Minolta X-7A User manual

• .
t;. ' ,',
,.' x " A INSTRUCTION MANUAL
MINOLTA ' , - , . . [gJ
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Your Minolta X-7A is an easy-to-use microcomputerized single-lens-reflex (SLR) camera with
quartz control of mechanical sequences and shutter speed, providing lasting accuracy and years of
enjoyment.
In its aperture-priority auto-exposure (AE) mode ("AUTO" on the cameral. the X-7A auto -
matically sets the precise shutter speed for correct exposure according to the in-camera meter at
the aperture you selected. An AE lock can be used to hold a meter reading and then readjust the
framing before releasing
the shutter. Auto control is maintained even when using mirror lenses and
close-up accessories such as bellows-not possible with shutter-priority AE systems.
Creative flexibility exists in
the X-7A's match-LEO/full-metered manual mode: For correct
exposure
at the metered value, simply adjust aperture and/or shutter speed to align blinking and
glowing LEOs
in the viewfinder. Or you can merely refer to these LEOs-or totally disregard
them-when making your own settings.
Flash photography
is also simple: just attach a Minolta X-series Auto Electroflash, adjust
aperture, and shoot. Flash-ready signal
is given in the viewfinder, and the shutter is automatically
set for proper sync at 1 /60 sec.
The X-7A can be used with Minolta's wide range of accessories, such
as wideangle, telephoto,
and zoom lenses, Motor Orive 1,
Auto Winder G, Wireless Controller IR-1, and much more.
Before using lenses, flashes, or
other accessories made by companies other than Minolta,
attach
them to the camera and make sure they function properly by taking test photographs.

CONTENTS
NAMES OF PARTS . ... .. ........ . .. .2
STRAP AND CASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SUMMARY OF OPERATION (auto mode). .. 6
PREPARING TO TAKE PICTURES . .. . ... 8
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENS ... .. .. 8
BATTERIES AND POWER . . . . ......... .9
Battery check ... '" . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 11
Cold-weather operation . . . . . . . . . . . .... 11
FILM AND FILM SPEED ... . . .. ....... 12
LOADING FILM ... . ... ... ... .. ....13
Safe Load Signal/Frame counter . . . .... . : 15
VIEWFINDER .... . ... . ........ ... . 16
PRESHOOTING CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
TAKING PICTURES IN AUTO MODE . ... 18
CAMERA SETTINGS .. ........ . .. . ... 18
FOCUSING ........... . ... . . . . . ... 20
HOLDING CAMERA AND RELEASING
SHUTTER
... . . ... ..... ... ..... . 21
Mount i ng camera on tripod . ...... ... .. 22
Se l f-timer . .. .. , .. . .... .. . ....... 22
Eyepiece cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22
REWINDING AND UNLOADING FILM . . . . . 23
CREATIVE CONTROL . .. . .. . .... . ... 24
AE LOCK . .... . .......... . ..... . . 24
MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE .......... . 26
Long exposure
at " B" s et ti ng .... . .. .... 27
DEPTH OF FIELD .. . ...... . .. ..... . 28
SHUTTER SPEED . ...... . .. . .... _ .. . 29
OTHER FOCUSING METHODS .......... 30
Distance scale . . ... ..... ... . . . . .. . 30 .
Infrared
index ..... . ... _ ....... . . . 30
. Film -plane index .... ..... ..... .. .. . 30
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ......... . .... 31
ACCESSORIES. ........... .. .... . .. 32
TECHNICAL DETAilS .. . .. . .... . .... 34
CARE AND STORAGE . ...... .. .... . . 36

NAMES OF PARTS
Mounting index Minimum-
aperture lock (Disengage for use on X-7A)
Focusing
Distance .....,,".
__________________ --....:
Aperture
r-------------- Depth-of-field scale
Main
swlu;ln _____________________ ~
Rewind cra""' _____ -I-
Film-speed window ____ -I
OD .. r.'ti~,a bu tton
Film-speed ring release _____ .l
Hotshoe ___________________ ~
Mode/shutter-speed window Frame counter
AUTO: automatic mode
1 _ 1000: shutter speeds Finger rest
2 B:
"bulb" (long) exposure L------- Film-advance lever

