Minolta X-700 Film Camera Review

Minolta X-700 is one of the easiest interchangeable-lens SLRs to pick up. It may even be the most fun film camera ever built.

This ‘80s vintage gadget can suit almost anyone, and the expansive Rokkor lens selection is considered by many to be the best quality per dollar spent.

But no gadget is perfect. In this review, I’ll cover my extensive experience with the camera on the road and in my mini-studio, its strengths/quirks, and suggest the best uses for this remarkable Japanese SLR.

In this review: A brief history of the Minolta X-700 film SLR. Technical specifications. Build quality and known issues. Minolta X-700 in use: design and ergonomics. Minolta X-700 lenses. Is the Minolta X-700 a good camera for beginners? How much does a Minolta X-700 cost, and where to find one. Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!

A brief history of the Minolta X-700 film SLR.

Minolta’s X-700 was introduced in 1981 as the company’s first Program-mode full-autoexposure camera, a competitor to Canon’s wildly successful AE-1 Program and A-1. But unlike the Canon cameras, the X-700’s sensor favours faster shutter speeds and wider apertures, which is a good thing for action shots and better if you like bokeh.

At launch, it sold for $400, which in 2024 dollars is about $1,390. Lucky for us, vintage Minolta X-700s sell for much, much less.

The affordability of the vintage X-700s is backed by the excellent Rokkor lens selection, which is often considered to be some of the best glass for the money. These cameras can go for less than $200 in 2024 because of their exceptionally long production run: eighteen years, from 1981 until 1999. Millions of copies were made, many of which remain in like-new condition today.

But X-700s weren’t just numerous. Their continued success was warranted by the build quality, features, and ergonomics that won it the “Camera of the Year” award by EISA (Expert Imaging and Sound Association). That’s a big deal — even for manufacturing giants like the 1981’s Minolta.

In 2024, amid the film photography renaissance, the Minolta X-700 remains one of the most recommended SLRs for beginners and avid film photographers on a budget.

Technical specifications.

Minolta X-700 is a full-frame 35mm film SLR with full-auto “P” (Program), aperture-priority “A,” and manual exposure modes. The camera includes an exposure compensation toggle that can add or subtract up to two stops with half-stop increments. Additionally, you can use the automatic exposure lock toggle to fix the settings as you re-compose your image.

The exposure metering system is TTL (through-the-lens), 1-18 EV center-weighted, compatible with film ISO 25-1600. The camera uses two LR44 batteries.

X-700 uses the SR bayonet lens mount and is compatible with MD and MC lenses.

The shutter is an electronically controlled horizontal cloth system, capable of Bulb, 4s-1/1000s (stepless) for auto modes and 1-1/1000s (full-stops) in manual mode. Flash sync is at 1/60s.

The viewfinder has 95% coverage and 0.9x magnification with a 50mm lens. It displays metered shutter speeds and various camera modes (read more about the viewfinder below).

The camera body is 52mm × 89mm × 137mm (2” × 3½” × 5⅜”) and weighs 505g (17.8oz).

Build quality and known issues.

Despite their plastic exterior, Minolta X-700s are well-built. Everything fits perfectly together, the tolerances are tight, and the overall feel of the camera is that of a high-quality gadget. These things lasted for decades and show no reason to expire anytime soon.

You should be aware of one common issue, however:

The locked winder issue. Cameras with serial numbers above 2,000,000 use cheaper capacitors that are known to expire and lock the film winder lever once completely depleted. This articleexplains how to replace such capacitors (it looks like a 2-hour job for someone experienced with light camera repair and the right tools).

If you’d like to avoid this issue altogher, pay attention to the serial number printed on the hot shoe (it’s black-on-black indents, so it may not come up in the seller photos — you should ask).

Minolta X-700 in use: design and ergonomics.

From an ergonomic point of view, the X-700 is one of the nicer vintage SLRs on the market. It’s reasonably light, has a relatively large, comfortable viewfinder, and a protruding grip. Whereas most cameras of its age and older can be tough to hold comfortably, the X-700 can be grasped for a prolonged time without the need for a bag, a sling, or a strap.

The finder is usable with glasses on, though I found it more comfortable with contacts (the eye relief is average). Aside from the focusing prism, the finder indicates the selected shutter speed via a lit red dash next to the number. The numbers themselves aren’t lit; they can be hard to see in subdued light but you can get a general idea based on where the “-” appears on the right.

When set in aperture-priority mode (red “A” on the shutter speed dial), the camera lights a red “A.” In manual mode, i.e., when you set your shutter speed manually, the viewfinder lights the “-” next to the suggested (not actual) shutter speed; it also shows a red “M.” In full-auto mode, “P” on the dial, a green “P” blinks in the finder.

The aperture-priority and full-auto modes lock the shutter speed dial until you press and hold the small black button next to it. Note that you can switch to “P” from Bulb without pressing the lock button or to “A” from 1/1000s.

There’s no indication of a selected aperture in the finder when the camera is in either “P” or “A” modes, but you can see what your lens is set to through a small window at the bottom (which uses a prism to look at the lens itself). This is helpful in the manual mode but not so much in the auto modes. I thought this was OK, as that’s the case with most point-and-shoot cameras and many SLRs of the time.

Along with the green “P” light, setting exposure compensation on the opposite side dial will display a red flashing “*” on the bottom right of the finder. An odd design decision as I find the blinking rather distracting. But I suppose you’d want to know if you’ve set your exposure compensation dial since failing to reset it can mess up your normal exposures.

