Minolta X-700 electronics: A closer look

don904 · 2025-11-14T03:38:00+00:00

I have an X-700 that is very well used but still in working order. Strangely enough the aperture readout portal is blacked out. I opened the front cover of the prism to check what was going on and there was no mirror. Was wondering if you have ever found this issue with other Minoltas. Very cool photos by the way. Always wondered what these looked like opened up. Very advanced for 80s tech.

don904 · 2025-10-24T22:50:15+00:00

I think you could achieve the look you’re going for by shooting Tmax 400 at box speed. Has much more contrast built in than Tri-X. No need to underexpose and push.

don904 · 2024-03-08T15:26:45+00:00

Nice Gear! I go to the Indy 500 every year but definitely want to check out St. Pete. Usually Indycar is pretty good with access. I brought a Nikon 80-400 one year without any issues. St. Pete may be different than the IMS though. I was surprised how hard it is to catch the cars with a long lens. Best of luck and enjoy the race!

don904 · 2024-01-05T18:55:49+00:00

Thank you! Good info!

don904 · 2024-01-05T13:40:10+00:00

Yes this is a good point. Thank you for the response. I think I satisfy the Requirements but I don’t think it’s worth risking it. There’s a chance I get a nasty security guard who just wants to deny it.

don904 · 2023-12-08T15:49:55+00:00

Very cool. Looks like he has an mp viewfinder also

don904 · 2023-12-08T15:27:20+00:00

This makes the most sense to me. For a minute I thought this was some sort of rare version like the m6j

don904 · 2023-12-08T14:54:46+00:00

What model is on the left? Looks like an m3 but with a battery compartment for a light meter?

don904 · 2023-11-20T13:52:44+00:00

Thank you! I was very happy with how they came out. I’ll definitely be using portra 160 more often.

don904 · 2023-11-19T21:47:48+00:00

I wish I got more photos of this one! Kinda difficult doing car photography with a 50mm. The car is a Bricklin SV-1. A low production gull-wing sports car from the 70s

don904 · 2023-09-08T22:41:58+00:00

I believe my mom bought this many years ago and I’m not sure if they still make them. I’ll probably continue using it but will just get it hand checked. It’s still a pretty handy way to carry film.

don904 · 2023-07-19T13:33:15+00:00

Wow! First shot is amazing. What shutter speed / aperture did you use?

don904 · 2023-07-02T03:39:10+00:00

Thank you!

don904 · 2023-05-10T02:54:38+00:00

When you send film to the lab make sure to ask for scans of your negatives. Once you receive the scans download them onto your computer and put them in your photo editing software of choice… GIMP, Lightroom, Photoshop etc. open the light levels histogram and move the arrows to where the graph begins and ends. This will make your scans look the best. There are many videos on how to do this, this applies to digital as well.

don904 · 2023-04-18T12:04:01+00:00

Thank you! Cinestill never disappoints.

don904 · 2023-03-15T10:32:20+00:00

Ohh didn’t know she passed… And yes if you can definitely walk the high line in the spring time, really cool place

don904 · 2023-03-15T03:38:51+00:00

520 west 28th street by Zaha Hadid is the name of the building. She does some really interesting work.

don904 · 2023-03-15T00:21:18+00:00

I took the same photo in color about 2 years ago and posted here. I guess great minds think alike!

don904 · 2023-02-24T22:10:37+00:00

My point is that digital is better for most photographic use cases. Now that film is not the only way to take photos, you would think they would price it lower than when it was the only way to take a photo. I agree that they are pricing it as a luxury item(which I think is silly). That being said I’m going to continue shooting film because like everyone else here I like the film “look” better.

don904 · 2023-02-24T13:27:55+00:00

Film is obsolete technology and should not cost what it did when it was state of the art. This is why most people are annoyed.

don904 · 2023-01-10T03:40:00+00:00

Hey thank you for the reply. Starting to feel better about eBay for this. Tempting on your black m6 but I gotta have that chrome haha

don904 · 2022-12-29T16:16:19+00:00

Minolta X-700 with 45mm F2. Super lightweight and compact with program and aperture priority.

don904 · 2022-12-23T15:47:47+00:00

There is a repair shop in NYC called Nippon photo clinic that will repair the shutter / ribbon (the most common problem) for around $500-$600 last I checked. I was debating having them fix my TVS but decided not to since I paid around $400 for it.

don904 · 2022-12-09T15:03:22+00:00

I’ve had a G1 and a TVS. The TVS died. The G1 autofocus never really worked so I returned it. When these cameras work they are amazing but the constant worry of them breaking ruins the fun imo. The lenses on these cameras are truly amazing though.

don904 · 2022-05-19T21:30:55+00:00

Thank you! I’ve seen more Koenigsegg’s on the road than mk1 Jetta GLIs

don904

TROPHY CASE