Minolta x700 using MC Rokkor Lens

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I am looking for a Minolta SLR body that is suitable with my glass. I have some MC lenses and am interested in the X700 (really like the lighter weight body) and read that MC lenses have limited functionality. Anybody know what that means? Or suggest another model that would work. Thanks

Fulcanelli said:

I am looking for a Minolta SLR body that is suitable with my glass. I have some MC lenses and am interested in the X700 (really like the lighter weight body)

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The X-700 is a nice camera. Some of them, though, have had failure of a rather important capacitor. It can be replaced by those who know what they're doing. Mine has never had that issue.

Fulcanelli said:

and read that MC lenses have limited functionality. Anybody know what that means?

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The difference between an MC and MD lens on the X-700 is only the presence of a lock at its minimum aperture setting plus a little tab that signals the camera that it's there and that an MD lens is attached. The reason for using that minimum setting is to ensure that the camera has the full range of apertures to work with in P mode. The lock is not necessary for P mode operation - just setting the aperture to minimum is enough, although the camera will 'warn' you that it hasn't detected an MD lens.

Fulcanelli said:

Or suggest another model that would work. Thanks

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The sister model is the X-500 (AKA X-570). It doesn't offer P mode, so the difference between MC and MD has even less meaning. It might be less prone to capacitor failure, but I'm not sure. The '3' series like X-300 have less sophisticated metering and probably some other cut corners.

The previous generation XD5/XD7/XD11 models are also well regarded, depending on what you like. They have one advantage of working at the sync speed of 1/100s even with no battery, and they make multiple exposures easier. Again, MC or MD lenses will work equally well with them.

Great info. I think that era of Minolta SLRs is a great suite spot. Light weight, relatively compact, outstanding viewfinder, excellent value. I know I am favoring, but to me the Minolta SLRs and lenses of that era had a certain practical elegance and coherence that I don't find in Canon or, even, Nikon. Triumph of consumerism.

Thanks. This is great information. My SRT101 is broken and I want to get a new body. I "rarely" (can't remember the last time I used it, even with my digital cameras.} Now that you mention the problem with X700 I do recall seeing a video about that with a demo on how to make the repair. I'm not at that level.

I will go through the models you mentioned and see what's available and then compare features.

Thanks again.

Another concern I have is the battery, replacements for the old mercury batteries. I saw there is an adapter I can buy - and also I think I saw a video about a way to rig it up myself but I'm not good at that.

tHANKS

Fulcanelli said:

Another concern I have is the battery, replacements for the old mercury batteries. I saw there is an adapter I can buy - and also I think I saw a video about a way to rig it up myself but I'm not good at that.

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My X700 uses standard LR44 batteries.

Kurt

tr4driver said:

Fulcanelli said:

Another concern I have is the battery, replacements for the old mercury batteries. I saw there is an adapter I can buy - and also I think I saw a video about a way to rig it up myself but I'm not good at that.

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My X700 uses standard LR44 batteries.

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As do the XD models. Compatible batteries also go by other names like A76 and AG13.

If TTL flash or P are not important to you, look for an XGM or the very similar XG-1n (not the same as the XG 1 nor the XG-1) .

ishwanu said:

The sister model is the X-500 (AKA X-570). It doesn't offer P mode, so the difference between MC and MD has even less meaning. It might be less prone to capacitor failure, but I'm not sure. The '3' series like X-300 have less sophisticated metering and probably some other cut corners.

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The X-500 has most of the features of the X-700 (except program mode), plus has a couple of its own. The manual metering system is better implemented, and you can do slow synchro flash using the exposure lock.

MC lenses will work without restrictions on this model.

ishwanu said:

The previous generation XD5/XD7/XD11 models are also well regarded, depending on what you like. They have one advantage of working at the sync speed of 1/100s even with no battery, and they make multiple exposures easier. Again, MC or MD lenses will work equally well with them.

