My hopes were sky high when I bought this Minolta XD-11 as so many prominent film-photo sites give it such high praise. Developed in cooperation with Ernst Leitz, this camera is supposed to exude quality to nearly Leica levels. The two companies worked together so that Minolta could better compete in the luxury rangefinder market and Leitz could build a cost-effective SLR platform. Leica built its R4, R5, R6, and R7 SLRs on this chassis.

Minolta XD-11

You might also see this camera called the XD-7 or just the XD; those were this camera’s name in Europe and Japan.

This is the world’s first SLR to offer full manual exposure with both aperture-priority and shutter-priority autoexposure. It features a vertically traveling metal-blade shutter that operates from 1 to 1/1000 sec, plus a 1/100-sec manual speed (the O setting on the shutter-speed dial) and bulb (B). In automatic modes, that shutter operates steplessly — if 1/218 second is the right shutter speed, that’s what the XD-11 chooses. The camera also features a mechanical self timer. Two SR44 batteries power the XD-11.

Minolta XD-11

You choose the exposure mode with a switch around the shutter-speed ring: M, A, and S, each meaning just what you’d expect. You can set ISO from 12 to 3200; press the little button and twist the collar around the rewind crank. You can also add or subtract one or two stops of exposure. Press in the tab on the rewind crank and move it to the amount of exposure compensation you want.

Minolta XD-11

The selected aperture is always visible in the viewfinder; a little window shows what you’ve dialed in on the lens. In shutter-priority and manual modes, the viewfinder shows the selected shutter speed. (For shutter-priority mode, first set the lens to its minimum aperture, e.g., f/16 on the 50mm f/1.7 MD Rokkor X lens that came with my XD-11.)

For manual and aperture-priority modes, a shutter-speed scale appears in the viewfinder. (Or it’s supposed to; it didn’t switch over on mine. A fault!) In shutter-priority mode, an aperture scale appears in the viewfinder. LED dots appear next to the scale. In manual mode, they show the aperture you need to choose for proper exposure. In aperture-priority mode, they show the shutter speed the camera has chosen, and in shutter-priority mode, they show the selected aperture. One dot means the camera has chosen that value exactly, while two adjacent dots mean the camera has chosen the proper value between the two marked values.

The XD-11 features “green mode” — set the camera to shutter-priority mode, choose minimum aperture, and choose 1/125 second. Notice that all of these settings are marked in green. In green mode, if 1/125 sec. is too fast, the XD-11 reduces shutter speed until it gets proper exposure.

Under use, the XD-11 is light, smooth, and pleasant. The viewfinder is bright and gives a great view. Its electromagnetic shutter button needs only an easy touch to operate. The wind lever is light and luxurious. My only ergonomic complaint is that there’s no on-off switch. To stop the meter from operating and thus draining the battery, you have to cap the lens.

If you like Minolta SLRs, you might also enjoy my reviews of the X-700 (here), the XG 1 (here), the SR-T 101 (here), and the SR-T 202 (here). I’ve also reviewed some autofocus Minolta SLRs, including the Maxxum 7000 (here), the Maxxum 7000i (here), the Maxxum 9xi (here), and the Maxxum HTsi (here). Or check out all of my camera reviews here.

I’ve had a lot of bad luck with Minolta manual-focus SLR bodies, and it continued with this camera. To be fair, I picked up a body at far below market price that the seller couldn’t represent well, and hoped for the best. I’ve already mentioned that the shutter-speed scale doesn’t appear in the viewfinder when it’s supposed to, but there’s more wrong than that. I tested the camera with a roll of Fomapan 200, and on three frames the shutter stuck open. Switching the shutter-speed dial to O, the one mechanical shutter speed, immediately closed the shutter. But those frames were entirely washed out, and the adjacent frames were partially overexposed as well.

I shot the Fomapan at EI 125 and developed it Ilford ID-11 1+1 at the ISO 200 time as I usually do. This was my first time developing in ID-11. It turned out great.

Boone County Jail

The XD-11 feels great in my hand. It’s got enough heft to inspire confidence, but not so much that it feels heavy. The materials all feel nice; the controls are all smooth and luxurious.

Details

The 50mm f/1.7 MD Rokkor-X lens that came with this camera performed as well as any 50/1.7 Rokkor ever does; that is to say, brilliantly. This is a wonderful lens.