AE lock/self-timer switch -----.,
, AE lock for holding close-up or
adjusted-viewing meter readings
, Self-
timer with triple-rate
blinking LED
selector
Self - timer LED
Front grip -----
Bayonet lens mount -------------..1
Lens-mounting index
Lens -release button
-Slmt :te,'-relle"se socket
------ Ililirror
...... ----------- Dia~lhragm-control lever
3

Film-cartridge cham
Shutter cul-tailn -----
Sprocket -------
Eyepiece ------------------,
Eyepiece frame ---------
Memo holdEtr ---------
Winder contact -------
Battery-chamber cover --- -"
Motor-drive guide socket ___ -oJ
Ft;: --~----------- Take-up spool
Pressu
re plate
.--------------- Back cover
----- ISO (DIN-ASA) table
--------- Rewind release
Winder/motor-drive guide
socket
---- Winder/motor-drive coupler
4 Motor-drive contacts ------
J L
_________________ Tripod socket

STRAP AND CASE
Attach the strap (provided) and case (optional) as shown . The strap includes a battery holder used for storing
fresh spare
batte ries.
Battery holder
®
5

6
SUMMARY OF OPERATION (Automatic mode)
1. Slide main switch to "ON"
(p. 10).
4. Open back cover (p. 13).
5. Load film properly and
close cover
(p.14l.
6. Advance fi 1m to frame "1"
and check Safe Load Signal
(p.15).

7. Set mode/shutter·speed se·
lector
to "AUTO·· (p. 18).
10. Release shutter (p. 21 ).
8. Select lens aperture (p. 19).
11. Slide main switch
to "OFF".
9. Adjust focus (p. 20).
12.Rewind and remove fi 1m
(p. 23).
7

8
PREPARING TO TAKE PICTURES
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENS
Body and lens caps
Remove
body and lens caps as
shown.
J t
To attach
Align the red mounting index on
the lens barrel with the red index
on
the camera's lens mount. Insert
the lens bayonet into the mount,
then turn the lens clockwise until it
locks
into place with a click.
To remove
While pressing
the lens-release but-
ton, turn the lens counterclockwise
as far as it will go,
then lift it out of
the mount.
• Never set a lens with its rear end down unless a rear lens cap is on,
or its control pins may be damaged.
•
Be careful not to touch anything inside the camera, especially the
mirror, when attaching or removing lenses.

BATTERIES AND POWER
Batteries
Use one of the followi ng types of
batteries:
•
Two 1. 55v silver-oxide (5R-44 :
Eveready 5-76,
EPX-76, or equiv .)
•
Two 1.5v alkaline-manganese
(LR44: Eveready A-76 or equiv .)
• One
3v lithium (CR- l/3N)
1. Using a coin or similar object ,
unscrew the battery-chamber cover
counterclockwise and remove it .
s a
alkaline-
manganese
lithium
silver-oxide
2. Wipe the terminals with a clean,
dry cloth. Hold the batteries by
their edges and insert them plus (+)
side
up into the sleeve on the
inside of the cover.
•
Do not use 1.35v mercury batteries (MR44 : Eveready EPX-675 or
equiv .), which are the same shape and size, because their voltage is
too low.
• To avoid battery leakage or bursting , do not mix batteries of
different types, brands, or ages .
• Keep
batteries away from young children .
9

10
3. Replace the cover and screw it
in clockwise as far as it will go. Main switch To operate the camera. slide the
main switch to ··ON·'.
When
you have finished taking
pictures, move
the main switch to
"OF F" to prevent accidental expo·
sures and battery drain. (If the
switch is left on, however, battery
drain occurs only when the operat-
ing
button is touched, so you may
want to leave it on to avoid missing
unexpected shots.!
Operating
button
Touching the operation button
(with the main switch on) activates
the camera's meter, viewfinder LED
display,
and exposu re ·control sys-
tem . If proper contact is not
possible (e.g., when wearing gloves),
press
the operating button slightly.
The
shutter is released when the
button is pressed all the way down.
The viewfinder LED display will
remain
on for 15 sec. after you
remove
your finger.

