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Any Minolta film fans on the forum?

Started May 29, 2019 | Discussions
felix from the suburbs
felix from the suburbs Senior Member • Posts: 1,557
Nostalgia

I own several Minolta film cameras (Maxxum 7000, 9000 and XST) that I had used for a long time and was very happy with them.  I have long thought about getting back into film (really liked slide film), but inertia must have set in because I just keep buying more memory cards instead of film.  I suspect digital has simply become more convenient and grown more familiar to me than film.  Funny thing is that I still read the DPR announcements every time a new slide film is introduced or re-introduced and so I guess the struggle between nostalgia and convenience continues.

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SQLGuy
SQLGuy Forum Pro • Posts: 12,664
Re: Nostalgia

felix from the suburbs wrote:

I own several Minolta film cameras (Maxxum 7000, 9000 and XST) that I had used for a long time and was very happy with them. I have long thought about getting back into film (really liked slide film), but inertia must have set in because I just keep buying more memory cards instead of film. I suspect digital has simply become more convenient and grown more familiar to me than film. Funny thing is that I still read the DPR announcements every time a new slide film is introduced or re-introduced and so I guess the struggle between nostalgia and convenience continues.

I'm not familiar with the XST, but I have a 7000 and a non-working 9000. Though they were pretty good cameras at the time, the technology had advanced tremendously by the end of the Maxxum film line. The Maxxum 7 is a really easy way to shoot film for someone that knows, or has become used to, DSLRs. Much better AF, much better flash support, many more options, exposure mapping on its really useful LCD, and, IMO, best of all, "EXIF", in the form of a memory of exposure information for up to seven rolls of film.

I would definitely recommend the 7, if you want to get some use out of A mount lenses, with a really modern film camera. The only annoyance I've found with it is the lithium batteries it uses, but these can be bought in bulk from Amazon.

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A7R2 with SEL2470Z and a number of adapted lenses (Canon FD, Minolta AF, Canon EF, Leica, Nikon...); A7R converted to IR.

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MikeDV Junior Member • Posts: 26
Re: Nostalgia

I got hooked on photography after taking a B+W photography class my freshman year in high school. We used Minolta SRT bodies for that class but I was able to convince my parents to get me an XG-7 and 50mm 1.7 lens for a combination birthday/Christmas gift that year. I then traded in the XG-7 body for an X-700 when they came out in 1981 and still have the X-700, auto-winder G, 50mm 1.7 and several other lenses today. I also have a Vivitar 283 flash and a bunch of accessories.

Hoping to get back into film in the coming year as I head into retirement.

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Hike Pics
Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: Nostalgia

felix from the suburbs wrote:

I own several Minolta film cameras (Maxxum 7000, 9000 and XST)

I've never heard of a Minolta XST before, either. Perhaps it is an XTsi or STsi?

I just got this about 2 weeks ago, lens included, for $10US.

Hike Pics
Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: Nostalgia

Sounds like a great retirement ahead!

Roger Veteran Member • Posts: 3,292
Going back to film 9000
1

Greetings

Well, here's how I see it. I still own my 9000, 7xi 5xi, 9xi, 7 an 9, along with a few G and other lenses. I'm moving back to film more and more using my Minolta's and a Epson V700 scanner. As cell phones over take digital cameras in sales and photo usage, and the income and sales from digital cameras keep dropping more and more people are moving back to film. It's easier just drop it off your film have it processed pick it up or have it sent to you. I find a lot of the young kids have a cell phone, polaroid, and film camera. The polaroid for fun cell phones for Instagram or what ever, film for the future, to have memories, a print and a negative or slide to hold and look at. Digitals to hard to save. You have to keep buying new types of storage.

Cost of film in USD for me

$2.99 per roll. Color processing $3.75 for C41 $6.00 per roll  for processing and mounted for positive, E6

B&W 100 foot roll 125 ASA with reload cassettes $50.00, processing $10.00 for  chemicals, I process it myself. Scanning free, in house V700

So, Yes, I own my Minolta's and still shoot film in them

Have fun

Roger J

pcunnin Regular Member • Posts: 378
Re: Going back to film 9000

Where do you get your film and processing for so cheaply? B&H sells for $3.50 cheapest I think, locally the cheapest processing for me is around $5 for 1 hour photo (develop only).

The cheap b&w film prices you quoted makes me want to get a bulk roller for B&W film now...

To answer the OP’s question I own a Minolta 70 (Minolta 7 is better but pricey these days) and thoroughly enjoy using it.