Bike parking

I drove up to Lebanon, Indiana, just to make some photographs with the XD-11. Lebanon is my county’s seat. I photographed the courthouse on the square, but I wasn’t thrilled with the images. Therefore, you get photographs of things around the square.

One Way

Lebanon, like most Indiana county seats, features a courthouse square with sturdy old buildings living their fourth, eighth, or nineteenth small-business life. Truly, the photo below could be from any of a hundred small Indiana towns.

On the square in Lebanon

This is the point in the review where I’m supposed to heap giant praise onto the Minolta XD-11. I’ll refrain. I liked this camera, but I like my Olympus OM-2n far better. Camera reviews like this one are highly subjective — what tickles my fancy might turn you right off. So just know that the XD-11 is a fine camera and you should try one someday if you can.

Rocket Liquors

I stopped finding interesting things to photograph in Lebanon, so I headed back to Zionsville, specifically to Lions Park, which is always good for a few frames.

Zionsville Little League

This little lion is a drinking fountain, and it’s on the edge of one of the park’s many playgrounds.

Lion drinking fountain

To see more from this camera, check out my Minolta XD-11 gallery.

Minolta considered its XD-11 to be its premium SLR in its day, slotting it above the full-program X-700. I can see why; this is a very solid and smooth camera. That mine isn’t fully functional is a shame, as I wouldn’t mind being able to do more than a one-roll review of this well-regarded camera. Instead, I did something I’ve never done before: after writing this review, I asked the eBay seller for a refund.

If you like old film cameras, check out all of my reviews here!
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Comments

41 responses to “Minolta XD-11”

  1. Steve Mitchell Avatar

    That is disappointing Jim, I was given a Minolta XGM a couple of years ago, with the Rokkor 1.4/50 lens on it. I shot the roll that was in it, probably for the past 10 or 15 years, and found that it performed perfectly apart from light leaks, which I fixed. The camera is now with my step son, who seems to be enjoying shooting film now! It seemed to me to be a very good camera, almost on a par with my Contax 139Q.

    1. arhphotographic Avatar
      arhphotographic

      Despite the camera issues some really good crisp photos. Thank you so much for the review . I was looking at the XD7 to join my others in the series. There all good โ€ฆ.when their good working cameras.
      Andrew

      1. Jim Grey Avatar

        Buying from a random eBay seller is a good way to get what I got. Probably better to pony up for one on KEH, with the good warranty.

    2. Jim Grey Avatar

      I think I got enough of an impression of this camera to understand how it should be if it were working perfectly. It’s a very nice camera. But I just don’t go along with the “best SLR evar!!!!” reviews.

  2. Andy Umbo Avatar
    Andy Umbo

    Glad to see your ID-11 processing turned out well! I recommend using it “straight” rather than 1+1, I always seemed to get much better, and longer, tonal range using it straight, especially with shadow detail. Under 1+1 uses, some lighting situations can end up looking “weak”.

    I was never on the Minolta camera train, but I certainly have known those who were and seen a lot of remarkable work out of them. The lenses always seemed to perform quite well, and back in my day, knew plenty that swore by the SRT series. Sorry for your results on this as the XD-11 seems to be universally praised by the fans.

    BTW, I have a few camera bodies that won’t shut the meter off until you cap the lens and I always felt this to be an annoying “feature”. In the old days, a professional photojournalist walking around with multiple camera bodies around their neck with prime lenses, would not have any caps on in order to be able to shoot fast, and they’d be going through a lot of batteries with this type of thing.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I bought the 1L packet of ID-11, and developing at full strength means I’ll get 2-3 rolls max. I wanted to stretch it a little — 2-3 rolls isn’t enough to get a feel. I am on the fence after one roll whether I’ll continue with it. As you can see, it works great. But HC-110 is just easier to use and is almost as good. I need more rolls to explore what I think.

      Also: you’d think a camera like this would have an on-off switch or a system to activate the meter when you press the shutter button halfway.

      1. Andy Umbo Avatar
        Andy Umbo

        You know, I’ve always kept sort of a running list of features from the long history of cameras I used, if anyone ever wanted me to build a “Franken-Camera”! I remember having a Praktica Super TL that had an easily reachable button the size of a quarter on the front of the camera, you just pressed it down and it closed down the lens and turned on the meter, let go and everything opened again and the meter shut off. Elegant and easy (of course, stopped down metering days). That was an inexpensive East-German camera, but it had three features I’d put on any Franken-Camera:, that meter button, the angled front release, and it had some sort of “bale” system to load film that never failed and took one second to load film! Not to mention, those Eastern Bloc Carl Zeiss designed lenses were cheap and many times put my Japanese camera owning pals lenses to shame!

