Dropped X-570. Lens stuck, etc. etc.

[KerrKid]

The final years of Minolta's manual-focus camera production was done in China by Seagull. This included the X-700, X-570, X-370, X-300, X-9 and several other similar models. These are usually marked on the bottom, "Made in China". After Minolta stopped production, in 200?, Seagull continued to make these cameras -- with Seagull and other labels, such as Kalimar, Vivitar, Soligor, Argus, Zenit, and many others -- with a lot of variation from what Minolta had designed, such as the Seagull DF5000 above -- in a covering designed by Colani. Most of these cameras had the same horizontal, electronic, cloth shutter as the Minolta-branded SLRs, but some had metal, vertical, mechanical shutters to 1/2,000s, for example. Others kept Minolta's horizontal, electronic, cloth shutter, but dropped the TTL completely for total manual operation only. Some offered a T shutter setting in addition to a B setting. Some had extra long shutter speeds. The list goes on and on.

In short, Minolta's 35mm SLRs did not die when Minolta stopped manufacturing them. It actually flourished at Seagull -- under various names. And Minolta-style SLR lenses were made as well -- some still are.

www.subclub.org/minchin

I had no idea. Are the Chinese cameras made well?

 

[xkaes]

Most were made on the exact same production lines that the Minolta manual focus SLRs were made on -- in China by Seagull starting in 1986 -- like the X-700. Seagull just kept the production going when Minolta called it quits.

But not all Chines SLR cameras with a Minolta Rokkor lens mount were made by Seagull. Other companies like Pearl River, Mingca, Huaxi, Panda, Peafowl made their own -- very similar cameras.

 

[KerrKid]

Most were made on the exact same production lines that the Minolta manual focus SLRs were made on -- in China by Seagull starting in 1986 -- like the X-700. Seagull just kept the production going when Minolta called it quits.

But not all Chines SLR cameras with a Minolta Rokkor lens mount were made by Seagull. Other companies like Pearl River, Mingca, Huaxi, Panda, Peafowl made their own -- very similar cameras.

I never knew any of this. Chinese cameras haven’t been on my radar - at least not deliberately.

I thought maybe the Seagull’s would be low-priced but they sure aren’t - if you can even find them. Not a single DF5000 on fleabay. Or a D400G.

I don’t think I’ll go out of my way to buy one these cameras but I’ll keep my mind and eyes open from now on and look for a bargain.

 

[xkaes]

Many of these cameras are difficult to find -- or next to impossible. Try to find a Vanta G-5, Kinon X-380 or Colani DF5000.

But many are easy to find and inexpensive. A lot depends on where you live. South America? You'll find a lot of Zenit cameras there. In Europe? Carena, Braun, and Centon are easy to find. In Austalia? It's Kalimar. In the USA, look for Phoenix -- DF-2000, DF-3000, DF-5000 -- and Vivitar V50. They are all pretty much the same cameras -- Minolta X-370 -- give or take a few details & features, such as auto-winder, TTL flash, DOF button, etc.

 

[KerrKid]

My searches on fleabay made it appear that the Minolta-branded cameras were less expensive than their Seagull counterparts which surprised me. I searched on another of the Chinese brands you listed - can’t remember which one - and the cameras were super expensive. I had no idea that these Chinese cameras commanded that much respect.

It would be nice to have a list of all the cameras like this and also cameras that were rebranded for the various department stores and camera stores.

I appreciate the intel you’re giving about this.

EDIT: I just checked and Phoenix cameras are reasonably priced on fleabay. Good to know!

 

[xkaes]

All the Chinese Minolta film SLR cameras I know of -- there are about 20 brands and hundreds of cameras -- are listed at:

www.subclub.org/minchin

As you found out, some can be pricey, mainly because some are hard to find, but I just nabbed a like new Kalimar KX 5000 with a great 28-70mm zoom lens (just like the Minolta version -- made by Cosina) and camera case for $20. It's a modified Minolta X-370, but it does not have an auto-winder connection, and it does not have auto-exposure. It has the electronic shutter of the X-370, but uses LEDs in the viewfinder to indicate if your settings are correct for the scene.

