I worked for Minolta Camera Co from 1973 to 2005. Your wonderful video brought back a lot of fond memories. I sold all those cameras at one time or another during my history with Minolta. Thanks for putting this together.

Collecting is a sickness my friend. Thanks for "being there." I was able to point to this and tell my wife, "See, I'm not so bad." Be strong brother.

Thank you for the great tour! I started with a new SR-T 101 with the 58mm ƒ/1.4 Rokkor. Life was so simple back then.

The SRT series are an amazing thing. They are a Rube Goldberg machine all crammed into a little metal package. But they worked well. If you ever take the top off of one, they are a thing of insane beauty inside. The metering was a complicated system of strings and pulleys, that moved the "lollipop" to match the needle, which involved multiple auxiliary prisms glued to the pentaprism. The gearing for the shutter is brass and steel, the slow-speed escapement is right there in plain sight. Ahh, and if you fire it at 1/30 or below, you can not only hear the slow speed escapement reset, but you can hear the multiple rebounds as it comes to rest. The thing is a madman's work of art. And it's heavy enough to drive a sixteen penny nail into oak.

Even if I'm not a "Minolta Fan", I have to recognize that, when is time to choose a 35mm camera for a "photography trip", my x700 is usually my first choice (and believe me, I have a lot of 35mm to choose!). It have almost all the things I need in a small format film camera. So, considering the x700 phenomenal success and the awards it get (“European Camera of the Year” for instance) I'm wandering why didn't choose it for the top ten. Anyway, great video Gary. Keep on! :-)

I love my Minolta X-700. It's my "go-to" manual camera.

Excellent roundup! I am always in awe of people who are at the top of their game and can simply and enthusiastically pinpoint both the real benefits and real issues around any products, rather than just parroting the blurb from the manufacturer like a TV Shopping channel. Well done sir!

Just found this video, and I am glad that he still uploads! Pretty much enjoyed the whole video

Proud owner of an SRT-201, X-700 and I have a Maxxum 7 on the way. They’re all amazing, but it’s great to see the evolution of the brand over the decades. Too bad they’re not around anymore.

I just found a Minolta Maxxum 5000, with the flash for $30! So excited to get my pics developed!

Hi Gary, film photographer born in the 90's, here! I gotta say, learning film has been so much fun and very fulfilling! There's just a certain feeling you get when you get film right that you just don't get with digital, and that's to say nothing of the feel and look of the film itself in the right hands! Thanks for sharing this video because I'm thinking of getting a Minolta of some kind! This will help inform my decision! Thank you for sharing!

Massive respect for the old-school photographer like you sir! This video gave me - a millennial a lot of useful things about cameras.

I just got SRT-101 in 2021 despite owning several mirrorless cameras, loved it so far!

I recently purchased from a local charity shop a Minolta Maxxum 8000i. It came with some programme cards, a Sigma 35-70mm lens and a Sigma 70-210mm lens; all in good condition for £15. Damn good bargain and a lucky find.

Great overview and very informative. But any reason why the X-700 was not included? I used an X-700 for over 10 years and the camera still works fine today with no problems.

Ok, I've watched your video several times over the last year. But, just yesterday I watched it again, and realized that my Dynax 9 is the finest camera I have ever owned--and I have owned a Hasselblad, Rolleiflex, Nikon F4, Nikon F5 among others. I also still have a Minolta XK which I like better than my Nikon F3hp or Canon F1. My point--my Dynax 9 is my camera of choice. (I also have a Dynax 7 which is really good but not a 9.) Thank you for reminding me what a fine camera it is. And, digital is going to take a back seat to my 9. Thanks again. Paul, from 85 miles north of the frozen tundra of Green Bay, WI.

