In 1979 Minolta released a second model in the XD Range, called the XD5. This camera had all of the features that made the earlier (1977) XD7/11 so good, with the exception of the aperture readout in the viewfinder, the viewfinder blind, the selected shutterspeed visible in M, and the film safe load indicator. The XD7 was highly praised by critics of the time, and is still regarded by many to be the best manual focus body made by Minolta.

Like the XD7, the XD5 offers both aperture priority and shutter priority, as well as a fully metered manual mode. The availability of both aperture and shutter priority gives the photographer unprecedented creative control, as well as ease and convenience of operation. The mirror features an air damper and the Seiko MFC-E shutter is a beauty, so noise and vibration are kept to a minimum.

This beautiful XD5 was purchased with the Auto Winder D and 50mm f/1.7 Rokkor filter size 55mm (UV filter included as well) for 30 Euros. Incredible bargain and one of the highlights of my collection of Minoltas. It is an early XD5, since the 1/125 shutter speed is not marked in green on the dial yet.

A total of 750,000 XD's were built between 1977 and 1984.