Rokkor On | Minolta XD11 Review
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.ค. 2024
- Giving a review to the brilliant Minolta XD, the next in line of the Minolta X-Series and the follow up of the XE. The XD makes for an amazing multi-mode compact SLR with a great meter, awesome set of optics and is a joy to use!
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Read the Full Review: www.alexluyckx.com/blog/index....
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0:00 - Introduction
0:58 - Camera History
5:49 - Camera Tour
9:03 - Film Loading
9:41 - Camera Experience
12:22 - Camera Optics
12:59 - Closing - วิทยาศาสตร์และเทคโนโลยี
Minolta was such an innovative company. The XD11 was my dream camera upon its release and after finally saving up enough money, I bought one in 1979. I absolutely loved the design and ergonomics of this camera, but was heartbroken when my example developed an intermittent problem seemingly tied to the metering system. Fortunately Minolta repaired it under warranty and I went on to use it for a couple of decades without any problems.
Glad the story has a happy ending! Thanks for watching! 🍻
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto Sadly, the problem did finally return. By then the XD had been used in a variety of demanding conditions, bounced around Europe with me a couple of times, and generally served me incredibly well as my only camera. All was forgiven as it had provided me with a number of priceless shots through the years.
After that much time had passed since I bought the XD, both the world of photography overall, as well as my own style of photography had changed quite a bit. By then it was fairly clear that digital photography was the future. But rather than embracing the latest technology as I had in my youth, I went "backwards" and switched over to a fully mechanical, all manual rangefinder that I still use today. Still, my own soft spot for Minolta cameras remained and a few years ago I added a Minolta CLE to my gear bag. It actually reminds me of the XD in a variety of ways - which I consider a good thing.
I love the 45 f/2!! Many years ago I was in a goodwill and stumbled across a camera bag ab to be put on the shelf. There was a sticker on the outside pricing it at $10. Inside was an sr-t 200, the 45mm f/2, a Minolta 135mm f/3.5, a vivitar 75-205mm w a 2x converter on it as well, a weird screw on telephoto lens thing I’ve never been able to use, a Minolta 20 flash, some old literature relating to the flash, some old lens cleaning paper, and a 4 pack of Fuji superia 200 that had expired in 2002. All of that was $10!!! That was back in 2015 and I’ve acquired many other cameras since then but my sr-t still gets the most use. I love that camera so much, and am so grateful for the deal I got it for. Nowadays goodwill wants to charge an arm and a leg for ANYTHING even remotely valuable. So nice to hear the 45mm get a mention as usually the 50 f/1.4 or the 58 f/1.2 steal the spotlight
The 45/2 is the one lens I miss! Thankfully I have the 40/2.8 for my EOS cameras that is pretty darn close!
"I've never met a Rokkor lens I didn't like", so true!
Aye! It’s so true, thanks for watching 🍻
I absolutely love my XD/XD11/XD7s. I have taken thousands of photos with them and still use them regularly.
My first camera was a XDS. Ten years later I got a used Leica R5. I knew nothing about Minolta's venture with Leica, and was prepared to "learn a totally different camera brand".. imagine my "that looks strangely familiar 🤔 .. ) moment😉
Despite the differences between the R’s and the X’s there is a lot that is the same! Thanks for watching 🍻
Fantastic video Alex, just what I needed, thanks!
🍻
This has always been my favourite minolta. The sound of the shutter alone is music to me. I'm not a photographer that thinks the camera makes the photograph great but this surely helps.
Agreed, the XD has an excellent shutter sound. And yes having a tool you get along with can certainly help create good photographs. 🍻
I had an XD-7 given to me about 8 months ago, along with a number of MD Rokkor lenses. I had it CLA’d and then bought new red cladding from a German company. While the new cladding required a fair bit of extra touch-up glue, the whole camera now looks stunning, and performs perfectly. My second camera is a Minolta CLE, paired with a Summicron 35mm lens. Thanks for your video. It was great!
