Minolta X700 SLR Camera MD3 50mm f1.7 lens

General

Minolta X700 SLR Camera MD3 50mm f1.7 lens – A fully working and CLA’d X-700 (serial 1579843). Genuine MIJ Model. Tantalum capacitor model so less likely to ever have capacitor issues. Camera supplied with a fully restored and refurbished MD 50mm f1.7 lens (Serial 7057668).

The lens is silky smooth throughout its focus range after rebuild and has a snappy and reactive aperture.

A few marks on the baseplate are visible as this one is missing its protective plastic base, these were applied by the factory and are only a thin film of plastic. In part these were applied to disguise the fact the camera externals are of mostly plastic construction. Viewfinder is clean and bright and the camera is in excellent operating condition despite its worn external cosmetics.

Camera shows a large amount of wear overall with brassing showing through but has been completely rebuilt. See the restoration section for more details.

Supplied with original Minolta lens cap.

About
The top of the range model from the Minolta X-x00 series – the last manual focus cameras manufactured by Minolta before the debut of the revolutionary Maxxum 7000 series auto focus camera.

The Minolta X-700 35mm Film Camera used the basic body of the XG-M (the top range camera from the XG series with electronically controlled step less shutter speeds, but added full program auto exposure in addition to the XG-M’s aperture priority and metered manual modes. This program mode was referred to as “MPS” or Minolta Program System.

The Minolta X-700 35mm Film Camera was very much Minoltas response to the Canon AE-1 and is in our opinion a much nicer camera to work with being slicker in all regards.

Minolta sold more of these than any other camera they produced exceeding even the spectacularly successful SRT series.
The X-700 was in production for almost 18 years.

Many of the X series sold on eBay will suffer failure from blown capacitors and various other ills related to poor storage or lack of servicing.

The camera is powered from two SR44 button cells which are readily available.

WARNING – like all Minolta electronic cameras and many other electronic cameras of this period you should NEVER use off brand flashguns.  The very high trigger voltages (over 300volts ) in some off brand guns like the Vivitar 273/283  is high enough to destroy the electronics in these cameras. Only use a dedicated Minolta flash gun with these for safety.

Restoration

Camera acquired as a non-runner with a stuck shutter, the cause was a curtain derail which is quite common on older X-x00 and XG cameras. Camera was also suffering a number of ills associated with the X-x00 series including; missing aperture mirror, broken frame counter and a sticky on/off switch.

Camera was given a complete strip and service and all faults correct. A new frame counter was fitted from spares stock along with an aperture mirror. Shutter derail resolved which was almost certainly caused by dried out lubricants in the shutter mechanism and camera calibrated to original factory specification.

New seals and mirror bumper using professional materials as used by the original manufacturer.

Lens completely rebuilt as like most MD lenses the lubrication had vaporised leaving the focus over stiff and causing haze on the interior optics.

Camera returned to fully operational condition and meeting original factory specification.

Please be aware that the cameras and lenses for sale can be up to 50 years old.  They have been serviced and/or checked and are always as good as they can be made, but please don’t expect them to be flawless as if they were made yesterday.

All lenses of this age exhibit some small particles of dust and coatings are not up to modern standards. Cameras will exhibit some wear signs and likewise may have small dust specks in their viewfinders or focus screens.  These do not affect the picture in any way.

ANY problems or issues will be described in the main text which you are advised to read carefully.If you are unfamiliar with film cameras we suggest you do some online research and read the manuals which are freely available from online resources.

We are enthusiastic film fans and spend our time hunting cameras and lenses that have been or are being unloved. We then spend hours to bring them back to fully working and clean condition, ready for a new lease of life with you  We always change the film seals, give the camera a clean/service and make sure its fully working before we sell it on to you.

Most lenses are cleaned, re-lubricated and all of their functions checked prior to sale so you know they will work, full details will always be in the text. All items are packed safely for transit using proper packing material NOT something the cat was sick in. Having been stung both on eBay and by dealers alike who often know very little about film cameras we decided to offer people a chance to experience film using a camera that will last for many years and which we can say for sure works reliably

Mel & Claire