Minolta XE-1 User manual

Your Minolta XE-1 is a top-quality single-lensreflex camera whose
                                  electronic system will control exposure for you automatically, freeing
                              you  for more enjoyment or greater creativity. You can also control
                              exposure manually, with or without reference to the meter indication.
                                        ln either case, your XE-1 offers full control of  all camera exposure
                                  variables,and all necessaryinformation is visible 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 system and uses all interchangeablelensesand applicable
                             system accessories.lt is thus ready to grow with you and your needs for
                               utmost  versatility even  in  advanced, professional, or  specialized
                                    scientific or 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
 I                               cover your own photographic needs.As you read, attach the lens to the
                          camera body (see p. 50),load batteries,and handle your XE-1 and*                               acquaint yourself with its parts and features.Then load it with film and
                             proceed to actual picture taking. In this way, you can take good photos
                            and begin to realize the broad potential of your XE-1 right from the
                                        start. Be sure to keep this manual for reference later as necessary.

MAIN FEATURES

Outstanding electronic exposure system           High-performance new shutter
                                                                                  's                                                          unique new "CLS"  ("CoPal-    Incorporating the electronic auto-exposure     The XE-1
control system developed for Minolta's top XM     Leitz  Shutter"l   is a metal-blade vertical-run
model ,  the  XE-1  covers a  wide  range of    type providing high precisionand durability. lt
photographic conditions with  high accuracy   operates more quietly and smoothly and offers
and very low power consumption.  lt  resists  adm i rable compactness.
temperatureand humidity and maintains high       With basic design by Germany's Ernst Leitz
performance from generalphotography through   GmbH, the CLS was developedthrough joint
highly specialized work. The XE-1's system   work with Japan'sCopal Co., Ltd., who further
featu res:                                        contributed  experience and  original  ideas.
 o  Fully automatic exposure by steplessshut-    Minolta supported and .cooperated with both
    ter speedsfrom 1 /1 000 to four full seconds,   Copal and Leitz in this project.
   plus meteredand f ull manual
 o Monol ithic-lC memory and control circuits   Complete information-center viewf inder
 o M inolta's  exclusive contrast-compensator   o Focusingcan be done in three ways: By the
   metering                                       split-imageor microprismfocusingaid or on
 o  Better operation at high and low tempera-       the mat f ield.
    tu res                                                                                                                   ' o Shutter  speed, aperture figure, exposure
 o Two  tiny silver batteries as a power source      mode, coupled limits, and metering informa-
                                                         tion are all visiblewhile you view.
                                                 o Metered-manualexposure control is possible
                                                 by matching shutter-speednumbers in the
                                                                                                      f i nder.
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Minolta SLR bayonet lens mount                  o  Self-timer with adjustable delay for auto or
 o  Virtually all existingRokkor interchangeable    manual exposurecontrol
   lenses can be used in either automatic or    o Eyepiece shutter for unmanned or similar
   manual operation,the current line including      operation
   some thirty  models from 16mm  fisheye    o Oversizemirror; 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 Signal monitors film
   aperture metering for MC lenses,stop-down      alignment and advance.
   type for others.                              o Shutter release locked when power switch
 o The XE-1 also uses all applicable system        off
   accessoriesof the more than 150 currently    o  Mirror stays up, no exposure made when
   available.                                        battery power 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.
   sureswithout  f rame-counteradvance           o Safety locks on "AUYO"  setting, ASA dial,
 a UP to two stops' continuous exposure gd-      and exposure-adjustmentcontrol
   justment over or under the normal elec-    o Handy memo holder and ASA/DIN conver-
   tronic setting                                   sion scaleon back
 o X or FP flash synchronizationthrough the     o Unusually smooth short-stroke film  ad-
   hot shoe or single terminal with switch          vance





                                                                                                                                                                             " fl

SUMMARY OF OPERATION (ON "AUTO"}
                The steps pictured'on     on this page outline use     perfectly exposed pictures with this camera and
                  of your  Xi-t      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





  checkbatteries(seep.12!-.          Move power switch               Open back cover (p. 14) .1                                                    lp. 121.          3




