Back in ‘74, I purchased an XE-7 for my 3 month journey around the US. I took hundreds of transparencies and not once did that camera fail me. Not long after I came back home I did a most stupid thing; I sold the camera. I’m regretting it to this day. I’ve been looking for one, but the ones I’ve seen are in bad shape. When I got back from my trip the camera looked like it came out of the box. I have always treated my gear, and still do, with care. I’ve gone into many areas of the wild and came out with not a mark on my cameras. I fail to see how people abuse their gear so. Thanks for this video. It’s made me more determined to find one in the best condition possible. But, I’m not holding my breath.
It’s a fine camera for sure. I also find it hard for me to mistreat my gear, and I also used to wonder how some cameras get banged up so bad. Then I had an acquaintance once who went through life like a bull in a china shop. Then I understood why their camera looked like it did, lol. Here’s hoping you can find a clean XE in the near future!
lol, as a car guy, I hear 1974 and I’m instantly waiting to hear about the ‘malaise era’. Happy to know my XE was something good that came out of that era.
Loved, liked and subbed. I have the XD-11, I bought it with the 135mm F1:3.5 lens for £23 from eBay UK., (it was of course not working) But after 25 hours of stripping, cleaning and lubricating its as good as new and what a joy these cameras are to use. I shoot Fujifilm digital X-E3 and X-T10, because I love the retro look, feel and kind of shooting ergonomics they had perfected in the 1970's and never surpassed in my opinion. Your images are stunning and this channel is one in a million! Thank you!
Many, many thanks! Those XDs are like the Holy Grail for Minolta-lovers. It was such a perfect camera I'll never really understand why the models that followed (I'm looking at you, X-700) didn't offer shutter-priority AE. I got my hands on an XD-11 a few years back, but it's not operating at 100%. Shutter speeds are a bit erratic. It's earmarked for a CLA soon. Hope that'll cure all of its ills. And I agree with you regarding the Fuji cameras: retro feel - and paired with their film emulation presets - a very nice combo that recalls simpler times. Cheers!
Very nice pictures, composition and the B & W tone. While a lot of young people are crazy about creating digital black and while photos and videos in recent years, I haven’t seen such nice contrast and gradient of true black and while photography for a long time.
I LOVE the SRT series - probably some of my favorite manually-controlled shutter bodies of all time. But the XE does them one better with the AE available. It hasn’t disappointed me at all.
Great vid. Got an XE-1 coming next week, so a little excited. I use film as a 'treat' - a break away from my DSLRs and a 17kg backpack. I do love my digitals and their glass and what it all let's me accomplish, but I have a special reverence for good film cameras and glass - there's a set of values that is built into and expressed by that gear and the process using it involves, values that I think we need to keep alive in the face of built-in obsolescence and the next piece of candy. Thanks for the vid and for breaking sweat to bring us those images. All the best from a cabin in a swamp in a rainforest in New Zealand.
I couldn’t agree more. When I try to verbalize why I enjoy analogue photography so much, the word “process” continues to pop up. The process of the idea behind the image, the process of determining an exposure, the process of processing, all of it. I’m indeed glad that we’re still able to use these old materials. I hope you do enjoy that XE! Minolta, especially these days, doesn’t get the credit they deserve. But they built some fine cameras and excellent glass! Cheers!
@@vintagecameradigest Hi - thanks for your response. The very first camera I bought new was an XD-7. A decade later I lost it in Canada (blame Canada). Recently I've been thinking on replacing it and would have had this XE not appeared. I do have some Tamron SP glass with Minolta Adaptall 2 adapters, so that will get me started along with the 50 that's on it. My Spotmatic and Taks are going to hate me for it. You shoot a lot... what's your main interest? Cheers.
The XD is another fine one! Technologically superior to the XE, but I think the XE has the edge on build quality. Well, at least it feels more substantial - which it should since it's larger. As for my favorite subjects, I've never met a classic auto show I didn't like. I'm always blown away with the combination of fine-grain B&W film and shiny paint and chrome. B&W has always been my favorite medium since it takes just enough of the reality away to make it just a little bit surreal. I'm always chasing a palette of soft grays, it seems. Recently, though, I've been exploring color film a bit, and I'm liking it. I'm also quite fond of portraiture, though you wouldn't know by my channel. I do hope to include some shoots in the near future, though.
Great video. I mostly shoot Canon mirrorless digital (R5 and R50), but usually leave my Canon autofocus lenses at home and shoot with my adapted Minolta MC and MD lenses. I also shoot film now and again (I’m more of an Ilford HP-5 than a T-Max100 fan) and own one of each series or family of Minolta’s TTL metered cameras (SR-T 102, XK, XE-7, XD-s and X-700). Of all of the cameras the XE-7 is by far my favorite, even over the XD and X-700 which both seem more popular these days. I agree on the MC Rokkor-PG 50mm f/1.4, it is an absolutely outstanding lens. The newer plain MD 50mm f/1.4 is a hair sharper, controls flair better and has slightly nicer bokeh (its also MUCH smaller and lighter), but the older MC just has something about the way it renders a scene that make it my favorite 50mm Minolta lens. Enjoy your XE-7 and other cameras in good health. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks for the sub! Yes, the MD is much smaller, and the sharpness isn't surprising. Minolta seems to be known for continually improving their lenses while not releasing the upgrades as a new series. It just meant that the MC you bought in 1975 might be a bit improved over the one you bought in 1973. But in this case the MD is actually the new series that takes advantage of all the improved engineering.
I found this camera on Facebook Marketplace with a 50mm f1.7 lens for $80 and purchased it as my first ever film camera, beyond disposables. I’ve shot roughly 20-25 rolls since then (~8 months), and I’m grateful to have it as my starter shooter with its aperture priority, light but durable build and compatibility with cheap Minolta lenses. I hope to hold onto my XE-7 forever!
That’s a great deal for the camera and lens! It’s a really robust body and should serve you well for a long time. And yes, the Minolta lenses are quite reasonable in price compared to some others. But they’re great lenses, and there are a lot of them out there. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic shoot and wonderful post. T-max 100 you say. I will definitely try that out. Honestly I bought an ex7, oh about 2or 3 years ago and haven't shoot with yet. But you certainly have shown me what I've been missing. I'm going to get some popcorn and watch this again and again. Thanks and happy shooting.
Thank you! Yes, the XE is a fine camera. And TMAX 100 is about as good as it gets, IMO. Ilford Delta 100 is also about the same. They can’t be beat for virtually grain-free negatives.
I have this camera and recently purchased the xd11, both are my go to cameras. I love the xe very much. I am selling my x700 and keeping my old srt 202. I'm also getting rid of my other cameras system. I have Pentax me super and a praktica MTL 5b. Will only keep my Minoltas and my digital camera. Tmax is one heck of a great film.
I have an XD11 that needs some work, so I’ve not been able to use it. But I’m looking forward to getting that done since it’s one of Minolta’s top bodies. I also admire you for your willingness to “thin the herd” so to speak. I am pathologically incapable of doing that. Hence, the existence of this channel, lol.
