Minolta XK (X1, XM) Video 2: Operation, Load Film, Change Batteries, Mount Lenses, & Take a Photo

Minolta's XK was the most-complete professional-grade system camera released by Minolta and one of only two ultra-high-specification bodies they released. The XK competed with the original Canon F-1 and Nikon F2, but had specifications and capabilities in line with the Canon F-1N, Nikon F3, and Pentax LX, cameras that all arrived up to ten years after the XK was introduced. A victim of its own price, the XK cost as much, in 1973 dollars, as a medium-format DSLR in 2017. Not many people could afford these; not many bought them; today not many are available so they've retained their value.
But Minolta built them well with extensive quality control. Even original XK units, like the one in this video, work generally well and command high prices on the used market.
A truly heavy 35mm film camera, the XK reminds the photographer that it's there all the time. This is not a hiking companion.
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Minolta XK (XM, X1) Review and Photos
• Minolta XK (XM, X1) Re...
Minolta XK (X1, XM) Video 1: Interface, Features, and Layout
• Minolta XK (X1, XM) Vi...
Minolta XK (X1, XM) Video 2: Operation, Load Film, Change Batteries, Mount Lenses, Take a Photo
• Minolta XK (X1, XM) Vi...
Index:
Skip the Intro: 0:07
Loading and Unloading Film: 0:26
Changing the Batteries: 3:47
How to Un-jam the Minolta XK Shutter: 4:57
Exposure Compensation Dial: 8:57
Bracketing Photos: 10:56
Changing Prisms and Focusing Screens: 12:20
Mirror Lock-up: 14:16
Flash Photography with the Minolta XK: 16:22
Looking through the Viewfinder: 19:15
How to Take a Photo with the Minolta XK: 21:25
Double Exposures: 22:54
An Invitation to Like and Subscribe: 25:42
References:
www.cameramanuals.org/minolta_...
www.rokkorfiles.com/XK.html
www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/...
www.sds.com/mug/xk.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_X-1
camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/Min...
artaphot.ch/minolta-sr/slrs/12...
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[@user-ic6ut8qp5m]

Fantastic review. I've seen K-2, LX, CANON A-1, CANON F-1, XK and NIKON F3 videos times, very very helpful, and all the video help me and my girlfriend Nicole to learn film photograph from 7 mouths ago until now, thank you so much for that. You are so good at these, no matter its pro skills or video making, thanks again.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@DavidHancock]

And thank you for letting me know that I'm helping you learn photography. That means a great deal more to me than I can express.

[@abdallah_m]

Great video! This is the first time I’ve seen the double exposure trick, will be definitely be trying it out.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@doaklandsweden]

Great video! Helped me a lot to understand my "new" toy. :)

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! Thank you!

[@sputumtube]

Clearly explained and informative review. Subscribed. :)

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@geraldillo]

Helpful instruction video's to learn this Minolta camera, but I noticed a few minor mistakes. 1.The exposure compensation goes from -3.5 to +0.5 stops. 2. About double exposures; Minolta used to advertise the fact that their s.l.r. camera's are designed in way that they don't need a special button for this. You can just use the film advance release button on the bottom (like you demonstrated in the video) and the camera should take very precise double/multiple exposures. No need to take an unexposed shots in between frames.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@lichtmaler]

Well done. Very helpful. thanks for sharing.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@lichtmaler]

​@@DavidHancock Any time David. I thought about your comments that the X-700 you would not consider as a professional camera. Using this camera on a regular basis I would probably not agree. It has features which are overseen easily: The way you can expand the system with motor drives Data backs and such makes it a very unique camera. Talking of the latter the there is a data back which makes it possible to controlled long exposures of several hours and in series if you had to. With the delay involved once acitved you made sure your finger would not cause any movement. I have used this many times in night photography. I do own an XK myself and I love it. In only got it for the waist level finder options. But my workhorse on the road are the X-700 and Dynax 9 which by the way is also a phenomenal camera.

[@bedevere007]

Love it. makes me want to get ine

[@DavidHancock]

They're great to use, in the right setting. Definitely worth having. Once I have enough photos with it to complete my review, I'll probably sell mine, though. It's a bit too heavy for me to carry and use regularly.

[@nathanbaugh1675]

Super helpful video thank you so much for taking the time and effort to make this! Just curious, can you use that double exposure method on most SLRs?

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and yes! Some SLRs have a specific double exposure button and on those you would use that button, but for ones without, that method works well.

[@armenianzombie]

I just got one of these but when I look through the prism, I can't see the meter, only a red LED in the bottom right corner of the viewfinder that occasionally lights up. Do you know if this is repairable or am I looking at a bricked camera pending I find a replacement finder?

[@DavidHancock]

Try shining a flashlight into the opening on the top while looking at the meter. If you're using the camera inside, there may not be enough light to illuminate the meter. There's no internal light that will light it up. If there's still no visibility with a flashlight shining into it, then one of the mirrors may have fallen off or become tarnished. In that case, it can be fixed in a way similar to what I did by gluing tin foil on it with the shiny side out.

[@armenianzombie]

awesome, thank you! I'll try this. great video here, and overall huge fan.

[@borisgalos6967]

The assumed reflection is 18% Gray not 15%

[@DavidHancock]

That depends on the camera maker (different makers had different settings for their meter sensitivity) and also whether or not the meter was adjusted in a repair at some point.

[@hoorayforpentax3801]

First? LOL, I had to do it once.

[@DavidHancock]

LOL