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Experience Report: Minolta XD-11

A "new to me" Minolta X-700 camera made me fall in like with 35mm film photography again. A "new to me" XD-11 made me jump for joy.

The Minolta X-700 was the pinnacle of Minolta's final manual-focus SLR camera series. Minolta made X-700s for 20 years starting in 1981. Minolta aimed the X-700 at the advanced amateur, giving it aperture priority and program autoexposure. The novice photographer twisted the lens until the viewfinder image was crisp and then pressed the shutter button. The X-700 took care of the rest.

A used Minolta X-700 camera reignited my passion for 35mm film photography. It's funny how certain cameras click with you, pun intended. My Pentax SP II and ES II were nostalgic buys, but using them felt more like a chore than a joy.

In the summer of 2020, I took my X-700 for a day trip with Bhavna down the shore, and I had an entirely exciting experience. The X-700 just felt right in my hands, and the shots I got were some of my favourites.

That experience sparked my curiosity to dig deeper into the world of Minolta cameras. It's incredible how the right camera can inspire and motivate you to explore your craft further. Now, I'm on a journey to learn all there is to know about Minolta's gems. Who knows what photographic adventures lie ahead?

While aperture priority shooting is my default for any camera, I was concerned that there would be action shots where exposure priority would be needed. Did Minolta have an exposure-priority 35mm film camera that was as fun to use as the X-700? My search discovered that Minolta had created a professional-quality modern multimode Minolta "X series" SLRs mostly made of metal- the XD-5, XDs, XD-7 and XD-11.

Minolta had some interesting naming conventions for its products, making a point to have distinct names in the Japanese, European and US markets for almost everything. The XD-7 is the European and Japanese market version of the XD-11: same camera, different badge. The XD-11 was sold in silver and black models. I found many silver-bodied XD-11s for sale online, but I prefer the black body. The black model was more expensive, and consequently, fewer were sold. Thus, the black XD-11 body is much more costly and desirable in today's used market. After several weeks of searching eBay, Etsy, KEH and anywhere else that sold film cameras, I found an XD-11 body on Facebook Marketplace. After a quick negotiation on price and an agreement that I would pay shipping instead of collecting in person, my "new-to-me" camera arrived from Pennsylvania.

The X series uses Minolta MD and MC mount lenses. Unlike MC lenses, MD lenses have an extra coupling arm for use with multimode metering. The older MC (Meter Coupled) lenses can be used on "X series" cameras but not in the exposure-priority mode.

Minolta XD-11
Minolta XD-11 · Friday 1 January 2021 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

My XD-11 camera was sold as "body-only", but this was not a problem since I already had a standard MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7 and a JC Penny 80-200 Zoom that came with the Minolta X-700. The MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7 is a superlens, but I prefer a field of view closer to that of the human eye for general use. A few months later, I purchased an MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2 lens, a versatile manual focus lens often hailed for its solid performance and compact design. Its 45mm focal length falls within the "normal" range, making it great for everyday photography. This became my primary lens for the XD-11.

Released in 1977, the XD11 was the world's first camera with aperture priority, shutter priority, and a fully metered manual mode.
Minolta developed the XD-11 in conjunction with Leitz, with some websites claiming that the body was the basis for the Leica R4 and, later, as the chassis for the Leica R5, R6 and R7. Leica introduced a more advanced metering system into the body (including spot metering). Still, most other camera features are evident in both bodies.

Inside the film bay, the take-up spool and rewind crank are about as vanilla as possible. Pull up on the crank when loading film, and the door opens. The take-up spool grabs the film leader with authority and pulls it around and into place without hinting at a missed load. Unlike the X-700, the XD-11 has a film load indicator, a minor but delightful feature in a few other era cameras.

The XD-11's fresnel, micro prism spot viewfinder screen is about efficiency. Metered manual mode conveniently displays your chosen aperture and shutter speed, so you don't have to look away. This keeps you immersed in the shot, helping you maintain your creative flow and ensuring accurate settings simultaneously.

Minolta XD-11
Minolta XD-11 · Friday 1 January 2021 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The XD-11 camera features a Silicon photocell TTL centre weighted meter, which uses silicon photocells to measure light for exposure accurately. This metering system prioritises the central part of the frame when calculating exposure, striking a balance between accuracy and simplicity. This technology made the XD-11 a reliable choice for photographers.

