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Condition:
- Shows moderate wear, scuffing, or marks to the finish
- Including Filter, Strap
Overview:
Minolta XG-M camera body (1981)
- Exposure modes: Aperture-priority AE (automatic exposure) and a metered manual mode provide flexibility for both beginners and experienced photographers.
- Viewfinder: A bright, solid-state information viewfinder with a split-image and microprism focusing screen assists with manual focus. Red LEDs indicate the camera's automatically selected shutter speed in AE mode.
- Manual focusing: The camera features a manual focus system, which is standard for the SR-mount era.
- Shutter: An electronically controlled, horizontal cloth focal plane shutter has a speed range of 1 to 1/1000 second, plus a bulb setting for long exposures.
- Metering: A center-weighted TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering system is used to determine exposure.
- Lens mount: The camera uses the Minolta SR bayonet mount, also known as the MD mount, offering a wide range of compatible manual focus lenses.
- Exposure compensation: The camera features a dial for +/- 2 stops of exposure compensation.
- Flash: A hot shoe and PC sync terminal allow for the use of dedicated or universal flashes, with a flash sync speed of 1/60 second.
- Self-timer: An electronic self-timer is included.
- Accessories: It is compatible with the optional Motor Drive 1 for continuous shooting up to 3.5 frames per second, a feature that distinguishes it from earlier XG models.
- Power: The electronic functions are powered by two readily available LR44 or SR44 batteries.
Minolta MD 28mm f/2.8 lens (1977–1984)
- Compact size: This is a small, lightweight wide-angle lens, making the camera setup portable and discreet for shooting street photography and landscapes.
- Good optical performance: Despite being an inexpensive vintage lens, it is well-regarded for producing sharp images with good color rendition.
- Construction: The lens features a metal body and robust build quality that is typical of older manual lenses.
- Aperture: It has 6 aperture blades, which can produce hexagonal bokeh at stopped-down apertures.
- Filter size: It accepts 55mm filters.
- Versatility: The 28mm focal length is a versatile wide-angle, suitable for capturing expansive landscapes, cityscapes, architecture, and fitting more into your frame.
- Common availability: Since it was produced in large quantities, the lens is widely available and affordable on the used market.
Overall description and user experience
The Minolta XG-M with the 28mm f/2.8 lens is an excellent, well-balanced film camera system for photographers of all levels, offering both automated and full manual control.
- For beginners: The aperture-priority auto-exposure mode allows you to easily shoot by just setting the aperture and letting the camera handle the shutter speed, helping you focus on composition.
- For enthusiasts: The metered manual mode allows for complete creative control over exposure, and the bright viewfinder is ideal for practicing and mastering manual focusing.
- For landscape and street photography: The sharp, compact 28mm wide-angle lens is perfect for capturing broad scenes and working in tight spaces. Its small size makes it a comfortable walk-around setup.
- Build quality: The camera body and lens are reliably built, with the XG-M being the top model in the XG series known for its durability.
- Potential downsides: The camera's reliance on batteries for all functions means it will not work if the batteries die. As a vintage lens, the 28mm f/2.8 can be prone to flaring when shooting directly into bright light.