                         www.butkus.us                                           lensaperture(p. 25).            nOiustfocus(p. 33).                                      Set          diarto"Auro"      g                                                                97 ff:;i:""'

may also be useful as a quick refresherfor good    the detailed instructions in the  rest of  this
results after you have not used the camera for    manual, wh ich should be thoroughly studied
some time.  lt  is not, however, a substitute f or         f or best results.





      m properlv ; closecover      O d v a n c ef i l m t o " 1 "  ( p . 1 6 ) .        S e t f i l m s p e e d( p . 1 B ) .
4irlrrouii.l                           5                                   $





           shutter (p. 36) .               trrn poweroff lp. 121.                andremove       ( p . s ) .
                                       1l                          lzRewind

BATTERIESAND 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 shutter settings.





 I M P O R T A N T :
   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
insufficient battery power for proper operation
at  electronic shutter settanqs.To  return the
mirror  for  viewing, simply turn the shutter-
speed/function selector to  "X" www.butkus.usor "B."  For
further details,seep. 13.

1 2                  Testing batteries
                     Depress the battery-checker lever toward
                     the bottom  of  the camera. lf  the red lamp
                         lights, batteriesare serviceable.                  Power switch
                       Test batteries immediately af ter installing      To  operate  the  camera,  move  the  power
                   them. lf the lamp does not light, make sure that      s w i t c h   t o  " O N . "  T h i s w i l l  u n l o c k   t h e s h u t t e r -
                     they are fresh and have been insertedcorrectly.     release button  and  cause the meter  needle  in
                        Batteriesshould be tested from time to time     the  finder  to move   if there are sufficient  light
                      thereafter, preferably before starting each new    and battery power.
                           roll  of  film and particularly before starting      When  not  operating  the camera, always be
                     picture-takingsessionsor trips. A set of batter-    sure to move the power switch to "oF  F." This
                      ies will  generally last for about one vear in      will  lock  the shutter  release against accidental
                   proper normal use.                                exposures and  prevent  needless battery  drain.





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Cold-weather oporataon                          Low-voltage warning                                      1 3
   Batteries by  nature tend  to decrease in       Your XE-1  is equipped with a device to
capacity as the temperature goes down. Though    warn you and prevent wasted fi lm  if battery
the silver-oxidebatteries used for the XE-1 are    voltage becomes insufficient while the shutter-
superior to most others in this respect, it also    speed/function selector is at an electronic set-
happenswith them.                                  ting (i.e., any one other than "X"  or "B")  :  lf
       ll  old  batteries are used at temperatures    the shutter is releasedwhen voltage is too low,
below OoC (32oFl ,  the camera's electronic    no exposure will be made on the film,and the
operation may not be satisfactory. You should    mirror will remain up to preventviewing.
thus replace older batteries with  fresh ones       Turning the shutter-speed/functiondial to
before using your XE-1  in cold weather and     either "X"  or "B"  (mechanicalsettings) will
carry spare fresh batterieswith you during such    reset the mirror  to  its viewing position. The
u se,                                      camera may then be operated at either of these
                                            mechanical settings without replacing batteries
                                                      or at any electronic or mechanical setting after
                                                    inserting serviceable batteries. In either case,
                                            use the multiple-exposure lever (see p.45) to
                                              recock the shutter without wasting a frame of
                                                         film. (The mirror will also reset automatically
                                                       after film has been advanced in the usual way
                                           and the shutter releasedonce.)

                                     N O T E :
                                                                                              lf  the camera is not to be used for more
                                               than two weeks, it  is advisable to remove the
                                                     batteries.

3 .    I n s e r t  t h e e n d o f   t h e   f i l m     l e a d e r a s s h o w n                                                                   1 5
         i n t o o n e o f   t h e s l o t s  i n  t h e  t a k e - u p s p o o l s o    THIS way
    that  the  tooth   is engaged with  a sprocket
    h o l e n e a r  t h e e n d o f   t h e   l e a d e r . M a k e s u r e
    that  the end of the leader does not project
       f rom another slot between tabs on the spool.