Oh that’s awesome! Yeah I would love to try a CLE one day! Thanks for watching 🍻
I love my Minoltas. My first “real” camera was an SRT 201 with a 50mm f1.7. When I got a gig shooting for my college newspaper, I decided I needed a camera with a motor drive, so I saved up for an X-570. That camera with 28mm, 50mm, 85mm and 135mm Rokkors are still my favorite film kit.
Ah! My first was an SR-T 102 great learning cameras!
I had an x7000, I was super impressed with it. I've got an SR505 in my current line-up, that thing is a beast!
Great review Alex, and I have to say that I'm going to sub and give your channel some more attention- you do SO MUCH for the film community and photography in general!
Thanks again mate!
The X700 is excellent! Sadly every time I get one, it is on the way out! Thanks for watching 🍻
If you come from other cameras, beware the different shutter sound and slight lag of the XD shutter. It flips up the mirror, takes another exposure reading, then trips the shutter. Sounds wierd, and feels a bit 'laggy'. But it works. Also, the mirror dampener can gum up over time and delay the trip and return of the mirror, even though the shutter may work correctly.
Yup! I did notice that about the apparent lag. Thankfully the gentleman who loaned this one out to me keeps his in pristine condition! Thanks for watching 🍻
I love the sound of an XD. I find it therapeutic. I too like the ergonomic positioning of the shutter speed dial and the shutter button. I’m not sure what the covering material is made of. It does shrink so maybe it is leather. It feels really nice so I’m not inclined to replace it as long as it’s still stuck down.
Thanks, Alex, for this informative and well-produced video on the XD-11.
I heartily concur with your comments and suggestions, including the observations regarding the generally fine condition of vintage cameras sold by Japanese ebay sellers. While a film shooter for decades, I admit to being late to the party regarding Minolta SLR equipment. Fortunately - happily - my introduction was via the MD-X, which I understand to have been a Japan-only model, closely akin to the MD-11 but with diopter control next to viewfinder. Mine, an all-black model, came from a Japanese ebay seller, along with two MD Rokkors and even a Minolta shoulder bag...all in very clean, practically indistinguishable from new condition. I love the combination of compact form factor and solidity and quickly became at home with shooting the MD-X, soon adding a motor drive and additional MD/MC lenses. All in all, a pleasure to use this new (to me) system. Great tactile feel and very impressive metering, even with slide films.
Compliments on your presentation, photos, and - intelligent - choice of music that enhances rather than insults or distracts (altogether too common in a lot of camera/lens reviews on YT).
I've subscribed and look forward to more of your reviews.
I just found this video randomly, and what a pleasant surprise to find out it was filmed in Waterdown. 👍
It’s a hidden gem! I never figured it was photogenic until recently!
I've been a Nikon shooter all my life, but I always respected Minolta. The shutter release on the XD series was so smooth. It was almost like a custom trigger job on a pistol.
Touch activated metering too.
You monster. Guns kill. Especially with a butter smooth trigger that breaks like a glass rod in the cold.
Thank you for the review. I live in Australia and I owned an XD-5 in 1981/82, definitely my favourite camera with all the right options. Basically, everything you want in a 35mm SLR and nothing you don't want. Unfortunately I had an accident at the beach which involved 4-5 drops of sea water which killed the camera. I replaced it with a secondhand XG-2 body and kept the 50mm MD Rokkor F/1.4 lens, both I still have today. My first Minolta was an SRT 101b which I had my parents buy for me in 1977. I recently bought an SRT 303b which is also a great camera and would have survived that beach accident. You can't get the mercury 1.35 volt batteries any more, but I have two hand held light meters (for the SRT's that I have [3]).I understand that the XD's were the last Minolta all-metal bodies they made.
Shame that you XD5 died! I’ve had too many cameras end their lives prematurely and in spectacular fashion! At least the lenses live on! Thanks for watching 🍻
Thanks for the informative review! :)
Cheers!