Really appreciate these excellent videos. I don't need another film camera but the XE sure looks great. As I watched I wondered what sort of interaction you have with other folks during your shoots. You must attract some curiosity.
Enjoyed a lot. Thanks for another very informative and entertaining video. I have a Leica R3 Mot and my younger son a Minolta XE5, a simplified version of the XE7. Indeed, they are and look familiar, but they feel a bit different. Both a joy to use and to look at :)
Thanks for tuning in again! I hope to get my hands on an R3 sometime just to see how different/same it is to the XE. I’m sure a big difference is the Leica glass, but this MC 50 1.4 continues to surprise and please me.
In reference to your interest in Minolta's - Was just watching the old movie "The Jewel of the Nile," 1985. There was a couple of scenes where Kathleen Turner, the heroine, is photographing with a black Minolta X-700 - I never paid attention to the "Minolta" name plate before, but I did notice that the X-700 name plate is the more modern "Minolta" with all capital letters and the "O" represented by an image of the world. In another scene she has a small Minolta speedlite mounted in the shoe. It had the modern "Minolta" name plate also. First time I ever saw a Minolta used as a prop. Thought it was pretty neat. Made me think of your channel!!
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen that movie, and I probably didn’t even notice the camera when I saw it last. But it’s cool that it’s in there. I think Minolta modernized their logo around 1980. But, yes, I don’t think I’ve seen one as a prop, either. And I’m flattered that it made you think of this channel! Many, many thanks!
Really very good info on the XE-7! I just bought one & Im excited to get started shooting with a manual focus SLR after shooting with Nikon digital cameras for several years. I got tired of chasing after an old Nikon and having to pay a fortune for something that might not work. I read about the XE-7 and was able to find one at a reasonable price. I subscribed! Looking forward to more!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Minolta! You’ll love the XE. Glad you found one at a good price. I recently was thinking about getting a second body, until I saw the current prices. Wow. But worth it, I think. If you can get your hands on the MC Rokkor 50 1.4, you won’t regret it. The MD version is newer, of course, but the MC has a superior build IMO. Thanks for the sub!
Beautiful, creative images throughout! Love your post processing on all these images. Very straight, clean, and nice contrast. What do you soup your T-Max in? What do you use to scan & post process your b&w images? Note - You were giving exposure and lens specs up to the red '78 Vette, around 13 minutes, using the Vivitar 135. After that you gave no more data. I, like most photographers, love knowing the specs. It looks like you changed lenses again from the white Firebird to the end? 50mm? What f-stops on these last few shots? Have to say, when I see videos like this, it inspires me to pack up a camera, and shoot somewhere like this, hand holding. Just walking around at events like this, camera in hand, has to be one of the purest forms of photography. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! As for the specs, mostly you hear them because I talk to myself out loud when shooting - well not TOO loud, lol. But yes, I should continue throughout. I ended up replacing the 135mm with the 50mm 3.5 macro for the shot of the hood ornament. And then just went back to the 50 1.4 for the last half of the roll. I knew I wouldn't get much use out of the 135, but I though I'd try. On this type of shoot I really find the 50mm does exactly what I need. One of the final shots of the sideview mirror I think I had the f/stop at 5.6 for one and maybe 1.4 for the other. My standard processing for just about everything is D-76 mixed 1:1. And I've been using an old Unicolor drum and roller base with a 15% reduction in dev time since it's continuous agitataion. Digitization is a Canon DSLR setup with an Nikkor Ai-s 55mm 2.8 - usually set at around f/8 with a short extension tube to make sure I fill the frame. Post-processing is Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop (for B&W - Lightroom and Negative Lab Pro for color). Most tweaks are using Curves only and maybe getting rid of a dust spot here and there. And to finish it up I use a light Gradient Map adjustment to emulate Selenium toning. Thanks again for watching! Be sure to tune in again!
My goodness! Those colours on the cars attending the show. Just arresting! I wonder what they would look like on a colour film stock, with high vibrancy, shot on the Hasselblad 503cx with the 80mm Carl Zeiss lens? I bet they'd look like "heaven."
I’d bet they’d look pretty darn good. Actually, when I’ve shot car shows before, overcast lighting seems to work better with color. It seems to add depth to those great paint jobs. I still prefer to use black and white for super sunny days. I like the touch of surrealism it provides. But man oh man would I love to shoot some cars with a Hassy!
@@vintagecameradigest New to film, and I saved (high, low and in between), to get a mint condition Hasselblad, along with extra lens and film back. I also ordered film stock, and is just going on the once a week photo walk, to learn and learn some more. I hold a very high position at work, so I can't do more as I am soooo very busy, but the 1 that I can do, you bet I'll enjoy. Pretty soon, I'll be shooting Motorcycles at my local event.
Well, I don’t think you could do much better than the setup you’ll be using. I owned an old 500C with a 80T* lens at one time, and it was incredible. So I’m sure the 503 will be nothing less.
My go-to for just about anything Kodak is D-76 1:1. I did try the TMax developers many, many years ago when the film had just come out. But I haven’t tried any of that recently. Many users say that it’s the way to go, though.
I have my father Minolta SRT-101, a great camera especially from a mid-1960's camera. it has seen better days but it still work quite fine. I think Minolta are undervalued camera when it comes to film camera, they work great, lens are superb with a large choice. I even bought and adaptor to use those those lens on my Nikon Z and Fuji XT-20 and they still give great results.
Those SRT-series cameras are excellent choices for film photography. Simple. Solid. Reliable. And best of all - mechanical. They're definitely a good buy, even though the prices on those have been creeping up, as well. And I do love the MC/MD lenses. Lot's of great glass. Thankful that mirrorless systems now let us use those again!
Enjoy your posts. Thank you! I’m a bit of a Minolta Fanboy. My first was an SRT-100. Now I have a 102, a 201, a Hi-Matic AF2, two 400si rigs and an a7. The 100 disappeared. No idea where it went. Stolen? That a7, BTW, is an amazing camera.
Thank you! It’s great to hear from another Minolta fan as I’m sort of a fanboy myself. My first “real” camera was an X-700 and used it through college. Since then I’ve acquired more Minolta bodies than I care to admit. But I enjoy almost every one. And I very recently developed an appreciation for their AF bodies. I have been eyeing the a7 and a9. They seem to be excellent cameras. Cheers!
Thanks! I do have an XD-11 (same as the XD-7) but it needs some work. Hope I get to that in the next few months. But it would make a good comparison episode. Thanks for the suggestion!
I prefer “self-portrait” myself, lol! I did use the aperture priority mode for one entire roll of film. And i think it performed splendidly. The only time I made a conscious decision to override the metering was on the solid black car with the spare tire mounted in the fender. The automatic shot was overexposed, but not terribly and definitely still well-within workable latitude. So, I’d say it’s auto mode is pretty darn good!