How informative was that?! Thank you Gary!! As a professional, I recently switched to Sony A900 digital and Minolta A9 (Dynax 9) film bodies with legacy Minolta glass from my Canon EOS 7D with L series lenses for still photography. The difference is unmistakeable from both a sharpness and more convincingly, Minolta color aspect. I absolutely love the A9! I recently purchased a 35 to 70mm f4 Minolta zoom for 70 bucks and compared the images with the 24-70mm 2.8 (Sony) Zeiss ($2,000 lens) that I rented. The Zeiss images were amazing and so were the images from this little 70 dollar Minolta zoom. Since then I have purchased 3 more Minolta legacy lenses. No, they don't focus as fast as the canon lenses, but the image quality is well worth the wait, After all, that's what's really important isn't it?

Great video. Finally a decent review of cameras from one of the very best Japanese camera makers. Top notch cameras, not so great marketing. You can see why Leica snuggled up to them, I use a Leica CL, which was a Minolta design mostly, and it sold so well it scared Leica and they discontinued it because it was hurting sales of the big cameras. Some of the Leica R zooms were designed and made by Minolta.

Great article. One small thing is that the 7D did have an anti-shake mechanism.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane! I have a certain affinity for the oldies but goodies like XD11 with its uniquely smooth shutter release. It's been nearly 4 decades since my first SLR and it has been an exciting time to watch the fantastic evolution of cameras and photography during that time. Thanks again for a great personal perspective on the history of a great brand name.

still waiting for the "10 worst" video

Man I can see the Passion on your eyes You really Love these Cameras I love them too although I have not that many

Mr. Friedman, I have enjoy buying/selling/trading cameras and accessories for years. In the late 1990s, I worked in the photo retail industry in Chicago. It was a fun time for me; I miss the tactile experience of loading film, and, as you have described, the process and the gear; sometimes, that was more enjoyable than the actual images! Thanks for this post!

My First SLR was a Minolta SRT100X, bought in 1981. Pretty happy with it. Towed it around with me for 25 years, including when I lived in London. Served me well. I still have it.

I watched this short film a few years a go and I loved it then. I've watched it today and after my photography skills have progressed I really appreciate your words of wisdom and take on how Minolta have progressed through it's life. Thats some collection you have there ... keep up the good work and hope you are well. Well wishes from the UK - Stevie

This was quite informational! I was just given a Minolta SR-T 100 with a 50mm, 55mm, telephoto, and macro lenses with 3 filters by a cow worker. i do graphic design work but like photography on the side. I'm am just 22 years old so the camera's were around when my dad was 10 hahaha. But i'd like to get to know it better, my other camera is a fujifilm finepix s8200 bought it in a bind for a class. so i've enver had an SLR camera until now, and I was planning on buying one. Anyways, i'm looking around to getcomfortable with this camera for fun, i'm still gushing with excitement over it though!!

Great review Gary. My first SLR was a Minolta 5000. I shot 5 weddings and a funeral with it as an amateur. Loved it. I bought a Minolta 7000 body second hand and by the time I got around to using it, found it didn't work. I still have them in a drawer and hope maybe some day my old lenses could be used on DSLR's. Thanks again Gary. You're not harming anyone by holding on to your beloved cameras which you have so much knowledge for, to give us. 🤗👍

Gary,, just watched this video and can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. I worked in camera stores from 1977 until about 1996,,and have been a pro/amateur the whole time as well. Although in my earlier days I will have to admit to being a " Nikon snob" , I always was surprised by Minolta's innovation and , in some cases, superb quality. The old fixed prime lenses were very good. By '93 I had even sold off the Nikon F4 and a great set of glass to go Mamiya645 Super,, BUT,,when I started missing the size and convenience of a good 35mm after a couple of years I went to a Minolta release party for the 700 si and saw the miraculous innovations of the fastest follow focus--(NOBODY had anything like it) as well the twin metering modes and what made me write a check that night was the remote ,,,off camera TTL multi flash system,, That just blew my doors off!! That another camera that deserves at least an honorable mention in your Hall of Fame. BTW,, The reason that pro camera with the pop-up flash was so reviled was that the photo press NEVER understood the value and capabilities of that remote flash system,, it was phenomenal,, And I totally agree with your comments about the XD-11,, It just crushed the A-1 Canon ..build quality was the best,,, and the old 9000?? I bought a used one as a back up body to my 700si just because it was so versatile. Anyway--great trip down memory lane---thanks.

