Minolta XG-A User manual

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MINOLTA
. . .
XG-A
OWNER'S MANUAL

Your light, compact XG-A is a top-quality single-lens reflex camera whose
electronic systems will control exposure for you automatically, which makes taking
beautiful pictures as easy as focusing and pressing a button. You can also override the
automatic meter setting up to 2 full stops for complete creative control. Electro-
magnetic
shutter release, unique "touch switch" metering, and an Acute Matte
focusing screen making viewing brighter and focusing easier are just a few of the
XG -A's many features. Attaching the accessory Auto Winder G enables single/
continuous motor film advance up to 2 frames-per-second. Minolta's X-series Auto
Electroflashes electronically switch t. he XG-A's shutter over for strobe exposures when
charged and signal flash-ready in the finder; the 320X and 200X also enable
continuous-sequence flash with the winder. Besides Minolta MD lenses, your XG-A is
compatible with virtually all Minolta interchangeable lenses made to date and all
applicable Minolta
SLR system accessories.
Before using
your camera for the first time, study this manual all the way through.
In this way, you can take good photos and realize the full potential of your XG-A right
from
the start. Be sure to keep th is manual for later reference.

2 CONTENTS
MAIN FEATURES
NAMES OF PARTS
.... . ... . ........ .. 4
6
SUMMARY OF OPERATION . . ... . .... . 8
STRAP AND CASE ... .. ..... . .. ...... 10
ATTACHING AND REMOVING
LENSES .. . ...... . .. . ..... . ... .. . 11
BATTERIES AND POWER ....... . .. . . 12
Installing batteries .
....... . ... . ..... 12
Battery
holder .... .. . . .. ... .. . .... . 13
Testi
ng batter i es .. . ........... . .. . . 13
Main switch . . ...... .. . .. . . .. .. .. . . 14
Touch switch/operating button .. . ..... 14
Cold-weather operati on ..... . ...... . . 15
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM .. . . 15
Film-advance lever and frame counter .
.. 19
FILM SPEED .. . ... . . ...... . .. . . .. . . 20
Setting film speed . .. ... .. . .... . .. .. 20
(ASA/DIN conversion scale) ..... .. .... 20
EXPOSURE-CONTROL
FUNDAMENTALS .. . . . .. . . .. .... . . 21
METERING WITH THE XG-A .. . . .. .. " 22
VIEWFINDER . .. . . ... . ........ . . . . . 23
AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL '" 24
Automatic operation .. . .. . .. .... . ... 24
Eyepiece cap
........ . .. . ... ..... . . 25
WAYS OF USING AUTO MODE ........ 26
General
use .. ....... .. ... ...... .. . 26
Creati
ve aperture control .. . ......... 27
Creative
shutter control ...... . ... . . . 28
AUTOMATIC -EXPOSURE
ADJ USTMENT .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
WHEN
AND HOW MUCH TO ADJUST
EXPOSURE ..... . . .. : .... .. . . .. . . 30
"B " SETTING . .. . ....... .. . . ... . .... 33
HOLDING THE CAMERA ... . .. . . . ... 34

3
FOCUSING .... ... .... . .. . . . . . ... . . 35 XG-A SYSTEM ACCESSORIES .... ..... 45
Depth of field . . . ...... . .... .. . . ... 36
Auto Winder G . ...... .. . . ..... . . .. 46
Depth-of-field scale ... .. ....... . ... . 36
X~eries Auto Electroflashes .... .. . ... 47
Infrared index :. .. . ... .. .... . .. . . .. 37
Remote Cord Sand L .. . . ... .. . . . . . . 48
RELEASING THE SHUTTER . .. ... .... 38
Wireless Controller IR-1 Set ........... 49
SELF-TIMER .. .... .. . .... . ... .. . . .. 40
CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS . ... . ..... 50
CARE AND STORAGE ...... .. .. ..... 52
REWINDING AND UNLOADING
FILM .. . . . . .... ...... ... .. . .... . 41
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY .. . ... ..... . . 43
Synchronization ........... .... ... . 43
Connecting flash units . . ... . ... .. . ... 43
USING OTHER THAN MD OR
MC LENSES . . . . .... ... ..... . . .. .. 44
Auto Rokkor lenses . .. ... ... ...... . 44
RF (mirror-type) and manual-preset
lenses .
.. . . . . ... . ..... . ...... ... 44

4
MAIN FEATURES
Fail-safe electronic exposure system
Incorporating
many of the features devel-
oped for Minolta's top electronic cameras, the
XG-A covers a wide range of photographic
conditions. Its electronic shutter wnich auto-
matically locks to prevent overexposure and
electromagnetic shutter release with unique
touch switch metering add to the handling ease
of the camera.
XG-A's system features:
• Full
automatic exposure by stepless shutter
speeds from 1/1000 to 1 sec.
•
Electromagnetic shutter release.
• Unique
"Touch switch" metering.
• Shutter-release lock prevents
overexposure
when light is over meter's range or battery
power is low.
• Piezoelectric audible signals
for low shutter-
speed settings and self-timer operation.
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.
•
Automatic shutter-speeds, indicated by
LEO's, are visible in viewfinder.
• LED
at "60" position blinks as flash-ready
signal when X-series
Auto Electroflashes are
attached and charged.
Easy handling
controls
Lightweight and compact, the X-7 is human
engineered
to fit the user's hands for smooth
operation :
•
Smooth short stroke film advance.
• Large, easy-to-adjust
shutter-function dial.
•
"Soft-touch" electromagnetic shutter re-
lease.
• Curve
formed body with cushioned body
grip.
• Minolta
bayonet lens mount with large
release
button.
• Balanced winder operation.

Quick attach auto winder
The XG- A's accessory auto winder attaches
quic
kly 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 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
shuts off .
Special dedicated flash
units
When attached to the XG-A and ready to
fire, the X-series Auto Electroflashes start a
flash-ready signal
blinking in the viewfinder and
automatically set the shutter for X~ynchroniza
tion (1/60 sec .) when the shutter is released.
Other individual features include thy r istor cir-
cuitry for winder synchronization and maxi-
mum battery life, tiltable head for bounce
flash, filters for special effects, multiple aper-
ture settings and full manual operation. From
the compact and economical 118X to the 320X
with its exclusive Variable Guide-Number/
Power Control, there is an X-series flash to
meet any need.
User
oriented features
•
Up to two stops' continuous adjustment
over or under the normal electronic setting.
• X-
type flash synchronization through the
hot shoe.
•
Electronic self-timer with blinking indicator
light .
• Eyepiece cap
for unmanned or similar oper -
ation .
• Exclusive Safe Load Signal
monitors film
alignment and advance.
• 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 accessories
can be used.
operation .
5

6 NAMES OF PARTS
Film-advance
Touch switch/operating button
Frame-counter window - --r ~l- '- ' ~ -' "
..... r- --..::
Auto-setting rt"'''''''' - -::ii!: :1o
Film-speed w,nnDW' -./
nction
X sync.
term inal

Auto-winder coupler
'---- Tripod socket
'------ Winder terminal
'--~----- BattElry-chamber cover
Guide-pin socket
--------'
7
Finder eyepiece

8 SUMMARY OF OPERATION
The steps pictured pn this page outline use
of your X6-A on automatic mode . They give a
general idea
of how very easy it is to get
perfectly exposed pictures with this camera and
are keyed to correspond ing sections of the
manual for ready reference. This brief guide
7. Set selector dial to "AUTO" 8. Set lens aperture (p. 24).
(p .2 4).
9. Adjust focus (p. 35).