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XK

XK

(1972) From 1966 to 1971, the only SLR cameras that Minolta marketed were the incredible SRT101 and the more economical SR-1s & SRT100.  These cameras sold well, but Minolta knew that they had to make improvements -- and fast.  Specifically, sales of rangefinder cameras were doing much extremely well, compared to SLR cameras, primarily because the rangefinder cameras offered automatic exposure control, while SLR cameras lacked this feature.  In short, the rangefinder cameras were smaller, lighter, cheaper and much easier for photographers to use.  Just as important, Minolta knew that other camera companies would soon figure out how to add TTL, automatic exposure control to their SLR cameras.  

Minolta saw an opening in the market and jumped on it.  In late 1972, they marketed the incredible XK camera.  With such a new, advanced feature as automatic exposure control, Minolta targeted the professional camera market, at that time dominated by Nikon and Canon.  The XK was the first professional SLR camera with TTL, automatic exposure control.  "Revolutionary", was what the reviewers called it at the time.  And no wonder!  The XK had through-the-lens (TTL) metering, automatic diaphragm lenses, and automatic exposure control.  But, it had a lot more than that.  Incredibly, it had shutter speeds from 16 seconds to 1/2000, with aperture-preferred, automatic exposure, metered-manual and full manual settings, as well.  The photographer now had incredible options for exposure determination.  The exposure could be set with a hand-held meter, by matching the needles in the viewfinders (like on the SRT101), or the camera could make the settings for you.  

The XK had a complete information viewfinder, but it was a big change from that of the SRT101.  This was quite a challenge given the various exposure modes.  In the SRT101, the manually-set shutter speed appears on a scale on the bottom of the screen and two needles on the right-hand side match up by changing the f-stop and shutter speed.  With the XK, this approach wouldn't work since the shutter speed could be manually-set or autoamtically-set.  Minolta devise a screen that incorporated the two "scales" of the SRT101 viewfinder.  First, the XK shows the manually selected shutter speed, but the speeds are no longer shown as a line-up across the bottom of the screen.   The shutter speeds are now on the right-hand side of the screen, and the manually-set speed appears as a tab on the scale.  The big change is that the same shutter speed scale has an additional needle that points to the recommended shutter speed (in manual mode) or to the automatically-selected shutter speed (in auto mode). Lastly, the XK viewfinder also shows the manually selected f-stop -- in a window on the top -- something missing in the SRT101.  

On top of the new viewfinder (literally), the XK had interchangeable heads with several choices:

  • AE, for aperture-preferred, auto-exposure and metered-manual use.  This was the standard head that sold with the XK.
  • PLAIN, a small, light, clutter-free finder for manual exposure mode with a hand-held meter.  The manually-set shutter speed and f-stop appeared in the viewfinder.
  • HI-MAG, for a 6x magnification of the subject
  • MANUAL, for match-needle use.  This uncommon finder looked and operated like the AE head, but lacked the auto-exposure feature.
  • WAIST-LEVEL, for many alternative situations 
  • AES, for aperture-preferred, auto-exposure and metered-manual use.  This head was introduced with the XK MOTOR version and is similar to the AE head, but with a LED scale instead of needles.

Numerous interchangeable screens were available as well.  


  • P -- Horizontal split for general photography (this was the screen that the camera was sold with)
  • PM -- Horizontal split with microprism collar for general photography
  • M -- microprism spot for general photography
  • G -- matte field only for general photography
  • L -- matte field with grid for architectural photography
  • S -- horizontal and vertical measuring scales for macro-, micro-, and astrophotography
  • H -- clear spot with engraved double cross for macro-, micro-, and astrophotography
  • C1 -- extra bright screen for general photography with specific lenses
  • C2 -- extra bright screen for general photography with specific lenses
  • C3 -- extra bright screen for general photography with specific lenses
  • AP -- Diagonally-angled split with microprism collar for general photography

Plus, the XK had all the other bells and whistles available at the time -- mirror lock-up, DOF button, battery check, self-timer, and more.  A completely new, titanium shutter was used, and the camera had a Sensi-switch which turns on the camera effortlessly -- just by picking up the camera.  More than twenty-five years later, this camera has more features than most new SLR cameras.  For a comparative look at the major features of the XK models, check out MINMAN's SLR table -- the world's most complete!