Crazy. I found a Minolta Maxxum 7000 in working condition for $30!

I am new to photography but at the age of 48,I remember seeing my father and step father using some of these cameras so it brought back memories. Also, I have been using DSLR'S but about a month ago, I stumbled across a video about a Canon AE-1 and I loved the IQ So, I decided to go on ebay and price these cameras. I was shocked at how cheap they are! I did not buy one because I started reading, rather devouring everything I could on rivals of that model and a Minolta was one of them. I don't have my list in front of me so I don't remember the model but I heard quite a few people say the Minolta or Olympus was a better choice. Thanks do much for this video. I can't wait to get my 35mm, whatever one I choose.

Thanks for posting. I recently got a SRT 102 and SRT 202. They both have quirks and issues but the 102 is usable as is. The 202 needs more attention so I'm sending it to a shop next week.

Great video! I picked up an x-700 off Craigslist with 5 lenses for only $30, looking to flip it for a profit. Tried it out and instantly fell in love, and even bought a nicer lens for it. Film is expensive for a college student on a budget, so I just got a cheap Sony NEX-5 off eBay the other day, and for $100 and a $15 converter, it takes some amazing photos with the old Minolta lenses. I love my x700, but it sure is hard to put the Sony down, especially when I can still use all my favorite lenses.

Gary I feel just like you do! I save my cameras and lens's for sentimental reasons. I even take photos with them from time to time. :-) My favorite Minolta was the set 101 that I bought in 1968.

Been through seven SRTs, two still work, and one of the SRTs died when I got hit by a car and it hit the pavement the same time as my head. Gave away a Minolta rangefinder because it only weighed a ton and a half. Got two X-700 Minoltas for the right price-Free! Just bought a beautiful 'right out of the box' X-570, black, Tokina 28-85 lens, but haven't been able to use it yet because of quarantine. Meters are no big deal, since I use manual settings for B&W, 1/100 at f8 for ASA 100, 1/250 at f8 for ASA 400, and the trusty hand held meter for the tricky stuff. Minolta builds cameras as good as Subaru builds cars.

Thank you for this video. I loved the stories and the history of these great cameras. Your behind the scene blog was really good too! I bought my first SR lens 12 years ago to use with M43. I never had a Minolta SR mount camera until last month. I now have the X700, XD7 and waiting for the XE1 to be delivered. Maybe I also want the SRT 303/B too but my wife already giving me the evil stare.

This was one the best YT clips I have seen in a while. A total History lesson. Dearly appreciate what you did and enjoyed profoundly. What a shame Sony's ego and grandiosity killed this wonderful line of legendary photography machine, then now kills the DSLR line just because they don't know the market and can't figure out how to sell... Way to go and wish you a long life to give us such wonderful insight at such a quality presentation rate. You are a STAR.

Fantastic video ! I started out with a Minolta SRT 202 back in the late 70's. My second Minolta was a Used Maxuumm 7000i. This was a great camera as far as exposure s concerned but it had that dreaded 1st blank film problem, meaning the first frame on the film would blank out for some reason. I wanted to stick with Minolta, but then they went out of business... Now there is Sony but I haven't sweetened up to them yet. I always wanted an XD11.

I shot Wedding professionally with two Maxxum 9's and I contend that the "9" is THE best film camera ever made -- with a stainless steel body! And you are correct, it got nothing but bad press because of the (handy to have in an emergency) pop-up flash. I also note that Sony never put a flash on the a99II probably due to that undeserved legacy. In a Wedding, I never had time to look at LCD screens on the "7", I had to KNOW that the exposure was correct -- and shoot negative film.

12:40 I got my 7D today! Had a memory card issue I think I resolved. It is beautiful! Clean and looks brand New! We took a few test shots with it today. Still waiting to pick up my Sony A850. All the digital cameras i've owned since my first DSLR a Sony A100 are Sony A300, Nex-3 and the emount Sony A3000. My daughter so was excited to use the 7D. She is eight years old! Most of the time I am using manual focus with my cameras. Autofocus and an optical viewfinder again is so nice.