Not everyone's cup of tea -- more like a smaller, lighter SRT 201 with an electronic shutter -- and too good a deal for me to pass up!

 

[KerrKid]

All the Chinese Minolta film SLR cameras I know of -- there are about 20 brands and hundreds of cameras -- are listed at:

www.subclub.org/minchin

As you found out, some can be pricey, mainly because some are hard to find, but I just nabbed a like new Kalimar KX 5000 with a great 28-70mm zoom lens (just like the Minolta version -- made by Cosina) and camera case for $20. It's a modified Minolta X-370, but it does not have an auto-winder connection, and it does not have auto-exposure. It has the electronic shutter of the X-370, but uses LEDs in the viewfinder to indicate if your settings are correct for the scene.

Not everyone's cup of tea -- more like a smaller, lighter SRT 201 with an electronic shutter -- and too good a deal for me to pass up!

Thanks! I have that link bookmarked.

I should put “This was too good of a deal to pass up” on my gravestone.

 

[xkaes]

One thing to be careful about is that some of these Chinese Rokkor-mount SLR cameras were also made & sold with OTHER lenses mounts. This is especially true of Phenix (not Phoenix) SLRs. The most common "other" mount is the Pentax K mount, but some cameras can be found with Nikon F, Contax/Yashica, etc. mounts.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin/phenix.htm

 

[Kenny Harrelson]

I just nabbed a like new Kalimar KX 5000 with a great 28-70mm zoom lens (just like the Minolta version -- made by Cosina) and camera case for $20. It's a modified Minolta X-370, but it does not have an auto-winder connection, and it does not have auto-exposure.

I found a Kalimar KX 7000 and it does have an auto winder connection, plus the auto exposure capability (aperture preferred.) I suppose that since it's a "7000" that makes it a higher-end model than the "5000."

But the KX 7000 worked well for me:

 

[xkaes]

The Kalimar KX 7000 is top of the line, with tons of features, while the KX 5000 was a budget version. Still, they are both great performers. I just picked up a Kalimar 50mm f2.8 lens with a Minolta mount. I don't know who made it. It's solid, metal construction, and multi-coated. It's very small -- not quite PANCAKE -- and its only limitation is a 2.5 foot close-focusing distance, but otherwise a great, small lens.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin/kalimar.htm

 

[Kenny Harrelson]

The Kalimar KX 7000 is top of the line, with tons of features, while the KX 5000 was a budget version. Still, they are both great performers. I just picked up a Kalimar 50mm f2.8 lens with a Minolta mount. I don't know who made it. It's solid, metal construction, and multi-coated. It's very small -- not quite PANCAKE -- and its only limitation is a 2.5 foot close-focusing distance, but otherwise a great, small lens.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin/kalimar.htm

I didn't know that about the KX 7000, thanks for the info! I was looking at one of my KX 5000s and my KX 7000 and also just noticed that the KX 7000 has AE Lock feature, while the KX 5000 does not. The KX 5000 is truly just a stripped down manual camera as compared to the KX 7000. But, like you said, they both are really good cameras. I have every variation of the Minolta X300/X370, plus a lot of the differently named clones, (Kalimar, Carena, Seagull, Centon, Soligor, Argus, Vivitar), and oddly enough, they all perform amirably! Go figure, eh?

Check out my album of them, I've added a couple more recently that are not yet photographed:

Minolta X-300/X-370 and Licensed Clones

By HaarFager. This set features camera made by Seagull and that are clones of the Minolta X-300 (in Europe) and the Minolta X-370 (in North America. There are also a few clones that are copies of the…

www.ipernity.com

 

[xkaes]

Are you telling me that you have an Argus DF-300? Next thing you know, you'll be tell us you have an Argus SL 900.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin/

 

[Kenny Harrelson]

Are you telling me that you have an Argus DF-300? Next thing you know, you'll be tell us you have an Argus SL 900.

http://www.subclub.org/minchin/

I do have an Argus DF-300, but no SL 900. But now that you've made me aware of the SL 900, (thanks!), I'll certainly be on the lookout for one! Here's two shots of my Argus DF-300:

 

[xkaes]

I doubt that you will ever find an SL 900, but who knows. You nabbed a rare one with the DF-300. I'll keep my eye open!!!