Minolta X-700 Review // Canon A1 Alternative

In today's video, I battle some serious quarantine blues and show you guys my thoughts on an 35mm SLR, the Minolta X-700. Stay inside, people. Hang in tight!

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About me: I initially had a clothing company that tanked. However, that experience taught how incredibly expensive it is to outsource your content creation. This prompted me to learn everything I could about photo and video. Shooting video and photo was the aspect of the business I enjoyed the most, so I made the tough decision to focus on those disciplines. Just like you, I’m still learning but I still want to share my experience with you because I love watching videos basically anything related to film photography and video. I hope you’ve taken something useful from watching my channel. It’s been proven that subscribers to my channel are 47% happier than non-subscribers. Food for thought.

Happy Shooting, Zain

[Shmyrk]

2 weeks ago I told my Uncle about my love for film photography and he quietly stood up, walked to the garage, and came back with this *for me* :D

So excited

Great content man! PLEASE keep em coming

[tomislavmiletic_]

1) The problem with your shatter is that one of the curtains is stalling. However, being an cloth shutter, that should be fixable I guess.
2) A stands for autoexposure, P stands for program mode. Program mode is when both shutter and aperture automatically determine the right exposure (in which case you should set the aperture on your lens to A or highest number). One thing less to worry about, if you are into it.
3) Minolta X-700 is not the first Minolta camera with autoexposure by far. Just take a look at all Minolta camera models like XG, XM and XE series from 70's...
4) As far as I know Minolta had that autoexposure capability before Canon. On the other hand you're right, Canon A-1 is the closest contender to Minolta X-700...

[myretrograde]

The Minolta X700 will ALWAYS be my favorite 35mm SLR! I was so upset that my copy ended up crapping itself 😭

[TheMountainRidge]

just gotten a X-700 a few months back, its amazing! solid photos, some photos are coming out shaky so im working on that but brilliant camera all round. Also amazing videos mate!

[robbiewalcott]

So basically those black half frames are common with Minolta’s and old SLR’s in general if they’re failing to sync the shutter properly when shooting at 1/1000s. Simply keen it to 1/500s or close your aperture instead, or buy a small threaded variable ND from like GOBE. My Minolta XD7 had the exact same problem until I recognised the issue! Similarly my Canon 1N has the same problem but when shooting at 1/8000 instead 🤷🏽‍♂️ hope that helps!

[melissedyson]

We're in full lock down in South Africa for the next three weeks, so honestly, I look forward to your twice weekly uploads. Another great video! Thanks for providing content in this freaking weird time we're all going through😊

[intobseyes]

Just got one to start film photography, can’t wait to try it

[TheBelukzi]

Great video mate. Just subscribed. Looking forward to more film goodness. Hope you feel better soon.

[pierrepicco]

I bought a mint X-700 after watching your video. Great camera, as you said Far superior to a Canon AE-1 because of the aperture priority mode. Unfortunately, as I'm becoming older, I have some issues to get image in focus 😄. I ended up using the Minolta MD lenses I have on my X-T2 with Vevia emulation. Produces nice vintage look pictures indeed!

[franklinmichael]

Could you make a video on servicing? Where you get it done, how much it costs, how to do it...

[Lavi-Aemilia-Astori]

There is three factors for me to choose cameras and lenses, the sound the workflow/feel and the colour(both exterior and image produced)
This camera does not personally pass my "feel"category, but it is a great camera i can not deny

[wblord]

The x-700 is my main SLR at the moment. With the autowinder, it's amazing. I think I might switch to the Nikon f4 soon though. I just want some sort of autofocus feature and access to the Nikon ecosystem of lenses.

[KodakBoy]

X-700 was one of my favorite cameras ever and I regret selling it 😩
Your camera seems to have a shutter curtain problem maybe one of the previous owners, hopefully not Ed paves, accidentally touched the curtain

[Unskriptedfilmz]

All of my photos come out blurry . Not really sure if I should buy another one and it ends up the same

[chrisostorva]

Program mode basically turns the camera to a point and shoot

[MiracleWinchester]

One look and I'm like, oh no. He's pretty.

[tomislavmiletic_]

Those "half frame" shots are due to "lazy" shutter mechanism. Course that camera is at least 30 years old. Could it be fixed I don't know, but given it's a classic Leica cloth type shutter mechanism there's a high hope...

[yoyoho]

I am thinking whether to buy canon A1 or minolta x700. Can't really decide...

[Mike_On_Film]

Program mode is really "fully auto". The camera picks aperture and shutter speed. The user only has to focus and press the button. To use it, you put the dial on P them place the lens of f22 (notice 22 is green also) and slide the little button to green.

[kenPgago]

You have so many gears! Show them off next video!