Another 35mm SLR this week in the form of the Minolta 7000 AF (also sold as the Maxxum 7000 and α7000).
The Minolta 7000 is regarded by many as being the first real autofocus 35mm SLR camera, hitting the market in February 1985. The Nikon F3AF and Pentax ME F were earlier than this but both required bulky motorised AF lenses to function whereas the Minolta had its AF sensors and focusing drive inside the camera body which allowed much smaller and cheaper lenses to be produced.
I remember a couple of my school friends having Canon AE-1 Program kits and they both regarded autofocus as 'cheating' somewhat… how times change!
The new AF lens mount wasn't initially popular with loyal Minolta users as the existing (and often excellent) MC and MD lenses weren't compatible with it but the company did gain a lot of new customers who liked the convenience and advantages that autofocus offered.
I picked this example up in a charity shop last year, complete with the 50mm f/1.7 lens for £15 and was surprised to find another (much tattier) example in another shop in the same town later that day for three times that price!