Easy to use, great lenses, metering, shutter accuracy. Bright, clear viewfinder. Looks and feels nice; more accessories than you'll probably ever need. DOF, choice of automatic exposure modes. Light and durable.

Minolta is no more! No servicing available: find your own spare parts and look desperately around for a local camera repair man.

No indication in viewfinder of set shutter speed (in manual mode).

Film is for saddo Luddites (like me), isn't it?

Bought for £250 new in 1991.

The X-700 was my first and until recently only SLR, and it has unfailingly produced perfectly-exposed, pin-sharp photos, with gorgeous colour rendition(given the right film and lighting). I've found that bounce flash exposures produce picture quality that I simply cannot imagine being bettered in the 35mm format. Meter, lenses and shutter are all spot-on. No complaints on those scores. It is simple and intuitive to use, as solidly built as you can expect from a plastic-based camera, and has a nice feel. The viewfinder is bright and the focussing aids crisp and accurate. The camera is also durable, surviving several drops and bangs with no (functional) ill-effects, resolutely refusing to let in sand when taken to windy beaches, resistant to light rain and strong heat, and able to function in lower temperatures than I can.

However, as someone who has always shot mainly in manual mode, I have over the years become increasingly irked by the viewfinder's lack of indication of the set shutter speed. Having to take my eye from the viewfinder, check the shutter speed dial and then recompose (and often re-focus) is extremely annoying and certainly takes away from the pleasure of photography. The slow flash-sync speed denies one many of the most useful functions of flash, and the lack of an effective double-exposure mechanism limits one's ability to create a fantastical negative. Also, the absence of mirror lock-up means that ultimate camera stillness is not available.

I've still got my X-700, though, and I still use it; I sent it for repair a couple of years after I got it, when the mirror kept staying up too long, but it has never needed further attention. Just as well too. I think Minolta was like an irresponsible mother, bearing beautiful children but not interested in looking after them. And now she's gone.

Customer Service

Good at the time but no longer available.

Similar Products Used:

MInolta SRT 102 and XD7; and Hi-Matic 7s.

-Excellent Quality build, very strong -A great assortment of manual lenses and accessories still available for great prices -Great Manual control -AE lock AND Exposure Compensation on the same camera -Best of all, great quality pictures!!!

-Sync speed set at 1/60 of a second -Max 1/1000th second shutter -Program AE sometimes unrealiable -Camera won't function if battery is dead -Film loading sometimes cumbersome

During Highschool, I used my own Canon FTb SLR, although a great camera, lens and accessories were hard to come by and were expensive. However, I also had the chance to use the Minolta X-700 and was blown away from the quality. After looking at several camera stores, I finally tried eBay and got a great deal on an X-700 with 4 genuine Minolta lenses, case, flash, everything in Mint Condition for about $350 Cnd!!! Compared to what Henry's camera wanted, $250 Cnd just for the X700 body! Anyway, I was very pleased, and when I recieved the camera, I had some Fuji 200 ISO film ready and started taking pictures. The prints I recieved back were great, excellent exposure, and prestine clarity, thanks to the great lenses I had (my favourite being the Rokker-X 135mm) I love the variety of controls, including AE lock and Exposure compensation to help under different lighting conditions, and having a DOF preivew button and shutter release connection for long exposures really comes in handy. The Program AE mode works well when I need a shot fast, but sometimes is unrealible in extreme differences in lighting. However, I primarly use the apeture priority mode because I usually take landscapes, people, etc... shutter priority is not a concern for me. Although 1/1000 shutter is decent, I wish it were faster, when you compare to today's SLR's with their 1/8000th second speed. As well, the flash sync speed of 1/60th a second can be annoying for action shots in lower light. The body is very sturdy and built very well with a solid, heavy feel that is missing in todays midrange SLR's. The battery life is good, however, the problem is if the battery dies, the camera will not function. Thats a feature I loved about my FTb, it was all mechanical and didnt require a battery to release the shutter. The LED's used to show exposure are very straight forward and I find it very easy to set up my shot. The one major gripe I have with the X-700 is it's film loading. First, you must insert the film in the white grove, the manually wind, and advance the film lever. This can waste time when you need to change fast, as sometimes, the film can slip out and you must start again. My Canon Ftb, I just placed the film on the wheel, shut the door and advanced, took less than 10 seconds, and that was back in 1973! Lenses and accessories are still readily available from camera stores and online sites like eBay. I recently purchased a 50mm 1:1 Macro lens for only $160 Cnd in literlly perfect condition, and takes wonderful closeups. I also ordered a 35mm lens for standard shots so I'm ready to shoot in almost any situation. Overall, I'm very happy with my Minolta X-700, I got it for an excellent price, and couldn't be happier with the picture quality this camera produces, I'll be using it for years to come! Thanks for reading!

