kshapero
South Florida Man
Got this at a garage sale (I hate these things but, alas, my wife loves them). Cost me $35 including a 50/1.7 lens. Everything works at it has a few things other film cameras don't have. Can anyone guess what that might be? Anyway a nice rig.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_X-570
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minolta_X-570
WJJ3
Well-known
Nice find. The X-570 (X-500) is a great camera. Things it has other cameras in its class don’t? Shutter button sensor for meter, auditory warning, film advance indicator. Did I miss any?
I use my X-500 a fair amount. The handling and feature set are great, and the finder is fantastic.
A recently developed roll of Provia shot with my X-500. The great metering and ease of exposure lock on this camera make shooting slide film easy.
Provia on my light panel
I use my X-500 a fair amount. The handling and feature set are great, and the finder is fantastic.
A recently developed roll of Provia shot with my X-500. The great metering and ease of exposure lock on this camera make shooting slide film easy.

farlymac
PF McFarland
I got mine just for that finder. Then a shutter curtain broke. It was about that time I started chasing after other camera brands, so I never got it fixed. Great handling camera though with full shutter readouts in the viewfinder.
PF
PF
CMur12
Veteran
The X-570 is my favorite electronic Minolta.
I'm not sure what was common technology at the time, but the following features stood out for me:
1. TTL flash
2. Low-speed flash synch (the X-700 never got this)
3. Acute-Matte focusing screen and multi-coated mirror
4. Lubricant-impregnated stainless steel lens mount
5. Touch-switch shutter release
It was also the first generation (starting with the x-700) of electronic Minolta SLRs to have AEL (auto-exposure lock), which I find a must. Aperture-priority or shutter-priority automation without AEL is useless to me.
Give me some time. I might think of some other wonderful features on this camera.
- Murray
I'm not sure what was common technology at the time, but the following features stood out for me:
1. TTL flash
2. Low-speed flash synch (the X-700 never got this)
3. Acute-Matte focusing screen and multi-coated mirror
4. Lubricant-impregnated stainless steel lens mount
5. Touch-switch shutter release
It was also the first generation (starting with the x-700) of electronic Minolta SLRs to have AEL (auto-exposure lock), which I find a must. Aperture-priority or shutter-priority automation without AEL is useless to me.
Give me some time. I might think of some other wonderful features on this camera.
- Murray
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
My very first real camera was a Minolta X-370s, a bit less sophisticated than the X-570. I liked it a lot, and it got me ready to jump into the world of Nikon AF because I learned to shoot in aperture priority with it (although most of the time I used the auto or program mode). Still have a soft spot for those cameras...
David Hughes
David Hughes
I have always thought the Minolta SLR's were the sleepiest of the sleepers.
Regards, David
Regards, David
retinax
Well-known
The X-700 is much better, it's more after all!
Let's let this one be a sleeper, I still want one or two.
Let's let this one be a sleeper, I still want one or two.
CMur12
Veteran
The X-700 is much better, it's more after all!
Let's let this one be a sleeper, I still want one or two.
I never liked the X-700 because I had no use for program auto-exposure. The X-570, with its improved manual metering readout, the increased flash function, and other little overlooked details in the X-700 corrected in the X-570, was a better camera in my eyes.
(X-700s are far more plentiful than X-570s, so if that is what you want, it will be easier to find.)
- Murray
kshapero
South Florida Man
Reading up on this rig. The experts say this is the preferred model (X-570/500) for reasons that you said. But they give it a knock as a battery eater. Never the less, I plan on enjoying this kit especially that oh so nice viewfinder.I never liked the X-700 because I had no use for program auto-exposure. The X-570, with its improved manual metering readout, the increased flash function, and other little overlooked details in the X-700 corrected in the X-570, was a better camera in my eyes.
(X-700s are far more plentiful than X-570s, so if that is what you want, it will be easier to find.)
- Murray
A recently developed roll of Provia shot with my X-500. The great metering and ease of exposure lock on this camera make shooting slide film easy.
Provia on my light panel![]()
Enjoyed this...
CMur12
Veteran
Reading up on this rig. The experts say this is the preferred model (X-570/500) for reasons that you said. But they give it a knock as a battery eater. Never the less, I plan on enjoying this kit especially that oh so nice viewfinder.
Akiva, my X-570 has always gone a long time on a set of batteries.
I bought mine new in 1984, and it has always given me exemplary service.
- Murray
kshapero
South Florida Man
Great to hearAkiva, my X-570 has always gone a long time on a set of batteries.
I bought mine new in 1984, and it has always given me exemplary service.
- Murray
retinax
Well-known
I never liked the X-700 because I had no use for program auto-exposure. The X-570, with its improved manual metering readout, the increased flash function, and other little overlooked details in the X-700 corrected in the X-570, was a better camera in my eyes.
(X-700s are far more plentiful than X-570s, so if that is what you want, it will be easier to find.)
- Murray
I want an 570, that's why I'm trying to steer other people to the 700
kshapero
South Florida Man
The rig

Austintatious
Well-known
Now you just need to add some nice Rokkor glass 
Muggins
Junk magnet
My mother-in-law's last film camera, for use with her 90mm Tamron macro, was a Centon - the licence-built Chinese version of your Minolta. The manuals are quite funny - the text is identical, but all the Japanese people in the Minolta version have been replaced by Chinese in the Centon one. And then sold in the UK...
Share:
-
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.