                               NOT this way





                                                                                                    t t  r r l

1 6


                        4. Operate the  f ilm-advancelever slowly until    5. Close the camera back and push in on  it
                        the film has begun to wind firmly around        until it clicks locked.
                        the take-up spool and the sprocket teeth are    6. A red "S" should now appear opposite the
                     engaged with  holes on both edges of  the        index  in  the frame-counter window. Ad-
                                               f ilm.  lf the advancelever stops at the end of       vance film and releasethe shutter until the
                       a full stroke during this procedure, release      index points to "1"  on the frame-counter
                       the shutter and continue.                        d i a l .





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C A U T I O N :                               Memo holder                                                   1 9
  W h e n  s e t t l n g   f i l m  s p e e d ,  t h e    i n d e x  o f   t h e       A r o u n d    t h e A S A / D l N   c o n v e r s i o n  t a b l e   i s a
e x p o s u r e - a d j u s t m e n t c o n t r o l   ( s e e p . 4 7 ) s h o u l d     convenient  frame  that  can  be  used  to  keep
g e n e r a l l y b e  l o c k e d a t   i t s z e r o p o s i t i o n .           memos  handy  with  the camera.  lt  is just the
                                                                                              r i g h t s i z e  t o  h o l d   t h e  f i l m - b o x e n d , w h i c h  c a n
ASA/DlN  conversion scale                         be inserted as a reminder of the  f ilm  in use.
   A  convenient  scale for  converting  DIN  to
ASA    f ilm-speed ratings  is located on the back
cover of the camera.

EXPOSURE.CONTROLFUNDAMENTALS

                 The two camera exposure-control settings    using the next smallerf -number (i.e.,givingone
20             are lens opening (aperture)and shutter speed.   stop more exposure)will balanceusing the next
             The size of the aperture determinesthe amount    higher shutter speed (i.e., giving one stop less
                 or volume of  light reaching the film from a    exposure), and so on. A great rangeof combina-
               given subject and lighting. The shutter speed       t i o n s ( e . 9 . ,f / 5 . 6 a t 1 1 3 O .f l 4 a r 1 1 6 0 ,t l 2 . B a t
               determines the length of time  this  light acts    1 1 1 2 5 , f 1 2 a t 1 1 2 5 0 ,e t c . ) w i l l  t h u s y i e l d t h e
              upon  the  film.  Apertures are expressed in   same total exposure.The specificcombination
              f-numbers,which are larger for small openings   you choose under given lighting conditionswill
             and vice versa (e.g., f/16  representsa small   depend upon the degreeto which you want the
               opening, f 12 a large one). Shutter speeds are    greater depth of  field (see p. 34) of smaller
              expressedin secondsor  f ractions thereof, which    apertures and the greater movement-blurpre-
                are generally the reciprocals of the numbers    ventingability of faster speeds(p. 29).
             shown shutter-speed scales. (e.g., 60 =  1l60
                sec., but  2s   -  2    f ull  seconds). At  usual
                apertures, each f-number setting (e.9., f/8) lets
                   in twice as much light as the next numerically
                larger one $l1"ll and half as much as the next
               smaller (f/5.6). Similarly, each shutter speed
                  (e.g., 1/60 sec.) allows light to strike the film
                twice as long as the next higher speed (11125t.
             and half as long as the next lower one (1/30).
             The  interval between two standard f-numbers
                 lsay, t14 and f/5.6 or shutter speeds(say, 1/15
              and 1 /30) is one "stop." Total exposure on the
                 film   is determined                                 by  the
               aperture                     and speed. Other                                           things                                        combinationwww.butkus.usbeing equal,of