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The XD7 (XD11) doesn't have TTL flash but in my opinion feels much nicer to use than the X or XG cameras. More metal is used in the construction (including the top and base plates), the wind on and shutter release feel silky smooth, and this camera was used as the basis for the Leica R4 and some subsequent models. It might feel more familiar for someone coming from a mechanical Minolta SLR.

MC lenses will work in aperture priority auto or manual modes. In fact they'll work in shutter priority mode too, but without the correct aperture display in the viewfinder.

ishwanu said:

The previous generation XD5/XD7/XD11 models are also well regarded, depending on what you like. They have one advantage of working at the sync speed of 1/100s even with no battery, and they make multiple exposures easier. Again, MC or MD lenses will work equally well with them.

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I second the vote for the XD series, they're the nicest built cameras I've ever used, and the XD7/11 is still my favorite. (The XD5 is missing features, so I avoid that. XD7 and XD11 are the same thing.)

You'll get S mode and mostly lose P mode with the XD. Though the lack of the min aperture tab for MC lenses means the S mode can't tell you the aperture it chooses (but it still works.) They all work as well as they can with MC lenses, but the lens itself doesn't have the right feature, so the body doesn't change that.

The X- series cameras feel very plasticky by comparison and the shutter has an ugly "clack' sound, compared to a very nice "shick" sound from the XD.

The X- series has other more modern features, like a motor drive (5fps vs a winder 2fps), and TTL flash.

I preferred the X-500/570 vs the X-700 because it's got better viewfinder info.

The XD do feel better (to me anyway) than the X700/500/XGM but the latter have a brighter focsing screen so easier to work with the slower lenses.

I found another X-700 which will (hopefully) be delivered today. Thanks.

Thanks. As I posted in an earlier post today - I bought another X-700 but I am thinking of getting a second Minolta in the fall so I have one loaded for BW and the other for color. I think I am going with your suggestion on the one you recommend.

One more vote for the XD series. I have a black XD, the Japanese version of the XD7/XD11, and it is one of my absolute favorite manual SLRs. I've owned several X-700s and enjoyed using them, but have always come back to the XD bodies.

Andy

acollins said:

One more vote for the XD series. I have a black XD, the Japanese version of the XD7/XD11, and it is one of my absolute favorite manual SLRs. I've owned several X-700s and enjoyed using them, but have always come back to the XD bodies.

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The black ones do look very nice. Apparently they used the same black chrome finish as the contemporary Leica R cameras. There was also a Minolta XD-s model with a variable dioptre adjustment for the eyepiece like many modern cameras.

Another handy (but not always understood) feature of all the XD cameras was the automatic override of shutter speeds in shutter priority (S) mode. If you set the shutter speed you want and it won't allow a correct exposure at any aperture, the camera will adjust it so you don't get over or under exposed pictures. This can be used as a variable program mode which the cameras seem to lack. Later models were supplied with a "Green for Go!" supplement for the manual which explained some of this, but it works on all of them.

Sorry. Too late - I bought an XD 7 a few days ago. Wink wink. Will be here Monday.

I thought I was getting an XD7 today but as I checked the invoice stating it was out for delivery - I see the camera listed is an XG7 and I am certain I did not order that. Perhaps somewhere along the line I overlooked something - but I am sending it back. So I'm still on the hunt for an XD7

Fulcanelli said:

I thought I was getting an XD7 today but as I checked the invoice stating it was out for delivery - I see the camera listed is an XG7 and I am certain I did not order that. Perhaps somewhere along the line I overlooked something - but I am sending it back. So I'm still on the hunt for an XD7

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That's a shame... an XG7 isn't in the same class at all.

I know. The odd thing is I have a link to the webpage of the camera I thought I was buying and wen I click on it now it displays an XG7. Strange.

Fulcanelli said:

Sorry. Too late - I bought an XD 7 a few days ago. Wink wink. Will be here Monday.

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Awesome choice! One of my favorite cameras, film or digital. Congrats!

Andy