Minolta or Pentax. One System has to go.

xkaes · Sep 19, 2023

I've never had an XK MOTOR. Never had the need for a motor drive. I really like the X-570, but don't have one -- I have a Seagull DF-5000 instead (really the same thing, in Colani clothing):

But I recently discovered the Seagull DF-400G. It too takes an auto-winder, has auto & manual shutter speeds to 1/2000 (using a vertical, metal shutter), and has B & T settings and well as multi-exposure capability, dedicated hot shoe, DOF button, PC contact, self-timer, AE lock, sensa-switch, and more..

Paul Howell · Sep 19, 2023

In the late 70s Minolta and Olympus spent a lot money advertising in Rangefinder and other pro magz of the day. I know that AP, LA Times, and the U.S Air Force field tested Olympus, did not have the build quality of the F2. I recall hearing that AP and UPI both bested Minolta, it would have been the XK motor and X700, the XK would have given the F2 a run for the money in terms of ruggedness, but the X700 would have held up to the pounding that a Nikon F2 would take. What is the build quality of the Seagulls?

Les Sarile · Sep 19, 2023

xkaes said:
I've never had an XK MOTOR. Never had the need for a motor drive. I really like the X-570, but don't have one -- I have a Seagull DF-5000 instead (really the same thing, in Colani clothing):

View attachment 349400

But I recently discovered the Seagull DF-400G. It too takes an auto-winder, has auto & manual shutter speeds to 1/2000 (using a vertical, metal shutter), and has B & T settings and well as multi-exposure capability.

View attachment 349401

What, I can buy a new Minolta body!

Sirius Glass · Sep 20, 2023

Pioneer said:
Both. My wife suffered some injuries that required surgery years ago. I am sure many of you know that those types of problems do not become easier to deal with as time progresses.

Up until about a year ago our costs were very manageable but uncontrolled inflation has put our utility costs into a totally different world. Living cost and income need estimates made at retirement are now orders of magnitude different. But we have very few bills so we can still deal with the costs.

Really a different topic and not one I care to focus on here. Besides, most of this is what one of my grandsons is fond of calling "1st world problems." I used to thump him for that but he is too big for that now.

Mounting health problems will eventually get all of us. I am sorry that she has to carry that burden.

Chan Tran · Sep 20, 2023

xkaes said:
I've never had an XK MOTOR. Never had the need for a motor drive. I really like the X-570, but don't have one -- I have a Seagull DF-5000 instead (really the same thing, in Colani clothing):

View attachment 349400

But I recently discovered the Seagull DF-400G. It too takes an auto-winder, has auto & manual shutter speeds to 1/2000 (using a vertical, metal shutter), and has B & T settings and well as multi-exposure capability.

View attachment 349401

It's the kind of Chinese made camera worth buying.

xkaes · Sep 20, 2023

Paul Howell said:
What is the build quality of the Seagulls?

Soon after Minolta concentrated on making MAXXUM gear, they shipped their 35mm camera making to China & Seagull -- X-700, X-570, X-370, X-9, X300n, etc. And when Minolta stopped selling their 35mm cameras, Seagull kept the production lines rolling -- with new names on the face. In addition, they created numerous cameras based on the Minolta X-370/X-570 with additional features -- vertical metal shutters to 1/2,000 with no batteries needed, etc. Same with Minolta lenses.

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

Paul Howell · Sep 20, 2023

So I take it Seagull used the tools and dyes from the old Minolta X line? I might add one to my bag.

xkaes · Sep 20, 2023

Paul Howell said:
So I take it Seagull used the tools and dyes from the old Minolta X line? I might add one to my bag.

It's the same assembly line -- that Minolta abandoned. Minolta couldn't do anything with it. Why would Seagull change it? Actually they did, by creating NEW "Minolta" film SLRs with new mixes of features. How about an X-370 without a meter? Or with a TTL meter, but without auto-exposure? The list goes on and on. And you can use any Rokkor-mount lens on them!

