Regarded by many as the finest Minolta manual focus camera body ever produced, the XD series was introduced in 1977 and was the world's first multi-mode exposure control camera body. It had no program mode(s) but user has option of setting shutter speed and having body set aperture or the user sets aperture manually and the body sets the shutter speed automatically.

For many pros (overall a very small number when compared to the ranks of Nikon pros) this was a more credible offering than the much bigger and more massive XK series. It did take a winder/motor attachment and it was, for many, much more handy and easy to use.

Despite what a truly fine picture taking instrument it was, it was far from a strong marketing success. As a camera t was too expensive to seriously address the amateur market and few pros were willing to base a system on something that was not a true "professional camera".

The camera was co-developed by Minolta and Leica, to become the basis for the Leica R4, R5, R6 and R7. Other than Leica's custom advanced metering system that incorporates a true spot meter most aspects of both body systems overlap.

A partial listing of the XD competence features can be found below:

1. Electronic or mechanical remote shutter trip operation

2. Continuous (stepless) electronic aperture control in shutter priority mode

3. Stepless electronically controlled shutter speeds from 1 to 1/1000th second in automatic modes; stepped speeds in manual mode; fully mechanical operation at "X" (1/100th) and "B" (can be operated a "X" and "B" without batteries

4. Full Metal body construction (one of the very last non plastic Minolta bodies)

5. Takes auto winder D for up to 2 frames per second

6. Exposure adjustment offset capability for up to two stops over or under exposure from the metered setting.

7. Built-in eyepiece shutter

8. Depth of field preview button

9. PC connection or proprietary hot shoe for flash photography

10. Silicon PhotoDiode photocell for high sensitivity center weighted TTL metering EV1 to EV18 ISO 100 f1.4

11. Self timer (2 to 10 seconds)

12. Film "safe-load" indicator

13. A set of interchangeable viewfinder screens:
PM (standard screen with horizontal split image bi-prism surrounded by a microprism ring)
AP (diagonal split image bi-prism)
M (micro-prism circle)
G (plain Acute-Matte? screen with no focusing aid)