C41
Kodak Portra 400
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile35mm SLR
Minolta XE-71974
- Format
- 35mm
- Mount
- Minolta MC/MD
- Years
- 1974–1977
- Weight
- 730 g
- Shutter
- 4s – 1/1000s
- Meter
- ttl-center-weighted-cds
The Minolta XE-7 (1974, **XE-1** in Europe, **XE** in Japan) is a Minolta-Leitz collaboration body. Aperture-priority autoexposure, manual mode, electronic Copal Square metal shutter to 1/1000s, TTL CdS metering. The body's **film advance lever is famously smooth** — often cited as the smoothest of any 35mm SLR ever produced. Leica licensed the XE-7's mechanism for their **R3** (1976), making the R3 essentially a Leica-built XE-7 with different cosmetics.
Reference
Find film for your Minolta XE-7
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
ISO 400
BW
Kodak Tri-X 400
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
View profileC41
Kodak Gold 200
Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
Develop 35mm film
Labs in our directory that process 35mm film.
Before you buy used
- **Foam mirror bumper** — replace.
- **Light seals** — replace.
- **CdS meter** drifts.
- **Battery contacts** corrode.
- **Self-timer** — exercise.
- **Sticky shutter** — common after disuse.
- Service: independent shops; Greg Weber (US) handles Minolta.
About this camera
The Minolta with the smoothest film advance ever made. Co-developed with Leica, who used the chassis for the R3.
Key Specs
Frequently asked questions
- What film does the Minolta XE-7 use?
- The Minolta XE-7 shoots 35mm film.
- What battery does the Minolta XE-7 take?
- The Minolta XE-7 uses a 2x SR44 / LR44 battery.
- What lens mount does the Minolta XE-7 have?
- The Minolta XE-7 uses the Minolta MC/MD mount.
- What shutter speeds does the Minolta XE-7 offer?
- The Minolta XE-7's shutter speeds range from 4s to 1/1000s.
- What light meter does the Minolta XE-7 use?
- The Minolta XE-7 meters with ttl-center-weighted-cds.