Minolta XE-1 User manual

OWNER'S
MANUAL
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Your Minolta XE-1 is
a top-qualitysingle-lens
reflexcamera
whose
electronic
systemwill control exposurefor you automatically,
freeing
you for more enjoyment or greater creativity. You can also control
exposuremanually, with or without reference
to the meter indication.
ln either case,
your XE-1 offers full control of all camera
exposure
variables,and all necessary
information isvisible
without taking your
eye from the finder. This eminently refined and well-thought-out
camera with its unique new electronic shutter lets you enjoy easy
handling, utmost smoothness
and quietness,
and considerate
"fail-safe"
features throughout. Further, your XE-1 is an integral part of the
Minolta SLR systemand usesall interchangeable
lensesand applicable
system
accessories.
lt isthus ready
to grow with you and your needs
for
utmost versatility even in advanced, professional, or specialized
scientif
icor technical
use.
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 photographicneeds.
As you read,
attachthe lens
to the
camerabody (see
p. 50),load batteries,
and handle
your XE-1 and
acquaint
yourself
with its
parts
andfeatures.
Then loadit with film and
proceed
to actual
picture
taking.In this
way, you cantake
goodphotos
and begin to realize
the broad potential
of your XE-1 right from the
start. Be
sureto keepthis manualfor referencelater
asnecessary.
I
*
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CONTENTS
MAIN FEATURES .... 4 EXPOSURE.CONTROL
FUNDA.
NAMEsoFPARTS ..'.6 MENTALS "'2o
suMMARy OF OPERAT|ON xE-l METERING
POINTERS .. .. ' 21
(ON,,AUTO") .. .
.
" 8 STOP-DOWN
BUTTON ..... 22
BATTERIES
AND POWER .. 10 METERING
METHODS .. .. 22
fnstallins
batteries 11 HOLDTNG
THE CAMERA .. 23
Testing
batteries Iz
Powerswitch .'12 VIEWFINDER .'24
Film-advance
lever
and
frame
counter .. . 17 WA'S OF USING
AUTO MODE . .. 27
FILM
SPEED
Film-speedselector ".'"' 18
ASA/DINconversionscale """ 19
Memoholder """' 19
I

METERE
D/MANUAL EXPOSUR
E CONTROL
Metered/manualoperation ...... 30
"X"and"B"settings ... ..32
FOCUSTNG .... 33
Depth-of-fieldscale ..34
Depth
-of
-f
ield p
review
lnfraredindex
. .....3b
Film-planeindex ....35
RELEASINGTHESHUTTER ..... 36
REWINDING
AND UNLOADING FILM .. 38
FLASH
PHOTOGRAPHY ... 40
SELF-TfMER... .....43
MULTIPLE
EXPOSURES .. . 45
EXPOSURE-ADJUSTMENT
CONTROL . . 47
WHENAND HOW
MUCH TO
ADJUST
EXPqSURE ... .. 48
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENSES
50
USING
OTHER THAN MC LENSES
AutoRokkorLenses ......51
RF (mirror-type)
and
Manual-Preset
Rokkorlenses ....51
SPEC|
FfCATIONS
... ......52
COUPLED
AUTOMATIC EXPOSU
RE
RANGE ... .. 54
STANDARD LENS
SPECIFICATIONS . . . 55
CARE
AND
STORAGE .... . 56
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MAIN FEATURES
Outstandingelectronic exposuresystem
Incorporating the electronicauto-exposure
control system
developed
for Minolta'stop XM
model
, the XE-1 covers a wide range of
photographic conditions with high accuracy
and very low power consumption. lt resists
temperature
and humidity and maintains
high
performance
from general
photographythrough
highly specialized
work. The XE-1's system
features:
o Fully automatic exposure
by stepless
shut-
ter speeds
from 1
/1
000 to four full seconds,
plus
metered
and
f
ullmanual
o Monol
ithic-lC
memory and control circuits
o Minolta's exclusive contrast-compensator
metering
o Better operation at high and low tempera-
tures
o Two tiny silver batteries
as
a power source
High-performance
new shutter
The XE-1
's unique new "CLS" ("CoPal-
Leitz Shutter"l is a metal-bladevertical-run
type providing
high
precision
and durability.
lt
operates
more quietly and smoothly andoffers
adm
irable
compactness.
With basic
design
by Germany'sErnst
Leitz
GmbH, the CLS was developed
through
joint
work with Japan'sCopal
Co.,
Ltd.,who further
contributed experience and original ideas.
Minolta supported and .cooperated
with both
Copal
and Leitzin this
project.
Complete information-center viewfinder
o Focusingcan
bedone in three
ways:By the
split-image
or microprismfocusing
aidor on
thematfield.
o Shutter speed, aperture figure, exposure
' mode,
coupled
limits,andmetering
informa-
tion areall
visible
while
you view.
o Metered-manualexposurecontrol is
possible
by matching shutter-speed
numbers in the
finder.

