Minolta X-700

[ujkozavlanje]

Hello everyone!
I have a chance to buy a near mint Minolta X-700 with a standard 50mm 1:1.7 lens, but the seller has quoted some problems. The camera sometimes won't fire, this doesn't happen often, but it happens. When the symptom surfaces, right up to pressing the shutter everything works fine, the meter, the LEDs, but they all go out as soon as you depress the shutter all the way. In order for the camera to fire, the film advance lever must be pulled out about 30 degrees and held there. I think it's one of two things, either the shutter capacitor is losing the ability to trip the shutter, or the wind gears need to be adjusted (because of the advance lever issue), because probably the shutter curtain needs to travel a bit more to actuate the shutter. What do you think, should i take a risk for 30$ and buy it and try to repair it?

There aren't many Minoltas here where i live(Europe), and many of them are either beat up, or in nice condition but crippled like this one. There is another one with a derailed shutter, i think for 15 bucks, when advancing the shutter the curtain 'crumples', but that's too advanced of a repair for me. Sorry for the long post, i'm really torn on this one.

 

[elmarman]

Don't waste your money on it. Luckily I was GIVEN an X-700 and it all works well.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

If you'd like a Minolta, personally I think the earlier models such as the SRTs are a better prospect. Granted, they are a bit older and don't have the electronic sophistication and features later Minoltas added, but they were also much more robust with metal covers and simpler, all mechanical shutter systems. I understand the 700 is a lovely camera to use when it's working properly, but the top covers of them, whilst they might look like conventional chrome plated metal, are actually just thin plastic, which, I personally find a real turn off.

As far as finding yourself another Minolta (of whatever model you want to go for) is concerned, there are plenty available on line. If you pay via Paypal you've got little risk of being stuck with a dud, and if you purchase wisely it should not be an issue in the first place.
Welcome to Rangefinder Forum.
Brett

 

[JoeLopez]

Hello everyone!
I have a chance to buy a near mint Minolta X-700 with a standard 50mm 1:1.7 lens, but the seller has quoted some problems. The camera sometimes won't fire, this doesn't happen often, but it happens. When the symptom surfaces, right up to pressing the shutter everything works fine, the meter, the LEDs, but they all go out as soon as you depress the shutter all the way. In order for the camera to fire, the film advance lever must be pulled out about 30 degrees and held there. I think it's one of two things, either the shutter capacitor is losing the ability to trip the shutter, or the wind gears need to be adjusted (because of the advance lever issue), because probably the shutter curtain needs to travel a bit more to actuate the shutter. What do you think, should i take a risk for 30$ and buy it and try to repair it?

There aren't many Minoltas here where i live(Europe), and many of them are either beat up, or in nice condition but crippled like this one. There is another one with a derailed shutter, i think for 15 bucks, when advancing the shutter the curtain 'crumples', but that's too advanced of a repair for me. Sorry for the long post, i'm really torn on this one.

I love the x-700. A very nice looking, small, lightweight camera that I enjoyed shooting. I had two, both experienced electronic related issues simultaneously last summer.

Here in the Detroit area, a tuning (CLA) is about $60 or so and gives you a nice shooter. I sold both off and bought a second Nikon shooter.

While you can find clean versions of the x-700, it seems like a matter of time before they flake out on you.

 

[ujkozavlanje]

Thank you for welcoming me, glad to be a part of this forum. 🙂
I know they are plasticky and it is a turnoff, but everyone seem to sing high praises of it so i thought why not. If i can't repair it i would sell it on ebay as a parts camera and sell the lens separately and break even or even make some money. Then again if i manage to repair it it wouldn't just be any Minolta, it would be MINE, in its own special way. I know it sounds like a lot of bull, but don't mind me, the finals have taken their toll. 😀

The prices of cameras here (Europe, Serbia) are a bit steep for my budget, the Ae-1s for example are about 120$ and most of them are not working as they should, there was one with a broken tungsten wire but cosmetically in good condition, that's why this Minolta came to my attention, not too pricey and probably easily fixable.
At the moment I've got a Zenit EM, a Kodak Retina IIIc and a Smena Symbol, so i thought i'd bring a new horse to my stable.