XE.l METERINGPOINTERS

    Minolta's  exclusive contrast-compensator   shadeand the camerais in sunlight,when bright
metering system employs two CdS cells mount-     sidelight falls between eye and eyepiece, or           21
ed on the pentaprism to take separate,over-   when stop-down metering is used, particularly
lapping light readings.These cells are circuited    at small apertures.When viewing is unnecessary,
so that the reading of each affects that of the    the eyepiece shutter (see p. 26l, can be used to
other to automaticallyyield optimum exposure   completely eliminatethis problem.
in both normal and most high-contrast situa-      Besides offering exceptionally long service
tions. For best results,the photographer should     life and consistentconversionof  light to elec-
thus generally not make compensatory adjust-    trical values,the CdS cells in your XE-1, like all
ment  for such differences. One exception is    others, have characteristicscomparable to hu-
that exposure should generally be decreased  man vision. They are able to "see" about the
one to two stops if the most important subject   same light and color as your eyes and photo
area  is much  brighter then the  rest of  the     film can; this is a great advantagefor accurate
picture . (e.9., is  in  a  spotlight or  shaft of    exposure. Like your eyes, however,their time
sunlight). Some photographers also prefer to     of responsevarieswith the intensity of the light
increase exposure a half stop or more with a     falling on them.  lt thus takes them a while to
backlighted subject or one whose most impor-   become accustomed to low  light levels after
tant area is considerably darker than the area    exposure to bright light. For accurateexposure,
surrounding it. (For further details, see p.48).    you should thus be careful not  to point the
   Though the XE-1's specialsystemand finder   camera at very bright natural or artificial light
are designed to  minimize the  effect on the    sources before making exposures. And  you
meter of  light entering through the  finder    should give your CdS electriceyes a short time
eyepiece under usual conditions, care must be     to get accustomed to darker conditions, when,
exercisedto prevent this especially if you wear     for  example, taking pictures  in shadow or
eyeglasses.Use of a rubber finder eyecup is    indoorsafter shootingin bright sunlight.
further recommendedwhen the subject is in

HOLDINGTHE CAMERA

   Your  camera should be held  in a comfort-                                                    23
a b l e p o s i t i o n  t h a t w i l l p r o v i d e s u f f i c i e n t s t e a d i -     c a m e r a  b o d y    f i r m l y  w i t h     t h e   r i g h t  h a n d  a s
ness. A recomme ndable way that permits ready    shown  so  that  the  index  finger  rests on  the
operation  of important  controls  is shown  here.     shutter-release  button.   In   th is  position,  the
   T o  h o l d   t h e c a m e r a h o r i z o n t a l l y ,  c r a d l e t h e           t h u m b   c a n  c o n v e n i e n t l y  o p e r a t e    t h e     f i l m -
b o t t o m  o f    i t   i n  t h e p a l m o f   t h e   l e f t h a n d w i t h     advance lever.
 t h e  t h u m b  a n d    i n d e x o r m i d d l e   f i n g e r o n   t h e        The  camera may  be  rotated  to  a  vertical
f o c u s i n g  g r i p  o f     t h e     l e n s . T h e     t h u m b  a n d     p o s i t i o n w h e n  h e l d   t h i s w a y ,   t h e o n l y  d i f f e r -
middle  or  ring finger of the same hand can be     ence being that  its rewind-crank end will rest in
used  to   tu rn   th e  apertu re  ring.  G rasp  the      the palm of the lef t hand.

AUTOMATICEXPOSURECONTROL

                                                       2 .  S e t   t h e d e s i r e d  l e n s o p e n i n g b y   t u r n i n g   t h e                2 5
                                                           a p e r t u r e    r i n g  o n    t h e     l e n s b a r r e l .  T h e    f _
                                                number  set will  appear centered above the
1 . T u r n    t h e  s h u t t e r - s p e e d / fu n c t i o n  s e l e c t o r t o                  f r a m e   i n  t h e  f i n d e r , a n d  t h e s h u t t e r s p e e d a s
   a l i g n   " A U T O "  w i t h    t h e     i n d e x ,  a t w h  i c h         indicated by  the needle at the  right of the
   point     it   is  locked   to  prevent  accidental                  f r a m e w i l l  v a r v a u t o m a t i c a l l y a n d s t e p l e s s l y
  m o v e m e n t . T h e   l e t t e r " A "  w i l l a p p e a r a s t h e          to  yield  proper  exposure  for  the aperture
    s h u t t e r - s e t t i n g  i n d i c a t i o n a t  t h e  r i g h t a b o v e         a n d  o t h e r  s e t t i n g s w i t h     t h e      l i g h t  b e i n g
       t h e f i n d e r f r a m e .                                   metered.