The ASA range of the XD-11 camera typically spans from ASA 25 to ASA 1600. Remember that these are traditional film sensitivity settings, as digital cameras nowadays use ISO to indicate sensitivity. While I have exposed a 35mm roll of RPX 25, I'm not fond of grain, so I will likely never expose 35mm film at ASA higher than 400.

The Minolta XD-11 uses two 1.5v silver button (S76/SR44) batteries. It can be used without batteries but will lose automatic exposure and light meter functions. You'd need to set exposure manually using your knowledge or an external light meter. If you're comfortable with manual settings, it's feasible; otherwise, having fresh batteries would maintain the camera's automatic features.

The Depth of Field (DoF) preview button on the XD-11 camera lets you check how much of your scene will be in focus at the selected aperture. It's a helpful feature for adjusting focus and composition before capturing the shot.

The "safe-load" indicator on the XD-11 is a valuable feature that helps users load film accurately, minimising the risk of misalignment or incomplete loading. It provides a visual confirmation that the film is securely in place, assuring the overall reliability of the camera during the film-loading process.

Minolta XD-11
Minolta XD-11 with MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2 · Friday 1 January 2021 · FujiFilm X-T2 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The Self-timer on the XD-11 offers a delay option for hassle-free self-portraits or group shots. It's a handy feature that lets you compose your shot before the shutter clicks.

Shutter priority mode on the XD-11 lets you choose the desired shutter speed while the camera handles the aperture. It's handy for controlling motion in your shots, whether freezing action with a high speed or adding motion blur with a low one. It strikes a nice balance between manual control and convenience.

The XD-11 camera has a Seiko electronically controlled metal focal plane shutter with step-less speeds from 1/1000 to 1 second in automatic and stepped speeds, including "B" in metered manual mode. Flash sync operates at 1/100s with the "X" shutter dial setting. The XD-11 offers full mechanical operation at settings "O" (1/100 sec) and "B." In shutter priority mode, it provides electronic automatic aperture control and a final check metering system. This ensures exposure accuracy by stopping the lens down for assessment, a feature shared with the Minolta X-700. The XD-11 combines electronic innovation with mechanical reliability for precise photographic outcomes.

The Minolta XD-11 offers an exposure compensation range of around ±2 EV in 13 EV steps. This allows you to adjust brightness by up to two stops in either direction for creative control in your film photography.

The Minolta XD-11 weighs about 620 grams (1.37 pounds) and measures around 142mm (5.6 inches) in width, 92mm (3.6 inches) in height and 48mm (1.9 inches) in depth. Minolta balanced a solid build and manageable weight for that era.

I've had experience with 35mm film SLRs, so using the XD-11 was old hat. However, I took the time to review the manual to ensure I was using it correctly. Unless mentioned otherwise, all the photos were taken using the aperture-priority mode.

Brick Farm Tavern July 4th BBQ
Brick Farm Tavern July 4th BBQ · Saturday 3 July 2021 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2
Beneduce Vineyards Gewürztraminer
Beneduce Vineyards Gewürztraminer · Saturday 14 August 2021 · Minolta XD-11 · MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2
Race Street, Frenchtown
Race Street, Frenchtown · Sunday 19 December 2021 · Minolta XD-11 · MD ROKKOR-X 50mm F1.7
Bhavna · Saturday 22 January 2022 · Minolta XD-11 · MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2
Asbury Park Boardwalk
Asbury Park Boardwalk · Sunday 24 April 2022 · Minolta XD-11 · MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2
Asbury Park Boardwalk
Kingston Locktender's House · Sunday 5 March 2023 · Minolta XD-11 · MD Rokkor-X 45mm F2

Vintage Visions

As I venture back into 35mm film photography after a 20-year hiatus, I am fascinated with using old lenses with my Fuji X-mount camera. My Fujifilm X-mount system is super fun because I can adapt almost any lens mount via an inexpensive adapter. My Asahi Optical and Minolta lenses were new decades ago, and the image quality of the adapted lens can vary depending on the quality of the lens and the adapter used. However, the possibilities to use these decades-old lenses are nearly endless.

