Minolta X-700 Film Camera

The Minolta X-700 is a great film camera with many features used by professional photographers yet easy to use for the beginner or student. It features three modes of picture taking:

PROGRAM - YOU JUST FOCUS AND SHOOT, THE X-700 SETS THE APERTURE AND SHUTTER SPEED FOR YOU.

APERTURE PRIORITY - YOU SET THE APERTURE, THE X-700 AUTOMATICALLY SETS THE SHUTTER SPEED.

MANUAL EXPOSURE - YOU SET BOTH APERTURE AND SHUTTER SPEED TO GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT.

Before you read more... understand... this is not one of the new, fancy digital cameras with auto-focus that so many people are using today. It is a manual focus camera (meaning YOU focus) which uses film that has to be developed. Many professional photographers still prefer film over digital. But understand you can not hook this camera up to your computer and download photos. The film has to be purchased, installed and after picture-taking removed and taken to a developer. Places like CVS, Wal-Mart, Rite-Aid all have developing services. And most places that develop this film will also be able to put your pictures on a CD which makes it easy to email them or publish them on a Website. I routinely get my film photos developed on CD only (no prints) for $1.99.

Okay... enough about film... now more on the camera... there are several items you should be aware of before buying one of these cameras on eBay.

1: SEALS: The light seals keep light from sneaking into the film chamber. Even if a camera has never been used, these seals deteriorate over time and need to be replaced. So always ask the seller about the condition of the light seals. If they are worn out they will be sticky to the touch and leave residue on the film chamber door. Ask your seller about the condition of the light seals.

2: CAPACITOR: These cameras are known for capacitors that wear/dry out and fail. When this happens the camera does not work. The symptom is... no shutter release... no film advance. There's nothing wrong with the film advance. It's just that it won't advance until you release the shutter and the shutter won't release because the capacitors have failed. You can usually have this problem fixed for around $75 to $100 dollars but beware of this problem. If a seller says the shutter won't fire, it could be something as easy as changing the batteries, or it could be the camera needs new capacitors. Here's an easy way to tell the difference. If the LEDs light up in the view finder, that means the batteries are good and the camera is getting power so if the shutter won't fire, the problem is more likely than not, bad capacitors. If the LEDs don't light up and the shutter won't fire, there's a good chance the camera just need new batteries... (A76 1.5V) which can be purchased on eBay for very reasonable rates.

3: VIEW FINDER:
Ask sellers if the viewfinder is clear and free of scratches. While this would not affect picture quality it is kind of annoying to see specs of dust and scratches while trying to compose your shot.

A good seller should provide photos and descriptions to answer these questions, but some people do not have the time or expertise so often times you need to ask. Their answers will tell you a lot about not only the camera… but also the seller.

NOTE: Have a look at some of the other X-700 reviews... notice one of them looks extremely similar to mine? Hmmmm. I wonder why people do that? Can't they write their own review?

The Minolta-700 Film camera is in great condition and have done a great job for me so far. This is a hard working camera and can take a little knocking around which is good for me because I take a camera with me at all times. I am a film person and spend a lot of time in the dark room. I beleve in getting the picture right the first time, this way you have no need to set at a computer trying to make the picture right. Old school! yes and I love it.

Have bought 4 so far this year. At these prices why not. Have one for the kids homes so I can travel light! The lenses are simply surperb.

Thank you so much for the quick delivery. The product was in good condition and after a little cleaning, is PERFECT! Thank you for the extra packing material. My Grandfather, a professional photographer, past away leaving me one of his vintage cameras. The lens and flash purchased will be proudly used in his honor. Thanks for helping to continue his legacy.

P.S. Thanks for the cleaning sheets!!!!

All pros, at the time it was the flagship for minolta. Its an SLR that you can slip from point and shoot, to full manual. I like the push of a button to stop down and see what is in focus. Yes they thought of it all on this model. GWG

Being using this X700 [now i got 3 nos] in my bachelor days (early 1984). Great piece of camera and last week during our vacation in Rotorua, New Zealand my 14yrs daughter try and fall in love with it. Therefor my recent addational X700 will be hers and the other one to be carnivalized as spare parts.
Thanks MINOLTA ! ! !

I bought it to replace my aging xe-7.
The batteries die overnight, so I quit using it.
Purchased maxxum 7000 and 50
so far so good.

The camera appears to be in really good shape. Batteries were installed, a lens and flash unit attached and the program mode information reviewed. I have not run any film through the camera at this time, however, every thing appears to function normally.

KOREA there are a lot of users.
SLR models other than the lighter, convenient operation.
Minolta SLR of the people he sees.
Personally, Silver referral model.

its just what i wanted and it was such a good price. great beginner camera. im particularly fond of the zoom lens, it focuses so well, im just surprised i got it for the price i paid.