This was the first Minolta SLR to sport an electronic shutter.  The good news about an electronic shutter is that is can provide speeds between the numbered speeds -- in automatic mode, anyway.  So if the exposure calls for 1/751 of a second, that's what you get.  Not 1/500 or 1/1,000. Unfortunately, since the shutter is electronic, it is dependent on the battery, and if the battery dies, you cannot take pictures -- so you better carry a spare!  This is why some people prefer the older, battery-free cameras, or at least carry a battery-free camera as a backup.  The XK with work on B and X without a battery.  It will help in an emergency, but it's not too convenient.

There were actually six versions of the XK, not including the XK Motor, depending on when and where you were.

  • XK (model a) -- 1972

    Sold in the North American market.  This model can be distinguished by the ASA/DIN chart on the film door.

  • XM (model a) -- 1972

    Sold in the European market.  All of the camera features are the same.

  • X-1 (model a) -- 1972

    Sold in the Japanese market.  All of the camera features are the same.

  • XK (model b) -- 1976

    In 1976, Minolta produced a new model of the XK -- the XK Motor.  At the same time they made some modifications to the original XK.  The obvious difference is that they replaced the ASA/DIN chart on the film door with the film-tab holder of the XK Motor.  In addition, there were some internal changes made to the electronics, and the old-style film take-up reel from the SR and SRT cameras was replaced by a new-style take-up reel seen on all of the later X cameras.  The new-style take-up reel was less likely to snap the film leader, but many people find it much more difficult to use.  Last, but not least, the original AE head was no longer manufacturered, so the XK (model b) was sold with the AE-S head.
    The AE-S head was different in many ways.  First, it had silicon cells instead of CDS cells so it was more sensitive in low-light situations and reacted much faster to changes in light.  It no longer had the CLC metering system and used a basic center-weighted approach.  In addition, the display was changed.  LED's replaced the needle readouts in the AE head, but since the LED scale only displays the metered speed, a new window was added to display the set shutter speed.  Actually, there were two shutter speed scales.  Since the available speeds on the XK are so wide, all of the speeds would not comfortably fit on a single scale.  Plus, Minolta engineers realized that under low-light conditions, it can be impossible to read the shutter speed number (a problem in the later XD and XG cameras).  They devised a clever alternative.  At speeds less that 1/30, a button is pressed on the AE-S head and the LED scale is replaced with the metered speed in LCD format -- easy to read in the darkest light.  For low-light shooting, the AE-S head is the undisputed champ.

     Sold in the North American market.  

  • XM (model b) -- 1976

    Sold in the European market.  All of the camera features are the same.

  • X-1 (model b) -- 1976

    Sold in the Japanese market.  All of the camera features are the same.

  • XK (model r) -- 1978
    Ritz Camera negotiated with Minolta to create a special version of the XK, hence the "model r" designation. The obvious difference is that the body has a notched, rubberized covering instead of the standard leatherette.  The covering is similar in appearance to that used on the focusing rings of the Rokkor-X lenses. All of the camera features are the same.  The Minolta SRT201 was also produced in a "model r".

Minolta didn't just add a new camera with the XK.  At the same time, they decided to update and upgrade their complete line of MC Rokkor lenses.  The MC Rokkor-X line of lenses was born.  In fact, the "X" in "Rokkor-X" comes from the new X-series of cameras that the XK initiated.  Not only were new focal lengths added, but lenses now had multi-coated optics, as well as better lens cosmetics.  For example, the aperture ring was changed from chrome with black numbers to black with white numbers.  Minolta engineers felt that these white numbers show up better in the viewfinder readouts of f-stops -- a new feature which first appeared with the Minolta XK.  In addition, the focusing ring on these lenses was now covered with a more comfortable, reliable, non-slip, rubber waffling -- instead of the more slippery metal grooves of the earlier lenses.  

The XK was not the first Minolta SLR with automatic exposure control, as many sources list it.  That designation went to the Minolta ER of 1961.  But the XK was the first Minolta SLR with TTL metering AND auto-expousre control. The XK sold very well, despite its price-tag.  But Minolta realized that many in its target audience stayed away because the XK lacked a motor-drive option.  So Minolta decided to produce a motorized version -- the XK Motor -- a few years later.  Still, the XK was designed for the high-end, professional market and Minolta realized that it needed to produce a less expensive, auto-exposure 35mm SLR camera targeting the mass-market.  Other companies had already done it, like the Canon EF, the Pentax ES and the Nikkormat EL, all from 1972.  Minolta quickly re-adjusted their sights and produced the amazing XE-7 in 1974.  Better late than never, I suppose.  

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