Roger wrote:

$2.99 per roll. Color processing $3.75 for C41 $6.00 per roll for processing and mounted for positive, E6

Roger J

Roger Veteran Member • Posts: 3,292
Re: Going back to film 9000

pcunnin wrote:

Where do you get your film and processing for so cheaply? B&H sells for $3.50 cheapest I think, locally the cheapest processing for me is around $5 for 1 hour photo (develop only).

The cheap b&w film prices you quoted makes me want to get a bulk roller for B&W film now...

To answer the OP’s question I own a Minolta 70 (Minolta 7 is better but pricey these days) and thoroughly enjoy using it.

Roger wrote:

$2.99 per roll. Color processing $3.75 for C41 $6.00 per roll for processing and mounted for positive, E6

Roger J

Greetings

Here's one, there are others. You'll have to look and look for 100 foot bulk.

https://www.filmwholesale.com/collections/35mm-camera-film

As for processing

http://www.citizensphoto.com/processing

Here's another Germany company where you get film Kodak movie film processing and a very high scan for about $10.00 USA a roll.

https://silbersalz35.com/

and for E6 Dwayne's Photo at $6.00 per roll mounted.

https://www.dwaynesphoto.com/

For B&W I do my own. My cost is about 50 cents a roll for film and processing.

Have fun good luck

Roger J.

bduncan Contributing Member • Posts: 596
Re: Going back to film 9000

I have 2 X-700 bodies and love them, but they don't see much action these days.

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Bill, Toronto, Canada

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bharathmsk Regular Member • Posts: 190
Re: Any Minolta film fans on the forum?

Got into film with an X570 and a 50mm last month. A couple of rolls in. Loving it!  Cheers!

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Hike Pics
Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Latest Aquisitions

A couple months ago I picked up a Sony A390 so I could use my A mounts with it. I got another 50mm F1.7, 28mm F2.8 and 2 Beercans for fairly cheap. I also have a Maxxum 5xi and a Sigma UC 28-70mm F3.5-4.5 on the way.

I recently picked up a kit that I humorously call "The Christmas Kit" :  Maxxum 330si RZ with red pictograms and the Quantaray MX 28-80mm with the green lens lettering.

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...Wes...

digitalsafari Forum Member • Posts: 75
Re: Latest Aquisitions

I shoot film on Minolta 600 si classic and 7000 along with a Nikon EM.

Mainly shoot digital on a Sony A7R with LA-E4 adaptor as well as  a Sony A68 for action.

It's great sharing the A mount lenses between film and digital.

Minolta 7000, Minolta 600si classic, Sony A68 and Sony A7R.

felix from the suburbs
felix from the suburbs Senior Member • Posts: 1,557
Re: Nostalgia Really late reply

Yup, it was an XTSi. Years since I used it and forgot the model name. I located the camera and discovered it still had what appears to be a roll of Fuji slide film in it. Will have to get a couple of those stubby batteries for the camera and rewind but I don't expect much .

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moimoi
moimoi Veteran Member • Posts: 5,783
Re: Any Minolta film fans on the forum?
1

Elyharbour wrote:

Got a really nice black X300 / 50mm 1.7 coming this week. First dip into film since 2002! Just wondered if everybody here has gone digital now, and if so, is there a Minolta film forum anywhere? Thanks.

Yes I am one of them. I am shooting mostly with the XD5 and own the X570 and XD11 as well. The XD cameras are fantastic!

I also shoot digital

I posted a few samples here:

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/63562683

Cheers,

Max

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Digital: Fujifilm GFX50R / Canon 5Div
Film: Minolta X570, XD5 & XD11 / Canon EOS 3
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And back to Analog Photography as well, oh well!
"All we have discovered is that it starts with a single individual - always a child - and then spreads explosively, like the formation of crystals round the first nucleus in a saturated solution." Arthur C. Clarke (Childhood's End, 1953)

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moimoi
moimoi Veteran Member • Posts: 5,783
Re: Any Minolta film fans on the forum?

bharathmsk wrote:

Got into film with an X570 and a 50mm last month. A couple of rolls in. Loving it! Cheers!

Indeed. Great cam!

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Digital: Fujifilm GFX50R / Canon 5Div
Film: Minolta X570, XD5 & XD11 / Canon EOS 3
http://www.maximesiegler.com/
https://www.instagram.com/maxsiegler645/
And back to Analog Photography as well, oh well!
"All we have discovered is that it starts with a single individual - always a child - and then spreads explosively, like the formation of crystals round the first nucleus in a saturated solution." Arthur C. Clarke (Childhood's End, 1953)

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Fujifilm X100T Canon EOS 6D Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Fujifilm GFX 50R Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS II USM +8 more
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