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Easy to use, just getting back into photography and wanted a reliable camera. Have had minolta equipment in the past and knew the quality.

Just purchased this camera, my first X700, and would you know shutter does not work nor film advance work even with new batteries. Seems there is an 6 v 220 micro F capacitor that after about 10 years will begin to go bad and effect these operational mechanisms.

This camera works well.
This was my 1st camera purchased thru eBay. Seller made clear conditions before sale was made. It worked well and handled great.
Minolta has a great reputation, was one reason I choose it.
Seller was right on.
100% feedback was sent.
douglas7564

Minolta sold a TON of these X-700 35 MM bodies and lenses and everyone loves them. On top of that they are dirt cheap if you find them used on EBAY as IO have time and time again. It is not unusual to find them with a small asstmt of lenses and gear for less that $150.00! I have gotten several and have always got them on the cheap. The best thing about the Minolta is that there is so much information and manuals and spare parts available for them so everyone wins!

If you can find a good deal on this online it is totally worth it. It is very high quality in manufacturing, easy to use, fits well in your hand, and makes outstanding photos with good film

Hard to find classic SLR (best of the best) cameras. Camera was used, but in MINT condition. Seller also included Minolta lenses for the camera. Everything was in tip top shape, great communications from seller and made my daughter in law VERY happy.

i needed to replace a broken minolta xg1.and camera shop had used x-700's going for $175-up.so i looked for picture of camera and wound up on E-BAY.and i bid on a x-700 and won.loved the fact that i won and i like the fact that their was extras that came with camera.i will use again

By far one of the more reliable film cameras, the X-700 provides the photographer with many shooting modes and a very accurate metering system. Minolta offered a great selection of superb lenses. I have never met anyone using this camera and complaining about it. If you can find one that works, go for it. Lenses are widely available as are many accessories and you will love it's performance. Photography is a great way to express yourself, film is a great medium to do so. Many people sell their equipment to bargain prices, soon they will be looking to buy it back.

I finally broke down and made my first E-Bay purchase. My daughter wanted to learn how to take pictures on a 35mm film camera. Since my father had given us his old Minolta X-700, it was a brand and quality that we were familiar with. The problem was that my father's camera's shutter was broken and the cost to fix it far exceeded the value of the camera. The recommendation of the camera shop was to look on E-Bay. After 3 attempts to buy a similar camera on E-Bay, we hit the jackpot. The camera we found included 2 additional lenses and a camera bag. My daughter is now learning on a camera that "didn't break the bank". It was delivered in great condition within 2 days and what we saw was what we got!

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This is a great camera, especially for the advanced amature. I think there are better choices from minolta, however, including the X-570 with it's full information viewfinder, the XD-11/XD-5 for thier all metal construction and smooth, quiet metal focal plane shutter, or the SRT-102 for full info viewfinder and mirror lock up.

I have worked on many X-700's and here are some things to consider when buying.

The foam light seals deteriorate and become gummy, they should be replaced. This is something that can be done one's self with materials avalible on ebay, but the mirror bumper foam is a little hard to get to on this model and maybe should be replaced by a pro.

The capacitor issue. On newer x-700 the shutter-release capacitors tend to go bad over time and often need replacement. This is an expensive repair. When buying make sure that the capacitors have been checked or replaced or look for a camera with a serial number below 2500000 or so, these should have the older style capacitors that are more reliable. Also, you can look for cameras that have "brassing" or rub marks on the top corners where brass is showing through. This may not look too pretty, but the older cameras have the brass (not plastic) top covers and also have the more reliable capacitors. This is a good indicator that you are getting a good working camera. I have used a well-worn older x-700 that I got on ebay several years ago. It has never given me any problems

The metering is pretty accurate and consistant on these cameras and rarely needs adjustment, but the shutter timing often drifts significantly over time. Make sure you are getting a camera with accurate shutter speeds. If this cannot be confirmed by the seller, this is something that your local repair shop should be able to adjust easily.

For more good info on this camera see the review by joewest2000.

Good Hunting!!

no problem with shipping and none with the camera responce was good and had no problems with tranaction over the internet. i will do business with them again.
James

I like eveything about it. Takes wonderful pictures. Although I have a Digital camera, I like to use film sometimes.I am also very much a Minolta fan. Have several of them, including a Maxxum 7000, an XD11, and a XG1...Plus, the one I just bought...X-700..

Good buy and very nice person to deal with.

I want a camera so I found it on ebay and it works great thanks.
I like taking photos of my grand kids and I Didn't want to spend lots of $
on a camera.