The first camera I ever shot with was a Minolta, it was my Mother's as she had been a photography enthusiast. I believe it was a Maxxum 3xi. I swear it was the loudest camera in the history of ever but I was very fond of it. I'm wanting to get back into film now and am trying to decide on the best manual 35mm for my budget. While I'm lusting after the Olympus OM-1, the Minolta SRT series tends to be more affordable, and I think it would be fittingly sentimental to go back to shooting a Minolta, just like when I first started. Thanks for the fun video. :)

Hi Gary, I was wondering what you think about the x-700 and how it compares to these beautiful cameras. Thanks! Great video

XD-11 is still one of my favorite cameras.

When I first received the x700 as a gift, for about a year I only used Aperture Priority. I then started doing my research and manually fiddling with the shutter. It’s my absolute favorite.

The XK came out in 1972, not 1978. It was not a knockoff of the F2AS because the F2AS came out near the end of the F2's production.

My first SLR was a Dynax-5. It's a very cute and capable camera. It's very small and light, but have 1/4000 shutter speed and very fast auto-focusing. Some years later when I was tempted by the heavy and mechanical beasts, I sold it. I miss it very much. There are some other Minolta cameras that also have very good reputation, such as the TC-1, Autocord and the Himatics.

I'd love to hear more about the Minolta lenses!

SRT 101 w/ a Rokker 58mm f1.4 lens, sweet photos and memories...Was given to me in 1972 and still using it today.

SR-T 201 and X-700 should be in the list. The 201 was the most common SR-T variant sold in the U.S. and the X-700 won Camera of the Year in Europe in 1982.

My first 35mm camera was the 101, and I wish I'd never sold it. What a mechanical beauty. Thanks for the vid.

I have an old "A", the 101, a 102, and an XE-7.

Great video. I still have my 202...It was all the camera I needed. I shoot landscape don't recall ever having to hurry on a photo....Never saw a landscape doing 60 mph...MY PET LENS...MINOLTA 35-70.

I love the video. I was given a Minolta 570 for my birthday last year but I can't seem to find much information on it. Is it a good camera? If so, what film should I get for it because I want to actually use it.

Can't believe I have now watched this in its entirety for the 2nd time and I dont shoot Minolta . 😂

Thank you!!! I`m very fond of my Minolta 101. It`s a pity it doesn't exist in the digital world of nowadays...

I had a tiny Minolta camera - point and shoot using the 110 cartridge. Not sure what happened to it but then went onto the Olympus Trip 35m. Had that for years but it went rusty. From there on to Fujifilm bridge cameras. and Nikon (D3200, 3500, D7200 and now the Z50 - I love it). Someone gave mew a Minolta 7000 last week with the kit lens and a Signma zoom, It's peculiar looking, feels so nice to hold, makes good noises. All in all an attractive camera. It worked well, I got some lford B&W 400 film and the 7000 just stopped working. Nothing. Changed all batteries but nothing. Went on to eBay and got a 7000 for £28, about the same in $. I told the seller, a photographer thinning out his collection, I only wanted the body and he was good enough to get back to me and offer me a Minolta 5000 for nothing in place of the lens. Just like these lumps for some reason and take pride in owning and using them.

Minolta was 12 years ahead of everyone else in 2003. Their DSLRs were the iPhone of cameras. They had all the concepts for what should be in a digital SLR camera, which applies to this day, from the get-go. I don't know why we are talking about Sony today instead of Minolta.

Thank you Gary for this excellent video presentation.... Damn ! I think I have to partly blame you for now I have Minolta 7000i, 7000, x300, x700, sr, and I hope to get some of the ones you show us here !