Similar Products Used:

Canon FTb

Very reliable...a real workhorse.

Programmable metering isn't very reliable. Apeture or fully manual mode are more reliable.

I've owned this camera since 1987 and still going strong. The x-700 is probably the most dependable and bang for the buck for its generation of SLRs. Unfortunately, it is also the start of the generation where SLRs in general are made of plastic. Probable the last of the Minolta line of SLRs worth holding onto as a hobbiest/amature/collector.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F2A, Nikon FM, Rolleflex TLR

Lots of features Accurate program and AE exposure modes Long battery life Lots of used lenses available

It won't work when the battery dies (unlike my old SRT-201) Limited availability of new Minolta lenses

As noted in the other reviews, this is a really great workhorse camera. I usually use it in the manual mode with a hand held incident light meter. However, when I'm feeling lazy or am photographing something with a lot of activity the aperture priority or program modes do a fine job of getting a good exposure. Under normal use (whatever that is) I typically get around 1 year life out of the battery.

Customer Service

The exposure counter stopped working after about 15 years of use. It was repaired, along with a clean and adjust, at my local camera shop.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SRT-201, Minolta AL, Minolta Autocord

Almost all

1.60 th flash sync ... 1000th sec speed .as max..

This is one of the best cameras ever made at all!! Do we need to say more about this pearl of a camera which has not been said?? It is one of the most homogenic products whether youre a Pro or amateur or simple user of making photos of high quality! I mean You can have it all in one body and add more if you like. I Think it is one of the photoworlds best buy in the history.

Customer Service

nope

Similar Products Used:

Nikon Fe-2(a little better perhaps?)

Small and lightweight Expandable Tons of great used lenses Low price

No mirror lockup No double-exposure capability Fastest shutter speed is 1/1000th sec

This is an excellent camera in all respects. It's simple to operate, has advanced features that let you be (almost) as creative as you want to be, and can be found for less than a hundred dollars US. The real strength of this camera is flexibility. You can take pictures simply by following a few simple steps, which while somewhat complicated to recall, only need to be done once. You set the camera to "P" mode, then set the lens to the smallest f-stop, then load the film then set the ASA speed, then focus, then shoot. If you use only one speed film, all you do once the initial setup is done is load film, focus, and shoot. Flash photography is just as simple with Minolta's dedicated flashes - attach flash, turn it on, and shoot. You get TTL (through-the-lens) exposure for perfect flash results every time. That being said, the X-700 is also capable of letting you make as many mistakes as you want. You can let the camera select the shutter speed for any aperture you select, or you can ignore the meter and set the shutter speed and aperture yourself. You can do long exposures with a cable release, but two gripes here - there is no mirror lockup and there is no way to do double exposures (without going to great lengths). The lens that is often found with this camera, the 50mm f1.7, is a stellar performer. You won't find glass that good in anyone else's line for the price. To top it all off, the accessory line up for the X-700 is nothing but first class all the way. There's a motor drive with 5fps speed, several powerful and advanced flash units, a multi-function back that lets you take a whole sequence of exposures over long periods of time, and a fully funtional wireless remote system. A great camera that can grow with you. Don't let this beauty slip away if you get a chance to try one.

