Minolta XG-7 User manual

OWNER'S
MANUAL
e

www.orphancameras.com

Your light,compact XG-7 isatop-qualitysingle-lens
reflex
camerawhoseelectronic
system
will control exposure
for you automatically, freeingyou for more enjoyment
and greater
creativity. You can alsooverride the.meter's automatic settingor set the
camera
for full manualoperation.
Electromagneticshutter
release
and
unique
"Touch
switchl' metering,heada host of other features.
Attaching the accessoryAuto Winder
G enablessingle-frame/continuous
motor film advanceup to 2 frameslsec.Minolta's
specialAuto Electroflash 200X electronically switches
the XG-7's shutter over for
strobe exposureswhen chargedand signals
flash-ready
in the finder; it alsoenables
continuous-sequence
flashwith the winder. Besidesnew MD lenses,
your XG-7 uses
virtually all interchangeable Rokkor-X and Celtic lensesmade to date and all
applicable
Minolta SLR system accessories.
Beforeusingyour camerafor the first time, study this manualcarefully all the way
through - or at leastall the sections
neededto cover
your own photographicneeds.As
you read,
attach a lensto the camera
body (see
p. 10),load batteries,and handle your
XG-7 and acquaint yourself with its parts and features.
Then load it with film and
proceed
to actual picture taking. In this way, you can take good photos and beginto
realize
the broad potential of your XG-7 right from the start. Be sureto keep this
manual
for referencelateras
necessary.
Minolta precision lensesand accessories are manufactured under high quality
control standardsand are
designedto the performance
requirements
of Minolta camera
bodies. We recommend Minolta Rokkor-X and Celtic lensesand Minolta system
accessories
for all types of photography.

CONTENTS
MAIN FEATURES ,... 4
NAMESOFPARTS ....6
SUMMARY OF OPERATION
(inautomatic) .......9
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENSES 1O
BATTERIESANDPOWER ....... 11
Installingbatteries ...11
Testingbatteries ....12
Operatingswitch ....13
Touchswitch/operatingbufton ... 13
Cold-weather
operation 14
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM . . .. 14
Fif
m advance
lever
and frame counter . . . 17
FILMSPEED ...18
Film-speedselector ..lg
ASA/DIN conversion
scale . . . ... 19
Memo
holder
EXPOSURE
CONTROL
FUNDAMENTALS
METERING
WITH
THE
XG-7
VIEWFINDER
AUTOMATIC
EXPOSURE
CONTROL
Automatic
operation
Eyepiece
cap . .
WAYS
OFUSING
AUTO
MODE
AUTOMATIC
EXPOSURE
ADJUSTMENT
..
WHEN
ANDHOWMUCH
TO
USE
MANUAL
EXPOSURE
CONTROL
"B" setting
HOLDING
THE
CAMERA
19
20
21
22
24
24
25
26
29
30
32
33
34
www.orphancameras.com

tl
FOCUSING
Depth
of field
Depthof -f ield
scale
lnfraredindex .
RELEASING
THESHUTTER
SELFTIMER
REWINDINGAND UNLOADING
FILM
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY
Synch
ron
ization
Connecting
flashunits
USINGOTHER THAN MD AND
MC LENSES
Auto Rokkor lenses
RF (mirror-type)
and Manual-Preset
lenses
XG-7SYSTEM ACCESSOR
IES
Auto WinderG
Auto Electroflash200X
RemoteCordS and L
STANDAR
D.LENSSPECI
F
ICATIONS
CAMERA
SPECIFICATIONS
CARE AND STORAGE
35
36
36
37
38
40
41
43
43
43
44
44
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
52
t;

MAIN FEATURES
Fail+afe electronic €xposuresystem
Incorporating many of the features
devel-
oped for Minolta's top electronic
cameras,
the
XG-7 covers a wide range of photographic
conditions.lts electronicshutter which auto-
matically locks to prevent overexposureand
electromagnetic shutter releasewith unique
touch switch metering
add to the handling
ease
of the camera.
The XG-7's
systemfeatures:
o Full automatic exposureby steplessshutter
speeds
from 1/1000 to 1 sec. plus f
ull
manualsettings.
o Electromagnetic
shutterrelease.
o UniqueTouch switchmetering.
o Shutter-release
lock prevents overexposure
when light over meter's range or battery
power low.
o Two tiny silver-oxide batteries as power
. source.
Solid-stateinformation viewf
inder
o Focusing
can be done in three
ways: By the
split-image
spot or microprism focusing
aid
or on the matte field.
. Automatic shutter speeds, indicated by
LED's
arevisible
while
you view.
o LED at "60" position blinks asflash-ready
signal when Auto Electrof
lash 20OX is
attached
andcharged.
Easy
handlingcontrols
Lightweight and compact, the XG-7 is hu-
man engineered to f
it the user's hands for
smoothoperation:
o Smooth shortstrokef
ilm advance.
o Large
easy
to adjust shutter-speeddia,.
o "Soft-touch" electromagnetic shutter re-
lease.
o Curve formed body with cushioned body
grip.
o Minolta bayonet lens mount with large
release
button.
o Balanced
winder
operation.
www.orphancameras.com