Loved the video! I wanted to know more about this camera (since I bought one just a week before you made it) and couldnt find much online (not like the OM system which seems to get all of the atention of that period). The editing was a little rough but the way you talked was really good.
(now my little history with minolta cameras)
I started shooting digital (on sony) and always wanted to try film. but there aren't any film store in my country so this summer on a trip to the USA I decided to get a film camera and try it. I manage to buy a Maxxum 5000 body for just $28 on amazon (since I already had the 50mm 1.7 for my sony) and just a few days before leaving I got a minolta point&shoot from a video game collector who gave it to me in exchange for two old xbox games.
I shot both of them in te USA and got in love with the results but I still wanted a more manual camera. When I came back I found out about a friend from work who's dad had an amazin OM colection, he had a Olympus OM-1, 50mm 1.4, 135mm f/3.5, 400mm f/6.3 and a 28mm f/3.5 lether cases and everything! After seeing it in person I felt in love with the camera (and felt even more in love after finding so much about it online) however, he didn't wanted to sell it...
For months I dreamt about getting the whole collection but, since the value of old cameras is really low here, I thought maybe I could find something similar in my country's equivalent to Ebay. After many posts I couldn't find any OM cameras in good enough shape or near me to inspect them, defeated, I started looking for another lens for my maxxum and that's when I found a guy listing a suitcase with a bunch of gear for $60 (I convinced him to drop it to $50) and he was just next to my house!
Not knowing anything about the cameras I went to inspect them, they were in good shape so I bought them. To my amazing luck I had just bought a Minolta XD7 (and winder) with a 35-70 f3.5, a 35mm f2.8 (with oil that I manage to clean but almost broke the mechanism in the process) and a freaking rokkor 250mm f5.6 mirror lens!! along with all of this were: two original small minolta straps, a big strap with the new logo, an older minolta point and shoot (with a Pentax strap of all things!) and a SRT101 manual for some reason...
Somehow all of this felt like destiny... I'm still amazed at all of the things that I found and the history they have... Who used them? What places did they go with it? Where is the missing SRT101 and Pentax camera? I may never find out, but I'll keep shooting film for now.
Really enjoyed this, thanks! I have a Minolta XE-7. A few years back I went to the local camera store where they were kind enough to let me try their cameras. I loved the build quality and big viewfinder of the XE-7, which is why I picked it up. It came with the MD Rokkor-X 50/1.7, which is great, especially when stopped down a little bit.
Mostly I like the XE-7, but I'm a little worried about its electronics. Recently I tried to use aperture priority and while it seemed to work fine for a few shots, on one of them the camera inexplicably seemed to choose a multi-second exposure -- a far cry from what the meter was saying in the viewfinder (something like 1/60th) and a certain wasted shot. I don't have a reason to suspect its shutter will break or is inaccurate, but it definitely affects my trust in the camera.
I'm considering getting the XD-11, which seems to be reliable. I quite like the idea of having a good aperture priority mode that I can trust. I probably should just get a Nikon F3 or something, but like you I have a big soft spot for Minolta and do really like the Rokkor lens.
Thanks! Yes, I do have a softspot for Minoltas and am not looking forward to the day when the XE-7 dies. But you won't go wrong with an F3!
Alex, just found your channel. Wanted to let you know the X-700 you sent me many years ago is still firing on all cylinders! All I did was clean the battery contacts, and replace the batteries. I’ve added the motor winder, and some more glass. I will always have a soft spot for Minolta, as my late father’s first SLR was the XG7, which I have. I also have an XD-11. But the X-700 is my favorite. Like you, Nikon is still my go to line, but Minolta will always be a sentimental favorite. Just getting back into film after a lengthy hiatus. Cheers, Arthur
Oh wow! Glad to hear the X700 is still going and that you’re back shooting film! Cheers and thank for watching 🍻
These are top notch quality camera's. I love how these are build. The Seiko shutter is smooth. It is a good vibe- camera.