Similar Products Used:

Many manual and AF 35mm SLRs.

- Many lens available (also inexpensive) - Durable - small consumption of power - Clear Screen - Accurate auto exposure system - EV compensation - Aperature Priority mode - Program Flash - Winder - see the f/stop thru the screen - Slow shutter audio warning - light indication when using the 10-secs self-timer - good for Manual Camera beginner and for professional

- can have a more and more clear body, - no more production.... WHY ??? - Some accessories won't be available today... like the flash, winder.

An excellent Camera provides all basis functions of what I needs. This camera provides many good assistant functions to photographer (i.e. AEL / EV+/- / Bulb / P-mode / Av mode / Winder / Program Flash / Date Back). I used Minolta SRT101b before I purchase the X-700 at 1993, and has enough knowledge on how to operate an manual operated camera without electronics assitant. Therefore, I can have none complain with it. If we compare it to the modern High-end SLR system, the only 2 weakness are : the Screen is not ULTRA fine (in compare to the modern laser matte screen) and 1/60 Flash sync. Some owners said that the screen should read the current Shutter speed setting.... well, I think they should use more of their camera and learn how to 'feel' the shutter dial. Someday, you will know what the shutter speed is without looking at it. The system is much much much better than the previous needle meter. Anyway, Photographer do take photos, not the camera.

Customer Service

Yes, for annual system checking..... We never know what's happening inside.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SRT101b, Nikon F90, Canon 10D,

The amount of accessories available, many still manufactured; a solid well designed construction; an excellent bright & clear viewfinder; the Minolta MD lens range; ease of use

It's not the best looking camera, an Olympus OM2n certainly looks nicer. Maybe Minolta should consider designing an X-770s or something...

Lacking in a decent manual SLR, I spent a lot of time looking into a camera that would suit my needs and wouldn't burn a hole in my pocket (like a Nikon FM2 would have). I did most of my searching in magazines and over the internet, but finally getting to finger some particular models in person I decided the choice would between either an Olympus OM2/OM2n or a Minolta X-700. In the end the Minolta one over due to the sheer amount of cheap & better quality accessories you could buy for it. Upon purchasing this camera I found it lived up to every expectation, its very solid and the design is pretty much flawless. I also bought a pair of Minolta lens's at the same time, a one Rokkor PG 50mm F1.4 MC lens and a Minolta 50mm F1.7 lens, both are very well made and the optical performance is increadible. I also own a Carl Zeiss Planar 50mm lens for another camera, and I've got to say I prefere the build quality of the Minolta lens's over the Zeiss lens I own. Optical performance is also very tight, esspecially with the later Minolta lens, although Carl Zeiss lens slightly out performs it. This Minolta X-700 suit's pretty much all my needs at the moment, it's a great student camera. Considering it's performance and how much I payed for it, I'd certainly take it over any mid-range fully automatic SLR. I might consider replacing it with a Minolta Dynax 7 or 9 one day though.

Customer Service

I doubt I'll ever get to try this out.

Similar Products Used:

Praktica BCA, Yashica FX-D, Canon EOS 1000Fn

Handel and optics..

Minolta don´t have a new fully manual SLR in their program like a updated version of X-700.

I have had this X-700 for two years now, and it is the best I ever have used. I have sold all my AF slr:s but this will stay for ever, I have taken about 1000 pictures now with no failure. After many years of searching for good SLR:s I went back to this, I think it says all..

Similar Products Used:

Nikon, Canon, Hasseblad

Light weight, TTL metering, bright viewfinder, program mode, not too expensive, reliable, DOF preview

No mirror lock up, poor material quality

This is a very good camera for beginner to intermediate professional. TTL metering, 360PX TTL flash, 80PX TTL ring flash, aperture priority, these are for pro. Program mode is for beginner. Light weight trade off for poor material quality. Overall is good for beginner but has feature that pro would needs.

Similar Products Used:

XK, SRT-101, XE-1, XD-11, SR-1