Used Minolta X-1 + MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 + Waist level Finder
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Condition & contents
| Grading | Excellent condition with some minor brassing to meter and base plate. Meter functional. Shutter speeds accurate, lens in nice condition with no haze or fungus present. Waist level finder is in good condition, no noticeable haze to focus screen but some minor dust present. Exterior has some very minor paint loss to corners but otherwise in excellent condition. |
|---|---|
| Testing | Fully tested |
| Warranty | 3 month warranty |
| Includes | Body, lens & waist level finder |
At a glance: Minolta X-1 (XK/XM) - Minolta's 1973 professional 35mm SLR with MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 and waist-level finder.
About this camera
The Minolta X-1 - sold as the XK in the United States and the XM in Europe - was Minolta's professional 35mm SLR of 1973, and the company's flagship answer to the Nikon F2 and Canon F-1. It featured interchangeable viewfinders, an electronically controlled shutter with aperture-priority automation, and the build quality expected of a professional system camera. Supplied here with the MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 standard lens and a waist-level finder.
Build & handling
| Type | Professional 35mm SLR, interchangeable finders |
|---|---|
| Film format | 35mm (135) |
| Lens mount | Minolta SR (MC/MD) bayonet |
| Shutter | Electronically controlled focal plane |
| Exposure modes | Aperture priority automatic and manual |
| Lens supplied | MD Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 standard prime |
| Finder supplied | Waist-level finder |
| Power | Battery required for the electronic shutter |
Works with
- Minolta SR-mount lenses (MC and MD Rokkor series)
- Interchangeable Minolta X-1 viewfinders
- Standard 35mm (135) film
Best for
A collector's and user's professional SLR from the golden era of Japanese camera making, and a comparatively rare one - Minolta sold far fewer X-1 bodies than Nikon sold F2s. The waist-level finder gives the distinctive top-down shooting experience usually associated with medium format, and the Rokkor 50mm f/1.4 is among the most highly regarded standard lenses Minolta produced. Suited to film photographers who want a professional-grade manual system, and to collectors of Minolta equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Does it need a battery to work?
Yes. The X-1 uses an electronically controlled shutter, so a working battery is required for normal operation - unlike fully mechanical SLRs of the period.
What is a waist-level finder like to use?
You look down into the top of the camera rather than through an eyepiece, composing on a ground-glass screen. The image appears laterally reversed, which takes practice, but it allows discreet low-angle shooting and a very different way of working from an eye-level prism.
Specifications
| Type | SLR Film |
|---|---|
| Condition | Used |
| Brand | Minolta |