The X-570 was essentially the X-700 but without shutter priority mode (and, therefore, not program mode). It was a nice enough camera (lots of cameras on my list were aperture-priority mode), but since the X700 didn't make either of my lists (despite its popularity), the X-570 doesn't hold a place in my heart. That having been said, it's a well-designed and robust camera, and will serve you well (and take great pictures!) for many years to come. Whatever you paid, you got your money's worth.

I used a 9000 outfit with motor, 4 lenses, for 5 years in the late 80’s. superb optics and accurate exposures, and the motorwinder was perfect for using the camera one handed when you had to, like shooting a big yacht race up close in a rib, heavy swell and doing about 20 knots. I was held in the boat by a burly Australian sailor, and we got some great shots right under the bows of the boats. My 5 or so years of enjoyment was cut short when the whole outfit fell overboard when transferring from boat to boat.

I ended up with almost the same collection of Minolta cameras and one Konica Minolta 7D, except that I couldn't afford Maxxum 9000 at time and bought Maxxum 7000 instead and of cause couldn't find and never afford a XK-Motor when I started with photography. But I was able to find several different types of viewfinders and focus screens for my XK cameras. Unfortunately not the fast AE finder used by XK-Motor. To match an Austrian Subal underwater housing I had to buy Maxxum 700si and 800si with these interesting card extensions. I probably would have added X-700 to the list, but have to admit I didn't buy it because I didn't consider it a signifikant update for my loved XD-11. I loved switching to DSLR with KM 7D and having an almost identical handling to my Maxxum (Dynax) 7, exept for digital photography and an inferior autofocus performance when compared. And now more than 10 years later I've bought my first Sony camera, the Alpha SLT A77II. Thanks to Gary Friedman, who wrote an excellent complete guide, I'm catching up with a decade of developmant in digital photography. Sorry Gary that I didn't find out about how Amazon is treating authors before I had bought the Kindle Version of your guide which referred me to your home page only to find out, that I would have got more from you directly for the same price. I'm still missing the part about the ten worst Minolta cameras. The APS camera system would be on my list.

My first DSLR was the 5D (a cheap version of the 7D) I found it was quite good, even in low light. Has a flash, a stabilizer a very good AF Very easy to use. Good simple and logical user interface

I miss my Minolta 9000 and the 9. Wonderful years in my early film days in photography.

Awesome video. Now all we need is a video about minolta lenses. Us a7 shooters would greatly appreciate it.

XD7 - most beautiful camera ever made

I had the Minolta XD5 the one before the XD7 and XD11. The XD5 has the aperture and shutter speed priorities. (1983)

I still use my XG-1 with Autowinder and my X700 with motor drive, but sadly my Dimage A1 failed ten years ago so it now sits in amonst my camera collection. Three 7000i cameras were sold on after one started to rewind in the middle of a roll of film, too expensive to put up with that. After Konica Minolta sold out to Sony, I sold my Dimage A2 and moved over to Canon EOS. Still have a soft spot for Minolta, wish they had stuck with photography but copiers probably were more profitable for them.

I know this is a fairly old video, but I've gotten into the Minolta MF systems hard and I appreciate this video SO MUCH.

Thanks for this video! I would love to see a video like this for minolta lenses, as I shoot manual minolta lenses on a Sony A7

Loved my Maxxum 9...my favourite pro body I ever owned and I've owned all the Canon and Nikon ones!

Tears in my Eyes, as I see my old XM and XM Motor.... also the D7 and the great srt...... nice Memory about Minoltas U done for us

The XD11 has basically the same shutter-priority metering as the Nikon FA, or at least a similar sort of concept - some would call it "instant stop-down metering". Which is absolutely brilliant with the technological limitations of the time.

The earliest memories of me disliking a 35 mm camera is when they came out with th e Maxum series. Having the camera auto focus without allowing ME to focus on what I wanted the photo to look like just didn't sit well. An overpriced plastic disposable camera. Here I sit all broken hearted wondering how I can manipulate this phone to be more like a manual camera. Time lapse photos just don't come out right when the camera attempts to average out the scene and it turns out over or under exposing the ground in favor of the amount of light in the sky. An x370 would 'suggest'the correct exposure but not cram it down your throat.

greetings from Siberia, I have a Zenit TTL (I use 25 years) and Minolta 400si (take 3 years)

An SRT 101 that someone left in my car glove box was my first "real" cam and gave me great shots for years. The 102 was its successor. And mine had a broken rewind crank. A 20 cent hex nut and a miniature grip lock worked fine as my rewind mechanism!

