HOW TO BUY A MINOLTA X-700 WITHOUT SURPRISES

Minolta, famous Japanese industry, known for the quality of its products including the excellent manuals photographic equipment built in the years 70' and 80' - known as Series X (1-XG - XG-7 - X-700 - X-500 - XG -M - X-9, etc.. etc..) has always been among the leaders recognized along with other famous manufacturers. Minolta is also well known for his inventions, the patent which many times was then sold to other well-known manufacturers of cameras.

Among the machines produced by the X series stands out by far the Minolta X-700, in my opinion the best of the series. This camera was created with a vast number of accessories, including the famous Minolta MD objectives that are part of Minolta System.

This set of objectives, some of which were encountered on the quality of their lenses, can be found, nowadays, at auction (especially on eBay U.S.) but at very very interesting prices. They are cheap and durable (made from fine materials). The only problem we encountered this series of cameras and targets has been the competition from Nikon and Canon machines that did not permit, to many, to appreciate their wonderful qualities. For little price difference from competitors Nikon or Canon cameras, you can get a Minolta X-700 with all the accompanying accessories that make up the so-called Minolta System (cameras with objectives MD, motor and auto-winder, flash 360PX dedicated type, 132PX, 280PX, backs and so on. etc..).

One can safely say that anyone who owns an entire system Minolta Photo may have an accompanying photo of all respect that has absolutely no comparison in terms of quality, competing with Canon and Nikon. I would say, incorrectly, the photographer is professional and the amateur has always underestimated the brand that is now sadly disappeared from the scene to have been absorbed, for strategic and economic reasons, the Sony brand.
Therefore, it was a shame to see out the Minolta brand in the world scene as a producer of these excellent cameras. This is one more reason to get a product that, unfortunately, is slowly disappearing from the world markets and then be proud owners of a product that has made the history of photography (in my humble opinion, a cult). We come to recommendations on how to purchase a mythical Minolta X-700 MPS, the unique camera built by hand with the Minolta Program System, this system represented the first step in photographic cameras to produce control systems with semi-automatic photo (left only the focus of the hands while the rest was automatically set by the MPS).

The important things to check before buying a Minolta X-700, are as follows:

• perfect aesthetic conservation, which should not show bruises, scratches, parts, paint strippers;
• the inside of the machine that should not show any dust or other impurities;
• mirror and ring attack targets in perfect condition;
• operation of the charging lever film;
• shutter button functioning;
• the LED in the viewfinder in operation that meet the solicitation closing and opening of the diaphragm;
• Clean the viewfinder;
• drop-in perfect condition.

All these things can be obtained from the seller that they must give a guarantee of perfect condition and working order. In many cases, the camera has the defect that has the lever of the film office and locked the shutter button is not working. First check in advance that the batteries are running by looking in the viewfinder if the LED are lit. Verified that, we can say that the camera has much more serious problems which can not be underestimated even for the costs incurred to bring the car to its normal state of functioning. The problem undoubtedly is caused by capacitor failures.

This problem is due to a failure of the capacitors (nr. 2 - one at the bottom of the camera and one at the top, both in the body) of the camera to be replaced by the Minolta Authorized Service Center in the country where one lives. Not really wanting to repair the camera by yourself because it is extremely difficult to replace, only possible with adequate equipment and experience. Who wants to try to do alone in the vast majority of cases, ruin the camera hopelessly. The cost for repair is normally, including expenses, from 90 to 100 dollars. Once the capacitors replaced the machine is like new. It is estimated that 30/40% of cameras sold on eBay has this problem. Therefore, before you buy, ask about the state of perfect functioning of the lever load film and the shutter button. If this is not your spending will increase by around 90/100 dollars for repair. To keep your camera still in perfect preservation, periodically remove it from the bag and allow to breathe. Keep it always in a dry place and do not ever let the batteries placed on the camera, in order to prevent the oxidation of the battery compartment door.
Clean regularly with a cloth and taken, even without the film, some frames.
Finally, in rare cases has been reported the loss of keeping the light compartment of the cover film due to the seals that have lost their elasticity. In this case are to be replaced at a cost that is around 60/80 dollars. As a last recommendation, I repeat, before you buy, make sure the state of proper functioning of the camera, in addition to its preservation and aesthetics of good reputation of the seller must ensure that the refund in the event of failure or at least, the reimbursement of repair costs.

(C)Photo-Mania001 - 2009

Attenzione: Alcune foto della presente guida sono state prelevate dal web tramite un programma di download automatico e non si è a conoscenza se sono coperte da copyright o meno; se così fosse i legittimi proprietari dei diritti di copyright possono richiederne la cancellazione che verrà immediatamente effettuata.

Art.90 Legge 22 aprile 1941 n. 633 - Protezione del diritto d'autore e di altri diritti connessi al suo esercizio.

(G.U. n. 166 del 16 luglio 1941)

Gli esemplari della fotografia devono portare le seguenti indicazioni:
1) il nome del fotografo, o, nel caso previsto nel primo capoverso dell'art. 88, della ditta da cui il fotografo dipende o del committente;
2) la data dell'anno di produzione della fotografia;
3) il nome dell'autore dell'opera d'arte fotografata.

Qualora gli esemplari non portino le suddette indicazioni, la loro riproduzione non è considerata abusiva e non sono dovuti i compensi indicati agli articoli 91 e 98, a meno che il fotografo non provi la malafede del riproduttore.

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