I have both of these cameras and it's really hard to recommend one over the other but here's how I'd decide which one to get...
1. If you plan to do a lot of flash photography choose the X-570. It has through-the-lens off-the-film (TTL-OTF) flash metering for more consistent flash exposure. TTL-OTF isn't perfect but you should know the pitfalls of using automatic flash systems anyway.
2. If you like adjusting shutter speeds in autoexposure mode (Shutter-speed priority or S mode), then you choose XD-11. The XD's Shutter-speed priority mode can also be considered a form of full Program AE mode (if you go beyond the shutter-speed limit in S mode, the camera automatically adjusts the exposure for you). Both XD-11 and X-570 have aperture-priority mode and both have good Manual mode metering.
3. If you like to play with multiple exposures, the XD is a better camera to use. On XD, you just press the rewind release button under the camera and wind the film advance lever and you're good to go. On the X-570, you have to keep pressing the rewind button as you wind the advance lever--non-convenient and inconsistent.
4. The first three are the biggest differences I see in these two cameras. Everything else I say here are secondary to me but could be important for you. Feel--XD feels more solid. It should as it's mostly metal. I do think the X-570 isn't any worse than the XD, it just feels lighter.
5. The XD has a metal, vertical traverse focal-plane shutter while the X-570 has a horizontal traverse cloth focal-plane shutter. The sound they make are different but I kinda like both. One would think the metal shutter is sturdier than a cloth shutter but I have yet to experience problems with either so it probably doesn't matter much. The metal shutter certainly has more potential to be better than the cloth but it doesn't apply here (except for the flash sync speed which isn't all the good either way).
6. Flash sync on XD is about 1/125 (or maybe 1/100?) while the X-570's is 1/60--nothing too special.
7. The 7D has a fully mechanical shutter speed setting (O setting, ~ 1/100 sec). If your camera battery accidentally ran out of juice while shooting and you don't a spare, you can still shoot. Of course, you won't have the benefit of a meter unless you carry an external one.
8. My two XDs both suffer from occasional long delays between pressing the shutter release button and the shutter actually opening up. I think this may have to do with aging electronics (capacitors or whatever). I haven't had this problem with my two X-570s although I'm aware that this model shares a similar problem with the X-700 in that a capacitor that controls the shutter (or has something to do with the shutter and film advance stuff) tends to cr@p out fairly quickly. I have one X-700 die on me after 10-years of torture. I haven't seen any symptoms on my X-570s though.
9. The XD-11 doesn't have AE lock but have an exposure compensation lever. The X-570 doesn't have exposure compensation but does have AE lock.
10. Both cameras have dedicated auto-winders but the X-570 can be used with the MD-1 motor drive allowing you to shoot at up to 3.5 frames per second.
11. The X-570 can use the Multi-function back that gives you intervalometer and long exposure controls. This and number 10 are actually high on my list but unless you have them, they don't do you much good. I also didn't want to rearrange the numbering...
All manual Minolta lenses will work on these cameras, some better than others. The MD lens is recommended for XD as it has the lug necessary for accurate S mode metering/exposure but even the older MCs should still work in this mode.
So, having given you all that, I'll let you decide which one to get. Do remember that the first three things I said are pretty much the bottomline (for me). I have both so I don't have your problem.
Cheers!
-Perry
Hi..
I own an SRT-101 I bought in Vietnam in '69 along with the 58mm
f/1.4 MC lens. I also own Canon equipment; EOS 3, 5D and a number
of L and non L lenses. In the last few months I've gotten the
itch to get back in to the manual Minolta mode for B&W photography
and have been acquiring MD lenses as recommended by the Rokkor site.
I was just wondering. Which of the two bodies mentioned is
considered the best manual Minolta? The Rokkor guy uses both. I
fired off an email to him but he hasn't yet responded (probably due
to holidays) to my question. What's your opinion?
