I found a Minolta XD-7 Camera. What do I Have and What Can I Do? - General

A couple years ago, my dad was looking through his storage to gather stuff for a garage sale. He found this old camera one of his friends had given him back when he was young, and said I could have it. It was a [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_XD-7]minolta xd-7/xd-11.[/url] According to wikipedia, it was introduced in 1977, and it was the first camera to feature both shutter priority and aperture priority automatic exposure modes. Whatever the fuck that means. [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/camera1.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/camera1_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] [i]Note: Click on the picutres to see the full 2592x1944 images[/i] Now, I am not a photographer. I don't know anything about taking pictures. I take pictures with my 2 megapixel phone camera, and that is only when I have to. This is all the shit it came with: [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/overview.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/overview_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] Yes, that's an eyepatch. I have no idea what any of this is for. I barely know how to put it all together. Here are the specifications, according to wikipedia. [quote=Specifications]Exposure range of EV 1 to EV 18 (ISO 100 and f1.4) Exposure correction from -2 to +2. Flash sync at hot shoe or terminal at 1/100 s. Electronic vertical-travel metal shutter with electromagnetic release. Mechanical shutter mode available at 1/100 s. Shutter speeds of 1 s to 1/1000 s. Stepless control of shutter speeds in auto-exposure mode. TTL center-weighted metering (silicon diode) 94% viewfinder coverage Acute Matte focusing screen with split image biprism surrounded by microprisms. Four screens available, replaced by technician. 0.87x viewfinder magnification. Viewfinder information depends on operating mode: In aperture priority, shutter speed is indicated by LEDs. In shutter priority, aperture is indicated by LEDs. In manual mode, recommended shutter speed is indicated by LEDs. The chosen shutter speed is shown in a separate window. With Minolta X-type flashes, flash-ready is signaled by blinking over-range LED. Aperture setting is shown in all modes. Mechanical self-timer Film memo holder Safe load signal indicating film present and correctly spooled. Film advance release allowing multiple exposures Motorized rewind possible with Minolta Auto Winder D.[/quote] Again, I have no idea what any of that shit means. Now, onto some specific questions. Here are the filters: [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/filters.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/filters_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] I am pretty sure the black one is a polarizing filter (if that is the right term). I just don't know what the red and orange ones do. I guess they block out some color of light, but I don't know what to use them for, or what kind of light. Can anyone help? Here is the flash: [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/hugeassflash.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/hugeassflash_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] Here is a picture of the camera, and the two lenses that I got with it. [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/cameraandlenses.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/cameraandlenses_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] The small one is 45mm, and the tall one is 80 to 200mm. I don't know what that means, but from fucking around with it, I'd say the taller one is for taking pictures of things farther away. Here are some more pictures of the camera, with the accessories/filters. It is heavy as fuck for a camera: [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/camera2.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/camera2_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/camera3.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/camera3_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] Here is some sort of disc that fits into the filter mount, but it is just black. Is it to protect the filters, or is there some use for it? [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/filterblock.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/filterblock_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] Here are some foam discs. I have no idea where these go on the camera, or what they do. [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/foamdiscs.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/foamdiscs_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] Here is the eyepatch. Can anyone tell me what this is for? I assume it is to cover your other eye while taking pictures, so you don't have to stress to keep your eye closed. Either that, or the guy that gave my dad the camera was a pirate. [url=http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/pirate.JPG][img]http://ltp0wer.com/img/camera/thumbs/pirate_thumb.PNG[/img][/url] I bought some film for it and took pictures with it, and I am going to get those developed to see if the camera even works. I am also going to buy some batteries for it so I can use all the automatic shit. whatever that is for. Are there any camera experts here that can tell me how capable my camera is, and if it is worth any thing? Also, all the pictures in the thread were taken with my mom's Nikon E5600. I am not a photographer, so sorry if the pictures suck.

Pretty cool that your dad gave you that camera, it's not bad at all.

[QUOTE=Ltp0wer;16078251]I am pretty sure the black one is a polarizing filter (if that is the right term). I just don't know what the red and orange ones do. I guess they block out some color of light, but I don't know what to use them for, or what kind of light. Can anyone help?[/QUOTE] In black and white photography, red and orange filters can be used to increase the contrast of the sky and make the clouds stand out a lot more.

Pretty cool camera. Those tinted filters are just that. They tint EVERYTHING. Wear the eyepatch in public. Discs are for cleaning lenses. Google aperture and priority. Other filter is a polarizing filter. [editline]02:02PM[/editline] [QUOTE=Uber|nooB;16078570]In black and white photography, red and orange filters can be used to increase the contrast of the sky and make the clouds stand out a lot more.[/QUOTE] Oh that's cool. I didn't know that. But it's very logical now.

Haha I laughed at pirate part. But I guess this beast can't transfer photos to pc, right?

[QUOTE=edja007;16078678]Haha I laughed at pirate part. But I guess this beast can't transfer photos to pc, right?[/QUOTE] They made sure it could do so extremely easily. At your local camera store after the [i]film[/i] gets developed. :razz:

[QUOTE=edja007;16078678]Haha I laughed at pirate part. But I guess this beast can't transfer photos to pc, right?[/QUOTE] Obviously, it's a film camera.

[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;16078570]In black and white photography, red and orange filters can be used to increase the contrast of the sky and make the clouds stand out a lot more.[/QUOTE] Oh, sweet. How do I take black and white pictures? Is it a special type of film, or is there a setting on my camera?

Uhh, black and white film. [editline]07:58PM[/editline] That was just a bad joke, right? Right? [editline]07:58PM[/editline] :(

Uber|nooB is now :C

[QUOTE=Uber|nooB;16079655]That was just a bad joke, right? Right?[/QUOTE] I wish.

Damn, you got a lot with your camera. Unfortunately, the main problem these days will be finding a place to not only get the 35mm film (color or B/W. Choose your poison) but to find someone to develop the stuff. Kodak axed their Kodachrome line last month. :frown:

Lucky! :/

[QUOTE=pentium;16080103]Damn, you got a lot with your camera. Unfortunately, the main problem these days will be finding a place to not only get the 35mm film (color or B/W. Choose your poison) but to find someone to develop the stuff. Kodak axed their Kodachrome line last month. :frown:[/QUOTE] Yeah, I did get a shitload of stuff. Too bad I don't know how to use it. I live in a huge suburb of the 5th largest city (by population) in the united states (Phoenix). There are 24 hour stores that have 1 hour developement time on 35mm film. A shitload of people still use disposable cameras, and don't disposable cameras use 35mm film? I don't think I will have a problem.

I'll buy it. How much? Also, Ubernoob mentioned red filters as being contrast which is right. And that black one that you cant see shit through? I reckon that'd be an ultraviolet filter, to block out greens and similar colours of the colour spectrum. If that hasn't already been mentioned...

[QUOTE=Sajeno;16081198]I'll buy it. How much? Also, Ubernoob mentioned red filters as being contrast which is right. And that black one that you cant see shit through? I reckon that'd be an ultraviolet filter, to block out greens and similar colours of the colour spectrum. If that hasn't already been mentioned...[/QUOTE] I don't think I'm gonna sell it, but thanks for the offer. Haha, I don't think so. It is solid plastic. I think it is just a cover or something. I am driving down to the shop right now with $40. Hopefully that's enough for some film+batteries, and to develope the pictures.