Minolta SLR bayonetlensmount o Self-timerwith adjustabledelay for auto or
o Virtually
allexistingRokkorinterchangeable manualexposurecontrol
lenses
can be used in either automatic or o Eyepieceshutter for unmanned or simi
lar
manual
operation,
the
current
lineincl
uding operation
some thirty models from 16mm fisheye o Oversize
mirror; image
cutoff negligibleeven
through 1600mm extreme telephoto. At- with 1600mm RF Rokkor lens
taching
is
simple,
quick,
and sure,with full- o Exclusive
Safe Load Signalmonitors film
aperture
metering
for MC lenses,
stop-down alignment
andadvance.
type for others. o Shutter releaselocked when power switch
o The XE-1 also usesall applicablesystem off
accessoriesof the more than 150 currently o Mirror stays up, no exposure made when
available. batterypower insufficient.
. "X" it/90 t"c. with X/MF sync.)and "B"
Versatile,
easy,
"fail6afe" operation (bulb) settings operate without battery
o Unusually
smooth, positive
multiple expo- power.
sures
without f
rame-counter
advance o Safety lockson "AUYO" setting,ASA dial,
a UP to two stops' continuous exposure
gd- andexposure-adjustmentcontrol
justment over or under the normal elec- o Handy memo holderand ASA/DIN conver-
tronicsetting sionscaleon back
o X or FP flash
synchronizationthrough
the o Unusually smooth short-stroke
film ad-
hot shoeor singleterminal with switch vance
"rfl
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NAMES
OF PARTS
6
F
ilm-advance
lever
Shutter-speed/functio
n selector
AUTO-setting
release
Shu
tter-releasebutton
M
ultiPle-exposu
re
Iever
Meter-coupler
pin
Strap
lug
Aperturescale
Self-timer
lever
Aperture
ring
Depth-of-f
ieldscale
Distance
scale
Stop-down
button
H
ot shoe
Serialnu
mber
Scale-il
I
umination
window
Back-release
knob
Rewind
crank
F
ilm-speed
selector
\ Battery
checker
Exposure-adjustment
control release
r
E
xposure-adjustment
control
Fil
m-speed-sel
ectorrel
ease
Lens-release
button
Sy nc. term inal
- Sync. selector switch
Focusing
ring

Eyepiece-shutter lever
F
indereyepiece
Power
switch
Safe
Load
Signal
window
Frame
counter
Shutterblades
Sprocket
Take-up
spool
Backcover
Pressure
plate
Rewind release
Battery-chambercover
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SUMMARY
OF OPERATION
(ON "AUTO"}
The steps pictured on this pageoutline use perfectly exposedpictures with this camera
and
of your Xi-t 'on automatic mode. They give a are keyed to corresponding sections of the
general idea of how very easy it is to get manual for ready reference. This brief guide
3Open
back
cover
(p. 14).
1 check
batteries
(see
p.12!-
.
7 ff:;i:""' diar
to
"Auro"
Move power switch
lp. 121
.
g Set
lens
aperture
(p.
25). 9 nOiust
focus
(p.
33).

may alsobe useful asa
quick refresher
for good
results
after you havenot used
the camera
for
sometime. lt is not, however,
a substitutef
or
the detailed instructionsin the rest of this
manual, which should be thoroughly studied
f
or best
results.
remove
5 Odvancefilmto
"1" (p.
16).
4irlrrouii.l
m properl
v
;closecover $ Set
film
speed
(p.
1B).
shu
tter
(p.
36). 1l trrn power
offlp. 121
.lzRewind and (p.s).
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BATTERIES
AND POWER
Two 1.S-volt
silver-oxide
batteries,
Mallory
MS-76 or Eveready
5-76 or equivalent,supply
the power for the meter, electronic exposure
control, and electronic shuttersettings.
IMPORTANT:
Shou
ld viewing become impossible
because
the mirror of your XE-l remains
up after the
shutter has been released,
it does NOT mean
that the camera is out of order. This occurs
automatically to warn you when there is
insuff
icient battery power for proper
operation
at electronic shutter settanqs.
To return the
mirror for viewing, simply turn the shutter-
speed/function
selectorto "X" or "B." For
further
details,see
p. 13.

