Minolta X-700 opinions/experiences...

[Carterofmars]

I was just given a Minolta X-700, and I'm looking for opinions/experiences.

The film advance lever was purported to be stuck, but I think it may just need an a couple of good LR44's.

It came with a 1.7 50mm in mint condition; told was never used. Also came with a MD 28-85mm Zoom.

Sample images would be good if anyone has any.

 

[ssmc]

I bought my X-700 new in 1987(?... so long ago I can hardly remember!) and it has served me well. The VF is brilliant - huge, sharp and "snappy" when focusing. AFAIK only the OM-1 had a higher-mag finder. Eventually (2009) it needed a CLA which also involved replacing the shutter capacitors. The X-570 I bought used needed the same treatment; both are now extremely nice to use. For some reason the 570 sound and feels quieter and smoother than the 700 but both are early (Japanese) bodies and I can't find any info on whether a production change occurred. Either way they are both fun to shoot.

For most of the early years I only had 2 lenses for this camera - the 45/2 Rokkor and the 28-85. The zoom is surprisingly sharp but distortion can be pretty noticeable if you have a horizon in there. I did also find some hard vignetting with a single filter at 28mm, but only on scanned negs, it never showed up on prints. The 45/2 is a very handy lens (and available cheap now!) which does not test very well shooting charts indoors (field curvature?) but has never disappointed in actual use. I've shot some of my favourite pics with the 45/2. I have no experience with the 50/1.7 but I do have an MD 50/1.4 which, like its siblings, is very good; I would expect similar performance from any of the 50s.

Here are some galleries:

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/bozeman_bw&page=all

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/utah09&page=all (note the flagpole is the last film image)

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/ynp_09 (X-570, functionally identical except for the metering display)

Hope you can get the winder sorted out and have fun with this nifty kit!

Regards,
Scott

 

[sparrow6224]

Lvoe this camera. The film advance gets squeaky and harder to move and it will need looking at. Otherwise terrific. Oh except also-- dreaded capacitor failure. Just happens from time to time; mirror stays up, camera dead until someone can replace the capacitor which I don't know the how's or wherefore's of. This is the bane of all the Minolta's from the mid-70s forward. But most never have a problem.

The zoom lens you got has a v. good reputation. Look how it does in this shoot out: http://www.rokkorfiles.com/35mm Page 1.htm

 

[mwoenv]

Excellent camera and the 50mm f1.7 lens is excellent as well. I don't have your zoom lens. Typical (and underrated) Minolta quality.

I have my original X-700 from 1983 and a used one I picked up about 7 years ago and have never had a problem with capacitors or anything.

With a 360PX flash (with bounce and swivel), which you pick up used for about $50, the X-700 has TTL auto flash control.

Having a Program mode was advanced in the early 1980s, but Minolta was a leader in many innovations.

This is an excellent resource for Minolta manual focus information: http://web.archive.org/web/20070312081005/members.aol.com/manualminolta/index.htm

 

[Waus]

Had a Minolta X-700 with an MC 35mm 1:1,8. It's a great, light SLR with a great finder and great lenses.

 

[v_roma]

Agree with everyone. Very nice camera with relatively cheap, abundant, and high-quality lenses. Still own one and use it from time to time. Very accurate metering as well.

 

[Addy101]

Anybody owning a Minolta manual focus camera should know The Rokkor files. It has a wealth of information.
It has a X700 pageand he even tested the 28-85 @ 35mm.

Never used the lenses you have, but the 50/1.7 will be comparable to the competition, so, quite good. And as others already pointed out and the Rokkor Files make clear, the 28-85 is a good lens. I do own the X700 and it is a good camera. Have fun using it!

 

[p.giannakis]

A fantastic camera, very functional and reliable. I absolutely loved mine. Check my blog for my opinion about it....

 

[daveleo]

It has been many years, but my X700 and the Minolta lenses were outstanding. I loved, I still love, the look those lenses wrapped around the images. The next closest feeling (generally speaking) was the Konica Hexar AF lens and now the Fujifilm X100 (not the "s" - I don't own that one) lens.

I regret that I never gave Sony a fair shake-out, when they bought Konica Minolta. Just out of personal nostalgia, if Sony labeled one of their lenses "Konica" or "Minolta" I would buy whatever camera was needed to mount that lens.

 

[Addy101]

Well, Sony still sells the Minolta 20/2.8, the Minolta 28/2.8, the Minolta 35/1.4 and the Minolta 50/1.4. They are discrete, so, they don't write it on the lenses. Now go out and buy any A-mount camera 😉

 

[daveleo]

Well, Sony still sells the Minolta 20/2.8, the Minolta 28/2.8, the Minolta 35/1.4 and the Minolta 50/1.4. They are discrete, so, they don't write it on the lenses. Now go out and buy any A-mount camera 😉

Clearly I have some homework to do.
I have a manual focus Minolta 50/1.4 (I never got into Minolta autocameras). The thought now, is can I find an adapter to mount the manual focus Minolta on my Fuji XE1 ?? ... off to do my studies now.

 

[delible]

Add another positive opinion about the X-700 which I've used since 1985 with a second one added sometime in the 90's. Both have had the capacitor replaced, but no other problems in all this time. Not real flashy but a solid, reliable performer with just about any task you throw at it. I have more lenses that I really use; about 98% of the time it's either the 50mm 1.7, or the 35mm 2.8, or the 135mm 3.5-- they all do a fine job.

Bill Delehanty

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[Carterofmars]

Thank you all. I appreciate the thoughtful commentary, and the sample images. Mine has a stuck film advance lever, which I think may be as simple as dead LR44's; I hope. I opened the bottom plate and saw the cap mentioned in the thread. I may need to break out my multimeter and see if the cap needs replacing. That I can do.

p.giannakis: Very beautiful copy.

Scott and all: Very beautiful sample images.

 

[thawkins]

Owned an X700 for a few years. I bought the camera used from a susposedly reputable camera shop 15 years ago. When it worked it was great. Insurmountable electrical problems doomed it. Replaced it with an XD11 and it has been flawless!

 

[BillBingham2]

My Father-In-Law enjoyed his very much. That is until the day he brought it on a canoe trip with me and my then girlfriend (their lovely daughter) in which he and my Mother-In-Law tipped over their canoe in some very shallow water. Seems they are not sealed against immersion.

Lots of fun glass out there for her that can be had for a song!

B2

 

[mwoenv]

If the batteries are too low or dead, no LEDs will light up in the viewfinder. If LEDs light up but go out quickly (in a second), it is a sign of a capacitor problem.

 

[robert blu]

Excellent camera, I had two back in the time. I still have one with the 50/1,7 .
robert

 

[Bingley]

Great metering on the X700 and good with flash. The shutter is loud compared to the XD11. But the X700 is a good, compact SLR and a bargain in today's market. I think Minolta glass is great and very underrated.

 

[userid0]

Hi,

just a short question. I have an eye on a x700 and had bought a MC Rokkor 1.7 50mm a while ago. I was wondering if these two do perform good together?

Thanks for any help on that,
Walter

 

[p.giannakis]

My understanding is that it should work fine on "A" setting and most people report working fine with "Program" too although minolta strongly advised not to use these lenses on "P" setting.