Minolta XG-9 User manual

MINOLTA XG·9 .
OWNER'S MANUAL
@

Your light, compact XG-9 is a top-quality single-lens reflex camera whose
electronic system will
control exposure for you automatically, freeing you for more
enjoyment and greater creativity. You can also override the meter's automatic setting
or set the camera for full manual operation. The aperture selected and LED auto-set
speed are clearly displayed
in the XG-9's total information viewfinder and its advanced
acute matte screen makes viewing brighter and focus"
ing easier and more accurate.
Electromagnetic
shutter release and unique "touch switch" metering head a host of
other features. Attaching the accessory Auto Winder G enables single-frame/continu-
ous
motor film advance up to 2 frames/sec. Minolta's special Auto Electroflash 132X
and 200X electronically switch
the XG-9's shutter over for strobe exposures when
charged and signal flash-ready
in finder; the 200X also enables continuous-sequence
flash with
the winder. Besides MD lenses, your XG-9 uses virtually all interchangeable
Minolta lenses
to date and all applicable Minolta SLR system accessories.
Before using
your camera for the first time, study this manual carefully all the way
through -
or at least all the sections needed to cover your own photographic needs. As
you read, attach a lens to the camera body (see p. 10), load batteries, and handle your
XG-9 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 begin to
realize the broad potential of your XG-9 right form the start . Be sure to keep this
manual for reference later
as necessary.

2 CONTENTS
MAIN FEATURES ...... . .. .. .. ... ... 4 EXPOSURE CONTROL
NAMES OF PARTS .... . ... ... ... . . .. . 6
FUNDAMENTALS ... . .. .. . . .. . .. . . 20
SUMMARY OF OPERATION
METERING WITH THE XG-9 .... . ..... 21
(Automatic) ... .. ... ....... . ... . . . . 8 VIEWFINDER ..... .. . .. .. .. . . . . ... . 22
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENSES 10 AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL . .. 24
BATTERIES AND POWER .. .. . .. . .... 11
Installing batteries . . . .. .. . ..... . .... 11
Automatic operat ion ... .. .. . .. . . . .. .. 24
Eyepiece cap
.......... .. .. . . ... ... 25
Testing batteries
.. . ... .. ..... . .. .. . 12
WAYS OF USING AUTO MODE .. ... .. . 26
Main switch . .
.. .. . . ...... . ........ 13 General
use ............... . .. . . . . . 26
Touch switch/ope rating button ........ 13 Creati
ve aperture con trol .. . ... . .... . 27
Cold-weather operation .
.. .... ...... . 14 Creati
ve shutter control .. .. . ........ 28
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM ... . 14
AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE
Film advance lever and frame counter .. . 17
ADJUSTMENT . . . ... ... ........... 29
FILM SPEED ....... . .. ... ..... .. .. . 18 WHEN
AND HOW MUCH TO ADJUST
Setting filmspeed . ... .... ... . ... .. . 18 EXPOSURE
... . . .... ... .. ........ 30
ASA/DIN conversion scale .. .. .. . ... . 19
MANUAL EXPOSURE CONTROL ...... 32
Memo holder ... ........ . . . . . . . . . . . 19 " S" setting . .
.. .. . . ..... .... ...... 33

3
HOLDING THE CAMERA ... ... .... .. 34 XG-9 SYSTEM ACCESSORIES . .. ...... 45
FOCUSING . .. ... .. . . ... .. . .. . .. . .. 35
Auto Winder G .. . .. . .. . .... . . . .... 45
Depth of field .. .. . ..... .. . ... .. ... 36
Auto Electroflash 200X and 132X ... .. 46
Depth-of-field scale . . ... . ... .. . .. . .. 36
Remote Cord Sand L . . . . .... . . . .. .. 47
Infrared index ...... .... . . .... .... . 37
Data Back G .... ..... .. ... . .. . .... 48
RELEASING THE SHUTTER . . . .. ... .. 38
STANDARD-LENS SPECIFICATIONS . .. 49
SELF- TIMER .. . .. . . . . .. . .. . .. ..... . 40
CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS ..... .. . .. 50
REWINDING AND UNLOADING
CARE AND STORAGE ..... . ... .. . .. . 52
FILM ... .. ..... ... .. . . . .... . . . . . 41
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ........... . . 43
Synchronization ..... . . . ... . ..... .. 43
Connec ti ng flash units .. . ... . ....... . 43
USING OTHER THAN MD OR
MC LENSES
... .. . . .. ... .. . . . . . . .. 44
Au to Ro k kor le ns es . .. ... . .... ... .. 44
RF (mi rror - typ e) and Manual-Pr ese t
le ns es . . .. .. .. . ... . . .. . . . . . .. . . . 44

