:[6]Template:Rp
- "Separate Battery Pack", connected to the motor drive unit by a cord Template:Cvt long
- Cylindrical "Battery Grip", with a short Template:Cvt cable and shutter release button, intended for use with the 250-Frame film back
Accessories
Viewfinders
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[4] using two Template:Chem/link 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.[5]Template:Rp The minimum illumination that can be read is EV+1.[1]Template:Rp
- 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.[1]Template:Rp It was discontinued shortly after introduction.[1]Template:Rp
- P-Finder: The plain finder, an unmetered pentaprism finder, gave the X-1 a much more compact silhouette than the bulky finders above.[1]Template:Rp
- H-Finder: Unmetered finder with high (6.2×) magnification ratio and adjustable diopter setting (+3 to –5).[6]Template:Rp
- W-Finder: Unmetered waist-level finder with pop-up magnifier; it has a mild (+1.2) built-in diopter.[1]Template:Rp
- 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.[6]Template:Rp
Focusing screens
The photographer has the choice of eleven interchangeable focusing screens; nine were available initially upon release,[5]Template:Rp[4] and two more (Types AP and L) were added later.[2]Template:Rp[6]Template:Rp The initial standard screen was the Type P,[5]Template:Rp which shifted later to the Type PM.[6]Template:Rp
| Type | Image | Field | Center focusing aid | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | File:Minolta Type P.svg | Ground matte Fresnel | Split-image rangefinder, 4 mm diameter | Suitable for general photography. Early cameras were supplied with Type P as standard.[5] |
| M | File:Minolta Type M.svg | Ground matte Fresnel | Microprism, 4 mm diameter | Suitable for general photography, especially with focal lengths from 35 to 100 mm. |
| PM | File:Minolta Type PM.svg | 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 | File:Minolta Type G.svg | Ground matte Fresnel | [none] | Suitable for general photography, especially for telephoto lenses. |
| C1 / C2 / C3 | File:Minolta Type Cx.svg | 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 | File:Minolta Type AP.svg | Fine-ground matte Fresnel | Diagonal split-image rangefinder | Suitable for slower lenses (with maximum aperture ≥ <templatestyles src="F//styles.css" />f/5.6); in general, requires exposure compensation. |
| L | File:Minolta Type L.svg | Ground matte Fresnel | [none] | Etched grid of horizontal and vertical lines at 6 mm intervals; suitable for use with Shift CA Rokkor lens. |
| H | File:Minolta Type H.svg | Ground matte Fresnel | Clear, 8 mm diameter, with double cross-hair | Uses dioptric / parallax focusing, for astrophotography, photomicrography, or other high-magnification uses. |
| S | File:Minolta Type S.svg | 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.[6]Template:Rp[7]
Other accessories
Minolta offered a 250-frame film back which took Template:Cvt of bulk 135 film and used special film cartridges.[6]Template:Rp 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.[6]Template:Rp[1]Template:Rp
Flashes with a standard hot shoe could be mounted on the camera using a special adapter, which slips over the rewind crank.[6]Template:Rp
References
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External links
This article was originally based on "Minolta X-1" in Camerapedia, retrieved on 4 August 2007 under the GNU Free Documentation License.