Installing
batteries
1 Using a coin or similar object, turn the
battery-chamber cover counterclockwise
and remove it.
2. After cleaning terminals with a clean dry
cloth and handling only by the edges,
insert
two of the specified batteries
plus (+) side
t
\
3.
out into the sleeve on the inside of the
cover. (lf batteries
are inserted
improperly,
they will not make contact, and no current
will flow.)
Replace the cover and screw it in clockwise
as
faras
it
willgo.
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12 Testing
batteries
Depress
the battery-checker lever toward
the bottom of the camera.
lf the red lamp
lights,
batteries
are
serviceable.
Test batteries
immediately
after installing
them.lf thelamp
does
not light,
make
sure
that
they are fresh
andhave
beeninserted
correctly.
Batteries
should
betested
from timeto time
thereafter,
preferably before starting
each
new
roll of film and particularly before starting
picture-taking
sessions
or trips.
A set
of batter-
ies will generally
last for about one vear in
proper
normal
use.
Power switch
To operate the camera, move the power
switch to "ON." This will unlock the shutter-
release button and cause the meter needle in
the finder to move if there are sufficient light
and battery power.
When not operating the camera, always be
sure to move the power switch to "oF F." This
will lock the shutter release
against accidental
exposures and prevent needless battery drain.

Cold-weather oporataon
Batteries by nature tend to decrease
in
capacityas
the temperature
goes
down. Though
the silver-oxidebatteriesused
for the XE-1 are
superior
to most others in this respect,
it also
happenswith them.
ll old batteries are used at temperatures
below OoC (32oFl
, the camera's electronic
operation
may not be satisfactory.
You should
thus replace older batteries with fresh ones
before using your XE-1 in cold weather and
carry spare
freshbatterieswith you duringsuch
use,
Low-voltage
warning
Your XE-1 is equippedwith a deviceto
warn you and prevent wastedfilm if battery
voltagebecomesinsufficientwhile the shutter-
speed/function
selectoris at an electronic
set-
ting (i.e., any one other than "X" or "B") : lf
the shutter is releasedwhen voltageistoo low,
no exposurewill be madeon the film,andthe
mirror
will remain
up to prevent
viewing.
Turning the shutter-speed/functiondial to
either "X" or "B" (mechanical
settings)will
reset the mirror to its viewing position. The
camera
may then be operatedat either
of these
mechanicalsettings
without replacingbatteries
or at any electronicor mechanicalsettingafter
inserting serviceablebatteries.In either case,
use the multiple-exposure
lever (see p.45) to
recock the shutter without wastinga frame of
film. (The mirror will alsoreset automatically
after film has been advanced
in the usualway
andthe shutterreleasedonce.)
NOTE:
lf the camera is not to be used for more
than two weeks,it is advisable
to remove the
batteries.
13
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14
LOADING
AND ADVANCING
FILM
1. Pull out on the back-cover release knob
until the camera back springs
open.
2. Leaving the knob pulled out, position a film
cartridge in the chamber with the project-
ing-spool end toward the bottom of the
camera. Then push the back-cover release
knob all the way in, rotating it slightly to do
so if necessary.

3. Insert the end of the film leader
as shown
into one of the slots in the take-up spool so
that the tooth is engaged with a sprocket
hole near the end of the leader.
Make sure
that the end of the leader does not project
f
rom another slot between tabson the spool.
THISway
NOT this way
15
tt rrl
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16
4. Operatethe film-advance
lever
slowly until
the film has
begun to wind firmly around
the take-up
spool
and
thesprocketteeth
are
engagedwith holes on both edgesof the
f
ilm. lf the advanceleverstops
at theendof
a full stroke during this procedure,
release
theshutter
and
continue.
Close the camera back and push in on it
until it clicks locked.
A red "S" should now appear
oppositethe
index in the frame-counter window. Ad-
vance
film and release
the shutter
until the
index points to "1" on the frame-counter
d
ial.
5.
6.

7. A red bar should also now appearat the
left in Safe Load Signal window. This
indicates
that thefilm is
loaded
and
winding
properly on the take-up spool. lf the Safe
Load Signal
does
not appear
or swings
far to
the right in the window, repeat steps 1
through
6 to assure
thatf
ilm is
properly
en-
gaged
on the
spool.
As you continue
to take
pictures,
the red signal
will move gradually
toward the right in the window, indicating
that
film is
advancing
properly.
CAUTION:
Film shouldbe handledand
loadingdone
in
subdued light at least shaded from direct
sunlight
by thebody.
Film-advance
lever
and frame counter
The film-advance
leverisdesigned
with 30o
unengaged
movement before the beginning of
its engaged
stroke
to allow swinging
it out f
rom
the body so that the right thumb will fit
comfortably behind it. continuing to move
the
lever
through its engaged
angle
of 13oo until it
springs back to the unengaged
position ad_
vances
film and frame counter and cocks the
shutter for the next exposure.(To cock the
shutter
without advancing
film, see page4S.)
when the lever stops and resists
further
movement at the end of a film, never
attempt
to force it farther. (see
page
3g for instructions
on rewinding
and
unloading
film.)
The frame counter does not advance
when
two or more exposures
are made on the same
frame. The counter automatically resetsfor
f
ilm loadingwhen the camera
back isopened.
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