This camera is very reliable, sturdy, and has very good ergonomics. The metering is accurate at most times. The MD 1.7 50mm lens is very sharp.
Very low power consumtion.

None more than mentioned below. Not for proffesionals of today, unless not shooting action.Weaknesses For the price? Well, you can't buy F-5 of EOS 1V with that kind of money, can you?

When I mentioned reliable, I meant that I fell into a fetid pond with it. The film was destroyed but after drying it up with a hair dryer it works like a charm, even 1.5 years after the incident.
Worked well in damp conditions, freezing (Monte Blanc) conditions AND very hot climates (Israel).
For a beginner, and anyone with a tight budget, this will suffice. That is, unless you wish to expose more than once. Mind you that Nikon manuals can use any lens by Nikon, and thus offer superior upgradabilty.

Customer Service

Didn't need it

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE-1 program

- Solidly built
- Easy to use
- Tons of used lenses to buy

- 1/60th sec flash synch limits fill flash possibilities
- 1/1000th sec top shutter speed

Lots of "old manual" cameras are still available, but how many are actually STILL in production? This camera performs like a champ. If you're looking for the best manual focus camera ever made, this is it.

Customer Service

Not used.

Similar Products Used:

- Canon AE-1 Program
- Minolta X - 570
- Minolta X - 370
- Nikon EM

Program, Aperture-Priority, Manual modes

TTL Flash metering.

Great selection of lenses and accesories that can be found a reasonable prices on the used market.

Light weight, compact.

Very easy to use - good for beginners.

Missing somethings that were included in the X-570 like viewfinder display doesn't show selected shutter speed in manual mode, so you have to check the shutter speed dial before every exposure, and slow shutter flash sync is missing.

Cheap, plastic feel - I prefer the feel of an XE or SRT.

Shutter speeds are limited - 1/1000 top speed, 1/60 flash sync.

A good camera to start out on, since Minolta is still supporting them and not the older manual focus cameras. I would choose a X-570 over a X-700 though, because the X-700 was designed to be used in it's automatic modes, and for me the Program mode wasn't really necessary. The X-700 and X-570 is what I get students started on because of it's ease of use and the execellent lenses and accessories available.

Customer Service

I have only needed to email them, and their response was quick and helpful.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta SRT-303, Minotla XE-1, Minolta X-9, Minolta X-570, Minolta X-370

Lightweight/ easy on the hands/ Lots of used lenses on the market/ different modes/ long battery life/ easy to learn to use

Does'nt feel as durable as some of the older Minolta's. But this may be due more plastic being used on the body?

I originally used a Minolta x-370 for quite a long time, when the shutter stuck and the mirror locked up twice on me. I repaired once, but it was costly and so decided this time to put my money into buying another camera. I decided to go for the x-700 and am happy to say that I love this camera more than the x-370 and any other SLR I've tried. It's perfect for those people, who like me, hate the newer digital LCD screened SLR's and all those crazy symbols they come with. If you are needing a great and reliable manual focus camera, this is the one. You are able to use 3 different modes, Apeture Priority Mode(A), Programmed Automatic Mode(P) and Manual Mode(M). I've tried them all out and have gotten the best results from A and M modes. Also, think about purchasing a variety of lens for it. There are so many you can find on ebay and pawn shops. Overall, a fine piece of work. Just wish I would have bought one sooner.

Similar Products Used:

X-370
Canon AE-1
x-570

Inexpensive
Ubiquitous
Long battery life
Good, cheap, used lenses available
Identified by most camera folks as "a great beginner's camera" (you'll receive respect carrying it)
Light
Mechanically reliable
Uses mechanical shutter release cords (love 'em! Miss 'em)
You can get 27 pictures out of a 24 role! (My Auto-focus Nikon gets 25 or 26)

Battery fails in the cold (20 degrees F?) May not be related to camera directly, but it was consistent in my experience with the X-700)
No film brand view window
Hard to screw the cable release into the body (hole is right up against the body, sometimes hard to get fingers in there)
No multiple exposures
Identified by most camera folks as "a great beginner's camera" (you'll get frowned on for it, too!)
You can't just hand a manual-focus camera to a friend or stranger and say "here, take our picture!" - it requires a 30-second lesson on how to focus a manual camera first
Short shutter speed continuum - 1/1000 max was too slow for me (often had to crank down the aperature when I didn't want to) and 1-second long min was also too fast (had to use a cable release for any exposure longer than 1 sec - "newer" cameras will go to 30 seconds)
Flash-sync 1/60 - not too terrible but I have MUCH enjoyed faster speeds!
I didn't like the "SLAP" of the shutter
Flash photography was hard with my set-up - got tired of reading the back of my flash to determine what aperature I should be using
10-second timer WAAY to short for me!