I adapted my SMC Takumar (M42) and MD Rokkor-X (SR-mount) lenses to the Fuji X-mount using M42-FX and MD-FX lens adapters. The M42 and SR mount lenses do not have electronic contacts, so they cannot communicate with the camera body. This means that autofocus and aperture control must be done manually. The Fuji X APS-C sensor has a crop factor of 1.53x, which means that a 28mm lens will have an effective angle of view of a 43mm (1.53x28) lens when adapted to the X-mount. Because of the crop factor, the depth of the field will also be affected. A lens that may have a shallow depth of field on a full-frame camera will have a deeper depth of field on the X-mount.

I have wide-angle and "normal" lenses that become "normal" and "short portrait" lenses when adapted to my Fuji X-mount camera.

Make Model 35mm focal length when adapted to X-Tran sensor
Minolta MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm F:2.8 42.56mm
Minolta MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2 68.4mm
Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm F:1.7 76mm
Pentax SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4 76mm
Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm F:2 83.6mm

Camera Settings

When using manual focus lenses on Fuji X bodies, there are several important settings to remember:

  1. Enable the "Shoot Without Lens" option in Shooting Menu 3 to ensure the camera triggers properly.
  2. Configure the "Mount Adaptor Setting" in the same menu to inform the camera about the focal length of your lens and record it in the EXIF data.
  3. Access the MF Assist options in the Shooting Menu 4 for better focusing with manual lenses. There are three options:
    • Standard: This option allows real-time zooming into the image to check focus at the pixel level.
    • Digital Split Image (unavailable on X-E1 and X-Pro 1): This feature displays a split image rectangle, aligning the two halves when the focus is achieved. It resembles split image viewfinders on manual film SLR cameras.
    • Focus Peak Highlight: This mode highlights the areas of the image that are in focus. Newer cameras offer a choice of highlight colors, while older bodies provide high and low settings. Focus Peak Highlight is the preferred method of MF assist mentioned.

Lenses

My Mintola Rokkor-X lenses are known for their sharpness, contrast, and colour rendition. These lenses were produced in the 1970s and are compatible with a wide range of Minolta SR mount SLR cameras. They have a classic, all-metal construction and feature a focusing ring and aperture ring that are smooth and easy to operate.

My MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm F:2.8 lens is a wide-angle manual focus lens useful for landscapes, architecture, and interiors. The maximum aperture of f/2.8 allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.

Lens MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm f/2.8
Focal length 28mm
Maximum aperture f/2.8
Minimum aperture f/22
Lens construction 7 elements in 7 groups
Angle of view 75 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.3m (1ft)
Filter size 49mm
Weight 200g (7.1oz)
Dimensions 63mm x 44mm (2.5in x 1.7in)
Sunday 15 January 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1/1500 sec, ISO 320 · MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm F2.8 at f/8

My MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2 is a "normal" manual focus lens that offers a slightly wider than normal perspective on full-frame cameras, making it a versatile lens for various applications. The maximum aperture of f/2 allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.

Sunday 15 January 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1320 sec, ISO 320 · MD W.Rokkor-X 28mm F2.8 at f/8
Lens MD Rokkor-X 45mm f/2
Focal length 45mm
Maximum aperture f/2.0
Minimum aperture f/22
Lens construction 6 elements in 5 groups
Angle of view 51 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.5m (1.5ft)
Filter size 49mm
Weight 225g (7.9oz)
Dimensions 63mm x 42mm (2.5in x 1.7in)
Aster · Sunday 17 January 2021 · FujiFilm X-T2 at 1680 sec, ISO 400 · MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2 at f/2

The MD Rokkor-X 50mm F:1.7 lens was a popular "standard" lens for everyday photography and is often considered a "nifty fifty" lens. The large maximum aperture of f/1.7 allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.

Allium canadense · Thursday 26 August 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1340 sec, ISO 320 · MD ROKKOR-X 45mm F2 at f/2.8
Lens MD Rokkor-X 50mm f/1.7
Focal length 50mm
Maximum aperture f/1.7
Minimum aperture f/16
Lens construction 6 elements in 5 groups
Angle of view 46 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.45m (1.5ft)
Filter size 49mm
Weight 205g (7.2oz)
Dimensions 63mm x 40mm (2.5in x 1.6in)
Sunday 13 November 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1/1500 sec, ISO 2500 · MD Rokkor-X 50mm F1.7 at f/2.8

Like the Minolta lens, the Asahi Optical Company manual focus lenses have a classic, all-metal construction and a focusing ring and aperture ring that are smooth and easy to operate. These lenses were also produced in the 1960s and 1970s and are compatible with a wide range of Pentax M42-mount SLR cameras, including those made by Pentax, Praktica, and Zenit. The lenses feature Asahi Optical Company's SMC (Super Multi-Coating) technology, which helps to reduce flare and ghosting and improves contrast and colour reproduction.

