From: thomasg@epx.hscs.umn.edu (Thomas Gasser)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Minolta SLR info wanted
Date: 14 Apr 92 16:08:56 GMT
Article-I.D.: epx.thomasg.495
Organization: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota

Nice comparison.  One very minor correction the very limited production 
SR-M was Minoltas very first moter drive camera.  Basicly a SR-1 (no meter) 
with a very large very slow moter drive attached. Also a historic anolomy  

I own a SRT-102,101,XE-7 (which currently has a bad meter), XK and a X-700
(I hope I didn't leave anyone out) and would say the XE-7 would be my 
favorite followed by the SrTs, XK and X-700 very closely in that order.
The 100mm 2.5 is my favorite lens.


>Let's see...
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------

>SRT 100, 101, 102, 201, 202, etc.       - Good, basic, mechanical cameras
>                                          with match-needle exposure.

>XE-5, XE-7                              - Built like the SRT series,
>                                          but with electronically- 
>                                          controlled (aperature
>                                          priority) shutter.

>XK                                      - Built to compete against
>                                          Nikon's successful F2.  Is
>                                          essentially an F2 knockoff
>                                          with aperature-priority
>                                          exposure added.  Unless you
>                                          need the interchangeable
>                                          finders, get the XE-7
>                                          instead; it's far more
>                                          convenient to use.  
>                                          
>XK Motor                                - The XK Motor is Minolta's first 
>                                          motor drive product; motor is
>                                          permanently attached to the
>                                          body and goes 3.5 fps.
>                                          These were assembled by hand
>                                          and are pretty much a historic 
>                                          anomoly.

>XD-11                                   - Smallest SLR Minolta ever
>                                          made, and had the world's
>                                          smoothest and quietest shutter 
>                                          (for an SLR, that is.)  Had shutter-
>                                          and aperature-priority
>                                          exposure, as well as manual.
>                                          There is no OFF switch;
>                                          unless you're constantly
>                                          aware of the camera's
>                                          settings it's very easy to
>                                          make a mistake.  This was
>                                          the last Minolta to have a
>                                          mechanical backup shutter
>                                          speed ("B" and "O"), and the
>                                          first to start using the
>                                          more accurate slilcon
>                                          photodiode metering element.

>XG-1, XG-7, XG-9, XG-SE, XG-M           - Avoid like the plague.
>                                          Minolta was chasing after
>                                          the "we-don't-know-anything"
>                                          market that Canon's AE-1 had
>                                          so successfully captured.
>                                          Liberal use of plastic/nylon
>                                          in the film transport gear
>                                          train.

>X-700                                   - A little more respectable
>                                          than the XG lineup it
>                                          replaced.  This camera was 
>                                          designed to compete with Canon's 
>                                          successful AE-1 Program.  Still 
>                                          mostly plastic.

>X-7                                     - Designed for insurance
>                                          claims.  Don't get this.

>-----------------------------
>The XE-7 and XD-11 were repackaged by Leica and sold as the R3 and R4,
>as were some of Minolta's top lenses (50mm f1.4, 100mm f2.5, etc.).
>(It's politically incorrect to say that, however.  It's like telling a
>Porsche owner that he's driving a VW... :-) ).


>                                                -Gary Friedman

>--
>----------------------------------------------------------------
>Gary Friedman                   Jet Propulsion Laboratory - NASA
>4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA.  91109        (818) 306-6193
>garyf@puente.JPL.NASA.GOV || {cit-vax,elroy,psivax}!devvax!garyf 


*********************************************************************
*  Thomas D. Gasser                                                 *
*  Department of Neurosurgery                *******     ******     *
*  University of Minnesota                    ***  *** *** ***      *
*  (612) 624-4427                             ***   *****  ***      *
*  E-Mail:  THOMASG@EPX.HSCS.UMN.EDU         *****        *****     *
*                                                                   *
*********************************************************************