Battery check
The camera automatically checks
battery power when the operating
button is touched or pressed.
• When
batteries are nearly ex-
hausted,
the mode LE D ("A"
or "M" ) in the viewfinder blinks to
warn that fresh batteries will soon
be needed.
• When
batteries are completely
exhausted (or not correctly in-
stalled), no LEDs light and the
shutter locks.
Cold - weather operation
Since batteries tend to lose power
as temperature drops , always use
fresh
batteries when photographing
in cold weather and keep a spare set
with you, preferably in a warm
pocket close to your body . Battery
capacity will be restored when
temperature returns to normal.
For prolonged cold-weather use at
approx. O°C (32°F) or lower, it is
recommended to use silver- oxide
batteries; if a lithium battery is
used below approx . 0°C (32° F l. the
camera may not operate .
11

12
FILM AND FILM SPEED
The camera uses standard 35mm
cartridge film. Each film has an ISO
film-speed number (incorporating
ASA and DIN numbers) which
indicates the film 's sensitivity to
light . The first part of the ISO
number (equivalent to ASA numbed
is marked on the camera's film -
speed
ring .
For proper exposure, the cam-
era's
film -speed ring must be set to
the correct film speed.
Setting film speed
While pressing the
film -speed
ring release,
turn the film ·speed ring
until the desired number lines up
with the index and locks in place
when you re move your finger from
the release.
Memo holder
An ISO (DIN/ASA) table is
located on the camera back . It is
surrounded by a handy memo
holder where you can insert the
film box end as a reminder of the
film type in use.
Intermed iate settings and DIN equivalents
DIN{ 12
36
131 4 1 617
"'"
2223
"".
,,,.
3132
" ,.

LOADING FILM
Before opening the camera back,
make sure there is
no film inside
the camera by checking the Safe
Load Signal (p. 15).
NOTE
• When loading film in a dark place
or with the lens cap on, loading
will be easier if the mode selector is
not set at "AUTO".
1. Unfold the rewind crank and
pull up on it to lift the back-cover
release
knob . Pull up on the knob
until the camera back springs open .
2. Leaving
the knob pulled out,
position a 35mm film cartridge in
the chamber with its projecting
spool down . Then push the back-
cover release
knob all the way in,
rotating it slightly if necessary.
•
Always handle and load film in subdued light - at least shaded
from direct light by your body.
• Do not touch any parts or areas
inside
the camera shown in blue .
13

