Minolta XG-9 Camera

Mar 7, 2017 | ~ Film Body, Camera Body Category Descriptions, Daily Image 2017, Minolta 50mm f1.7, Minolta XG-9

Minolta XG-9 CameraThe Minolta XG-9 Camera is an electronic 35mm SLR film camera with automatic and manual exposure control.  It’s also known as the XG-S in Japan.  By providing automatic exposure photography at a reasonable cost, the Minolta XG-9 camera was designed to be used in aperture priority auto-exposure mode.  It reflects the advances in electronics and miniaturization resulting in a much smaller body than the SR-T cameras.  And, the XG-9 also accepts an auto winder, the Minolta Auto Winder G, that provides motorised frame advance at up to two frames per second.

The XG-9 included many improvements over its predecessors.  The new Acute-matte screen results in easier focusing and improved light transmission.   When set to auto-exposure mode, it provides a full information viewfinder.  It also includes a depth-of-field preview button and is available in both chrome and black. 

The Minolta XG-9 was in production between March 1979-1981.  List price for a new Minolta XG-9 Camera in 1981 was approximately $250 (app. $657 USD in 2016 dollars).  Today, used price for a camera in very good condition runs around $100 USD including several lenses. 

For a story about using the Minolta XG-9 Camera along with images, see Minolta XG-9 to Maui | a 7 Image Story.

Minolta XG-9 Specifications

  • Type: Electronic 35mm SLR with automatic and manual exposure control
  • Focusing Method: Acute-Matte Fresnel screen with a split-image rangefinder inside a micro-prism collar
  • Viewfinder: Fixed eye-level pentaprism displays include manual f-stop, auto shutter speed, +/- exposure
  • Focusing: Matte Fresnel microprism focusing screen with split-image spot & manual
  • Shutter: Fully electronic, horizontal, cloth, focal plane shutter
  • Speeds: Mechanical: none Electronic: 1 – 1,000; B  Automatic (stepless): 1 – 1,000  Manual: 1 – 1,000; B
  • Meter: TTL , full-aperture, center-weighted meter, coupled to aperture & film speed 
  • Meter Sensitivity: CdS type from EV 2 to EV 17 at ASA 100
  • Exposure Modes: Unmetered manual mode & Aperture preferred mode
  • Automatic Exposure Compensation: +/- 2EV dial
  • Battery:  Two A76 (or equivalent)  Built-in battery check 
  • Flash:  Built-in, hot shoe auto sets shutter speed to 1/60 with X-type flash units X and FP PC contacts
  • Flash Synch: X: B; 1 – 1/60  FP: B; 1 – 1/15  M: B; 1 – 1/15  MF: B; 1 – 1/15
  • Film: 35mm  Film-speed Range: ASA 25-1600
  • Film Advance: Lever type or optional Autowinder G
  • Lens Mount: Minolta Bayonet Mount (MC/MD)
  • Mirror: Over-sized, instant return mirror
  • Self Timer: Electronic, non-adjustable 10 seconds
  • Dimensions:  2″ x 3.5″ x 5.5″  (52 x 88 x 138mm)   Weight: 1 lb. 2 oz.  (500g)
  • Construction: Single stroke lever film advance, drum-type loading, and exposure counter
  • Depth of field preview button, automatic reset film counter, tripod threads
  • Film safe-load window, cable release connection
Minolta Rokkor-X 50mm f1.7
  • Focal Length: 50mm
  • Lens: 6 elements in 5 groups with achromatic coating   Filter Thread: 55mm
  • Aperture: f1.7 – f16   Angle of View:  47°
  • Minimum Focus Distance: 0.45 meters / 1.5 feet
  • Dimensions: 2.5″ x 1.6″  (64x40mm)   Weight: 6.9oz  (195g)

Flying to Alaska

Jan 25, 2017 | Alaska, Aviation, Daily Image 2017, Kodachrome, Minolta 135mm f2.8, Minolta XG-9, Nikon Coolscan V

Flying to Alaska

Flying to Alaska  This image gives you a sneak peek at a series of posts describing my flying trip to Alaska some years ago.  I’m planning to make a post for each day I was gone describing that day including flying, weather, points of interest, challenges, and accomplishments. The images, like this one, will be either slides or prints which were scanned and restored into digital format.  Each post will contain several images to help describe the day’s activities.  The target date to begin the series is July 10th.  Hopefully, I’ll also post a few more sneak peeks between then and now.