 

[slm_]

I'm a big Minolta fan, so for $30 for the whole kit, i would take the risk. Then lens alone is worth that.
If it is a capacitor problem (something the X700 is known to have fail) they seem to be easily replaceable.
See here

Cheers
Steven

 

[ujkozavlanje]

I know that they are prone to failing because of the capacitor, but then again i'm not entirely sure if that is the problem, everything appoints to it, but the lever thing is confusing me...

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

If it will help, or perhaps make you laugh, years ago I took one in to my local shop and the technician took the camera and started sniffing it. He said the capacitor problem was easily detected that way...

Regards, David

 

[ellisson]

I'm a big Minolta fan, so for $30 for the whole kit, i would take the risk. Then lens alone is worth that.
If it is a capacitor problem (something the X700 is known to have fail) they seem to be easily replaceable.
See here

Cheers
Steven

Thanks for the link, Steven. I'm a big Minolta fan, too, and this is a good source of info. Hopefully it will help the OP, too.
Gary

 

[ujkozavlanje]

@David I know, they have an ammonia like smell, i've experienced that nasty stench before from a cap that nearly blew up in my face. 😀

I've managed to source a guy in Belgrade who repairs cameras, and he said that if the capacitor has leaked, the circuit board is probably destroyed, that its not worth saving, but, when i said that the camera fires from time to time, he changed his tune and said that it might be salvaged but that i had to bring it for him to check it outand quote the price for the repair. First thing he said is that it might be the cap, so that's what i'll do if i get it, replace the cap and adjust the winding gears. If it still doesn't work after that, it's going away as a parts camera.

 

[David Hughes]

@David I know, they have an ammonia like smell, i've experienced that nasty stench before from a cap that nearly blew up in my face. 😀

I've managed to source a guy in Belgrade who repairs cameras, and he said that if the capacitor has leaked, the circuit board is probably destroyed, that its not worth saving, but, when i said that the camera fires from time to time, he changed his tune and said that it might be salvaged but that i had to bring it for him to check it outand quote the price for the repair. First thing he said is that it might be the cap, so that's what i'll do if i get it, replace the cap and adjust the winding gears. If it still doesn't work after that, it's going away as a parts camera.

Hi,

In that case I'll wish you and the camera luck. I hope it is OK as they are nice enough cameras and the lenses are something special.

Regards, David

 

[ujkozavlanje]

Thank you everyone for your advice, but the camera has already been sold to someone else. I did end up finding an AE-1 program with a "jammed lever", but while i was talking with the owner I asked him wheteher the camera lights up, or does the meter work or does it have new batteries, he said that he doesn't have any batteries, he doesn't even know where to put them, but the lever only moves a few mm and stops. Looks like all it needs is a new battery, and a good clean since the shutter speed dial has some green grime around it (yuck).

 

[mwoenv]

The LEDs turning on upon touching the shutter button and then quickly going out are symptomatic of a bad capacitor. Not hard to get fixed. I have two X700s and have never had that problem. Great camera and of course the Minolta Rokkor lenses are excellent.

 

[Fixcinater]

Could you order a camera from the US? Seems like you would be able to find a better deal via eBay even if paying import charges and shipping costs.

 

[ujkozavlanje]

Unfortunately no, the shipping is about $45 via USPS l would be better off ordering from Japan, their shipping fees are about $15. I could evade the import taxes if the seller labels the package as personal items or sometging like that. But yes, generally speaking, the prices of vintage cameras here in Europe are, sadly, far above the US ones.
Nevermind, i'm going for the Canon, with a 35-70 lens, i just hope the camera doesn't turn out to be a lemon.
I'll keep an eye for a Minolta if a good, working one pops up, i'll go for it.