Minolta X-300 User manual

MINOLTN

Your Minolta X-300 is an easy-to-use
microcomputerized single-lens-reflex
(SLR) camera
with
quartz control of mechanical
sequences
and shutter speed,
providing lasting
accuracy
and years
of
enjoyment.
In its aperture-priority auto-exposure(AE) mode ("AUTO" on the camera),
the X-300 auto-
matically sets
the precise
shutter speed
for correct exposureaccording
to the in-camera
meter at
the apertureyou selected.An AE lock can be used
to hold a meter reading
andthen readjust
the
framing
beforereleasing
theshutter.Auto control ismaintained
even
when usingmirror lenses
and
close-upaccessories
such
asbellows-not possible
with shutter-priority AE systems.
Creative
flexibility existsin the X-300's match-LED/full-metered
manual mode: For correct
exposure
at the meteredvalue,
simply adjust
aperture
and/pr shutter
speed
to alignblinking and
glowing LEDs in the viewfinder.Or you can merely refer to these LEDs-or totally disregard
them-when making
your own settings.
Flash photography is also simple: just attach a Minolta X-series
Auto Electroflash,
adjust
aperture,
and shoot. Flash-ready
signalis given
in the viewfinder,
andthe shutteris
automatically
set
for propersync at 1/60 sec.
The X-300 can be used
with Minolta's wide range
of accessories,
suchaswideangle,
telephoto,
and
zoom lenses,
Motor Drive
1,Auto WinderG,Wireless
ControllerlR-l, and much more.
Before using lenses,flashes,
or other accessoriesmade by companies
other than Minolta,
attach
them to the camera
and makesure
they function properly by taking test photographs.
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CONTENTS
NAMESOFPARTS... |'. .2 CREATIVECONTROL.. .....24
STRAPANDCASE . . .5 AE LOCK . . . .24
SUMMARYOF OPERATION
(auto
mode}...6 MANUAL
EXPOSUREMODE ...26
PREPARINGTO TAKE PICTURES . . . 8 Lonsexposure
at "8" settins . . .27
ATTAcHINGAND REMoVINGLENs . . .B DEPTHOF FIELD . . 28
BATTERTESANDpOWER ......9 SHUTTERSPEED ...29
Batterycheck ....1'l OTHERFOCUSINGMETHODS ..30
Cold-weatheroperation. ....11 Distancescale ....30
FILM
AND
FILMSpEED . .12 Infraredindex . . . . 30
LOADTNGFTLM ...lf, Film-planeindex ..30
SafeLoadSignal/Framecounter.....15 FLASHPHOTOGRAPHY ......31
vtEWFtNDER .....16 ACCESSORIES. ....32
PREsHooTlNGcHEcK... ....'t7 TECHNICALDETAILS.. .....34
TAKING
PICTURES
IN AUTO MODE ....18 CAREAND STORAGE ...36
CAMERASETTINGS .....18
FOCUSTNG . . .20
HOLDINGCAMERA
AND RELEASING
SHUTTER ......21
Mountingcameraontripod ....22
Seff-timer . . .22
Eyepiececap ...22
REWINDINGANDUNLOADINGFILM . . . . . 23 1
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NAMES
OF PARTS
Focusing
gr
Distance
Aperture
ring
Main sruitch
Back-cover release
knob
Rewindcrank
Film-speed
Film-speedwindow
Film-speedring release
Mounting index Minimum-aperture lock (Disengage
for useon X-300)
Depth-of-fie!d soale
Safe Load Signal
Monitors correct
film advance
Operating button
Mode/shu tter-speedwindow
AUTO: automatic mode
1 - 1000: shutterspeeds
B: "bulb" (long) exposure
Frame counter
Finger
rest
Hot shoe Film-advance
lever
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AE lock/self-timer switch
. AE lockfor holdingclose-upor
adjusted-viewing
meter readi
ngs
. Self-timerwith triple-rate
blinking
LED
Mode/shu
tter-speed
selector
q\"F a.r
d\L*&.J
MC coupler
LTA Lens-mountingindex
Lens-release
button
Shu
tter-release
socket
rrror
tlii i ,
:lliirli
Self-timer
Front grip
LED
Bayonetlens mount Diaphragm-control lever

,ffi
Film-cartridge
chamber
Eyepiece
Eyepieceframe
Memo holder
Winder contact
Take-up spool
Pressure
plate
Back cover
ISO (DIN.ASA) table
Rewind release
der/motor-drive gu
ide socket
Winder/m otor-drive cou
p
ler
Tripod socket
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STRAP
AND CASE
Attach the strap (provided) and case (optional) as shown. The strap includesa battery holder used
for storing
fresh
spare
batteries.

