Minolta X-700; my new friend

[Speed Gray]

Hello again:

During the past three weeks I have acquired a modest Minolta X-700 "kit" including several lenses an other assorted gear; thank you E-Bay! Honestly, I find it amazing how inexpensive this equipment has become due to it's perceived obsolescence. More importantly in the success of my journey back into film is that I am actually going out on shooting trips locally, and really enjoying this activity. Processing chemistry arrived from Freestyle last week, and my 40+ year Kindermann will get it's first workout after long hibernation.

Germaine to this group, although a Minolta user throughout my life, the quality of the X-700 impresses me. There is nothing on this camera I don't like. Further, it's smaller size and lighter weight make it convenient for full-time carry.

I have learned of the few design/engineering/manufacturing flaws with this camera: failed capacitors; film counter; and stuck shutter. I purchased a "junker body" ($5) which will be dissected and serve as a learning experience for disassembly and component layout. No intent necessarily to become a repair expert, but the ability to fix common problems would be nice!

That's enough for now. Thanks for all the guidance some of you have provided. Looks like a beautiful 125 f8 day!

Speed Gray, K8SG
Grand Rapids, MI

 

[a2gemini]

Hi SpeedGray in Grand Rapids,
I saw from some of your other posts that you are a bicyclist as well. I am still trying to figure out the best way to photograph while on my bicycle.

Congratulations on snagging a Minolta X700 camera.
Have you used it?
I have my dads Minolta equipment (including 3 X700 bases) and a few lenses and a lot of filters. Also some really fun items including a right angle lens, copy stand, macro bellows and so much more.
I don't think I am going to try to ressurect using the cameras and lenses but just heard about this group and it is exciting to see that people are still using non-digital cameras.

I live over in A2.
I used to shoot with an SRT101 and sometimes used my dad's X700 cameras.

Hope you didn't get too snowed in last week. We only had a small amount of snow here but heard GR was swamped as well as Negaunee and the Canadian Soo.
A2Gemini

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, Speed Gray, and A2gemini also;

Welcome to the group. Also, congratulations Speed on your acquiring your Minolta X-700. That is probably the most versatile camera that Minolta ever produced. With the MPS accessories, you can do anything with it, from micro-photography to astro-photography. I like using mine with the MD-1 Motor Drive on it. Then it just fits my larger hands, and everything is right where my fingers expect to find them. A perfect combination for me. It really made the X-700 my favorite Minolta SLR camera body, and I have them starting from the SR-2 through to the Maxxum 9.

And for both of you, I use an odd fanny pack with a shoulder strap for carrying my camera while out on the bicycle. I think that it helps with more security and stability without being constrictive. It does require getting the camera out of the pack to use it, and I have thought of one of the chest carry systems for the camera, but I also like the dust and weather protection that the fanny pack provides.

Yeah, guys, all of us are getting weather; look at poor Buffalo, New York. And it is raining here right now and will be for the next five days with an inch of rain per day expected here. There is a reason why they call this the Evergreen State; all the moss that grows here.

Speed, nice to see you here. K8SG de N7KGA 73 k

Enjoy;

Ralph
Latte Land, Washington

 

[StephenT]

I also enjoy my 700's. I use a handheld meter whenever possible.

73, W4IJ, Steve

 

[a2gemini]

We are still getting weather! I was hoping to go back to Soo Canada to get ice cave pictures again this year but it has been really cold even in southern Michigan. We went up there last year and the caves were amazing. Different than Apostle Island caves but still spectacular.

If anyone in the group is interested in an X700, I have several of them in great condition. I will probably keep one but would love to share with anyone who would use the cameras. Also lots of filters and a few extra lenses.

 

[Cycler]

Great bit of kit! Just before "Doh!" (igital) came out we got a dealer in used kit. So my X-700 now sports a 35-135mm zoom. Best lens I ever had, paired with a Cosina 19-35mm presented to me for 25 years of slaving in various jobs in the same company. Also being into cycling I'm now using 400 ISO film in case I have the 'shakes' after riding.

 

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, all;

Nice to see that there is still activity with the Minolta Group. And it is also intriguing how many combine an interest in photography with an interest in radio and "wireless" communications. Why did I put that "wireless" in quotation marks? Well, anyone who has looked at a working radio station will confirm that it seems to take an amazing amount of wire to make the thing work. And, for Cycler, I did that also, but now all I have left is a folding bicycle that is carried in the motor home as the "toad" for use in running down to a grocery store or some similar short range activity. All my racing bicycles were from the 1960s which was also the time that I was actively campaigning. I really do still miss my old Campagnolo equipped Avanti from Sweden that was made of brazed Reynolds 531 tubing. Now there are other toys, such as the radios, and the motor home, and the C-172, but I may not have the C-172 around much more. I do not know if I will be able to maintain the medical too much longer.

Still, things are happening with the Minolta equipment. Just today I picked up a Minolta MC W. ROKKOR-HH 35mm f/1.8 wide angle lens in the MC-II lens series with the "Berg und Tal" focusing grip along with its lens mounted stop-down lever from probably the 1970-1972 time period. It was a little more expensive than I thought, but it is also in pretty good condition, and the local camera guy said that he wanted me to have it, because he knows that I like and appreciate Minolta equipment, but he also knew he could get more for it if he offered it to someone with one of the modern DSLR cameras with an APS-C sensor where the 35mm focal length works out to about a 56mm focal length which is fairly nice for a "normal" lens focal length. The glass really looks nice. Maybe it was a good thing that I have done what I can to keep his shop in business over a multiple year time period.

Still doing things with Minolta cameras. Even looked at the Minolta Polaroid camera yesterday. And with the really odd weather we are having out here this winter, I am taking photographs of flowers, budding and flowering trees, and all kinds of other Spring-like weather things. And not one day this year on ski patrol. No snow up at our ski area.

W4IJ et K8SG de N7KGA K

Enjoy; Ralph, Latte Land, Washington

 

[yudiandra]

Hi there all mate!

I had a fair share of time spent with my Minolta X-700 and indeed it is so lovely but yea i noticed those problems u mentions earlier tho. Anw, everythin else comes good and handheld lightmeter is a lovely options there is!

Just got here and could consider myself new in this forum but thanks for sharing those kind words around the lovely X-700!

Recently my X-700 just got sidelined bcs of the arrival of my Olympus XA rangefinder. But being a different class, I will use both for works.

Cheers mate, happy day to u all