Only good vibes! Thanks for watching 🍻
I love my XD11, got it for free years ago and have no issues. Love the size and purchased a small sunpak flash for it.
Free is good! Thanks for watching 🍻
Great video. I had my XD7 in 1984 and service me really well over the years with MD24/2.8, MD35/2.8, MD50/1.2, MC58/1.4, MD&MC85/1.7, MD135/2.8 lens are all very nice. 👍 I still use them as daily shooting. If you more for color, MD litter better.
Thank you! And yes I have heard that MD optics rock with colour film!
Great video! ⭐️👍🏻
Thank you!
I’m a big fan of Minolta film Cameras from the A9 the last model, to the range finder’s. I own one of each, with the XD11, the count is three. Why, because of the glass. #1, Md glass is vast and affordable … #2, Innovation and build quality … The XD11 has everything you need for successful photography.
I love my A9! And yes the glass is amazing! Thanks for watching 🍻
Nice job Alex! I love my XD even though it is silver. The 45mm f2 has been my GoTo for years, but I find myself reaching for the 50mm f1.4 more recently.
Thanks! Yeah, still a big fan of the 45/2 although my first SR-T came with the 50/1.4 great lens until it was dropped and broke :(
I love Minolta cameras too. Good vid.
Thanks!
I have 3 of them and still going strong. They have not even been re foamed in almost 20 years. Great cameras and I still get a bit puzzled by the attention I get when I get noticed.
It’s a slick camera! Glad all of yours are still running strong! Thanks for watching 🍻
The Japanese dealers I’ve dealt with on eBay are camera stores, so they sell good quality stuff, and usually describe the condition accurately. If they ship by FedEx Express, it is incredibly fast, from Japan to Canada in less than a week. But their prices tend to be higher than U.S. and Canadian sellers, so you get what you pay for I guess. But read their descriptions carefully, and avoid gear with fungus. I bought a Canon F-1 from a Japanese dealer, and sent it to a professional for a routine CLA, and once he’d taken the camera apart there was fungus inside; it wasn’t a big deal, but it did add to the CLA cost.
I’ve had no issues with camera gear and lenses from Japan! A good CLA has them working like new! Thanks for watching 🍻
Nice video and a lovely village. I like Minolta lenses very much but have been unlucky with the cameras. My two XD bodies are both inoperative, and my local tech won’t touch them. My Minolta late MD 35/2.8 is the best lens I have ever tested.
What's wrong with it?
A very good camera indeed. There is a 'o' setting on the shutter dial which is a fully mechanical shutter release (in the event of low battery) set at 1/60 or 1/100th. I remember the lens mount is lubricant impregnated one.
By the way, X700 was a later addition, which had 'accute matte' focusing screen which was far brighter. Minolta supplied that screen to both Hasselblad and Leica. Thanks for the beautiful memories.
Cheers! And thanks for watching 🍻
ROKKOR ON 🤘
I enjoyed the history overview at the beginning. You didn't point out that the shutter is metal, not cloth. One thing I noticed when looking on ebay is that the leatherette cladding is peeling off on most of them. I second the suggestion to go with the (usually) more expensive Japanese sellers.
Yup, I didn't mention that, but I assumed most photographers know that the Copal Square shutter is a metal-based shutter. Yeah, the leatherette on this copy is starting to peel a little, but a bit of super glue will fix that. Thanks for watching! 🍻
Good review Alex. I am the original.owner of an XD-11 with the auto-winder. I also had an X-700 with the full auto ability but honestly the XD-11 did it all. It is still fully functional after all these years! The real gaskets will have to be replaced which is easily done. Maybe I will pick up a roll of film but who does developing these days?
Thanks! There are plenty of full service labs around. Best in North America is The Darkroom. Thanks for watching 🍻
My cameras are Fujifilm, Olympus, Canon, folding Voigtlander and Minolta. I’m a big Minolta fan, three X700’s since college and an XD-11. MD glass is excellent, inexpensive and plentiful. Support film 🎞 manufacturers … If not, it all goes dead black.
