Most reliable manual focus Minolta bodies

[George Mann]

Did Minolta make any manual focus bodies that are truly reliable? I like the way their lenses render B&W.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

Which part must be reliable?

SRT models surely are, XE models are nearly there and to me best of MF line up. On XE the only thing I've "suffered" from is film advance lever going lose inside (a rather common) so film advance is not working as it should. At least you know film did not advance, so no surprise after a roll is done, you either get next frame or don't. On one body I need to go a few times before I get it advance. From what I've heard rather easy fix, but it is an inside job.

Then I'll say X bodies are great and capacitor seems the only frequent problem people talk about. So far I have not had it on mine, but I will change caps when I get a chance.

I would not call XD reliable at all.

 

[bluechromis]

I have had no problems with an XD-11 (XD-f7) body.

 

[BSP]

I am liking my XG-1 so much that I picked up a XD-5 as a backup. They are so cheap and the lenses are so nice that I am building strength through numbers

 

[absalom1951]

I have several SRT models and they are all reliable . My SRT 201 is my go-to winter camera - its very reliable unless the temp falls below zero F ,

 

[Chan Tran]

The SRT series are very reliable. I have the XD-11 and it's working fine but it doesn't seem to be as reliable as the SRT series. I doubt that the XE are more reliable. I had the XK before I sold it to a Photrio member. It's a great camera but I am not sure it's more reliable than the SRT series.I don't have any of the X series except the XD-11 but I heard they tend to have the capacitor problem.

 

[Paul Howell]

I have a 201 and 101, other than a CLA no issues with reliability, lens are very good, Minolta made their own glass. My X700 needs a CLA, just need to get around to sending it out.

 

[russell_w_b]

I was given three Minolta cameras, gratis, earlier this year. A 1967 SR-1 V, a 1977 SRT 200 and a faulty XG-7, date unknown. The SR-1V and the SRT200 are bomb-proof: solid mechanical beasts with fastest shutter speeds of 1/500 and 1/1000 respectively. The XG7 plastic components around and beneath the rewind crank degrade and break, although I believe someone out there will make them on a 3-D printer. I wasn't impressed with it, but it was kind of someone to give me it!

I would recommend the older Minoltas, most definitely, but the cheesy plastic of the XG-7 has coloured my judgement and I don't like it. I have a Canon AE-1 (also gratis) from 1979 which works a treat, the plastic of which is intact (battery door corner excepted) and I love it.
--

Regds,

R.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I had many Minoltas SR-7 through X700 and I only had a shutter problem with the SR-7 and that was minor.

 

[Martin Rickards]

I upgraded to an X500 when my SRT101 had a problem with a stuck meter needle after about 40 years of service. I fully expect it to outlive me.

 

[Pentode]

I’m a big Minolta fan and I’ve used and abused the manual focus bodies from every series. The SRTs are, without doubt, the most reliable bodies Minolta ever made. They’re simple and bulletproof.

All of the models with electronically regulated shutters are now very old and, for whatever reason, those electronics often get dodgy on Minoltas. I love my XE-7s and I love my XD-11s even more. They’re wonderful cameras. They are not, however, anywhere near as reliable as the SRTs. 20 years ago they were but not anymore.

I had the XK before I sold it to a Photrio member. It's a great camera but I am not sure it's more reliable than the SRT series.

I’m the member who purchased it and it is, in fact, a great camera. It’s the second one I’ve had in 20 years and, sadly, the second that needed extensive - and expensive - repairs. It is definitely not as reliable as the SRT series. Great when it’s working....

 

[George Mann]

Which SRTs use modern batteries?

 

[Paul Howell]

I don't think any do, might be wrong, my 101 and 202 use mercury batteries, I run them off zinc air hearing aid batteries. You can find the manuals on line. For a modern battery, X series.

 

[Huss]

My Sr1s looks like new and has never had any issues with batteries, electronics etc.
A gorgeous camera.

 

[Pentode]

Which SRTs use modern batteries?