Very enjoyable video and very beautiful photos! Thank you. My first decent camera was a Minolta, the Minolta AL, I believe it was called. When I moved on to more advance equipment, I always admired, was attracted to, and considered buying Minoltas, but somehow I never got back to them...except once, in a way, when I was on temporary duty in Japan and bought a Leitz Minolta CL, which was just a Leica CL rebadged for Minolta's home market. It was an absolutely superb, beautiful little gem of a camera, clearly in a different league quality-wise from anything I previously had owned, and I've always felt Leica made a mistake by discontinuing it rather than developing it further (as Minolta later did with its own Minolta CLE). It's too bad that Minolta is gone now, and I'm not a fan of Sony---too many buttons and dials all over the camera body and too complicated menus. Today my only remaining film camera is an Olympus OM-1, another little gem of a camera, but I hardly ever shoot film anymore. Film costs money to buy and money to develop, whereas digital is free; and with digital there's no disappointment afterwards, finding out the focus was off or the exposures were wrong or the framing wasn't the best; instead, you can see the results right away, fix any problems, and reshoot if necessary. So while I very much enjoy shooting film (and not least for its relative simplicity), its disadvantages (vis-à-vis digital) rule it out.
Glad you enjoyed the video! What you point out about film v digital can’t be argued against in any meaningful way, I think. Especially now when film costs are getting outright crazy. There’s no way I’d give up my digital gear with which I make my livelihood. With digital I can shoot in places and lighting conditions that would have been impossible with film. However wonderful digital photography is, though, I found myself missing the “process” of creating images on film. Something about the uncertainty of the results (to a degree) appealed to me. I’ll credit film photography for keeping my love for the craft alive. It is how I differentiate between my occupation and my passion. Film is certainly not the most efficient method of creating images. It defies logic. There are real costs - both financial and time. But it has reinvigorated my passion for the craft and put me back in touch with that 19-yr-old me experiencing a darkroom for the first time. Ah….the smell of fixer! Forgive me for such a sermon. I am in no way arguing against your point about digital. You are exactly right. And I’m thankful for the digital technology. But for some reason this evening, these words just fell out of my head, and well, here they lay. Many many thanks for your comment. And I hope you tune back in for other episodes! Peace ✌️
Nothing to forgive!---it was a good "sermon," and I largely agree with you. There is SOMETHING about shooting film, but I don't know what it is. Maybe it's partly the uncertainty of results, as you say (I used to consider myself lucky to get 2 or 3 keepers out of a roll of 36), or maybe it has to do with the intentionality of having to crank the film winding lever for each shot (I wish digital cameras had wind levers, even if they merely served as thumb rests and on/off switches), which in a way made each shot a sort of event, or maybe it's the sweet allure of the purely mechanical as opposed to the entirely electronic (more than a few film cameras were objects of beauty and were a joy to hold and to use, whereas digital cameras seem not to be that, or at least not so much...except perhaps for some Leicas), or maybe there's a fair dose of nostalgia involved. Peace indeed!@@vintagecameradigest
And having a wind lever on a digital would be a welcome tactile experience. I do like the deliberate-ness of the old cameras. And the roll of film you know has a limited life span. I can shoot 1000 pics on digital and none of it seems like an “event”. That analogy is gold. I love it!
If you are feeling lucky you could buy one of these cameras said to be non-functional because the mirror is locked up. It will lock up if there is no battery. But it will also lock up if the two magnets inside stick together and that is difficult to fix (we're talking removing leatherette). I am considering one, partly due to that 50mm f1.4 lens. The top shutter speed of 1,000 is a bummer. The pentaprism mirror is said to be prone to deterioration.
Agreed. The first one I bought (years ago) was locked up like that when I got it. Put a new battery in, and presto - working again! I also have one of these where the pentaprism mirror is a mess. I didn’t realize they were prone to that, but yes, I can back that up.
Enjoyed this review! What's your advice if the needle falls between two numbers, slightly above or slightly below. Basically, not dead center? When you were shooting Manual, you were adjusting your shutter on the fly based on the needle reading?
Thanks! And good questions. My default is that when the needle is between two numbers, I’ll go with the one that’s gonna give more exposure. So, if the needle points between 1/250 and 1/500, I’ll go with 1/250. OR, if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll shoot one at both speeds. Since the XE is an aperture-priority camera, the feedback you get in the viewfinder is a suggested shutter speed to coincide with whatever f/stop is selected. So, yes, when shooting in manual mode, I’ll set the shutter speed based on the needle reading. Another way to do it would be to choose a shutter speed to begin with, then adjust the aperture until the needle points to the speed you’ve set. Hope this answers your question. Let me know if I can elaborate further!
@@vintagecameradigest Thanks for the clarification. I've got one that hasn't been used in a few months. Your video encouraged me to break it out again. I've only ran one roll through it. To be honest I totally disregarded the needle on that roll, just used my external light meter and exposed a few on Auto. I want to build trust with the camera so it's part of my go-to kit. Think im gonna go with some Gold 200.
Be sure to check the camera meter against the external meter to get an idea regarding the accuracy. But this is a camera that would fit nicely in that go-to kit!
@@vintagecameradigest Its funny you mention that, cause that was one of the first things I did. Depending on the elements, scene, and same composure my Sekonic was showing one stop difference from the needle ( ex. meter 1/4, needle 1/8, it was a darker scene.) sometimes and sometimes dead on. It was 100% accurate when I incident metered as opposed to reflective metering, which I thought was interesting. Perhaps due to the dual cell metering of the camera? I like to shoot Ektachrome so my trust in the camera meter has to be solid. Not much dynamic range and latitude with slide. Plus I found E100 seems to expose best at 80. I didnt notice, does this camera have exposure lock? I appreciate your insight.
I don’t believe it has AE lock. But I am glad you tested it against the meter. Especially since you’re shooting transparencies. I just picked up a couple of rolls of the new Flic Film 100 chrome. I haven’t shot slides in years. But I think I’ll break out one of my cameras that has the multi-spot metering system. That sort of thing would be perfect for slide film. But I do endorse your use of the Sekonic over the camera meter here.
When you said car shot and bw film I was skeptical but wow these turned out so clean. I really need to revist tmax (and bw film in general) also loved the lens changes
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, great paint jobs in B&W wouldn’t immediately seem to be particularly impressive. But it’s something that, surprisingly, works quite well. Once, back in the mid-late 80s I paid a visit to one of the big photo stores in Atlanta. And they had this huge enlargement of a classic auto printed in B&W - and it was the most spectacular print I’d ever seen. Shadows, highlights, reflections…it was perfect. I don’t know if I’ve ever made a shot comparable to that one, but it still inspires me 35 yrs later. I do recommend revisiting T-Max. Its overkill for some subjects, but for others like this, it really shines.
Wonderful camera. I have 3 of these, and unfortunately each needs a different repair. With the exception of my XG7, and XE7, all of my other Minolta have been bulletproof.
I try not to be such a Minolta fan-boy, but I can’t help it sometimes. I really enjoy using their cameras. Hate that about your XEs though. I had Garry’s Camera in the US do a CLA on mine when I got it. It’s been good ever since. And reasonably priced.
I owned a Minolta xe-7 that belonged to a photojournalist that covered the salvadorian civil war with it. I owned it for 19 years and it every aspect of it was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT until the day I left it on top of my car and rode away.