It's funny you compare the XD-11 with the ME Super, because they both used the Copal electronic shutter. Still, the advance mechanism was very weak. Had they used better gears, it would have been better.

This was so interesting. I really enjoyed listening to this.

No X-700?.....C'mon !!! .....Yeah its plastic...But to me its still the best Minolta ever made....lol...Ok maybe not the best...But I never had access to everything Minolta made....But honestly the Minolta X-700 to me was and still is a truly GREAT manual film camera....Its 2016 and I don't go anywhere without my Canon 50D digital camera & my Minolta X-700 film camera...I also have a Minolta XE-5 that I wouldn't part with for anything....I don't like it as well as the Minolta X-700 but probably only because I've used the X-700 a LOT ....And I only recently (about 3 or 4 months ago) acquired the XE-5 ...To me the X-700 is just so easy to use and makes GREAT images with the 50mm prime lens without costing an arm and a leg....I also have a 300mm for wildlife shooting...... I just love it the X-700!!! ....Obsolete?.....Not to me....I love shooting film.....Why ?...I really cant answer that...I don't know why....But I can tell you one thing for sure....Shooting film made me a MUCH better digital photographer.....No joke....To me one NEVER truly understands photography without learning to use a manual film camera....In the beginning I think what drew me to film photography was that it was a challenge...But after I learned to use the vintage manual film cameras I still continued to use them.....I honestly don't go anywhere without My Canon 50D and the Minolta X-700 ....So see I don't have to have the latest , greatest digital.... To me the Canon 50D is STILL a wonderful camera! ....I don't make a living with a camera either....I'm just a shutter bug....Who the hail needs 50 megapixels?.....Ridiculus !!! .....15 megapixels is a gracious plenty!....My photos shot with the Canon 50D are nothing short of amazing!.... I want to see someone look at my photos without a magnifying glass and show me something wrong with them....They are beautiful !! ..Sharp !! Nobody needs anything more !! ....Long live film !! ...Long live my Minolta X-700 !!! ... You cant beat those photos either!! ... I own 3 X-700's ....Just in case my Minolta X-700 usefulness doesn't live as long as my usefulness .....lol....I seriously doubt that is going to happen....But I have back-ups just in case......

I've got a 7000 I bought new and I'm crazy about it,but this fellow Gary seems to really know his stuff-I'd listen to him!!!!

The Minolta XD-7 has a twin sister in the Leica mount (R4). Both have the smoothest film advance gear I know.

9000 for ever... though the 9Xi gave me a look into "confortable" photography

This video is really a treasure! Thank you Sir!

I wish Minolta was still in the market for cameras. As a teenager in the early thru mid-90s, I shot with the Maxxum 3xi. I paid about $250 for the body and about $85 for the 50mm f/1.7. Took excellent pictures. Their technology was a little better than Nikon and Canon. Everything Minolta did, Nikon and Canon copied later on. A good example would those creative expansion cards. My 3xi didn’t use those, but the 5-9xi models took it. They had cards for portraits, sports, child, interval shooting, etc. Nikon and Canon included those functions on their cameras. Minolta also introduced eye-start automation and auto stand-by zoom. I could go on with this, but I’ll leave it at that.

Appreciated that this comment is eleven years too late, but - excellent review and thanks for posting.

Oooh neat Got my hands on an SRT 101 with a 50mm 1.4. can't wait to get some decent film in it and go out "hunting"

I still Believe that Canon stole everything from Minolta

I've been using Minolta's since my father gave me the Minolta 35 he brought back from Japan in the early 50's and I collected quite a few of them during the 16 years I managed a camera store. My 2 faves are the XD-11 and the X-570. .For years, my daily carry camera has been an X-570 with a 50.1.4 Rokkor and the Motor Drive 1. Exciting, no, but extremely reliable and a very competent camera. Excellent Video! Thanks!

