The Minolta XK Motor is an SLR camera. It was built in a factory in Japan in the 1970s and sold in the North American market. The model was sold in Europe as the Minolta XM Motor. In the camera manufacturer’s home country, Japan, you could buy it as the Minolta X-1 Motor. In terms of features, it is very similar to the Minolta XK. As the name suggests, this model has a motor for the transport of the film.
The lenses of the camera can be looked out. For this purpose, a Minolta SR bayonet was banned. There are many suitable lenses for this mount with various focal lengths. However, there is no autofocus function. The distance to the subject has to be set manually.
The motor of the Minolta XK Motor is equipped with a built-in light meter. It can be used with films with a sensitivity of ISO 12 to ISO 6400. The correct exposure is metered by the lens. The exposure time can be set manually. The aperture is also freely selectable. However, there is also an aperture priority mode. In this mode, the aperture is selected and the camera technology chooses the correct shutter speed.
Shutter speeds from 1/2000 second to 16 seconds are available. The camera has a Bulb mode. For clear shots at long exposure times, the 35mm camera is equipped with a tripod connection. There is also a connection for a cable release. The self-timer of the XM is missing, though. A flash can be used via the hot shoe or the PC flash port. A multiple exposure function is available on this model.
The body measures 17.1 x 14.7 x 8.3 cm and weighs 1450 grams. The Minolta XM motor is powered by two S76 batteries (eBay / Amazon*). The camera motor requires an additional ten AA batteries (eBay / Amazon*).
Films for the Minolta XK Motor
The camera is equipped with a motor for film transport. Per second, you can take about 3.5 pictures with the camera. However, there are also modes with a lower speed. On the top of the body is the indicator for the number of photos taken.
According to the manual, the Minolta XK Motor is loaded with 35mm film. 35mm film is still produced today and can be developed in most labs. Nice possible films for the Japanese SLR are the Kodak Portra 160* for color photos and the Kodak T-Max 400* for B&W images. Both films deliver great results and are suitable for many applications. Of course, there is a wide range of films from other manufacturers. For example, Fujifilm, Adox and Ilford produce films for the film format.
Technical datasheet
| Attribute | Specification |
|---|---|
| Type of Camera | Single lens reflex camera |
| Film format | 35mm |
| Film transport | Automatic |
| Film transport mechanism | Motor |
| Pictures per second | 3,5 |
| Picture format | 24 mm x 36 mm |
| Lens mount | Minolta SR mount |
| Focus | Manual |
| Viewfinder | Pentaprism finder |
| Exposure times | 1/2000 second to 16 seconds, Bulb |
| Bulb mode | Yes |
| Light meter | Yes |
| Supported film speeds | ISO 12 to 6400 |
| Exposure modes | Aperture priority, Manual mode |
| Exposure compensation | ± 2EV |
| Auto DX (Film sensitivity) | No |
| Double and/or multiple exposure function | Yes |
| Built-in flash | No |
| Flash Connection | Hot Shoe, PC-Flash |
| Flash sync speed | 1/100 s |
| Tripod mount | Yes |
| Cable release thread | Yes |
| Self-timer | No |
| Power supply | 2x S76 batteries |
| Size | 17,1 x 14,7 x 8,3 cm |
| Dimensions in inches | 6.73 x 5.79 x 3.27 inches |
| Weight | 1450 Grams |
| Names in other markets | Europe: Minolta XM Motor, Japan: Minolta X-1 Motor |
| Country of production | Japan |
FAQ about the Minolta XK Motor
What type of camera is the Minolta XK Motor, and where was it primarily sold?
The Minolta XK Motor is a single-lens reflex (SLR) camera manufactured in Japan during the 1970s. It was mainly sold in North America, with variations sold in Europe and Japan.
Does this camera offer autofocus capabilities, or is manual focusing required?
The Minolta XK Motor uses manual focus. There is no autofocus function; the distance to the subject must be set manually.
What kind of film does the Minolta X-1 Motor use, and what are some recommended film types?
The Minolta X-1 Motor uses 35mm film. Recommended films include Kodak Portra 160 for color and Kodak T-Max 400 for black and white photography.
What is the shooting speed of the Minolta XM Motor, and what other features impact the shooting experience?
This SLR camera has a motor drive, capable of shooting approximately 3.5 frames per second. However, slower shooting speeds are also possible. A built-in exposure meter and various exposure modes aid in photography.
What are the power requirements for this Japanese-made camera?
The Minolta XM Motor requires two S76 batteries for its core functions and an additional ten AA batteries to power its motor drive.