I once picked up an XD-11 with MD 50mm f/2 lens at a garage sale for $2.00 USD. It worked great for a little while. After about a year and a dozen rolls of film, the shutter stopped working. A technician who looked it over determined that the shutter would need to be replaced. As much as I liked the camera, it was not worth it to me to spend hundreds to replace the shutter on a camera I spent $2.00 for. I replaced it eventually with an X-570.
One of the greatest minolta xd7 .
I have xd7 since 2003 . It's a great camera And rokkor lenses are fantastic . I have 20mm2.8 , 35-70f3.5 , 28mmf2.8 , 45mm f2 , 50mm f1.7 and 1.4 and 85mm 2.8 varisoft. But it got failure in its electronic and i decided to use srt303b (another great camera) and for automatic a brand new x370s that is really cheap and small and I've never worried about any problem with it.
My first SLR was a Minolta SR-T 102 solid mechanical beasts! Thanks for watching 🍻
You mention the Motor Drive, I thought only the Winder-D works on the XD cameras?
Yes, my bad only the Winder D works with the XD.
I have the XE and x-700. I might get the XD, saw one from a Japanese seller.
Do it!
Agree to disagree about all black cameras, I love the look of chrome cameras. But I think we can both agree, red ones go faster.
Used this to decide on buying the XD-11 as my first time into film. I've been an avid digital photographer for years now and I was able to score a pretty good deal with an XD-11 and 2 lens's. Still wondering if I should've gone SRT-102 instead? But maybe that will come by in the future? Thanks for the great video!
The XD11 is a great entry into film! The SR-T can come later! Thanks for watching 🍻
I prefer the XD-11 over the SRT. Once you master the light/camera/film relationship you will be able to instantly set the camera to get the affect you desire.
The XE-7 is my favorite, but I've always wanted an XD-11, especially a black one.
BTW, the winder on the XE-7 is just sublime, isn't it?
If my XE-7 ever dies, an XD is my replacement. And yes love the advance on the XE-7.
My favourite Minolta lens for the SLR, would be the 58mm/1.4 MC, that is just a glorious piece of glass! But my Rokkor-M 90mm/4 for the Leica just blows everything else I have in that range away for image quality.
I have never shot a 58mm lens in any system will have to keep an eye out!
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto I think my all time favourite 58mm, is the Voigtländer 58/1.4 Nokton SL II in Nikon mount, that image of that is just stunning.
I still have an SRT-201 and XD-11 both in black with a bunch of Rokkor lenses plus an autowinder. I've already sold a lot of my Minolta stuff. Only recently I've strayed into full frame digital, a 12 yo Sony A850 with 2500 shutter fires which seamlessly connects to my 4 Minolta AF lenses and an aspherical Tamron zoom. I prefer film but it's getting expensive.
The EV compensation is actually in a different spot on my Minolta XD. They might have known it was a weak point and moved it on later models.
very well said,, plastic fantastic,, x700. Today, manufacturers are just pushing us a shoddy product, and in addition at a high price. Once the producer focused on high quality, which is no longer there today.. good video 👍
I got a XD 11 but it doesn't work right so I can't use it unfortunately. But my favorite camera of all time is the X700. I have two that work flawlessly and I love using! I just can't get past the features and function of the X700. That program mode sure is handy when I'm feeling lazy or I give the camera to someone else to shoot with.
Shame about the XD, but yeah you can’t beat program mode when you just want to get out and create. Thanks for watching 🍻
I like the X700 as well.
Good review. I still have my XD-11 that I got in 1981. I used it for a good 35 years and primarily used it for 35mm slides. I really love this camera and thought about using it recently until I looked at the price for film. Oh my God! It is insanely expensive. In addition, my favorite film was Kodachrome which is now extinct. Sad to say that my old Minolta XD-11 will be relinquished to sit in my closet forever. Sad to see it and film cameras in general passing into obscurity. Film cameras are now only for the wealthy. Pity.