Hey there nice demonstration! I have a SRT202 that I've brought out of a 15 year retirement because a friend gave me 10 rolls of Fuji Pro160 he's had refrigerated since new. I was wondering what you do with these old Minolta's since they don't make the original mercury batteries anymore. I mean can I trust the meter with alkalines or should I assume it will be off by a certain amount? My SRT has no exposure compensation function like the later models so I was thinking of taking duplicate readings with my digital camera to see if I can establish how many stops it might be different. You seemed to be trusting your XE to give you the right reading. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Excellent question! What I “should” do is by the Wein replacement cells that are the correct voltage. What I really do though is just use the alkaline versions. I will test it against a known, trusted meter - DSLR for example, and I’ll correct for any exposure deviation with an ISO adjustment (the voltage deviation doesn’t necessarily result in a linear curve that can be put right by the ISO adjustment, but it gets it closer than it otherwise might). That gets me close enough on every camera I have, and I’ve never had major exposure issues. Shooting negative film also works to that benefit since its exposure latitude also provides a bit of a safety net. I doubt I’d use this method with slide film, though. My advice is to try it on a practice roll and check the results. I’ll bet that you’ll be satisfied.
@@vintagecameradigest Hey thanks! I'm in the middle of a test roll as we speak and using multiple strategies to see what will work best. I have done comparison metering with the SRT, a newer Minolta slr (7000i), and my Canon G-15 digital and of course the readings are all over the place depending on the conditions...sometimes all 3 are within a half stop of each other, sometimes 2 agree with each other and one is different, and sometimes they all give me something different. Adjusting ISO is another trick for sure, but because I've already adjusted it down to account for the fact that the film is over 10 years old, I probably wouldn't mess with it any further. But it's definitely something worth trying with a brand new roll. Thanks again!
If you don’t have one already, I recommend picking up a gray card for comparing meters. It’s simple, one tone, AND happens to be what the meters are calibrated for in the first place. I find that most meters aren’t that far off from each other, unless there’s a real problem somewhere. Good luck with the tests. Those Minolta SRT-series are some of my favorites. No frills, but gets the job done.
@@vintagecameradigest You know I'm sure I had one from my first photography class in college in 1985. Now what box in my parent's attic was that? Haha. Good idea, couldn't hurt. Thanks kindly!
Agreed! The shutter and wind-on are smooth as butter. It’s definitely a nice, tactile experience. And it’s much more refined than the SRT series that came before. Thanks for tuning in!
Leica did a mistake with the Leica R3, because Leica insisted to make their own electronic in the Camera which often did malfunctions, that did not happen with the Minolta XE/XE-1/XE-7. Again later Leica did the same mistake with the Leica R4 which led to misfunction, that did not happen to the Minolta XD/XD-1/XD-7 Camera, so, do not get an early version of the Leica R4, even better, avoid the Leica R4 ! Leica started the cooperation with Minolta, because Leica lost money in production of making the Leicaflex Cameras which was all mechanical. So Minolta has quite a history which keep going on now with Sony who bought Minolta. The Minolta XD-7 was very popular among professional photographers in Europe. I like the digital Sony Cameras which is about the size of the analog Cameras from the late 1970´s to early 1980´s Cameras.
Good to know! Yes, Minolta does have quite the history - as well as continuing influence on modern cameras in the great Sony line-up. You only need look at Sony's offerings before and after the Minolta purchase to understand just how much they needed Minolta's know-how. I mourn the loss of Minolta, but I'm glad there's still a bit of Minolta DNA in the Sony's.
No estoy de acuerdo en alguna parte. La electronica de la Minolta era superior, pero no susceptible que su placa de cerámica no sucumbiera a que fácilmente tuviera problemas de malas mediciones en su lightmeter.
More like leica with minolta dna sold the r4 and minolta in the day damm we were authorized dealers for all the manufacturers. R4 was unreliable body always broken the minoltas were solid same for the cl and cle prefer the minoltas
Years ago, i picked up a couple of rolls of the APX25 to run through an old folder. Photos were incredible. Never got around to shooting the second roll and I still have it. Will make for an interesting video soon!
Good call on the switch to 28 - my ROKKOR 28 and 58 are my favorites on my XE (and adapted to my A7iii as well). I see some familiar cars in this video (I'm from ATL and a car guy as well). Subbed!! Ever need a co-shooter ( film or digital ) look me up. I certainly need to get out more - haha. | @freshouttafocus
Ah! Good to hear from someone from the same stomping ground! I’ve seen a few of those cars at other shows, as well. If I had one as nice as some of these were, I’d be showing it off as many places I could, too. And, yes, that 28mm is a favorite of mine. I think I’d also really like a 24mm, but those are fetching higher prices than I’m willing to shell out at the moment. But as soon as a good deal appears, I’m there! Thanks for tuning in!
@@vintagecameradigest get the 135f2.8 STF if you can. That thing changed my life. My 68 Datsun 510 is more drag car than show car but I suppose it shows okay. Haha. Also I have a super nice Rollei35S if you wanna feature it on your channel I'll get it to you to put some rolls through.
A ‘68 510…now that’s some nice vintage. I’m trying to imagine it as a drag car and I’m impressed. Would love to see that in person. Let me know where you’ll have it out. I’m sure I could easily go through several rolls of film. I actually have a Rollei 35T that was gifted to me several years back. I don’t think it’s 100% working, and I’m ashamed to say I haven’t even tried with it. I do need to get it out and spend some time with it. If I can’t get it up to par, I’ll let you know. It’s definitely a good series to feature here.
Back in ‘74, I purchased an XE-7 for my 3 month journey around the US. I took hundreds of transparencies and not once did that camera fail me. Not long after I came back home I did a most stupid thing; I sold the camera. I’m regretting it to this day. I’ve been looking for one, but the ones I’ve seen are in bad shape. When I got back from my trip the camera looked like it came out of the box. I have always treated my gear, and still do, with care. I’ve gone into many areas of the wild and came out with not a mark on my cameras. I fail to see how people abuse their gear so. Thanks for this video. It’s made me more determined to find one in the best condition possible. But, I’m not holding my breath.
It’s a fine camera for sure. I also find it hard for me to mistreat my gear, and I also used to wonder how some cameras get banged up so bad. Then I had an acquaintance once who went through life like a bull in a china shop. Then I understood why their camera looked like it did, lol. Here’s hoping you can find a clean XE in the near future!
@@vintagecameradigestI found one, if, of course, you decide to sell yours. 😊
@@kelalamusic9258I’m too emotionally invested in mine 😂
@@vintagecameradigestI totally understand. Too bad I wasn’t emotionally invested in mine. I’d still have it today. 😊
lol, as a car guy, I hear 1974 and I’m instantly waiting to hear about the ‘malaise era’. Happy to know my XE was something good that came out of that era.
Just imagine taking the XE on a road trip in your Mustang II :-))
Loved, liked and subbed. I have the XD-11, I bought it with the 135mm F1:3.5 lens for £23 from eBay UK., (it was of course not working) But after 25 hours of stripping, cleaning and lubricating its as good as new and what a joy these cameras are to use.
I shoot Fujifilm digital X-E3 and X-T10, because I love the retro look, feel and kind of shooting ergonomics they had perfected in the 1970's and never surpassed in my opinion.
Your images are stunning and this channel is one in a million! Thank you!