14
3. Pull out just enough film leader
to reach the take·up spool. Insert
the end of the film into a slot on
the
left side of the take-up spool,
making sure that a hole in the film
is lined up with the tooth on the
take - up spool. The sprocket teeth
should be engaged with holes at the
bottom of the film .
4.
With the film held against the
sprocket by your left hand, slowly
operate the film-advance lever until
the film is wound firmly around the
take- up spool, the sprocket teeth
are engaged with holes on both
edges of the film, and the slack in
the film is taken up . If the film-
advance lever stops at the end of a
full stroke during this procedure,
release the shutter and continue
(main switch must be on).
~~~\t
~
5. After making sure that the film
is taut , close the camera back by
pressing
it until it locks shut with a
click. A red "S" should now appear
opposite the index in the frame
counter .

6, Advance
the
film
and release
the
shutter
until
the
index
points
to
"1"
, A red bar
should
appear at
the
far
left
in
the
Safe
Load
Signal
indicating
that
film
is
loaded and
advancing
properly
,
If
it
does
not
appear
or
swings
far
to
the
right,
repeat steps 3
to
6.
The camera is
now
ready
for
taking
the
first
picture,
provided
film
speed is set.
Film
-advance lever
The
lever has
30
0
of
unengaged
movement
to
allow
swinging
it
out
from
the
camera
body
so
the
right
thumb
will
fit
comfortably
behind
it
. As
the
lever is
moved
an addi-
tional
130
0
until
it
stops,
the
film
and
frame
counter
advance
and
the
shutter
is
cocked
for
the
next
exposure.
Safe
Load
Signal/Frame
counter
As
you
take
pictures
and advance
the
fi
1m
,
the
red bar
in
the
Safe
Load
Signal
gradually
moves
to
the
right
and
the
rewind
crank
rotates
counterclockwise,
indicating
proper
film
advance.
Never
force
the
film
-advance
lever
when
it
stops
and
resists
further
movement
at
the
end
of
the
film,
which
may
be
somewhat
before
or
after
the
common
film
lengths
(12, 20, 24,
36
exposures)
shown
in
red
in
the
frame
counter
.
The
frame
counter
stops advancing
after
36
exposures.
15

16
VIEWFINDER
o Mode indicators
M: Manual mode
A: Auto mode
G) Over-range LED
Blinks at 4Hz (4 times per second)
e Shutter - speed scale/LEOs
Glowing LEO(s) indicate: (1) in "A" (auto)
mode, shutter speed set by camera (if two
LEOs glow, camera sets stepless speed
between the two), and (2) in "M" (manual)
mode, the metered speed
Blinking LEO (at 4Hz) indicates user-set
shutter speed in manual mode
"60" LEO blinks at 2Hz as flash-ready
signal
with X-series Minolta Auto Electro-
flashes
CD 1 - 4 sec'/under-range LED
Glows if metered speed is between 1 and 4
sec.
Blinks (at
4Hz) if outside range
o B-setting indicator
o Focusing screen
Split -image spot, micro prism band, and
Acute Matte field

PRESHOOTING CHECK
Check the following items to
make sure your camera is ready for
picture-taking :
Main switch at "ON"? ------- .f
Film speed set? -----'
Batteries OK? ________ -.- _______ -J
(Does mode LED glow-not blink-when
operating button is touched or pressed?)
Self-timer off?
1--- Minimum-aperture lock released?
(on
new-type MD lens only)
,....- ____ Film inside?
1.- _______ Mode/shutter speed set?
17

18
TAKING PICTURES IN AUTO MODE
CAMERA SETTINGS
Set mode/shutter-speed selector
to "AUTO".
Set lens at desired aperture .
In
aperture-priority auto mode ,
all
you need to do is set the desired
aperture - the camera will automati-
cally select the shutter speed
needed
for proper exposure .
Viewfinder display
Before releasing the shutter, com -
pose
your picture, focus, and check
the viewfinder for the following:
• Is the under-range LED blinking?
If so, turn the aperture ring
toward the largest aperture (i .e.,
f/2 , f/1 . 7, or f/1.4, etc .) until the
LED stops blinking, or increase the
I ight level if possible.
•
Is the over-range LED blinking? If
so, turn the aperture ring toward
the smallest aperture (i.e., f/16 or
f/22) until the LED stops blinking .
If it does not stop, use a neutral-
density (N D) filter, or reduce the
I ight level if possible.
•
Is an LED on indicating 1/ 30 sec.
or slower shutter speed? Using
slow shutter speeds may result in
blurred pictures due to camera
movement. To correct, turn the
aperture ring toward the largest
aperture (i .e., f/ l.7, fll.4, etc.,)
until the 1/ 60 sec. LED lights.
If not possible, use a tr ipod
(p. 22) or flash (p. 31).
NOTE
• In some situations you should use
the AE lock (p. 24)
• If your head is not shielding the
eyepiece
from light when the
picture is taken (as when using
self-timer or a cable release), attach
the eyepiece cap (p. 22)