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- 35mm SLR Cameras
- Minolta X-700
- sassolungo.'s review
Have a picture of Minolta X-700 35mm SLR camera?, please send it to us.
Picture courtesy of Phaethon.
| Photograph Quality | 9.3/10   |
|---|---|
| Features | 8.4/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 8.1/10 |
| Reviewer Rating | 7.3/10 |
| Overall Rating | 7.3/10 |
By sassolungo. on 8th Dec 2002
| Features | 8/10 |
|---|---|
| Value for money | 10/10 |
| Overall value | 8/10 |
 sassolungo.'s recommendation | |
Flexible: full-manual, aperture-preferred and fully automatic programme mode --- lightweight --- many cheap and good lenses available --- TTL flash possible (never done) --- metal case
does not work w/o battery --- weak point: frame counter --- lightweight
I have learned photography on an SRT-303, 'advancing' to an X-700 only a few years ago. It is comparatively lightweight, thus easy to carry, but, on the other hand, of course it gets more difficult so shoot long-axposure handheld pictures (compared to the heavier SRT, I lose about 1 EV). So far, the X-700 seems to be quite reliable, also the metre has always performed satisfactorily. The fully-automatic programme mode even works with MC lenses (not just MD). The viewfinder is sufficiently bright. When compared to X-300, the DOF preview has proven to be a real advantage. Handling is easy and self-explanatory (except setting the f-stop in programme mode, and the exposure-lock button which is the second function of the self-timer button), multiple exposures can be done with the usual trick, the touch-switch shutter release button is very practical. The exposure data are displayed in the viewfinder (yes, also the f-stop value). Good lenses can be had rather cheap, spare cameras as well. Additionally, since this is a manual-focus cameras, lenses are not only cheap but usually available for much larger apertures (the classical 50mm f/1.4 normal lens [which compared favourably even to the Leitz Summicron 50 f/2.0 in some reviews] can be had for under 100 EUR, and it is still possible to find the VERY fast 58mm f/1.2 lens on ebay). My camera has developed a problem which seems to be a weak point of all the X-*** models, viz. the frame counter/safe-load signal do not work any more. Couldn't care less. What I feel is missing when compared to my old SRT (although I very rarely use that feature) is the mirror lock-up. Even though the X-700 shutter/mirror seems to be much more quiet than the SRT one, I'd still appreciate that feature... Summary: minor flaws, but very reliable and flexible. Oh, and cheap, too.
| Helpful | Unhelpful | Agree | Disagree |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Total Respect: 0
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Beth. on 2nd Mar 2003