Many, many thanks! Those XDs are like the Holy Grail for Minolta-lovers. It was such a perfect camera I'll never really understand why the models that followed (I'm looking at you, X-700) didn't offer shutter-priority AE. I got my hands on an XD-11 a few years back, but it's not operating at 100%. Shutter speeds are a bit erratic. It's earmarked for a CLA soon. Hope that'll cure all of its ills. And I agree with you regarding the Fuji cameras: retro feel - and paired with their film emulation presets - a very nice combo that recalls simpler times. Cheers!
Very nice pictures, composition and the B & W tone. While a lot of young people are crazy about creating digital black and while photos and videos in recent years, I haven’t seen such nice contrast and gradient of true black and while photography for a long time.
Thank you! TMax100 and that particular subject are a really good match. Glossy, reflective surfaces really benefit from that fine grain.
i love Minolta cameras and lenses. I have several from the SRT102 - 202. Thank you for introducing me to this model. I'm gonna git me one !
I LOVE the SRT series - probably some of my favorite manually-controlled shutter bodies of all time. But the XE does them one better with the AE available. It hasn’t disappointed me at all.
Excellent! Good job my friend.
Thank you very much! And thanks for watching!
Your videos are very informative and just all around peaceful! Thanks for the great content
Thanks so much! And thanks for tuning in!
Great vid. Got an XE-1 coming next week, so a little excited. I use film as a 'treat' - a break away from my DSLRs and a 17kg backpack. I do love my digitals and their glass and what it all let's me accomplish, but I have a special reverence for good film cameras and glass - there's a set of values that is built into and expressed by that gear and the process using it involves, values that I think we need to keep alive in the face of built-in obsolescence and the next piece of candy. Thanks for the vid and for breaking sweat to bring us those images. All the best from a cabin in a swamp in a rainforest in New Zealand.
I couldn’t agree more. When I try to verbalize why I enjoy analogue photography so much, the word “process” continues to pop up. The process of the idea behind the image, the process of determining an exposure, the process of processing, all of it. I’m indeed glad that we’re still able to use these old materials. I hope you do enjoy that XE! Minolta, especially these days, doesn’t get the credit they deserve. But they built some fine cameras and excellent glass! Cheers!
@@vintagecameradigest Hi - thanks for your response. The very first camera I bought new was an XD-7. A decade later I lost it in Canada (blame Canada). Recently I've been thinking on replacing it and would have had this XE not appeared. I do have some Tamron SP glass with Minolta Adaptall 2 adapters, so that will get me started along with the 50 that's on it. My Spotmatic and Taks are going to hate me for it. You shoot a lot... what's your main interest? Cheers.
The XD is another fine one! Technologically superior to the XE, but I think the XE has the edge on build quality. Well, at least it feels more substantial - which it should since it's larger. As for my favorite subjects, I've never met a classic auto show I didn't like. I'm always blown away with the combination of fine-grain B&W film and shiny paint and chrome. B&W has always been my favorite medium since it takes just enough of the reality away to make it just a little bit surreal. I'm always chasing a palette of soft grays, it seems. Recently, though, I've been exploring color film a bit, and I'm liking it. I'm also quite fond of portraiture, though you wouldn't know by my channel. I do hope to include some shoots in the near future, though.
I enjoy looking at your photographs. very nicely composed and crafted work, not typical equipment test shit of today.
Thanks! I like cameras, but I love photography. So, I’ve gotta give it as good a shot as I can. Cheers!
Great video. I mostly shoot Canon mirrorless digital (R5 and R50), but usually leave my Canon autofocus lenses at home and shoot with my adapted Minolta MC and MD lenses. I also shoot film now and again (I’m more of an Ilford HP-5 than a T-Max100 fan) and own one of each series or family of Minolta’s TTL metered cameras (SR-T 102, XK, XE-7, XD-s and X-700). Of all of the cameras the XE-7 is by far my favorite, even over the XD and X-700 which both seem more popular these days.
I agree on the MC Rokkor-PG 50mm f/1.4, it is an absolutely outstanding lens. The newer plain MD 50mm f/1.4 is a hair sharper, controls flair better and has slightly nicer bokeh (its also MUCH smaller and lighter), but the older MC just has something about the way it renders a scene that make it my favorite 50mm Minolta lens.
Enjoy your XE-7 and other cameras in good health. Liked and subscribed.
Thanks for the sub! Yes, the MD is much smaller, and the sharpness isn't surprising. Minolta seems to be known for continually improving their lenses while not releasing the upgrades as a new series. It just meant that the MC you bought in 1975 might be a bit improved over the one you bought in 1973. But in this case the MD is actually the new series that takes advantage of all the improved engineering.
I found this camera on Facebook Marketplace with a 50mm f1.7 lens for $80 and purchased it as my first ever film camera, beyond disposables. I’ve shot roughly 20-25 rolls since then (~8 months), and I’m grateful to have it as my starter shooter with its aperture priority, light but durable build and compatibility with cheap Minolta lenses. I hope to hold onto my XE-7 forever!
That’s a great deal for the camera and lens! It’s a really robust body and should serve you well for a long time. And yes, the Minolta lenses are quite reasonable in price compared to some others. But they’re great lenses, and there are a lot of them out there. Thanks for watching!
Fantastic shoot and wonderful post. T-max 100 you say. I will definitely try that out. Honestly I bought an ex7, oh about 2or 3 years ago and haven't shoot with yet. But you certainly have shown me what I've been missing. I'm going to get some popcorn and watch this again and again. Thanks and happy shooting.
Thank you! Yes, the XE is a fine camera. And TMAX 100 is about as good as it gets, IMO. Ilford Delta 100 is also about the same. They can’t be beat for virtually grain-free negatives.
I have this camera and recently purchased the xd11, both are my go to cameras. I love the xe very much. I am selling my x700 and keeping my old srt 202. I'm also getting rid of my other cameras system. I have Pentax me super and a praktica MTL 5b. Will only keep my Minoltas and my digital camera. Tmax is one heck of a great film.
I have an XD11 that needs some work, so I’ve not been able to use it. But I’m looking forward to getting that done since it’s one of Minolta’s top bodies. I also admire you for your willingness to “thin the herd” so to speak. I am pathologically incapable of doing that. Hence, the existence of this channel, lol.
Excellent video. I loved the way you pulled the details off the old cars into your photographs too. Thanks!
Thank you very much! Vintage autos are one of my favorite subjects. Lot’s of design details, chrome, etc that just beg to be photographed!
Really appreciate these excellent videos. I don't need another film camera but the XE sure looks great. As I watched I wondered what sort of interaction you have with other folks during your shoots. You must attract some curiosity.
Thanks for watching! I do usually find a few folks who want to talk and ask questions. And I’m always happy to oblige :-))
90 degrees and you are wearing a black shirt and jeans? Sweet Minolta. They made their own lenses from along the glass to grinding the optics.
Yeah, I’ve never been accused of dressing appropriately, lol. But that was a significant mis-judgement on my part. One day I’ll learn!