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          Ooooh yeah baby. I get you perfectly. I’d put the film takeup spool from the Pentax ME in every manual SLR, for example. The shutter button from the XD-11 and XG-1 is very nice; feels like the soft release I screwed into the button on my Nikon F2. Some cameras I own activate the meter on partial shutter-button press; yes please.

        2. Jerome(EarthSunFilm) Avatar

          Sorry to hear about the problems with the camera. Sounds like a dud. Iโ€™m amazed this is the first time youโ€™ve had to ask for an eBay refund. My second purchase on eBay ended in a refund.
          These days, cheap XD-11s that work are very rare.

          One item: the meter on the XD-11 is activated only by pressing the shutter. Otherwise, it isnโ€™t on.

        3. Jim Grey Avatar

          Thanks Jerome – I’ll amend the review to correct that.

        4. Ron Burr Avatar
          Ron Burr

          I bought my XD11 in 1986 and had great luck with it for 20 years until I went digital. I still own it. Gotta buy some film and shoot some sunrises

        5. Jim Grey Avatar

          By all means, Ron! Just be prepared: film is stupid expensive right now.

  3. matt Avatar
    matt

    Consider posting the images you didn’t like and tell us what you didn’t like about them too, perhaps. It’d be interesting to see those results as well.

    I like the downtown shots; I’m looking forward to visiting my brother at Christmas in Kansas. They have a downtown sort of like this I want to shoot.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      The images I didn’t like were all a factor of my own limitations as a photographer! Here’s one:

      Wheelless

      It just didn’t turn out as I envisioned, and I whiffed the focus!

      1. matt Avatar
        matt

        Ah, I see — not a shortcoming of the camera, then. Now I understand.

        Thanks.

  4. Neal Westergaard Avatar
    Neal Westergaard

    I bought my black body XD-11 with 35mm lens in early 1980 (a few months before my oldest daughter was born) and I have many thousands of negatives from that period. Used this combo and a couple of other MD and MC lenses as my primary kit until going digital. As I migrated back to film a few years ago, brought out my XD-11 which still worked great except for an overly sensitive shutter release and some peeling leatherette. Sent it away for a CLA and re-skinning and while the shutter release is still a little too sensitive for my touch, it’s still a sleek and capable camera. I’m more likely to reach for my Nikon FM3a, but still use the XD-11 regularly, now usually paired with Minolta’s 45 f/2 with a near-pancake profile.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      You really got good mileage from your XD-11! I had a Minolta 45/2 for a while and I really liked it.

  5. bodegabayf2 Avatar

    My XD (the Japanese market version of the XD-11) had similar issues until I sent it off to Blue Moon Camera for service. It came back working as designed. Worked just dandy for several years until I sold it, for a small profit, on eBay.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      What did Blue Moon charge you? Long story, but the refund processed and the seller told me to just keep the camera. So I got a free XD-11, and it sure seems worth it to invest in a repair.

      1. bodegabayf2 Avatar

        $170 if I recall. Which is a bargain on that camera. Jim Holman would probably be able to fix it as well. https://ictcamera.com

        1. Jim Grey Avatar

          Thanks for the reminder on Jim Holman – my F3 is currently not working and I badly want it fixed. I think he’s the guy.

  6. tbm3fan Avatar
    tbm3fan

    LOL, you really should be prohibited from buying Minolta cameras given your luck. Best to have someone else find them for you who finds working ones. I seem to recall you were once interested in the Maxxum 5 but ended up with a dud. Still interested?

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Good call! Have someone else with better luck procure my Minoltas. Another reader sent me a Maxxum 7000i and a Maxxum HTsi which both performed flawlessly, lending credence to your plan. I’d love to try a Maxxum 5, what are you asking?

  7. Jim Hanes Avatar
    Jim Hanes

    I have an XD-11 that I bought as a backup for my X-700. I didnโ€™t download the instruction so didnโ€™t know how the features you mentioned actually worked.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Now you know! :-)

  8. Khรผrt Williams Avatar

    I bought an all-black Minolta XD-11 last year after I bought an X-700. I love this camera. I donโ€™t want any other 35mm film cameras.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      If you can keep it working, it’s the only SLR you need!

