Building new old manual SLR system

Taz777 · Jul 31, 2019

I've been busy over the last couple of days ordering components for a manual SLR system. So far I have ordered the following from several different sources around the world:

Minolta X-700 body
Minolta MC Rokkor-PG 50mm f1.4 lens
Body cap and lens caps
Batteries for the camera
Minolta 360PX flash
Minolta neck strap

I just need a sanity check that the body, lens and flash will work together. I've put in some research online and it seems like they should, but I'm not 100% sure.

Paul Howell · Jul 31, 2019

X700 is a nice camera, all of the Minolta MC/MD lens are very good to excellent, I don't of any real dogs. For a second body I would think about a St101 or 200 series body.

Taz777 · Jul 31, 2019

Paul Howell said:
X700 is a nice camera, all of the Minolta MC/MD lens are very good to excellent, I don't of any real dogs. For a second body I would think about a St101 or 200 series body.

Thanks for the advice, Paul. Do you mean the SRT-101 body?

Brendan Quirk · Jul 31, 2019

I think that the MC lens will not be compatible with the program mode or the off the plane auto on the x-700. I think you would need the MD with the minimum aperture sliding tab "MD lock" on the barrel.

Taz777 · Jul 31, 2019

Brendan Quirk said:
I think that the MC lens will not be compatible with the program mode or the off the plane auto on the x-700. I think you would need the MD with the minimum aperture sliding tab "MD lock" on the barrel.

Yes, I believe you're right. I think Aperture mode may work fine.

__Brian · Aug 1, 2019

Optically, and construction-wise, I find the MC 50 F1.4 to be better than the MD 50/1.4. But- the latter is required for full compatibility with the later camera bodies. I'd stick with the MC series.

Brendan Quirk · Aug 1, 2019

I believe an MD 50/1.7 can be had for very little, if you want to try out all of the modes. I use it frequently, albeit mostly on manual (X-370, 570, and 700 models)

mklw1954 · Aug 5, 2019

All good equipment. With the MC lens you won't be able to use P (Program) mode on the X-700 but I think few people use that mode. Use A (Aperture-priority) mode as an automatic mode. The 360-PX is a great flash and works in TTL mode with the X-700 body, i.e., flash is regulated by Through-The-Lens sensors at the film plane, considered more accurate.

Taz777 · Aug 9, 2019

My imported X-700 is still at U.K. customs whilst they work out how much I need to pay n customs duty. It’s a frustrating wait! In the meantime I’ve acquired a Rokkor MD 50mm f1.4 as the condition and price were too good to miss. I’ve also got on order an SR-T 102 body which may arrive earlier than the X-700 as I bought it within the EU.

Building new old manual SLR system

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