I had mine for about 2 years.
Here's the skinny: buy this camera only if you have read all these reviews, picked the camera up, tried it on your own for a week, gotten pics back, and have fallen in love with it after having gone through every basic shooting situation you could find.
I loved the feel and CREATIVE CONTROL of this manual camera. I sold this camera b/c I owned an auto-focus Nikon and got tired of having 2 of everything - lenses, bags, etc - so I sold the X-700 to a friend and now have 2 Nikons. Nothing was wrong with this camera. In fact, I do miss it. Listen to me now: THIS MF MINOLTA TOOK AS GREAT A SHOT AS MY MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE AF NIKONS!! I mean that! It's all in the lenses and film for sharpness, skill of the photographer for composition, and film for color and graininess. I can do more with my Nikons and get MORE SHOTS MORE CONSISTENTLY, I would not go back to the X-700 AS A PRIMARY CAMERA but would love to have it or a Nikon equivalent around as a secondary camera. I missed too many shots b/c of manual focus, and the range and power of the newer cameras blows me away!
You can get the X-700 cameras used everywhere - just look. And here's my advice and experience: MAKE THEM AN OFFER! The tag on my X-700 kit was $299, I paid $250 at a pawn shop. I am not telling you this is a good deal, I am telling you that you can take 15% off the price of anything at most camera stores/pawn shops USED! I got: the Minolta, a poor (learned the hard way) X-brand 28-70 lens, a decent flash, and a decent "Minolta" bag. I have since bought 3 other lenses used, never paying more than $60 for a lens. That's great! I found an excellent Vivitar 75-205 for $50 that blew away my new Tamron 28-200 in the longer focal lengths.
It is a light camera, and small! You could almost carry the body in a large pocket! Again, this compared to the larger Nikon AF's I've gotten used to now.
I found the shutter speeds limiting, on both ends, but the plus is that you can use a "traditional" shutter release cord for tripod shots.
All the controls on this were well-designed I thought. Really easy to use. I used this camera EXCLUSIVELY on Aperature Priority mode, I never tried the Program mode and Manual mode seemed redundant to me. A lot of other folks who picked it up could not find the shutter button, though. It was always very easy to bracket with this camera. Good control dial, very easy, not with gloves. Like other folks have said, the viewfinder shows you the shutter speed that it is reading - NOT the speed you are taking! On A-priority mode of course this does not matter. It also has a PC socket if you are interested in such.
Now flash photography: I had lots of trouble with this. I have gotten some INCREDIBLE flash shots with this camera and a non-dedicated flash unit (you have to read the metering scale on the back of the flash and adjust your aperature accordingly) so find out first from someone more knowledgable if this camera can take a dedicated flash. If not, be aware of the range of great and poor shots your flash is going to give you!
All and all, a great camera, it was my first SLR! A lot of people recommend learning on a manual-focus camera instead of an auto-focus: I disagree. Buy an auto-focus if you can (you'll thank yourself later!) and THEN put the sucker on manual-everything and learn about photography! There's just too many shots you'll miss cuz of the manual focus. On the other hand, this camera to me was like a paint brush, I was creating art with the manual body, with the AF's it is more just recording an image.
Go out, try everything first hand, take LOTS of pics, pay attention and HAVE FUN!

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

No other manual-focus cameras
AF: Nikon 8008s, a friend's F100 (both are great but heavy!)

Easy to use
Precise ergonomic controls
Outstanding construction
Outstanding image quality

None.

This is a beautifully engineered camera that after 2 decades of production has no rivals in it's price range. It features engraved markings on the lenses and camera controls. The MD lenses focus with a great feel and produce razor sharp images. The 280PX flash is fool proof.
I have the X-700 body with the 50mm f/1.7 MD lens, 28mm MD lens and 70-200mm MD zoom. I use the Minolta PX280 flash unit. I also have the minolta MD-1 motor drive for it with 2 position shutter release.

Overall you would have to spend many hundreds more to rival the quality, utility and precise function of this beautiful system. Nothing marketed today in the $400 range can match this classic for beauty, ruggedness and performance. About the only thing you'll pick up for an extra $400 is a faster shutter and flash synch. The X-700 is 1/1000 and 1/60 sec. respectively. Very seldom will you need either for general photography.

Most people go for the Convienience of AF and auto wind for about $400 - The money has to come from somewhere and the trade off a cheap plastic body and compromised lenses. Hold an X-700 in you hands with the 50mm MD and you know you're holding a real camera.