Enjoyed a lot. Thanks for another very informative and entertaining video. I have a Leica R3 Mot and my younger son a Minolta XE5, a simplified version of the XE7. Indeed, they are and look familiar, but they feel a bit different. Both a joy to use and to look at :)
Thanks for tuning in again! I hope to get my hands on an R3 sometime just to see how different/same it is to the XE. I’m sure a big difference is the Leica glass, but this MC 50 1.4 continues to surprise and please me.
In reference to your interest in Minolta's - Was just watching the old movie "The Jewel of the Nile," 1985. There was a couple of scenes where Kathleen Turner, the heroine, is photographing with a black Minolta X-700 - I never paid attention to the "Minolta" name plate before, but I did notice that the X-700 name plate is the more modern "Minolta" with all capital letters and the "O" represented by an image of the world. In another scene she has a small Minolta speedlite mounted in the shoe. It had the modern "Minolta" name plate also.
First time I ever saw a Minolta used as a prop. Thought it was pretty neat. Made me think of your channel!!
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve seen that movie, and I probably didn’t even notice the camera when I saw it last. But it’s cool that it’s in there. I think Minolta modernized their logo around 1980. But, yes, I don’t think I’ve seen one as a prop, either. And I’m flattered that it made you think of this channel! Many, many thanks!
Really very good info on the XE-7! I just bought one & Im excited to get started shooting with a manual focus SLR after shooting with Nikon digital cameras for several years. I got tired of chasing after an old Nikon and having to pay a fortune for something that might not work. I read about the XE-7 and was able to find one at a reasonable price. I subscribed! Looking forward to more!
Welcome to the wonderful world of Minolta! You’ll love the XE. Glad you found one at a good price. I recently was thinking about getting a second body, until I saw the current prices. Wow. But worth it, I think. If you can get your hands on the MC Rokkor 50 1.4, you won’t regret it. The MD version is newer, of course, but the MC has a superior build IMO. Thanks for the sub!
Beautiful, creative images throughout! Love your post processing on all these images. Very straight, clean, and nice contrast. What do you soup your T-Max in?
What do you use to scan & post process your b&w images?
Note - You were giving exposure and lens specs up to the red '78 Vette, around 13 minutes, using the Vivitar 135. After that you gave no more data. I, like most photographers, love knowing the specs. It looks like you changed lenses again from the white Firebird to the end? 50mm? What f-stops on these last few shots?
Have to say, when I see videos like this, it inspires me to pack up a camera, and shoot somewhere like this, hand holding. Just walking around at events like this, camera in hand, has to be one of the purest forms of photography. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much! As for the specs, mostly you hear them because I talk to myself out loud when shooting - well not TOO loud, lol. But yes, I should continue throughout. I ended up replacing the 135mm with the 50mm 3.5 macro for the shot of the hood ornament. And then just went back to the 50 1.4 for the last half of the roll. I knew I wouldn't get much use out of the 135, but I though I'd try. On this type of shoot I really find the 50mm does exactly what I need. One of the final shots of the sideview mirror I think I had the f/stop at 5.6 for one and maybe 1.4 for the other.
My standard processing for just about everything is D-76 mixed 1:1. And I've been using an old Unicolor drum and roller base with a 15% reduction in dev time since it's continuous agitataion. Digitization is a Canon DSLR setup with an Nikkor Ai-s 55mm 2.8 - usually set at around f/8 with a short extension tube to make sure I fill the frame. Post-processing is Adobe Camera Raw and Photoshop (for B&W - Lightroom and Negative Lab Pro for color). Most tweaks are using Curves only and maybe getting rid of a dust spot here and there. And to finish it up I use a light Gradient Map adjustment to emulate Selenium toning.
Thanks again for watching! Be sure to tune in again!
My goodness! Those colours on the cars attending the show. Just arresting!
I wonder what they would look like on a colour film stock, with high vibrancy, shot on the Hasselblad 503cx with the 80mm Carl Zeiss lens?
I bet they'd look like "heaven."
I’d bet they’d look pretty darn good. Actually, when I’ve shot car shows before, overcast lighting seems to work better with color. It seems to add depth to those great paint jobs. I still prefer to use black and white for super sunny days. I like the touch of surrealism it provides. But man oh man would I love to shoot some cars with a Hassy!
@@vintagecameradigest New to film, and I saved (high, low and in between), to get a mint condition Hasselblad, along with extra lens and film back.
I also ordered film stock, and is just going on the once a week photo walk, to learn and learn some more.
I hold a very high position at work, so I can't do more as I am soooo very busy, but the 1 that I can do, you bet I'll enjoy.
Pretty soon, I'll be shooting Motorcycles at my local event.
Well, I don’t think you could do much better than the setup you’ll be using. I owned an old 500C with a 80T* lens at one time, and it was incredible. So I’m sure the 503 will be nothing less.
Great photos! Which developer do you prefer for TMax 100?
My go-to for just about anything Kodak is D-76 1:1. I did try the TMax developers many, many years ago when the film had just come out. But I haven’t tried any of that recently. Many users say that it’s the way to go, though.
I have Minolta XE still my go-to camera
It’s a great choice! I should shoot with it more often, myself.
I have my father Minolta SRT-101, a great camera especially from a mid-1960's camera. it has seen better days but it still work quite fine. I think Minolta are undervalued camera when it comes to film camera, they work great, lens are superb with a large choice. I even bought and adaptor to use those those lens on my Nikon Z and Fuji XT-20 and they still give great results.
Those SRT-series cameras are excellent choices for film photography. Simple. Solid. Reliable. And best of all - mechanical. They're definitely a good buy, even though the prices on those have been creeping up, as well. And I do love the MC/MD lenses. Lot's of great glass. Thankful that mirrorless systems now let us use those again!
Enjoy your posts. Thank you! I’m a bit of a Minolta Fanboy. My first was an SRT-100. Now I have a 102, a 201, a Hi-Matic AF2, two 400si rigs and an a7. The 100 disappeared. No idea where it went. Stolen? That a7, BTW, is an amazing camera.
Thank you! It’s great to hear from another Minolta fan as I’m sort of a fanboy myself. My first “real” camera was an X-700 and used it through college. Since then I’ve acquired more Minolta bodies than I care to admit. But I enjoy almost every one. And I very recently developed an appreciation for their AF bodies. I have been eyeing the a7 and a9. They seem to be excellent cameras. Cheers!
Nice pix ! Pls a comparison XD-7 vs XE-7. Thanx !
Thanks! I do have an XD-11 (same as the XD-7) but it needs some work. Hope I get to that in the next few months. But it would make a good comparison episode. Thanks for the suggestion!
An interesting and informative video. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it! And thanks for tuning in again!
When you photographed the cars, did you keep it on the AUTO setting? Great self portraits (old timer talk for "selfie") after 14:00!
I prefer “self-portrait” myself, lol! I did use the aperture priority mode for one entire roll of film. And i think it performed splendidly. The only time I made a conscious decision to override the metering was on the solid black car with the spare tire mounted in the fender. The automatic shot was overexposed, but not terribly and definitely still well-within workable latitude. So, I’d say it’s auto mode is pretty darn good!
you missed my weak attempt at humor .... Auto for autos .... or in your wisdom, chose not to acknowledge it, lol.
