The Minolta XG 7, also known as the XG-E in some markets, was the first model in the Minolta XG series of 35mm SLRs, introduced in 1977. This series was designed as a budget-friendly line of small, lightweight, and easy-to-use electronic SLRs with an automatic exposure mode. The XG 7 features a center-weighted metering system with two CdS cells and a matte-fresnel-field focusing screen with a horizontal split-image spot. Its viewfinder displays automatic shutter times from 1s to 1/1000s via LEDs. It is considerably smaller and lighter than Minolta's preceding cameras and was available in both chrome and black finishes.