To close, the X-700 is a manual focus SLR with aperture priority auto exposure and a program function for beginners and shooting in difficult lighting. The metering system is dead nuts accurate. There is a built in spot meter, self timer, +/- 2 ev override, preview button PC terminal and remote cable release socket. The Bright fresnel screen has a LED diplay for shutter speed, mode and +/- ev. A window in the bottom of the viewer show the F stop setting.

Anyone serious about learning and advancing photography would be remiss to bypass is camera. It has the features and construction to accomodate a beginner or pro.

Customer Service

Camera never broke in 4 years of Use.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F
Canon AE-1 Program
Speed Graphic
Various Point and Shoots
Minolta XGM

easy to use, lightweight, not too bulky

None

this is my first SLR - i picked it up over spring break, and so far it's been great (of course, there have been some slips on the way.. stuff that was all my fault, like forgeting to press the button while rewinding.. needless to say, the film was ruined :( )

anyway - i absolutely love it becase it's an easy camera to use, and it's great for beginners..

i prob paid a bit too much for it, considering it was used.. but ah well - i think it's worth it

now.. i have to find a 28-80mm zoom..

Similar Products Used:

None

Effective and elegant design--the camera becomes a part of you the moment you pick it up. All the necessary controls are placed where they should be.

The real strength of this camera, I think, is in the fact the you can build a system around it without spending too much money. There's a motordrive that works with a power-grip that can enhance 280 or 360 PX flash units. These units can then be connected to the multi-function back which can be used as an intervalometer for long-exposures and sequential photos. You can also find an auto-bellows

Not one I'd consider very serious... well, maybe the lack of multi-exposure mechanism (but even that can be dealt with on this camera).

The bottom line? Well, it works beautifully!

Here's a story: I bought my first camera in 1987 shortly after I moved to the US. I researched the best camera for the money (and my personal taste, of course) and I came up with three cameras in my short list--Pentax Super Program, Nikon FA, and Minolta X-700. I ended up with the X-700 because both the Pentax and the Nikon were hard to find. (Those darn mail-order people never make it easy for camera buyers, specially the gullible ones.) The Nikon FA was also quite a bit more expensive than either the Super Program or the X-700. In retrospect, I think I made a very wise decision.

Early in the 10-year lifespan of my first Minolta X700, I accidentally poured orange-pineapple juice on it while taking notes in my (very) introductory biology class. The juice got into the lens mount and inside the camera. I couldn't do a d*** thing about it for the next 45 minutes. By the time the class ended, the juice had dried out on and in the camera. Amazingly enough, the camera still worked. So, I ignored the problem and kept shooting with it for the next 6-7 years. Alas, that camera died in Antarctica in 1997-98. It was already showing signs of age and abuse shortly before its extinction so I got another X-700 body in 1996. My first SLR will now serve my second SLR as repair parts.

So, the second X-700 suffered a similar, but not as serious, fate in my hands. This time it was cafe mocha! Fortunately, I had time to clean it up quickly before much of the thick liquid can do damage to the camera. It's still working.

I recently took this camera to Cambodia where we both experienced a roll-over accident inside a Toyota Hi-Lux. We both survived with minor scratches. The camera actually caused damage to someone else as another passenger's head hit the camera during as we tumbled inside the truck. The poor guy got a nasty gash on his head. The X-700 got some blood but kept on shooting pictures around Cambodia, Japan, Philippines, and back here in the US. The pictures turned out excellent--most of it taken inside moving vehicles (trucks, boats, airplane, motorcycle).

So, I consider myself lucky with those SLRs but I give them credit for having worked even after such abuses. I have a great collection of manual focus Minolta cameras and like them all very much for different reasons but I always carry my X-700 as my main camera. I wish Minolta would produce another batch of these guys so I can buy new in the event my current X-700 croaks.

I recently got a used Nikon FA... it feels nice. Now I have got to find a used Pentax Super Program.

Customer Service

Never had to deal with it even I probably should have on a couple of occasions.

Similar Products Used:

I've used but don't own a Nikon FM, FM2, and an Olympus OM1--beautiful cameras, too! I own and use several Minoltas--X-570, XD-11, XE(-7), XK, SRT-101/102, and SR-3/7--an d a used Nikon FA.

Dependable
Easy to use
Great design

none

This is a great little camera! I sold my first X-700 several years ago and have regretted it ever since. I decided that I wanted a back-up camera to my Nikon N70 so I bought another X-700. It is a good choice for the professional or the beginner.

Customer Service

N/A

Similar Products Used:

XG-M
XG-A
N70

Lightweight, simple to use

not made for heavy use

This was my first camera system..now I use the X-700's as a backup to my Nikon system...I really like the Minolta's, but customers want pro's to shoot with "pro" cameras!!

Customer Service

expensive!

Similar Products Used:

None