Minolta X-700
Manufactured from 1982 to 2006 by Minolta Camera Co. of Osaka, Japan. Minolta’s “Multi-Program System” 35mm SLR camera (hence the “MPS” on the front). It’s longevity is related to it’s simple but useful design and it’s wide range of available accessories. It has an electronically controlled cloth focal plane shutter giving settable speeds of 1 sec to 1/1000 sec and program controlled speeds down to 30 seconds. The camera has a full Program auto exposure mode, Aperture priority auto exposure mode and full Manual. (Missing is a Shutter priority mode, but that never seemed to lesson the camera’s popularity!) It can use the Rokkor MC mount lenses all the way back from the 1960s in “A” and “M”, but requires the MD mount (same physical mount, extra lug and lock) for “P” mode. It offers a very bright, split-image focusing screen with mode and shutter speed electronic indicators and a “view” of the actual aperture dial on the lens in the viewfinder. It has a self timer, exposure compensation and a cable release socket that would use “traditional” mechanical cable release and also Minolta proprietary electronic cable releases. It is powered by two MS-76 silver oxide batteries.
This specific camera is one I bought new in the 80’s and have put over 1,000 rolls of film through. It is shown with an MD-1 3.5fps motor drive and a Minolta MD 35-70mm f/3.5 two ring zoom (a personal favorite).
As Minolta crossed into the autofocus market in 1985, they didn’t want to abandon the millions of MC/MD lenses owned by Minolta fans all over the globe. The X-700 stayed in limited production—and you could always buy a new one—up until they got out of the camera business in 2006. Some of the Rokkor lenses rival the glass of today in sharpness and color clarity. For a “serious” portrait work, I still will break out this camera and an Minolta MD 85mm f/2 lens for the session…
See also: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltax700
Minolta X-700
Manufactured from 1982 to 2006 by Minolta Camera Co. of Osaka, Japan. Minolta’s “Multi-Program System” 35mm SLR camera (hence the “MPS” on the front). It’s longevity is related to it’s simple but useful design and it’s wide range of available accessories. It has an electronically controlled cloth focal plane shutter giving settable speeds of 1 sec to 1/1000 sec and program controlled speeds down to 30 seconds. The camera has a full Program auto exposure mode, Aperture priority auto exposure mode and full Manual. (Missing is a Shutter priority mode, but that never seemed to lesson the camera’s popularity!) It can use the Rokkor MC mount lenses all the way back from the 1960s in “A” and “M”, but requires the MD mount (same physical mount, extra lug and lock) for “P” mode. It offers a very bright, split-image focusing screen with mode and shutter speed electronic indicators and a “view” of the actual aperture dial on the lens in the viewfinder. It has a self timer, exposure compensation and a cable release socket that would use “traditional” mechanical cable release and also Minolta proprietary electronic cable releases. It is powered by two MS-76 silver oxide batteries.
This specific camera is one I bought new in the 80’s and have put over 1,000 rolls of film through. It is shown with an MD-1 3.5fps motor drive and a Minolta MD 35-70mm f/3.5 two ring zoom (a personal favorite).
As Minolta crossed into the autofocus market in 1985, they didn’t want to abandon the millions of MC/MD lenses owned by Minolta fans all over the globe. The X-700 stayed in limited production—and you could always buy a new one—up until they got out of the camera business in 2006. Some of the Rokkor lenses rival the glass of today in sharpness and color clarity. For a “serious” portrait work, I still will break out this camera and an Minolta MD 85mm f/2 lens for the session…
See also: www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltax700