Minolta Manual Focus FAQ

CONTENTS

1 Introduction - Updated: 21 Apr. 2000

• 1.1 Where could I get this FAQ ?
• 1.2 How to find Minolta in the US
• 1.3 Other Sources of Information
• 1.4 History of Minolta manual focus equipment
• 1.5 Bibliography
• 1.6 Is there a Minolta mailing list ?

2 Bodies - Updated: 18 March 2004

• 2.1 Minolta body names and dates of introduction
• 2.2 Many camera bodies today seem to be missing important features like depth-of-field preview or mirror lockup, which bodies offer these features?
• 2.3 SR series
• 2.4 SRT series
  • 2.3.1 Contrast Light Compensation
• 2.5 XE series
• 2.6 XK series
• 2.7 XD series
• 2.8 XG series
  • 2.8.1 Multiple Exposure on the XG-M
  • 2.8.2 Specification of XG-9
  • 2.8.3 The X-7
• 2.9 X series
  • 2.9.1 The X-700
  • 2.9.2 Tips for the X-700 Body
  • 2.9.3 Focussing Screens for the X-700
  • 2.9.4 Feature comparison between X-5x0 and X-700
  • 2.9.5 Battery Indication with X-5x0 and X-700
  • 2.9.6 The X-600
  • 2.9.7 The X-3x0
  • 2.9.8 Differences of the X-9
• 2.10 Which manual focus camera are still made today?
  • 2.10.1 Is there a difference between Japanese and Chinese versions?
  • 2.10.2 The Chinese-made Seagull clones
• 2.11 Is there a 'professional' Minolta manual focus camera?
• 2.12 Can one use autofocus lenses (MAXXUM) on the manual focus bodies?
• 2.13 What were the Leica/Minolta collaborative projects?

3 Lenses - Updated: 8 February 2003

• 3.1 There are different lenses series (MC, MD). What do they mean?
  • 3.1.1 Cybermation
  • 3.1.2 Can I use MC lenses on an XD- or X- series camera?
  • 3.1.3 Making an 'MD lug' mod
  • 3.1.4 What are the codes on the older manual focus lenses?
• 3.2 Pre-MC Lenses
  • 3.2.1 Pre-MC Wide Angle Lenses
  • 3.2.2 Pre-MC Normal Lenses
  • 3.2.3 Pre-MC Telephoto Lenses
  • 3.2.4 Pre-MC Zoom Lenses
  • 3.2.5 Pre-MC Macro Lenses
• 3.3 Summary of MC lenses
  • 3.3.1 MC normal lenses
  • 3.3.2 MC wide angle lenses
  • 3.3.3 MC telephoto lenses
  • 3.3.4 MC zoom lenses
  • 3.3.5 Extra MC lens information
• 3.4 Summary of MD lenses
  • 3.4.1 MD normal lenses
  • 3.4.2 MD wide angle lenses
  • 3.4.3 MD telephoto lenses
  • 3.4.4 MD zoom lenses
  • 3.4.5 MD macro lenses
  • 3.4.6 MD lens variants
  • 3.4.7 MD and MD-contemporary manufacture lenses
• 3.5 Special Purpose Lenses
  • 3.5.1 Shift
  • 3.5.2 VariFocal Control
  • 3.5.3 Fisheye
  • 3.5.4 Varisoft
• 3.6 Teleconverters
• 3.7 Which lenses are still in production today?
• 3.8 Can one use manual focus lenses on the autofocus bodies (MAXXUM)?
• 3.9 Can one use autofocus (MAXXUM) lenses on the manual focus bodies ?
• 3.10 Enlarging Lenses
• 3.11 Lens Coating on MC and later lenses
• 3.12 Floating Element lenses

4 Flash - Updated: 30 April 2000

• 4.1 The Range
• 4.2 Features of the -PX series
• 4.3 Filter Sets
• 4.4 AC Adaptors
• 4.5 Fill Flash with the 360PX

5 Accessories - Updated: 11 April 2004

• 5.1 Motor drives
  • 5.1.1 Winder G
  • 5.1.2 Motordrive 1
  • 5.1.3 Servicing a Winder G/D
• 5.2 Backs
• 5.3 IR-1 remote
• 5.4 Cables - what are they all for?
• 5.5 Eyepiece accessories: dioptre lenses and angle finders
• 5.6 Power Grip I and II

6 Others - Updated: 31 May 2001

• 6.1 What other MF bodies did Minolta make?
  • 6.1.1 16mm format
  • 6.1.2 110 format
  • 6.1.3 126 format
  • 6.1.4 Disc format
  • 6.1.5 Cine cameras

7 What Is In The Future? - Updated: 20 May 1999