  9. Peggy Avatar

    And now I want one. I do like minoltas and especially the lenses. Love seeing your photos of the baseball stuff and lions.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      I’m glad to have a 50/1.7 again, no matter what I do with the XD-11 (keep/sell) I’ll keep the lens so I have one for future Minolta bodies I come upon.

  10. Christopher Deere Avatar
    Christopher Deere

    This is becoming a habit, Jim! One of my better ones, thankfully. (Yes, coffee: I’m looking at you.) I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had a little trouble with your XD11. My good-copy XD7 has been a joy to me for more than a decade now, needing only one minor repair (while still under warranty!) to fix a shutter-speed dropout. Otherwise there has not been a single glitch with this body. I, also, was puzzled by your lament of an on-off switch. As far as I know the meter does not drain at all if the shutter button is not partly pushed in. Certainly, nothing shows up in the viewfinder display. (I notice that Jerome’s comment has already pointed this out to you; however, I see no correction in your article.) My four Minolta bodies (XD7, XE-1, SR-T 101 and SR-T Super) all work like a dream with my range of lenses, primes stretching from 28mm through to 135. The look of a photographic print made by the use of Minolta glass is most likely the closest that I’ll get to the Leica look, as the density and rendition seem to be nearly the same for both brands. And, considering that the dead speed means that it will always be possible to make an acceptable exposure, I can safely say that I’ll never get rid of this camera. – As always, Christopher

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      You are one of the throng who love their XD!

  11. rsdunphy1954 Avatar
    rsdunphy1954

    Good stuff Jim, Love my Original late 1970s XD-11.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      Wish mine had been in better condition. But it made lovely photos!

  12. Trahan Avatar

    I own a Minolta XD11 scince 1978. The best camera I ever had. The first one died after a coke can exploded in my camera bag. Brought the camera on job and put my lunch with camera to save what? I know. Shame on me. Learned the hard way. A friend of mine who had a camera repair shop gave me an other body. What a gift! It’s still in working condition and I use it with a Minolta 28mm and a red filter to do some Infrared photography. I sometime use the 58mm f 1,2:1 lens but then, it’s to heavy. Need the winder under it to balance. My very first SLR was a Minolta SR3. Still in working condition! Switched to Nikon as I went to AF and to Canon as I went to digital. Still do silver halide the same way we leave for a weekend… I process black and white. Thanks for this article. Oh, by the way, my very first 35mm was a Canonet QL17 GIII… ;-)

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      We all make mistakes like that at one time or another in our lives! Knowing that doesn’t make us regret them any less, however.

      As you know from the article, I didn’t love the XD11. I didn’t hate it, either. I’m just more drawn to my Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax SLRs.

  13. Ian Graham Avatar
    Ian Graham

    I bought a really cheap XD7 plus 50mm f2 off eBay. It was cosmetically challenged; bent rewind knob, dings to prism and top plate, leather peeling and a defunct data back. It worked perfectly, everything, and the images were great. I’ve since swapped it and another till recently I acquired a mint late version with f1.7 lens which I’m definitely keeping. Love it as much as my Olympus OM2n and Contax 139Q, all are beautiful quality instruments. Best Ever SLR, I don’t know but my go to film camera is still the Pentax ME Super with f1.7 lens.

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      The Minolta 50/1.7 is terrific, full stop! I had a lot of trouble with Minolta MF cameras and so got out of the business of collecting them.

  14. […] check out the reviews by other awesome camera reviewers! Mike Eckman – Minolta XD11 Review Down The Road – Minolta XD11 Review Casual Photophile – Minolta XD 35mm Camera Review Japan Camera Hunter – Camera Geekery […]

  15. Gil Aegerter Avatar

    I read a number of reviews about the XD11, including this one, and have been intrigued for years. I finally have found one that appeared to be in great condition, along with a couple of Minolta lenses and a flash, for a very reasonable price. The ASA ring is missing its detente, so a piece of tape holds it still. But everything else seems to work, and it’s in beautiful condition. Now I have to shoot with it!

    1. Jim Grey Avatar

      If you keep enjoying that XD-11, you might send it out for a CLA and have that ASA ring repaired!

      1. Gil Aegerter Avatar

        A couple of nice things — the seals look new, and the leatherette is in great shape.

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