26                     3.   lt  is then only necessaryto confirm focus,    Eyepiece shutter
                   compose your picture, and releasethe shut-       For remote or u nmanned operation or when
                             ter.                                           the camera is set on a support and used without
                        4. The accurate range of shutter operation on    viewing on automatac mode, be sure to rotate
                       automatic mode  is 1 / 1 000  to  4  sec., as    the lever at the left rear on the finder as indi-
                        indicated by the indention on the left side    cated to close the eyepiece shutter. This will
                            of the shutter-speedscale.When the needle    prevent unwanted light from entering through
                    moves above or below this indention, cor-    the eyepiece and affecting the meter reading
                           rect exposure will not be obtained, and the    and exposure when the eyepiece is not being
                       aperture or  other  conditions should be    shielded by  the  photographer's head, as  it
                       adjusted so that  it points to a value within    normally would be.
                         the coupled range.

                N O T E :
                     To continuously provide more or lessexpo-
                    sure on automatic mode, see page47.




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27

WAYS OF USING AUTO MODE

  On AUTO mode, your XE-1 will set the
precise shutter speed for proper exposure for
you automatically. Even so, you have consider-
able control over resultsand can adjust aperture
and shutter speed over considerable ranges to
suit the conditionsand yourself.

General use
   For usual good personal pictures with  a
minimum of care where no oarticular effect is
desired,simply turn the aperture ring to set a
medium aperture (say, about f/8)  that  will
provide as much depth of field (see p.34) as
possiblewhile producing a shutter speed (say,
about  11125 sec.l fast enough to  stop any
motion  necessary in  the  subject and guard
againstblur from camera movement (seep.36;.

28


                    Aperture priority                           camera select the shutter speed. Small f-num-
                     There may be times when at will be most    bers yield a shallow field of sharp focus, as in
                    tmportant to set the lens aperture to obtain a    Example A  below, while large f-numbers give
                      particular effect, such as rendering a certain    greater depth of  field, as in Example B. To
                   range in sharp focus or emphasizinga subject   determine actual depth of field, use the depth-
                    against an  out-of-focus background.   I n  this     of-field scale (see p.34) or stop-down button
                    case, set the  desired aperture, and  let the     lp.22l  .
                     A: Large lens opening                             B: Small lens opening





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29


Shutter priority                                       1 / 1 0 0 0   s e c .  c a n   " f  r e e z e "   f a s t  a c t i o n ,  a s    i n
   At  other times, the subject or effect you    E x a m p l e C b e l o w . S u c h s l o w s p e e d s a s 1 1 2 t o 1
want may make the shutter speed more impor-     s e c . c a n b e u s e d  t o  e m p h a s i z e s u b j e c t  f l o w  o r
tant. In this case,turn the aperture ring until   m o t i o n , a s  i n E x a m p l e D .
the needle indicatesthe required speed on the      N o m a t t e r h o w   t h e c a m e r a   i s u s e d ,  i t   i s  i m -
finder scale; exposure will automatically be     p o r t a n t   t o s u p p o r t    i t  ( s e e p . 2 3 1 a n d  r e l e a s e t h e
correct. High shutter speedssuch as 1/500 to      s h u t t e r p r o p e r t y  ( p . 3 6 ) .
C: High shutter speed                               D: Low  shutter speed





                          b

METERED/MANUALEXPOSURECONTROL

30                 MeteredI manual operation
                        1. While depressingthe AUTO-setting releaseif
                      from the "AUTO"  setting, turn the shutter-
                       speed/function selector to  align any step                                                                                           2.  To set proper exposure for light as metered,
                         indication f rom "1000" through "4s" with                                                                                               tu rn  the  aperture  ring  u ntil  the  needle
                        the index. The number of the speedset will        extends through  the center  of  the number
                     appear as the shutter-setting indication at                                                                          on  the shutter-speed scale that corresponds
                        the right above the f inder frame.                                                                                               to   the  shutter-setting  number  appearing
                                                                      above  the    f rame.    I f  necessary alignment
                                                                           cannot be attained, adjust the shutter-speed
                                                                                             s e t t i n g o r o t h e r c o n d i t i o n s  t o p e r m i t    i t .

                                                                                Correct  metered-manu  al exposuexposurere





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