Ouick attach auto wind€r
The XG's accessory
auto winder attaches
quickly,without access
caps
to remove
or store,
freeingthe user from advancing
film in single-
frame or continuous operation up to two
frames per second. lts strong efficient coreless
micromotor winds as many as 150 or more
cartridges
per set or charge
of batteries. At the
end of each cartridge the motor automatically
shutsoff.
Special
camera-control
flash
When attached to the XG-7 and ready to
fire the Auto Electroflash 200X starts
a flash-
readysignal
blinking
inthe
viewfinderandauto-
maticallysetsthe shutter
for X synchronization
(1/60 sec.).
This four-setting
unit provides auto-
flash at either of two apertures and either
full-power manual operationor when powered
by Ni-Cd batteries, up to two continuous-
sequence
flash exposureseach secondwith the
Auto WinderG.
Useroriented features
o Up to two stops' continuous adjustment
over or under the normal electronic
setting.
o X-type flash synchronization through the
hot shoeor PC
terminal.
o Electronicselftimer
with blinkingindicator
light.
o Eyepiececap for unmanned
or similar
oper-
ation.
o Exclusive Safe Load Signal monitors
alignment
andadvance.
o Handy memo holder and ASA/DlN conver-
sionscale
on back.
o Releaseterminal for tripod shots
with elec-
tronic or standardreleasecord.
o Shutter not operative when operation
switch off.
o Virtually all existing Minolta interchange-
able lensesand
applicable
systemaccessories
can be used in either automatic or manual
operation.

NAMES
OF PARTS
6
F
ilm-advance
lever
Touch switch/operating
button
Frame-counter window
Safe Load Signal
Auto-setting release
Strap lug
Film-speed
window
Se
lf-timer/battery-check indicator
MC
coupler
lug
Aperture
scale
Depthof-fieldscale
Aperture
ring
Distance
scale
Hot shoe
Shu
tter-speed/f
un
ctio
n
selector
Main switch
Rewind crank
Back cover release
knob
Lens-release
button
Shutter release socket
X sync.
terminal
ocusing
grip
www.orphancameras.com

Finder eyepiece
Shutter curtain
Sprocket
Take<rp
spool
Back cover
Pressure
plate
Tripodsocket
Winderterminal
Battery chamber cover
Rewind button
Auto-winder couple
Guide-pin
socket

rs
page
mode.
easy I
onil
natic
very
red or
utoma
OW V€
steps
pictur
XG-7 on au
idea of ho
The
of your
general
SUMMARY
OF OPERATION
(on
automatic)
outlineuse
They give
a
t is to get
1 Check
batteries
(see
p. 12) 2
Setselector
dialto "A"
lp.24l-
perfectlyexposed
pictures
with thiscamera
and
are keyed to correspondingsections of the
manual for ready reference.
This brief guide
this
1
cm(
vea
7
Move
main switchto
"oN" (p.
13)
8 Setlens
aperture
(p.24l I Adiustfocus
(p.
35)
www.orphancameras.com

may also be useful for good results
after you
have not usedthe camera
for sometime. lt is
not, however, a substiture for the detailed
Load
film proPerlY;close
"ousy
(p. 14)
instructions
in the rest
of this manual,
which
should be thoroughly studied for best results.
tZ ir:i'ii and
remove
rirm
6 Set
film speed
(p. 18)
It r /'
lQ netease
shutter
(P.
38) | 'l Turn power611
(p. 131

ATTACHING
AND REMOVING
LENSES
To Attach
1. Remove
the body cap from the cameralens
mount and the rear cap from the lens
bayonet, each by turning the cap counter-
clockwise.
2. Align the red mounting index on the lens
barrel with the red index abovethe camera
lensmount; insert
the lens
bayonetinto the
mount; and turn the lens
clockwiseuntil it
locks
into place with a
click.
To Remove
While pushing
the lens-release
button, turn
the lenscounterclockwise
as far as it will go;
then
lift thelens
bayonet
out of themount.
CAUTION
lf it becomes
necessary
to setthe lens
down
without a rearlens
cap attached,be sureto set
the lens only on its front end (except f
or
fisheye lenses)
as damage to the diaphragm
control pin could result
from rear lenscontact
with a hard
surface.
www.orphancameras.com

BATTERIES
AND POWER
Two 1.S-voltsilver-oxide
batteries,
Eveready
5-76 or equivalent,supply the power for the
meter, electronic exposure control, elec-
tromagneticrelease,electronic
shutter settings,
and
LED indication.
CAUTION
o The shutter will not release when the
operating
button is
pushed
if
: batterypower
is too low; the operating switch is at
"OFF," exposure conditions exceed the
rangeof the automatic
exposure
system.
o Do not use
1
.3v
mercurybatteries,
Eveready
EPX-675
or equivalent,
which
have
a
similar
shape.
NOTE
. lf the camera
is not be used
for more than
two weeks, it is advisable to remove the
batteries.
o Fresh spare batteries may be stored in
the batteryholder
provided
with thecamera
strap.
Installingbatteries
1. Using a coin or similar object, turn the
batterychamber cover counterclockwise
andremove it.
2. After wiping terminals
with a clean dry
cloth andhandling only by the
edges,insert
two of the specified
batteries
plus (+) side
out into the sleeveon the inside of the
cover. (lf batteriesare insertedimprdperly,
they will not make contact,and no current
will flow.)