The finder lights turn off automatically after a few seconds of inactivity and are reactivated by half-pressing the shutter button.

The exposure compensation dial is unlocked with a black round button next to it. The same dial combines with an ISO setting dial, which is unlocked by lifting the ring around the dial (you need to keep it lifted as you rotate to adjust the film speed). The dial also integrates a film rewind crank, which is unlocked with the standard small silver button on the bottom of the plate (you don’t need to hold it; just press it once).

The power toggle is a small plastic tab underneath the shutter dial. Its status is shown in the small button underneath the shutter dial on the opposite side. There are two modes: “ON” and “ON🔊.” The latter is the same, but the camera beeps whenever the estimated shutter speed is 1/30s or slower. Unfortunately, the sound is too quiet for a noisy environment such as a street or a gathering of talking people.

Loading film into X-700 is exceptionally easy. The camera features a white slot jacket over its takeup spool, which makes the process fast and hassle-free. All you need to do is push the film leader into the jacket and wind the film once while the back is still open (if the winder is blocked, press the shutter button once to unblock it). Once complete, the camera is ready to go.

The film winder lever is small but comfortable. It turns just under 180° and can stay out for easy winding while holding the camera with one hand.

The shutter button is in a somewhat odd location — right in the middle of the shutter dial. It took me a few shots to get used to it. Still, it’s well-balanced, so a proficient hand can take slow exposures with an appropriate lens (e.g., 1/15s with a 28mm).

I wish the shutter button was integrated with the autoexposure locking. Unfortunately, half-pressing it only wakens the meter. If you want to lock your automatic exposure, you’ll need to hold the small lever on the front of the camera just underneath the shutter dial. For example, if you’re planning to shoot a backlit portrait of someone next to a window, you can point your X-700 to a well-lit portion of your room and then, while holding the lever, point it back at the subject and press the shutter button. This can only be done if you hold the AEL lever with your middle finger (thus freeing up the pointer finger for the shutter).

The depth-of-field preview button is also not particularly comfortable. It’s on the film rewinder lever side of the lens mount, close to the bottom. The button is plasticky, and it has a fair bit of resistance. You’ll need both hands to use it.

The lens release button is a silver one next to the “MPS” logo. I think it’s in a pretty good position and plain in use.

X-700 also has a film reminder pocket on the back where you can stick a piece of cardboard from your film pack to remember what’s inside. It looks good but not particularly useful in 2024 when apps like Film Log and Film Speed can do a much better job.

Minolta X-700 may take a little bit of time to get used to for a new shooter, but despite its few drawbacks, I found it to be a comfortable, fast, and ergonomic vintage SLR. I love how small it is and how well its most-used controls are placed. It’s plasticky but sturdy and perfectly usable in both studio and travel settings. It’s also one of the prettiest SLRs I’ve used: the prism bump is hidden with a flat surface on top that’s better for your bag and easier on the eye. X-700 is absolutely easier and faster than the old heavy classics like the Canon F-1.

Minolta X-700 lenses.

Minolta X-700 is compatible with the older MC and the newer MD Rokkor lenses, which gives you many quality glass options. MC lenses must be set to a fully open aperture if you plan to use them in the Program mode.

Additionally, you may find third-party lenses made for the X-700’s SR mount, like the 28mm Tokina 𝒇2.8 I tested with my camera.

As one would expect, the quality of the Rokkor glass improved gradually over the years, with the later copies using superior coatings that produced higher-contrast images. This is not to say that vintage glass is less valuable; it can offer plenty of character or options for significantly less.

I tested my X-700 with the kit MD Zoom 35-70mm 1:3.5-4.6 lens, the above-mentioned Tokina, and the telescopic MC TELE Rokkor-X 135mm 1:2.8. The latter was my favourite for the way it felt (hefty, with a cool metal to the touch) and the fast aperture for such a long focal length.

The quality of the Minolta glass is undeniable. Though they may not match the ten-thousand-dollar Leica counterparts and the like (depending on what you’re looking for, of course), they are considered to be some of the best vintage designs and formulas. Most photographers I spoke to agree that SR lenses are likely the best quality for the price.

Is the Minolta X-700 a good camera for beginners?

Absolutely. In fact, the Minolta X-700 is one of the best SLRs you can start with. This camera has two automatic exposure modes (full-auto, “P,” and aperture-priority, “A”), and it offers full manual control for those wishing to learn how to use that. The controls are fairly standard and easy to understand. Plus, the batteries for this camera are easy to find.

Better yet, the X-700 is a good enough camera for most photographic applications, with a huge selection of lenses available for the mount. One can start and grow with this camera without the need for anything else.

As you’d expect from a starter camera, X-700s do not break the bank:

How much does a Minolta X-700 cost, and where to find one.

In late 2024, Minolta X-700 bodies (typically with lens) sell for about $100-200, depending on condition. While shopping for this camera, I advise you to review the entire description and pay attention to the images. If this is your first time shopping for a vintage film camera, refer to this guide.

These cameras can be found at many physical and online shops that sell vintage camera equipment, as well as on marketplaces such as eBay. See the links below for your shopping options.

❤ By the way: Please consider making your Minolta X-700 camera purchase using this link so that this website may get a small percentage of that sale — at no extra charge for you — thanks!