None, but they have enough adjustment (usually) to be recalibrated to use an SR-44 (or 375) and an adapter. Or, as Paul points out you can always use a hearing aid battery with no adjustments needed.

My Sr1s looks like new and has never had any issues with batteries, electronics etc.
A gorgeous camera.

Gorgeous, indeed, Huss. Small and simple and graceful. I’ve run into several with winding and/or shutter issues, though. They are close to 60 years old, after all! I ended up combining two to make one good one.

 

[Chan Tran]

Which SRTs use modern batteries?

None but I use my SRT's without battery. Much more fun that way. If it's not for fun really why should I use such old cameras?

 

[Huss]

None, but they have enough adjustment (usually) to be recalibrated to use an SR-44 (or 375) and an adapter. Or, as Paul points out you can always use a hearing aid battery with no adjustments needed.


Gorgeous, indeed, Huss. Small and simple and graceful. I’ve run into several with winding and/or shutter issues, though. They are close to 60 years old, after all! I ended up combining two to make one good one.

But when you already have one perfect one!

 

[Pentode]

But when you already have one perfect one!

...you've won the SR-1 lottery!!

 

[DF]

I've been using nothing but X-700's for over 30 years now. Want to get an SRT as well.
'Not sure what you mean by "reliable" - ALL cameras, reguardless of make, need to be serviced sooner or later even if they're still working properly, should get cleaned/lubed.
Yes, MD & MD Rokkor lenses are excellent optical glass.

 

[Les Sarile]

If you haven't already visited, then you need to check out Anthony Hands http://rokkorfiles.com/Cameras.html. This is a great Minolta site but unfortunately there is one glaring omission and that is of the XE series. In my opinion, this is one camera that really needs to be experienced.

 

[mklw1954]

Besides two SRT-201s, I have two X-700s, two X-370s, an XD-11, and an XG-1, and never had a problem with them. I had all of them CLA'd by Garry's Camera at different times at least 10 years ago. A 675 hearing aid battery in the SRT201 provides accurate metering.

 

[Helge]

In my eyes the focus screen used in the last XD and X series is just the epitome of focus screens.
They combine the rare traits of being bright and sharp and big.
That to me trumps most other considerations.

It is possible to find a reliable, working X700 or XD7. And it is worth paying for the CLA.

Minolta optics is simply second to none.
I’d say overall the strongest lineup overall of all the major manufacturers, perhaps only with Nikons as a draw.

The 135 2.8, 24 2.8 and 50 1.4 especially are simply the best lenses of their type all parameters considered.

 

[naaldvoerder]

My X700 has proved to be very reliable. It has been with me on the Inca trail, in Wadi Rum, in Syria, in the jungle of Guatemala, a lot of the time suspended from my belt loop using a musketon hook. I dislike using shoulder straps. It never failed. My set of primes have been maintaining their excellent shape as well. Focusing on all of them is still very tight and smooth, rivaling my C/Y Zeiss lenses. If I am really honest surpassing them. The X700 was in production for some 20 years. That was not because it was a crappy camera.

 

[naaldvoerder]

In my eyes the focus screen used in the last XD and X series is just the epitome of focus screens.
They combine the rare traits of being bright and sharp and big.
That to me trumps most other considerations.

+1
At the time it was announced as the Acute Matt Focusing screen, supposedly something "new". I thought is was just advertising jargon back then, but in retrospect, it isn't. I think the screens in the X series have very few rivals even today.

 

[pbromaghin]

My beloved X570 has been through a lot, getting brassy in all the right places, and never failed me, except when the light seals got old, but they've been replaced. My X-370 has been very reliable, but that showed up new-in-box just a couple years ago. Haven't had the SRT-201 long enough to really say. Like others, I use it without the battery.

The bad news is 3 out of 4 X700s are just dead. The good news is that the dealer I got the SRT from said it was only a couple years, near the middle of their run, and a certain range of serial numbers that received the bad capacitors. The early and late ones should be good to go. I can't remember the range of numbers, though.