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.
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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
Recommended film stocks for the 35mm format your camera takes.
C41
Kodak Portra 400 is a professional C-41 color negative film known for flexible exposure latitude, natural skin tones, and fine grain.
View profile →BW
Kodak Tri-X 400 is a classic black-and-white film known for strong tonality, visible grain, and documentary character.
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Kodak Gold 200 is a daylight-balanced C-41 color negative film with warm color, moderate grain, and a classic consumer-film look.
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Before you buy used
About this camera
The Minolta with the smoothest film advance ever made. Co-developed with Leica, who used the chassis for the R3.
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Format | 35mm |
| Mount | Minolta MC / MD |
| Years | 1974–1977 |
| Shutter | 4s – 1/1000s, electronic Copal Square metal |
| Flash sync | 1/90s |
| Meter | TTL center-weighted CdS |
| Modes | Aperture priority, manual |
| Mechanical fallback | B, 1/90s |
| Weight | 730 g |
| Battery | 2× SR44 |
Released 1974. The Leitz-Minolta partnership had begun with the CL (1973) compact rangefinder; the XE-7 was the SLR side of the collaboration. The Leica R3 (1976) is mechanically derived from the XE-7. Production of the XE-7 ran 3 years until the XD-11 (1977) replaced it — the XD-11 added PASM modes the XE-7 lacked.
For Minolta MC/MD-mount enthusiasts and Leica R-system historians, the XE-7 is significant. The body is mechanically luxurious — the wind lever, shutter button, focus screens all feel premium. Pair with MC Rokkor lenses (58/1.4 MC, 50/1.4 MC, 35/1.8 MC, 24/2.8 MC) for an excellent budget alternative to a Leica R3.
For 2026 buyers, used XE-7 bodies at $120–280 represent excellent value. Trade-off vs XD-11: no PASM (just aperture priority + manual), older CdS meter (vs SPD), but heavier and feels more premium.
Minolta MC/MD mount: full Rokkor compatibility. MC 58/1.2 (cult), 50/1.4 MC, 35/1.8 MC, 100/2 MC. MD lenses (1977+) also mount with full automation.
BW
Ilford HP5 Plus is a flexible ISO 400 black-and-white film with classic grain and strong push-processing tolerance.
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Kodak Ektar 100 is a fine-grain C-41 color negative film with saturated color and high sharpness.
View profile →Minolta XE-7
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