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

Les Sarile · Sep 20, 2023

How smooth is the frame advance of the Seagull compared to the XE-7 or XD-11?

John Wiegerink · Sep 21, 2023

Pioneer said:
Yes. My wife very firmly notified me that mine own collection tendencies had passed from "phase" to "obsession" about the time the 4th SRT-101 entered the house.

"But dear...if one breaks I'll have a spare..."

My wife said the same, only she says I'm now out of the "phase" and "obsession" area and now it's "hoarding". I'm near 74 and like you it's time for me to thin things out. As for me, I'm into the thinking phase, but the thinking and sorting phase is taking just a little too long for her.

Sirius Glass · Sep 21, 2023

John Wiegerink said:
My wife said the same, only she says I'm now out of the "phase" and "obsession" area and now it's "hoarding". I'm near 74 and like you it's time for me to thin things out. As for me, I'm into the thinking phase, but the thinking and sorting phase is taking just a little too long for her.

As my girlfriend tells me, "You worked your career earning money to pay for things others needed or thought that they needed. Now is your time in life so if you want something, will use it and enjoy it, then certainly you should buy it." I personally do not hoard; I keep things from hoarders.

4season · Sep 21, 2023

Paul Howell said:
So I take it Seagull used the tools and dyes from the old Minolta X line? I might add one to my bag.

Minolta - PRC connection dates back further, to the 1970s, in the case of the Pearl River S-201.

xkaes · Sep 21, 2023

Well it goes back to the 1960's -- but not with Minolta's approval -- and years before the Pearl River of 1973.

China's first 35mm SLR had a 39mm screw mount -- in the 1950's -- then they tried the M42 mount, and even the Canon breech mount.

Seagull finally got it right with the DF in the mid 60's. It had a Minolta SR mount but Minolta had nothing to do with it.

Their cooperating together did not happen until the late 1980's, after Minolta had moved on to the Maxxum gear, and wanted a place to make their manual-focus stuff. By then several Chinese companies were making several different cameras (all mechanical) with SR mounts.

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

xkaes · Sep 21, 2023

Les Sarile said:
How smooth is the frame advance of the Seagull compared to the XE-7 or XD-11?

It's the same as on the X-370, X-570, X-9, X-700, etc.. The XE-7, XG and XD are different.

Pioneer · Sep 21, 2023

John Wiegerink said:
My wife said the same, only she says I'm now out of the "phase" and "obsession" area and now it's "hoarding". I'm near 74 and like you it's time for me to thin things out. As for me, I'm into the thinking phase, but the thinking and sorting phase is taking just a little too long for her.

I have been in that phase for a while now. Unfortunately thinking and sorting means I seem to pull things out again after they have already been sorted and boxed.

So far the general trend on this thread has been to keep the Pentax equipment. Yesterday I boxed up the Minolta gear. I kept one camera and three lenses out but at the end I suspect they will end up going as well.

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 21, 2023

The day will come when I will be faced with the same issue. My 35mm cameras consists of K1000's, ME, ME Super, LX, Spotmatic, Minolta SRT, A1, Nikkormat, OM's, Konika...Then I have some rangefinders... I'll probably keep the K1000 because I have some decent lenses for it, Pentax is still around and there is the possibility that we may see a new film camera from them again...and it was the first camera I learnt photography with.
Then there's medium format cameras... large format...

Pioneer · Sep 21, 2023

Andrew O'Neill said:
The day will come when I will be faced with the same issue. My 35mm cameras consists of K1000's, ME, ME Super, LX, Spotmatic, Minolta SRT, A1, Nikkormat, OM's, Konika...Then I have some rangefinders... I'll probably keep the K1000 because I have some decent lenses for it, Pentax is still around and there is the possibility that we may see a new film camera from them again...and it was the first camera I learnt photography with.
Then there's medium format cameras... large format...

I know the K1000 doesn't get a lot of love from some people but that is one tough camera in my experience. Plus, there are so many donor cameras out there that I seriously doubt parts for repairs will be a problem in the future.