Hey Gary, they're not obsolete if you can use them today. And I certainly do. My 303b, Dynax 404si, and Nikon FE get regular use alongside my Nikon DSLRs (in the plural). In fact, I am getting right back into film photography and learning how to process my own negatives. So I'd even go so far as to say that the DSLRs are a backup to my analogue cameras, considering I prefer the artistic results of the latter. Thanks for your informative and well presented videos, you're doing a lot to support the discipline / hobby / art form. (How would you classify film photography?)

10:32 pure happiness.

i dont see the minolta xg-1

Great video i must say you have my dream collection i just started mine with an srt 202 that i got at a thrift shop for 15 bucks and i love it i still need to learn a lot but im eager to also ordered a maxxum 5 from ebay I've read a lot of good reviews would like to know your opinion on that one and also a question for you of all the ones you showed which one is you love the most?

Que de souvenir mon ami ..!! La grande époque de Minolta ..mon premier réflex Minolta était un SRT 303 B . c'était un super Copain photographique , jamais je ne l'oublierai .la preuve ,de mon coucou ..!! Merci pour ce Flash Back . Admiration et respect , pour cette grande marque de réflex . Hubert Etienne

my wife wonders the same thing!! ahahah

Very knowledgeably done. I was not surprised my X-570 was not among the great. Bought a floor model in 1983 or so (the kit lens always a bit rattly), it's been okay but never reliably great. It does have a nice, bright viewfinder that offers plenty of information.

Wonderful Video Gary! Stated in the early 70's with the SRT 202 and now use my KM 7D and although I would love to get an Alpha 99 I am still happy with what my D7 gives me! Keep up the great Work!

My first Japanese camera was an srt 101. Really remember it for the outstanding lens.

Enjoyable video,Gary,which I’ve watched several times!By the way,I still have my dad’s SRT 101,but even with the correct replacement 675 battery the meter won’t work - a common issue with these I believe.Do you happen to know how to fix this?Best wishes from another Minolta collector in the UK.

Great video! My dad and granddad were shooting Minoltas (manual focus) since I can remember. I'm mainly a Canon (film!) shooter, but I love taking my X-700 and X-300 out every once in a while. Very pleasant experience shooting both and I've got a XD5 on the way.

The Minolta XK did not come out in 1978. It came out in 1973. I bought one in 1976 and sold it in 2000. I still remember the Modern Photography review of the camera that helped me decide to get it.

An excellent review! I still have my Dynax 9 and it's built like a brick latrine. there are only two niggles I have with this beast, which are the design of the On/Off lever, which could get accidentally switched on, (however, this was due to it's dust and water-resistant design, so what other type of switch one would replace this with, I'm not too sure!) and the batteries the body uses. The 'stacking' of the exposure controls around the rewind lever, plus the lock built into this, was ergonomically an excellent design feature. As you say, the narrow-mindedness of reviewers, whom were largely Canon and Nikon users/addicts, probably as usual, trying to find something to 'slag off' any other manufacturer's products.

Very enjoyable! I'm an admitted Nikon-o-holic from many years of working for newspapers in the 60's and 70's, but I have a selection of Minoltas that still see regular use and I will put my Rokkors up against any lenses Nikon or Canon made at that time. I love the X-570's, especially with the Motor Drive 1, because of the metered manual settings as well as aperture preferred auto and the fact that with an adapter, they work great with my old M42 screw mount lenses. However, I've always felt that the SR-T 102 was a highly underrated professional quality camera and still have the one I bought when they first came out. The full information viewfinder is great and my version has a mirror lock-up. I use 675 hearing aid batteries with a spacer and the meter works just fine 40+ years later. The only problem I've ever had was the plastic tip fell off the film advance lever and a part from a dead yard sale SR-T 200 fixed that.Excellent video--thanks for sharing!