| The Minolta XD-7 is known as the first auto SLR | | | | went back to the basics, where user friendliness was |
| camera which brought full multimode for users. It | | | | the priority. The camera was a big seller, and it was |
| brought end to the problem of having to choose | | | | one of the most successful cameras of the time. |
| between aperture preferred or shutter-speed | | | | The camera is known for bringing an exciting |
| preferred because you could choose either. It was | | | | atmosphere to the somewhat boring photography |
| said that the camera was a replica in comparison to | | | | market during that time In the 80's. It set a trend for |
| the Canon A-1, although most said the Canon offered | | | | many cameras to come, as it was easy to use, user |
| more than the XD-7. | | | | friendly, with no strings attached. The camera also had |
| The camera was always generally a mid-priced | | | | a "fun" feature to it, in which it had three exposure |
| camera. Minolta was one of the first cameras to kick | | | | control modes. Many users like this because it was |
| start the multimode automation in SLR cameras, | | | | quite basic. The system used by the camera (called |
| alongside Canon. The multimode future was being | | | | MPS), works on a basic focus and shoot. The shutter |
| stressed a lot by manufacturers and advertisers, and | | | | and aperture speed are set over a wide range |
| customers did not understand. Most people nowadays | | | | automatically, while viewfinder readout speeds being |
| claim the automation did/does not benefit the user of | | | | set simultaneously. The system used was made to be |
| the camera. Many people feel that they are not as | | | | able to keep the fastest speeds as light dims, and |
| user friendly compared to the simple SLR cameras | | | | would beep so the photos do not turn out blurry (if the |
| made previously. Users were getting confused at the | | | | camera was not still). |
| idea of the automation feature. Many preferred a | | | | Many people call it one of the best cameras made. As |
| simple "point and shoot cameras", rather having to | | | | said before, it set a trend, and without the XD-7, many |
| learn how to use the complicated auto SLR cameras. | | | | of the features we have nowadays would not be as |
| Soon, Minolta came up with a solution for this. In 1981, | | | | advanced as they are. The XD-7 was a revolutionary |
| they released a midrange SLR camera. It had | | | | camera. |
| consumers shocked and excited because the camera | | | | |