I don't really want to think about it but if I ever got to the point where I had to cull it all back to one camera and lens I am pretty sure I would be carrying the K1000 and M 50/2. I have owned and used that camera and lens for so many years that I don't even really have to think about it anymore. Of course my eyes aren't getting any better so the LX with the FC-1 viewfinder and FB-1 eyepiece would be a very close 2nd in my mind.

Pioneer · Sep 21, 2023

Andrew O'Neill said:
Then there's medium format cameras... large format...

Oh don't get me started on MF. My Pentax 645s are not going anywhere! Period.

That is the only system where I actually seriously considered going full-on digital. I have played with 35mm digital off and on, but never seriously. However I rented that 645 D four or five times in 6 months before finally deciding against it. And when the Z came out it started all over again.

Believe it or not it was Adox CMS 20 II Pro film that finally put the stake in that vampire for me. I can get amazing results out of 645 with that film that seriously outdoes any digital camera I have ever tried at just about any enlargement.

Helge · Sep 21, 2023

Paul Howell said:
What is the high end body of the Minolta, do you have a XK? I looked at the XK when I upgraded from a F to F2, nice features, great lens, but I needed to buy both an XK and XK motor to meet my needs, not to mention that my employer at the time used and issued Nikon. I have a 700 which I quite like, but seems that the LX wins out in terms of pro level bodies. LX, K2motor, MX, hard to beat.

Thing is, pros need pro bodies.
We are not pros.
Long term reliability is not even necessarily a requirement for pros. Serviceability and reparability is.
One example is the F3 LCD where Nikon advised a replacement after a number of years.
Just go with the one you like and that works.

If I had to chose only two 135 SLR MF bodies from any brand it would be X-700 and XD-7.

For what little it’s worth I have avoided the LX because of rumors of flakiness and impossibility of repair.
I might be very wrong though.

Helge · Sep 21, 2023

Pioneer said:
I am pretty sure I would be carrying the K1000 and M 50/2.

Why not the M 50/1.7? One of the Crown Jewels of Pentax program.

Pioneer · Sep 21, 2023

Helge said:
Why not the M 50/1.7? One of the Crown Jewels of Pentax program.

Sure. Thanks for bringing that up. I do have and use a couple of those as well. A Pentax-A and a Pentax-M. They are better lenses for sure and pretty much the same size and weight for all practical purposes.

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 21, 2023

Pioneer said:
Oh don't get me started on MF. My Pentax 645s are not going anywhere! Period.

That is the only system where I actually seriously considered going full-on digital. I have played with 35mm digital off and on, but never seriously. However I rented that 645 D four or five times in 6 months before finally deciding against it. And when the Z came out it started all over again.

Believe it or not it was Adox CMS 20 II Pro film that finally put the stake in that vampire for me. I can get amazing results out of 645 with that film that seriously outdoes any digital camera I have ever tried at just about any enlargement.

CMS 20 II in 120?? I have it in 4x5, but hoping they can once again produce it in 120 again!

Pioneer · Sep 21, 2023

Andrew O'Neill said:
CMS 20 II in 120?? I have it in 4x5, but hoping they can once again produce it in 120 again!

I am down to my last three rolls so I am waiting as well.

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 21, 2023

Pioneer said:
I am down to my last three rolls so I am waiting as well.

I really do hope that Adox is able to get that 120 machine going asap. Not only do I want CMS 20II, but I also want their other offerings in 120.

Andrew O'Neill · Sep 21, 2023

Sorry for steering this thread off topic! Bad moderator! Bad boy!
I'd be curious to hear what your decision will be, and reasons! Maybe you could put one kit away and only use the other for a few outings. Then switch and do the same...

Minolta or Pentax. One System has to go.

xkaes

Paul Howell

Les Sarile

Sirius Glass

Chan Tran

xkaes

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Les Sarile

John Wiegerink

Sirius Glass

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Minolta or Pentax. One System has to go.

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