The Minolta X-1 (XK in North America, XM in Europe and elsewhere) was the professional model in the Minolta SR-mount line of single-lens reflex cameras (SLR), released in 1972 after ten years of development, which started a new era in the Minolta SR system; prior to the X-1, specific Minolta SLR models were branded SR-T, and afterward, they included X in the name. The X-1 was the first SLR to combine an electronically-controlled shutter with interchangeable viewfinders.
Minolta X-1, with AE finder
| |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Type | 35mm SLR camera |
| Focusing | |
| Focus | manual |
| Exposure/metering | |
| Exposure | manual, aperture priority |
The X-1 was the first of the X-series, released in Japan in 1972; the X-1 Motor, a variant with an integrated motordrive, followed in 1976.[1]: 12
A completely new designed lens line was introduced and labelled with 'MC Rokkor-X' in the North American market (the rest of the world kept the plain 'MC Rokkor' designation). The most striking attribute was the new waffled rubber coating of the focus grip.
The X-1 and its export descendants were available in black finish only.
The X-1 has a pressure-sensitive "Senswitch" on the front panel, which switches the camera on automatically when held in a shooting position.[1]: 12
The focal plane shutter has horizontally-traveling titanium foil curtains, capable of manually selecting speeds in steps from 16 to 1⁄2000 sec., or continuously variable speeds between 4 and 1⁄2000 s in autoexposure mode.[2] The shutter speed is selected on the viewfinder, rather than the body.[1]: 16 Power for the shutter is supplied by two SR44/S76 1.5 silver-oxide button cell batteries in the body.[1]: 20 There are two mechanically-timed speeds: labeled "X" for flash synchronization, 1⁄100 s, and "B" for "B"ulb or "B"utton, where the shutter stays open as long as the shutter release is depressed.[1]: 17
The camera further had a socket for a synchronised flash shoe, mirror lock up feature, stop down lever, multi-exposure capability.
The X-1 Motor has an integrated motor that provides automatic film advance at 1, 2, 3, or 3.5 ("H") frames per second, drawing power from a battery pack that screws into the tripod socket on the bottom of the handgrip and takes 10 AA batteries. There is also a "S"ingle frame advance setting.[1]: 17
It had interchangeable finders:
The photographer has the choice of nine (later eleven) interchangeable focussing screens.
| Type | Image | Field | Center |
|---|---|---|---|
| P | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | Split-image rangefinder, 4 mm diameter |
| M | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | Microprism, 4 mm diameter |
| PM | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | Split-image rangefinder, 2.5 mm diameter + microprism collar, 1.5 mm wide |
| G | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | [none] |
| C1 / C2 / C3 | 
|
Clear Fresnel | Microprism, 6 mm diameter |
| AP | 
|
Fine-ground matte Fresnel | Diagonal split-image rangefinder |
| L | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | [etched grid of horizontal and vertical lines] |
| H | 
|
Ground matte Fresnel | Clear, 8 mm diameter, with double cross-hair |
| S | 
|
Clear Fresnel | Double cross-hair + etched measuring scales, used only with H-finder |
This article was originally based on "Minolta X-1" in Camerapedia, retrieved on 4 August 2007 under the GNU Free Documentation License.