Saturday 1 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1900 sec, ISO 200 · MD Rokkor-X 50mm F1.7 at f/4.0

The Asahi Optical Company Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm F:1.4 lens was a popular "standard" lens for everyday photography and is also considered a "nifty fifty" lens. The large maximum aperture of F:1.4 allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field. Its technical details are almost identical to the technical details of the Minolta MD Rokkor-X 50mm F:1.7.

My copy of the Asahi Optical Company SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4 is from Dad's old Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II. It has some fogging in the lens, and a screw that holds the rings for the aperture markings is missing. It rotates loosely, which makes it very hard to set the aperture.

Lens Asahi Optical Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm f/1.4 M42
Focal length 50mm
Maximum aperture f/1.4
Minimum aperture f/16
Lens construction 8 elements in 7 groups, including one aspherical element
Angle of view 46 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.45m (1.5ft)
Filter size 49mm
Weight 275g (9.7oz)
Dimensions 64mm x 43mm (2.5in x 1.7in)

Like the Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 50mm F:1.4, the Asahi Optical Company Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm F:2 lens is a standard lens for everyday photography despite its 55mm focal length. It is also often considered a "nifty fifty" lens. The maximum aperture of f/2 allows for low-light shooting and shallow depth of field.

Coffee mug and saucer in black and white
Saturday 12 December 2020 · FujiFilm X-T2 · Asahi Optical SMC Takumar 50mm f/1.4
Lens Asahi Optical Super-Multi-Coated Takumar 55mm f/2 M42
Focal length 55mm
Maximum aperture f/2
Minimum aperture f/16
Lens construction 6 elements in 5 groups
Angle of view 43 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.45m (1.5ft)
Filter size 49mm
Weight 200g (7.1oz)
Dimensions 63mm x 62.5mm (2.5in x 2.5in)
Friday 21 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 1180 sec, ISO 160 · SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 at f/4.0

These decades-old all-metal lenses are heavier than my mostly plastic Fuji XF27mmF2.8 R WR lens, which weighs 85g. The lightest of these all-metal lenses is the Pentax SMC Takumar 55mm F:2 lens which weighs 195g.

Wednesday 19 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 at 180 sec, ISO 500 · SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 at f/1.0
Lens XF27mmF2.8 R WR
Focal length 27mm
Maximum aperture f/2.8
Minimum aperture f/16
Lens construction 7 elements in 5 groups, including one aspherical element
Angle of view 55.5 degrees
Minimum focusing distance 0.34m (1.1ft)
Filter size 39mm
Weight 84g (2.96oz)
Dimensions 61.2mm x 23mm (2.4in x 0.9in)

Mechanical

Unlike my Minolta XD-11 SLR, my Fuji X-T3 MILC has few mechanical parts.

Dad bought his first camera, an Asahi Optical Co. Pentax Spotmatic II SLR, circa 1973, when I was a kid. Dad was still a junior manager at Barclays Bank at that time. He was raising a family, so I expect that the camera was a luxury purchase, especially given how high import taxes were (are) in the Caribbean. I don’t know that he enjoyed photography as much as I do, but I remember he brought that camera on my family adventures. Dad took many photos on family vacations or when he drove us around the islands1, up into the mountains or to a remote beach. I wish I had some of his photographs to share2. I know what it's like to be a new parent and wanting to capture every moment of your child's early life. I don’t have the memories, but I imagine Dad running around behind me or my younger brothers (or maybe Mom) taking photos of us playing on the beach in Bequia or riding our bikes for the first time. I'm sure my mom has those photos hidden away somewhere.

Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II + SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4
Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II + SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4 | Friday 21 December 2012 | Nikon D40 | 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6

Dad passed away in April 2019, a few years after he gifted me his Pentax and his only lens, an SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4. Dad most likely kept the camera in a damp basement. The Pentax is in good mechanical shape, but the pentaprism and lens are occluded with fungus. But old things have significance beyond mere utility value. This camera is a memento of Dad. I keep the camera on a window sill behind my computer. I keep it clean and dust-free.