@@vintagecameradigest
LOL! Sometimes I can be soooo dense!! And then I’m the one who wonders when folks don’t get MY sense of humor….too funny! Good one, though :-)
Very enjoyable video and very beautiful photos! Thank you. My first decent camera was a Minolta, the Minolta AL, I believe it was called. When I moved on to more advance equipment, I always admired, was attracted to, and considered buying Minoltas, but somehow I never got back to them...except once, in a way, when I was on temporary duty in Japan and bought a Leitz Minolta CL, which was just a Leica CL rebadged for Minolta's home market. It was an absolutely superb, beautiful little gem of a camera, clearly in a different league quality-wise from anything I previously had owned, and I've always felt Leica made a mistake by discontinuing it rather than developing it further (as Minolta later did with its own Minolta CLE). It's too bad that Minolta is gone now, and I'm not a fan of Sony---too many buttons and dials all over the camera body and too complicated menus. Today my only remaining film camera is an Olympus OM-1, another little gem of a camera, but I hardly ever shoot film anymore. Film costs money to buy and money to develop, whereas digital is free; and with digital there's no disappointment afterwards, finding out the focus was off or the exposures were wrong or the framing wasn't the best; instead, you can see the results right away, fix any problems, and reshoot if necessary. So while I very much enjoy shooting film (and not least for its relative simplicity), its disadvantages (vis-à-vis digital) rule it out.
Glad you enjoyed the video! What you point out about film v digital can’t be argued against in any meaningful way, I think. Especially now when film costs are getting outright crazy. There’s no way I’d give up my digital gear with which I make my livelihood. With digital I can shoot in places and lighting conditions that would have been impossible with film. However wonderful digital photography is, though, I found myself missing the “process” of creating images on film. Something about the uncertainty of the results (to a degree) appealed to me. I’ll credit film photography for keeping my love for the craft alive. It is how I differentiate between my occupation and my passion. Film is certainly not the most efficient method of creating images. It defies logic. There are real costs - both financial and time. But it has reinvigorated my passion for the craft and put me back in touch with that 19-yr-old me experiencing a darkroom for the first time. Ah….the smell of fixer!
Forgive me for such a sermon. I am in no way arguing against your point about digital. You are exactly right. And I’m thankful for the digital technology. But for some reason this evening, these words just fell out of my head, and well, here they lay.
Many many thanks for your comment. And I hope you tune back in for other episodes! Peace ✌️
Nothing to forgive!---it was a good "sermon," and I largely agree with you. There is SOMETHING about shooting film, but I don't know what it is. Maybe it's partly the uncertainty of results, as you say (I used to consider myself lucky to get 2 or 3 keepers out of a roll of 36), or maybe it has to do with the intentionality of having to crank the film winding lever for each shot (I wish digital cameras had wind levers, even if they merely served as thumb rests and on/off switches), which in a way made each shot a sort of event, or maybe it's the sweet allure of the purely mechanical as opposed to the entirely electronic (more than a few film cameras were objects of beauty and were a joy to hold and to use, whereas digital cameras seem not to be that, or at least not so much...except perhaps for some Leicas), or maybe there's a fair dose of nostalgia involved. Peace indeed!@@vintagecameradigest
I think you nailed it about an exposure being an “event”. I couldn’t agree more.
And having a wind lever on a digital would be a welcome tactile experience. I do like the deliberate-ness of the old cameras. And the roll of film you know has a limited life span. I can shoot 1000 pics on digital and none of it seems like an “event”. That analogy is gold. I love it!
If you are feeling lucky you could buy one of these cameras said to be non-functional because the mirror is locked up. It will lock up if there is no battery. But it will also lock up if the two magnets inside stick together and that is difficult to fix (we're talking removing leatherette). I am considering one, partly due to that 50mm f1.4 lens. The top shutter speed of 1,000 is a bummer. The pentaprism mirror is said to be prone to deterioration.
Agreed. The first one I bought (years ago) was locked up like that when I got it. Put a new battery in, and presto - working again! I also have one of these where the pentaprism mirror is a mess. I didn’t realize they were prone to that, but yes, I can back that up.
Enjoyed this review! What's your advice if the needle falls between two numbers, slightly above or slightly below. Basically, not dead center? When you were shooting Manual, you were adjusting your shutter on the fly based on the needle reading?
Thanks! And good questions. My default is that when the needle is between two numbers, I’ll go with the one that’s gonna give more exposure. So, if the needle points between 1/250 and 1/500, I’ll go with 1/250. OR, if I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll shoot one at both speeds. Since the XE is an aperture-priority camera, the feedback you get in the viewfinder is a suggested shutter speed to coincide with whatever f/stop is selected. So, yes, when shooting in manual mode, I’ll set the shutter speed based on the needle reading. Another way to do it would be to choose a shutter speed to begin with, then adjust the aperture until the needle points to the speed you’ve set. Hope this answers your question. Let me know if I can elaborate further!
@@vintagecameradigest Thanks for the clarification. I've got one that hasn't been used in a few months. Your video encouraged me to break it out again. I've only ran one roll through it. To be honest I totally disregarded the needle on that roll, just used my external light meter and exposed a few on Auto. I want to build trust with the camera so it's part of my go-to kit. Think im gonna go with some Gold 200.
Be sure to check the camera meter against the external meter to get an idea regarding the accuracy. But this is a camera that would fit nicely in that go-to kit!
@@vintagecameradigest Its funny you mention that, cause that was one of the first things I did. Depending on the elements, scene, and same composure my Sekonic was showing one stop difference from the needle ( ex. meter 1/4, needle 1/8, it was a darker scene.) sometimes and sometimes dead on. It was 100% accurate when I incident metered as opposed to reflective metering, which I thought was interesting. Perhaps due to the dual cell metering of the camera? I like to shoot Ektachrome so my trust in the camera meter has to be solid. Not much dynamic range and latitude with slide. Plus I found E100 seems to expose best at 80. I didnt notice, does this camera have exposure lock? I appreciate your insight.
I don’t believe it has AE lock. But I am glad you tested it against the meter. Especially since you’re shooting transparencies. I just picked up a couple of rolls of the new Flic Film 100 chrome. I haven’t shot slides in years. But I think I’ll break out one of my cameras that has the multi-spot metering system. That sort of thing would be perfect for slide film. But I do endorse your use of the Sekonic over the camera meter here.
I think it's the other way around, the Leica R3-R4 have Minolta DNA.
Indeed a good possibility!
When you said car shot and bw film I was skeptical but wow these turned out so clean. I really need to revist tmax (and bw film in general) also loved the lens changes
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, great paint jobs in B&W wouldn’t immediately seem to be particularly impressive. But it’s something that, surprisingly, works quite well. Once, back in the mid-late 80s I paid a visit to one of the big photo stores in Atlanta. And they had this huge enlargement of a classic auto printed in B&W - and it was the most spectacular print I’d ever seen. Shadows, highlights, reflections…it was perfect. I don’t know if I’ve ever made a shot comparable to that one, but it still inspires me 35 yrs later. I do recommend revisiting T-Max. Its overkill for some subjects, but for others like this, it really shines.
