So helpful! I'm currently in a film photography class and have this camera, it's my first time using this camera because I want to take photos while I'm on winter break and couldn't figure out how to use the light meter. I know understand so much better. Thank you!
As it says on the back, it's ISO, which combines the arithmetic ASA scale from America and the logarithmic DIN scale from Germany. On most film packages and cartridges from around 1980 and onward, the sensitivity of the film is indicated by two numbers, namely the ASA part and the DIN part, e.g. ISO 100/21, ISO 200/24 or ISO 400/27. The entire scale from ISO 12/12 to ISO 6400/39 is there. As you can see, when the ASA value doubles, the DIN value increases by three. ISO = DIN ASA 12 12 15 25 18 50 21 100 24 200 27 400 30 800 33 1600 36 3200 39 6400 42 12800 45 25600 48 51200 51 102400 54 204800 57 409600 60 819200 63 1638400 66 3276800 These are the "full" values, one f-stop or shutterspeed apart, but there are film types with intermediate sensibilities, like Ektachrome 40/17, Kodachrome 64/19, Ilford 125/22 etc. The slotted circle next to the rewind release button is the connector for the motor drive - when you advance the film manually, it will turn. What you call a cable release trigger port is a pc connector (pc stands for "prise co-axiale" or co-axial connector), which is used to connect studio flashes. The threaded hole under the lens release button is intended for a cable release (other cameras had it at the centre of the release button).
The iso clip on the back let you rip off the portion of the film box with the film info, and slide it in as a reminder of what film is loaded. This my first camera and I loved it.
Helpful video, thanks. Something weird happened to my X-700. Now only works in B (manual mode). I believe the light meter went. Great little camera though...32 years and running. 🤗
B is Bulb mode, meaning the shutter stays open for as long as the shutter is triggered. I would imagine it probably has something to the capacitors that are known for going bad.
Please make a Video on the A mode I want to truly understand it. Thank you for doing the P mode and this video helped a lot. I just got my hands on a Minolta x-700.
Your vids help me out a lot! Just bought a x700 last week and have been shooting in program mode. Did you ever make a video going over the shutter speeds in manual mode?
Excellent video, thanks. Looking forward to one on shooting this camera in manual mode, if you make one. I was selling this camera until I came across your videos. I may just hang onto it. Thanks again.
ASA and DIN are just other standards for film speed like ISO. ASA is American Standards Association, DIN is german stands for Deutsches Institut für Normung. Essentially the same thing as ISO but they all have their own arbitrary scales for film speed.
DIN numbers are the old European method of gauging film speed, or sensitivity to light. It is not standard to the American ASA system but the ISO method was an effort to standardize the two.
ASA/ISO is literally the same. Explanation: DIN - Deutsches Institut für Normung ASA - American Standard Association ISO - International Standard Organisation DIN was the german standard, back into the older days. ;)
I'm a bit confused about the functionality of the Aperture Preview button. I've got the 50mm Minolta lens from the video and when I look through the viewfinder (without touching anything) I already see the depth of field in the scene... When I hold the Aperture Preview button, I seemingly get a sense of the lighting conditions that the aperture will afford me? Where one half of the inner-most circle in the viewfinder will turn black, and then lighten (to match the other half) as I change my aperture to, presumably, something more suitable for the scene. Is this different from what it's supposed to do? Because for some reason I can't seem to find any more detailed information about this function. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Hey Ashley. Yes, you absolutely can change out the lens with film in it. The shutter curtain is closed and the viewfinder mirror is closed preventing light from coming in. You can travel with the lens off as long as you have a body cap for the camera. This will prevent anything like dust or lint from getting in.
You can find more information by searching “Minolta X-700 Instruction Manual”. You will find 63 pages of information how to use the camera and what does mean the buttons.
Hey Jeff, so whenever I'm unloading film from my minolta x-700 the rewind release button gets stuck and won't pop back to it's original state. Do you know of any fixes for this?
I have a little pop up flash, that doesn't have any indicator on it. How do I use it with this camera? Should I go for P mode, or set it at 60 (as it is the time indicated in red) and some random aperture?
As in while trying to take a photo the little red lights in the viewfinder don't come on? Have you turned it to "on)))" and see if it beeps in low light? That's a way to quickly check the battery.
From what I’m understanding is I can’t even test the advance lever without a battery. I just received the X-700 today and I did not do enough research before purchasing. Im use to the mechanical Sr-T 101
Yes, the shutter is electronic controlled and you need two LR-44 batteries for the camera to work. Your local camera shop should have them. I'm not should if walmrt will. Hope this helps.
The shutter keeps getting stuck open for a few seconds when my camera is on A mode and am not able to have it fixed as am away for a few days and unable to get it fixed. If I put my camera in P mode but not have the aperture on the green 16, will my photos be okay? I’m wanting to see if P mode will be able to compensate for A mode not working, if that makes sense
Where are you testing your A mode at? Also what is your aperture and ISO/ASA settings at? Your camera may be setting the shutter speed super slow if you are shooting in a relatively dark area such as indoors. Try A mode out in the daylight and see if the shutter operates faster.
My film advance lever doesnt move fully towards the right. Do you know any reasons+fixes? I don't have batteries right now so that might be the problem.
Studio flash port & shutter release port. Fixed it for you. Also, doesn’t make sense to title this “How to use”, and then ask for viewers for information.