3. Replace
the cover
and screw
it in clockwise
as
far
asit will go.
Testingbatteries
Move the main switch to align the index
with "B.C." lf the red batterycheck indicator
on the front of the camera
lights,
batteries
are
serviceable.
When released,
the main switchwill
automatically
moveto the "ON" position.
Test batteries immediately after installing
them. lf the indicator
doesnot light,
makesure
that they are fresh and'have been inserted
correctly.
Batteries
should
betestedfrom time to time
thereafter, preferably before starting each new
roll of film and particularly before starting
picture-taking
sessions
or trips. A setof batter-
ies will generally last for about one year in
9 /i ..! .a:? t4 4 I ..t '1 !) -
?..j..4tt'u '. '? t
/A!t)' v6 e J. . t: .) - 4 a)
..\9nl,el.tr
.4F a 2t4t@ 4,L;! al, , t ': ;
6t,,P! 4:s @'/ /. t:9 @ d,.., : :i
lj
'elb!!r@ 46 t':4 4:1
- ro.: F +tjt :, ) qtu) o' //'
www.orphancameras.com

Mainswitch
To operate the camera, move the main
switchto "ON." This al
lowscurrent to flow to
the Touch switch/operating
button. The main
switch also servesas the self-timer and battery
check
switch.
To prevent accidental exposures and need-
lessbattery drain, always be sureto move the
main switch to "OFF" when not using
the
camera.
Touch switch/operating button
F
inger contact with the Touch switch/-
operating button activates the camera's elec-
tronic shutter and when the shutter-speed/-
function selector is set at "A" (automatic),
powers the electronic exposure control and
LED circuits.lf proper contact with the touch
switch is not possible
(i.e.,
while wearing
gloves
or when fingers are
dry), slightpressure
qn the
button will alsoactivatethe camera.

NOTE
Wipe off any dust or dirt that might
accumulate on the touch switch with a clean
dry cloth. This will insure
good contact and
proper
operation.
Cold-weather
operation
Batteries by nature tend to decrease
in
capacity
asthe temperature goes
down. Though
the silveroxide batteries
usedfor the XG-7 are
superior to most others in this respect,
it also
happens
with them.
lf old batteries are used at temperature
bef
ow OoC 132"
Fl
, the camera's electronic
operation
may not be satisfactory.
You should
thus replace older batteries with fresh ones
before using your XG-7 in cold weather and
carry sparefresh
batteries
with you duringsuch
use. Battery
,capacity will be restores
to its
normal level
when the batteries
arewarmed to
their recommended operating temperature
range.
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM
After you have not used your camera for
some time, check the safe Load signal and
frame counter
to besure
that there
isno film in
the camera.lf the camera
is unloaded
proceed
asfollows:
1. Pull out on the back'cover release
knob
unti
I thecamera
backsprings
open.
t
www.orphancameras.com

2. Leavingthe knob pulled out,
position
a
film
cartridge in the chamberwith the project-
ing-spool end toward the bottom of the
camera.Then push the back-coverrelease
knob
all
theway in,
rotating
it slightlyto do
soif necessary.
3. lnsert the end of the film leaderasshown
into one of the slotsin the take-up
spoolso
that the tooth is engagedwith a sprocket
hold near the end of the leader.Make sure
that the end of the leaderdoesnot project
from another slot between tabs orl the
spool.

4. Operatethe film-advance
lever
slowly until
the film has begun to wind firmly around
the take-up spool and the sprocket teeth are
engagedwith holes on both edges of the
film. lf theadvance
lever
stops
at the end of
a full stroke during this procedure,
release
theshutter
andcontinue.
Close the camera back and push in on it
until it clicksloaded.
A red "S" should now appearopposite the
index in the frame+ounter window. Ad-
vancefilm and release
the shutter until the
index points to "1" on the framecounter
dial.
5.
6.
L
www.orphancameras.com

7. A red bar should also now appear at the
extreme left in the Safe Load Signalwin-
dow. This indicates
that the film is loaded
and winding properly on the take-up spool.
lf the Safe Load Signaldoes not appear or
swings
far to the right in the window, repeat
steps 1 through 6 to assure
that film is
properly engaged on the spool. As you
continue to take pictures,
the redsignal
will
movegradually
toward the right in the win'
dow, indicating
that film is aJvancing
prop-
erly.
CAUTION
Film should
be handled
and
loading
done
in
subdued light - at least shadedfrom direct
sunlight
by the bodY.
Film-advanceleverand
frame
counter
The film-advance
lever
is
designed
with 30"
unengaged
movement before the beginning
of
its engagedstroke
to allow siwnging
it out from
the body so that the right thumb will fit
comfortably behind it. Continuingto mbvethe
lever through its engaged
angle of 130', ad-
vancesfilm and frame counter and cocks the
shutter
for the next exposure.