Wonderful camera. I have 3 of these, and unfortunately each needs a different repair. With the exception of my XG7, and XE7, all of my other Minolta have been bulletproof.
I try not to be such a Minolta fan-boy, but I can’t help it sometimes. I really enjoy using their cameras. Hate that about your XEs though. I had Garry’s Camera in the US do a CLA on mine when I got it. It’s been good ever since. And reasonably priced.
I may send all 3 to Garry’s and ask them to repair the most viable of the lot!
You used an Exakta in one of your shows, have you tried any other DDR cameras? The Werra, Praktina, and Certo might be fun. I could loan you a Werra.
That Exakta is the only one, so far. But I’m up for any of them!
I owned a Minolta xe-7 that belonged to a photojournalist that covered the salvadorian civil war with it. I owned it for 19 years and it every aspect of it was ABSOLUTELY PERFECT until the day I left it on top of my car and rode away.
That’s a sad story if I’ve ever heard one. Ouch. But indeed a fantastic camera.
Hey there nice demonstration! I have a SRT202 that I've brought out of a 15 year retirement because a friend gave me 10 rolls of Fuji Pro160 he's had refrigerated since new. I was wondering what you do with these old Minolta's since they don't make the original mercury batteries anymore. I mean can I trust the meter with alkalines or should I assume it will be off by a certain amount? My SRT has no exposure compensation function like the later models so I was thinking of taking duplicate readings with my digital camera to see if I can establish how many stops it might be different. You seemed to be trusting your XE to give you the right reading. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Excellent question! What I “should” do is by the Wein replacement cells that are the correct voltage. What I really do though is just use the alkaline versions. I will test it against a known, trusted meter - DSLR for example, and I’ll correct for any exposure deviation with an ISO adjustment (the voltage deviation doesn’t necessarily result in a linear curve that can be put right by the ISO adjustment, but it gets it closer than it otherwise might). That gets me close enough on every camera I have, and I’ve never had major exposure issues. Shooting negative film also works to that benefit since its exposure latitude also provides a bit of a safety net. I doubt I’d use this method with slide film, though. My advice is to try it on a practice roll and check the results. I’ll bet that you’ll be satisfied.
@@vintagecameradigest Hey thanks! I'm in the middle of a test roll as we speak and using multiple strategies to see what will work best. I have done comparison metering with the SRT, a newer Minolta slr (7000i), and my Canon G-15 digital and of course the readings are all over the place depending on the conditions...sometimes all 3 are within a half stop of each other, sometimes 2 agree with each other and one is different, and sometimes they all give me something different. Adjusting ISO is another trick for sure, but because I've already adjusted it down to account for the fact that the film is over 10 years old, I probably wouldn't mess with it any further. But it's definitely something worth trying with a brand new roll. Thanks again!
If you don’t have one already, I recommend picking up a gray card for comparing meters. It’s simple, one tone, AND happens to be what the meters are calibrated for in the first place. I find that most meters aren’t that far off from each other, unless there’s a real problem somewhere. Good luck with the tests. Those Minolta SRT-series are some of my favorites. No frills, but gets the job done.
@@vintagecameradigest You know I'm sure I had one from my first photography class in college in 1985. Now what box in my parent's attic was that? Haha. Good idea, couldn't hurt. Thanks kindly!
Great composition and exposure results with this camera and film stock. Did you use Dark Room for scanning?
Thank you! I’m using a DSLR scanning setup then using Adobe Camera Raw to convert to positive with final tweaks in Photoshop.
i got a xe-1 last year, near mint, this is a brick with a smooth shutter which sound i like...a great old camera i like to use..
Agreed! The shutter and wind-on are smooth as butter. It’s definitely a nice, tactile experience. And it’s much more refined than the SRT series that came before. Thanks for tuning in!
What film do I need for this
Thanks for the question! Any 35mm film will do the trick. Film used in this video was Kodak TMax 100, btw.
Leica did a mistake with the Leica R3, because Leica insisted to make their own electronic in the Camera which often did malfunctions, that did not happen with the Minolta XE/XE-1/XE-7. Again later Leica did the same mistake with the Leica R4 which led to misfunction, that did not happen to the Minolta XD/XD-1/XD-7 Camera, so, do not get an early version of the Leica R4, even better, avoid the Leica R4 ! Leica started the cooperation with Minolta, because Leica lost money in production of making the Leicaflex Cameras which was all mechanical. So Minolta has quite a history which keep going on now with Sony who bought Minolta. The Minolta XD-7 was very popular among professional photographers in Europe. I like the digital Sony Cameras which is about the size of the analog Cameras from the late 1970´s to early 1980´s Cameras.
Good to know! Yes, Minolta does have quite the history - as well as continuing influence on modern cameras in the great Sony line-up. You only need look at Sony's offerings before and after the Minolta purchase to understand just how much they needed Minolta's know-how. I mourn the loss of Minolta, but I'm glad there's still a bit of Minolta DNA in the Sony's.
@@vintagecameradigest There is a lot of Minolta´s DNA in Sony Cameras. I am very happy with my Sony Cameras.
No estoy de acuerdo en alguna parte. La electronica de la Minolta era superior, pero no susceptible que su placa de cerámica no sucumbiera a que fácilmente tuviera problemas de malas mediciones en su lightmeter.
More like leica with minolta dna sold the r4 and minolta in the day damm we were authorized dealers for all the manufacturers. R4 was unreliable body always broken the minoltas were solid same for the cl and cle prefer the minoltas
I agree, T-max is fantastic. I do miss Agfa, however!
Years ago, i picked up a couple of rolls of the APX25 to run through an old folder. Photos were incredible. Never got around to shooting the second roll and I still have it. Will make for an interesting video soon!
Good call on the switch to 28 - my ROKKOR 28 and 58 are my favorites on my XE (and adapted to my A7iii as well). I see some familiar cars in this video (I'm from ATL and a car guy as well). Subbed!! Ever need a co-shooter ( film or digital ) look me up. I certainly need to get out more - haha. | @freshouttafocus
Ah! Good to hear from someone from the same stomping ground! I’ve seen a few of those cars at other shows, as well. If I had one as nice as some of these were, I’d be showing it off as many places I could, too. And, yes, that 28mm is a favorite of mine. I think I’d also really like a 24mm, but those are fetching higher prices than I’m willing to shell out at the moment. But as soon as a good deal appears, I’m there! Thanks for tuning in!
@@vintagecameradigest get the 135f2.8 STF if you can. That thing changed my life. My 68 Datsun 510 is more drag car than show car but I suppose it shows okay. Haha. Also I have a super nice Rollei35S if you wanna feature it on your channel I'll get it to you to put some rolls through.
A ‘68 510…now that’s some nice vintage. I’m trying to imagine it as a drag car and I’m impressed. Would love to see that in person. Let me know where you’ll have it out. I’m sure I could easily go through several rolls of film. I actually have a Rollei 35T that was gifted to me several years back. I don’t think it’s 100% working, and I’m ashamed to say I haven’t even tried with it. I do need to get it out and spend some time with it. If I can’t get it up to par, I’ll let you know. It’s definitely a good series to feature here.
👍
Thanks for watching!