Very easy to use and it has all the features you need to learn photography and grow with it.

This is a fairly old model and although it's still on the market, Minolta seems to have forgoten about it as far a accesories go.

Very sturdy, I've taken this camara everywhere outdoors and it's never failed me. It was my first SLR, and it still meets my needs for landscape and general pictures. It takes great pictures and it's a really nice first camara, but more experienced photographers will probably desire more advanced features and more available accesories.

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Underwater P/S, Nikon FG

I like this camera because it has both a program mode and a manual mode and for its solid feel. I'd recommend it for beginners who want to learn about the effects of manually adjusting aperture, shutter speed and exposure values.

I've used an X-700 for over 10 years and to date I have had no problems.

Beginners interested in learning about cameras and photography should use a camera like this. It's the manual functions that people can learn from. This camera has the manual features that can provide valuable lessons to someone learning how to use a 35mm camera.

Customer Service

I don't know, I've never had to use their customer service.

Similar Products Used:

An older manual Olympus camera.

Reliable, sturdy and the layout is second nature to me. I like the fact that I can still buy a new one if I need to replace it.

None since I bought mine new in 1982.

I do youth sports photography for pocket money and have not seen a need to switch to auto-focus, (I've tried one). This camera is plenty capable even without all the bells and whistles of todays technology.

Customer Service

I've never had to call them for anything so I can't comment.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta XG-M

With the x-700 era cameras, Minolta started designing (IMHO) some of the most ergonomic camera bodies available. I bought my first in the early/mid 80's and still use it today. It's been very dependable even with some less than gentle treatment. This plus the excellent optical design of the late MC/early MD lenses (available used) make for an excellent system. It has it's limits, but it takes awhile to reach them.

In full manual mode, the viewfinder displays only the recommended shutter speed, not what you have set, so you have take your eye away from the camera to double-check your speed.

A very solid manual focus system that is still in production after nearly 2 decades. Minolta has let the MD lens line lapse a little in this autofocus age, but some stellar performers are available on the used market.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

Pentax K-1000, Canon AE-1, Minolta SRT-101

Easy to use. A beginner when I bought it but have learned a lot since and have always found it to suit my needs. It has proven to be fun to experiment with the numerous features, and like I said, I just can't seem to outgow it.

No autofocus (but seldom really had the need)

In reading various photography literature to continuously improve along the way (close to 10 yrs.), I haven't found anything I've wanted to try with photography that I couldn't do with this camera! My range of use has varied from simple candid shots to night photography to portraits. Very pleased!

Customer Service

Once for shutter-release fix

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Nikon

Feeling good, working good, looking good, excellent optics at affordable prices, comprehensive manual focus system.

No shutter priority, no multi-exposure, wrong positioning of power switch that makes me turn on the power accidentally qutie often.

I bought the x700 in 1991 when I was a rookie in photography and I'm still building up the system around this camera with 4 lenses, a motor drive, tripods and flashes right now. I once hated this camera because of the bad photos I'd taken but then I realized it was due to my poor techniques and understanding in photography. I studied hard and now I'm proud being one of the happy x700 users/owners. With a decent lens, like the MD 35-70mm, this camera can take gorgeous pictures just like those "pro" cameras does. I don't blame the camera now but myself if I take bad pictures again. The more I understand about photography, the more I love this camera. FM2n, T90 and LX etc. are also remarkable, but I just can't afford them all so I would still devoted to Minolta.

Customer Service

Not yet required

Similar Products Used:

Canon A-1, Leica R4, Mamiya 7II

Light, splendid results, easy to use & maintain, rugged, wonderful array of lenses and accessories.

None.

An excellent choice for the advanced amateur or eccentric pro who isn't a slave to newfangled gimmicks or autofocus . I used mine extensively for 17 years and it never, ever, gave me any trouble whatsoever. Lots of excellent lenses still available for this fine MF camera, and it's still fully capable of absolutely first-rate work. I suggest the optional MD-1 Motor Drive for even more utility.

Customer Service

Have never used it!

Similar Products Used:

Products from Nikon, Canon, Pentax, Hasselblad, Minox, Olympus, Zeiss Ikon, you name it.

Depth-of-field, Program mode, pc socket, md lenses and accessories.

Slow sync speed "1/60", no manual
backup

This camera lacks some essentials but has made me an x-700 believer. I will build
my 35mm system around this machine. I am a part time professional and i demand
quality vs. function " hense the FM2n" and the x-700 stacks up. I would recommend
this to a beginner or pro. if you can live w/o autofocus the x-700 is a super choice!

Similar Products Used:

Nikon FM2n, F3hp

Easy to use
Decent metering
Bulb shutter setting make it easy to take long exposures
Good selection of lenses available

Top shutter speed of 1/1000
Some of the controls are placed in a way that makes using them awkward, e.g. the exposure compensation requires you to hold a small button down while turing a dial to adjust the exposure +/- setting.

This camera combine the best of both worlds. You can use it in auto mode to let the camera do all the work or go into manual mode. I have always preferred using the manual mode, which makes me think more about all the factors involved in getting a good shot.

Customer Service

Good

Similar Products Used:

None

Built like a rock, 19 years never failed, they still make it!!!!!

Can't buy as much new for it as you used to be able to, but used, everything is cheap.

Don't remember what I paid for it, bought the body to use with 58mm 1.4 and 100-200 zoom that I had with old SRT 202. With the Motor Drive, the sexiest cheap camera there is! And, they still make it!!! That says it all. Bought in 1981(?) with the MD-1 Motor Drive, and it's survived motorcycle trips everywhere since. Still gets looks from photographers everwhere! I may never need another 35mm SLR!

Customer Service

Never needed it.

Similar Products Used:

Other SLR's