4
MAIN FEATURES
Fail-safe electronic exposure system
Incorporating
many of the features devel-
oped for Minolta's top electronic cameras, the
XG -9 covers a wide range of photographic
conditions _ Its electronic shutter which auto -
matically locks
to prevent overexposure and
electromagnetic shutter release with unique
touch switch metering add to the handling ease
of the camera.
The XG-9's system features:
• Full
automatic exposure by stepless shutter
speeds from 1/1000 to 1 sec. plus full
manual settings.
• Electromagnetic
shutter release.
• Unique
"Touch switch" metering.
•
Two tiny silver- oxide batteries as power
source.
• Electromagnetic
shutter release that locks to
prevent overexposure when light over
meter's range or battery power low.
Solid-
state information viewfinder
• Special focusing screen has split-image and
microprism focusing aids, plus scientifically
developed new
type of matte field that is up
to 50% brighter than conventional matte
screens.
•
Aperture set for automatic and manual
modes visible in the finder.
• LED's indicate
automatic shutter speed
selection
and over -lunder-range warning.
• LED
and "60" positi on blinks as flash-ready
signal when
either Auto Electroflash 200X
or 132X is attached and charged.
Easy handling
controls
Lightweight and compact, the XG -9 is hu-
man engineered
to fit the user's hands for
smooth operation :
•
Smooth short stroke film advance.
• Large easy
to adjust shutter -speed dial.
•
"Soft-touch" electromagnetic shutter re-
lease.
• Minolta
bayonet lens mount with large
release
button .

• Balanced winder operation.
• Easy- to - use depth - of - field preview button .
Quick attach auto winder
The XG's accessory auto winder attaches
qui
ckly, without access caps to remove or store
freeing
the user from advancing film in single:
frame
or continuous operation up to two
frames per second. Its strong efficient core less
micromotor winds as many as 150 or more
cartridges per set or charge of batteries. At the
end of each cartridge the motor automatically
shuts off.
Special camera-control flash units
When' attached to the XG -9 and ready to
fire, both the Auto Electroflash 200X and
132X start a flash-ready signal blinking in the
viewfinder and automatically set the shutter for
X- synchronization (1/60 sec.) when the shutter
is released. The Auto Electroflash 132X fea-
tures
two auto settings as well as manual and a
tiltable flash head for bounce flash. Its special
flash distance check lamp
lights to indicate
when flash brightness is sufficient for correct
exposure. The 200X model provides auto flash
at
either of two apertures and either full - power
manual operation or when powered by Ni -Cd
batteries,
up to two cont inuous-sequence flash
exposures each second
with the Auto Winder G.
User
oriented features
•
Up to two stops' continuous adjustment
over or under the normal electron ic setting.
• X-
type flash synchronization through the
hot shoe or PC terminal.
• Electronic self- timer with blinking indicator
li ght .
• Eyepiece cap
for unmanned or similar oper-
ation .
• Exclusive Safe
Load Signal monitors film
alignment and advance.
•
Handy memo holder and ASA/DIN conver -
sion scale
on back .
• Release
terminal for tripod shots with elec-
tronic or standard release cord .
•
Shutter not operative when operation
switch off .
•
Virtually all existing Minolta interchange-
able lenses and applicable system accessori
es
can be used in either automatic or manual
operation .
5

6 NAMES OF PARTS
Film -advance lever
Touch switch/operating button
Frame-counter window
Safe Load Signal
Auto-setting release
Strap lug
Film-speed
window
Self-timer/battery-check indicator
Me coupler lug
Ape r ture scale
Depth - of - field scale
Aperture ring
Distance scale
Hot shoe
__ -- . Shutter-speed/funct iol
selector
Rewind crank
Main switch
Back cover release knc
Lens-release
button
Shutter release socket
X sync.
terminal
(on the opposite side:
not shown)
Stop-down button
Focusing grip

__ ------------ -- -- Finder eyepiece
Tripod socket
'--- -- Winder terminal
L.. __ ____ Battery chamber cover
Guide-pin socket _
___ _ ___ ..J
---- -Shutter curtain
Sprocket
Take-up spool
7

8 SUMMARY OF OPERATION (Automatic)
The steps pictured on this page outline use
of your XG-9 on automatic mode. They give a
general idea
of how very easy it is to get
1. Check batteries (see p. 12)
perfectly exposed pictures with this camera and
are keyed
to corresponding sections of the
manual
for ready reference. This brief guide
7. Set selector dial to "A"
(p.24)
8. Set lens aperture (P. 24)
9. Adjust focus (p. 35)