Some of the greatest classic cameras of all time have been mechanical SLRs. These cameras were built like tanks with minimal electronics. At 681g, the Spotmatic II is about 142g heavier than my Fuji X-T3. The camera's operation is entirely mechanical except for a spot metering system (hence the Spotmatic name). Aperture and focus are set manually on the SMC Takumar 50mm F:1.4, while shutter speed and film ISO are set on the camera body. The photographer chooses the aperture and shutter speed and the spot meter provides feedback on whether the exposure is correct. The lenses use the very popular M42 screw mount.

In 2020 on the 2020 commemoration of Dad’s passing I bought a silver bodied Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II. I don’t recall if it was from eBay or Etsy but this one worked and I exposed a few rolls of 35mm film.

Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II + SMC Takumar 55mm F:2
Asahi Pentax Spotmatic II + SMC Takumar 55mm F:2 | Tuesday 14 April 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

In order for auto exposure to work, the Spotmiac has to know which aperture is selected on the lens before it can calculate an appropriate shutter speed. Some camera companies used a mechanical linkage between the lens and the camera that would communicate which aperture was selected on the lens. The problem with the mechanical linkage was that the position of the linkages needs to be exactly the same each and every time. The camera has to know exactly where the position of the linkage is to get an accurate idea of which aperture is selected. Since all Pentax cameras up until this point had used screw mount lenses, there was no easy way to mechanically link the lens to the camera as there would be slight variances in rotation between different lenses.

Asahi Pentax ES II
Asahi Pentax ESII | Thursday 5 November 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8

Then after that, I bought a Pentax ES (Electro Spotmatic) II and a few more prime lenses. The Pentax ElectroSpotmatic (ES) II was the most advanced camera in the Spotmatic family. This is an extremely well-built camera with excellent ergonomics. It also featured a dual electronic/mechanical shutter that would fire electronically in Auto mode, but would also have a limited number of manual speeds that would work without a battery. The electronic shutter was stepped less from 1 second all the way to a maximum of 1/1000 second.

Minolta X-700 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2
Minolta X-700 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2 | Thursday 8 October 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF27mmF2.8

I was bitten by the mechanical 35mm camera gear acquisition syndrome (GAS) and soon bought another 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, a Minolta X-700 which I found via Facebook Marketplace. The Minolta X-700 is a mechanical camera that uses the Minolta Bayonet SR Mount which came in two variations, the MC and MD. The previous owner was retiring and moving to Florida to be near her grandchildren. For $70 I had the camera, an MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.7 lens, a Minolta Auto 132FX Speedlight, a Minolta 20 Speedlight, and a JC Penny Multi-Coated Optics 80-200m f/4.5, and an expired roll of Kodak 800. I enthusiastically enjoyed using the Minolta X-700. On the first weekend after purchasing the camera I exposed two rolls of 35mm film one day at the beach.

Minolta X-700 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2, MD Rokkor-X 50mm F:1.7
Minolta X-700 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2, MD Rokkor-X 50mm F:1.7 | Thursday 12 November 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The GAS increased and so did my love for classic Minolta 35mm SLR cameras and lenses. Near the end of 2020, I sold my Spotmatic II and ES II and all my Takumar lenses (except for the 50mm) and soon I was in possession of a work of art, a black XD-11 (of course) body.

Minolta XD-11 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2
Minolta XD-11 + MD Rokkor-X 45mm F:2 | Friday 1 January 2021 | FujiFilm X-T2 | XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

The Minolta XD-11 was produced from 1977 to 1984 in collaboration with Ernst Leitz of Germany, the company that makes the highly valued Leica cameras. The first product of this joint cooperation was the Leica CL and Minolta CL. The Minolta CL and Leica CL are essentially the same cameras with different labels and prices. Leica sold about 35,000 Leica CL units in the first year. The story is that Leitz was unhappy with Minoltas success and was reluctant to work further with Minolta. However, Leitz later relesed the R4 which was also built in collaboration with Minolta. Minolta brought the XD-11 to market by themselves. It was the first SLR camera to offer both aperture and shutter-priority auto exposure, plus manual control. It has classic styling, excellent ergonomics and performance. I love my Fuji X-T3 but I wish it looked more like the XD-11.


  1. We moved around while Dad climbed the corporate ladder. We moved around the British West Indies quite a bit. We lived in St. Vincent, Bequia, St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, and St. Kitts. 
  2. I need to chat with my mother about that.