Sadly a lot of colour slide films are well out of reach same with colour negative. Thankfully there are some deals on Black & White, Ilford, Foma remain workhorses in my kit. Hopefully you can take the XD11 for another run soon! Thanks for watching 🍻
I bought my first new camera the X700 about 1987 or so. I keep thinking of buying another one just for memory sakes.
Do it! The X700 is a solid performer! Thanks for watching! 🍻
Was that a fart at 13:06?
It does sound like one! It was someone coming into the room, the door made the noise.
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto Righto! 😆😆😆
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto But it was a silent nasty burp at 2:20, admit! :D I appreciate the video about one of my favourites Minolta but I do think editing out burp and fart would have been nice... There's nothing wrong with having a bad stomach day! So I presume that wasn't an opening door sound :P
Didn’t know it had a floppy self timer sound too
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto Always blame the Dog not the person :)
Since you're wearing Glasses also, Alex - just get a matching Eyecup. You'll scratch your lenses sooner or later, and the stray light is really bad for composition.
Yes! I do have eye cups on most of my cameras, but this one is a loaner from a good friend.
Alex, love the video but I sooo heard you fart lol😂🎉
👊🏻💨
While loading why waste so many shots 1-2 shots confirming take up close back door and done
I only do that in 24 exposure rolls to get 25 frames. On 36 rolls I shoot to 35. It all has to do with how I store the negatives. So I don’t see it as a waste.
You always hear people singing the praises of the XD11/7, proclaiming it "best 135 SLR ever". Though often, like Alex here, people who actually own and/or use one is less gung-ho about it.
In my experience a X-700 or SRT is actually often a better camera, if you look away from paper specs.
Lighter weight means something. TTL is not insignificant if you want to photograph indoors. The "last check" feature seems better implemented on X-700, less hesitation. Also the XD-11 has a more spotty reputation WRT reliability, once you are out of the bad capacitor runs of both models.
The three single X cameras are also more easy to repair.
One of the most serious differences though is the lack of exposure lock on the XD-11. An extremely useful feature. You can try to get somewhat the same exposure by twiddling the exposure compensation button or going manual, but it's not the same at all.
Slower, fiddlier and less sure.
I'm certainly not one to recommend the X-500 over the 700. The speed display in manual is of little concern. If you use Manual to "emulate" shutter priority, then you know damn well what speed you set it at, if you are any kind of photographer. IE the speed you can get away with or need.
Otherwise in other modes, speed is displayed just fine.
The SRT is just damn sturdy and reliable, and a ground glass screen has something to recommend it above an Accute Matte. The latter might be brighter, but the former is ultimately sharper.
The only "mode" on the SRT is manual which has huge qualities in itself. It's independent of batteries and it's compatible with all lenses in the SR program, including wide lenses that needs mirror up.
Totally! The X-700 is a fantastic camera as well, I've worked with three in the past, one went to a friend who needed a replacement camera for their photography course, the other two also suffered from the same electronic failure that the XD is prone to.
@@AlexLuyckxPhoto There seems to be a Goldilocks zone from about 80 to 84 where capacitor problems are much less.
A new logo XD should in theory have fewer capacitor problems.
The XD suffers from a few known failure points, that is less well publicized for some reason.
The mirror buffer might get sticky and slow.
The shutter might get inconsistent or consistently slow.
And the flexi PCB is known for being more fragile than other PCBs in other Minoltas.
While the capacitor problems with the XD is overall less. It’s still a real possibility.
Can be circumnavigated to some degree by choosing the right vintage of the camera though.
John Titterington, perhaps _the_ Minolta repair man has stopped repairing XDs. That says something.
The X-700 is much like the Canon T-70 an underrated camera. When it is perhaps the best they ever made, exactly because they didn’t push the envelope too much.
They are both modest consumer cameras, but with a great feature set and are very reliable outside a few known pathologies (that all cameras suffer from to some degree).
Thank you for pointing out the under reported truth that black cameras do take better photos :-)
😉