SUMMARY OPE
RATION (Automatic
mode)
2. Checkbatterypower
(p.
11
).
5. Load film properly and
close
cover
(p.
14).
3.
Setfilmspeed
(p.
12).
6. Advance film to frame "1"
and check Safe Load Signal
(p.
15).
4. Openback
cover
(p.
13).
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9. Adjust focus (p. 20).
and remove
film

PREPAR
ING TO TAKE PICTURES
ATTACHING
ANDREMOVINGLENS
Body and lens caps
Remove body and lens caps as
shown.
To attach
Align the red mounting index on
the lens barrel with the red index
on the camera'slensmount. 'lnsert
the lens
bayonet into the mount,
then turn thelens
clockwiseuntil it
locksinto place
with aclick.
To remove
While pressing the lens-releasebut-
ton, turn the lens counterclockwise
as
far
as
it will go, then lift it out of
themount.
o Neverseta lens
with itsrear enddown unless a rearlens capis
on,
or itscontrol pins
may bedamaged.
o Becarefulnot to touch anythinginsidethe camera,especially
the
mirror, whenattachingor removing
lenses.
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BATTERIES
AND POWER
Batteries
Useone of the followi
ng types of
batteries:
r Two 1.55v silver-oxide
(SR-44:
Eveready
5-76,
EPX-76,or equiv.)
o Two 1.5v alkaline-manganese
(LR44: Eveready,4-76
or equiv.)
o One
3v
lithium
(CR-1/3N)
1. Using
a coin or similar
object,
unscrew
the battery-chamber
cover
counterclockwise
and removeit.
2. Wipe
the terminals
with a
clean,
dry cloth. Hold the batteries
by
their
edges
and insertthem
plus
(+)
side up into the sleeve
on the
inside
of the
cover.
o Do not use1.35vmercurybatteries
(MR44: EvereadyEPX-675or
equiv.),
which are
the same
shapeandsize,because
their voltageis
too low.
o To avoid battery leakage
or bursting, do not mix batteriesof
different types,brands,'or ages.
o Keep
batteries
away
from young
children.

3. Replace the cover and screw it
in clockwise
asfar as it wi ll go. Main wvitch
To operatethe camera,
slidethe
main
switch
to "ON".
When you havefinished taking
pictures,
move the main switch to
"OFF" to prevent
accidental
expo-
sures and batte
ry drain. (tt the
switch is left on, however,
battery
drain occurs
only when the operat-
ing button is touched,so you may
want to leave
it on to avoidmissing
unexpected
shots.)
Operating button
Touching the operation button
(with the main switch on) activates
the camera'smeter,
viewf
inder LED
display, and exposure-control
sys-
tem. lf proper contact is not
possible
(e.9.,
when wearing
gloves),
press
the operating
button slightly.
The shutter is released
when the
button is
pressed
all the way down.
The viewfinderLED displaywill
remain on for 15 sec. after you
remove
your f
inger.
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Batterycheck
The cameraautomatically
checks
battery power when the operating
button is
touchedor pressed.
o When batteries are nearly ex-
hausted, the mode LE
D l"A"
or " M") in the viewfinder
blinks
to
warn that fresh batteries
will soon
beneeded.
o When batterie
s are completely
exhausted (or not correctly in-
stalled),
no LEDs light and the
shutter
locks.
C
old-weather
operation
Since
batteries
tend to lose
power
as temperature drops, always use
fresh batteries
when photographing
in cold weather
and keep
aspare
set
with you, preferably in a warm
pocket closeto your body. Battery
capacity will be restored when
temperature
returnsto normal.
For prolonged
cold-weather
use
at
approx. 0"C (32"F) or lower, it Ls
recommended to use silver-oxide
batteries; if a lithium battery is
used
belowapprox.
0"C (32"
F),the
camera
may not operate.

FILM
AND FILM
SPEED
The camera
uses
standard
35mm
cartridgef
ilm. Eachf
ilm has
an ISO
film-speed number (incorporating
ASA and DIN numbers) which
indicates
the film's sensitivity
to
light. The first part of the ISO
number
(equivalent
to ASA number)
is marked on the camera'sfilm-
speed
ring.
For proper exposure, the cam-
era's
film-speed
ring must be setto
the correctf
ilm speed.
While pressing the film-speed
ring
release,
turnthe film-speed
ring
until the desirednumber lines
up
with the index and locks in place
when you remove
your finger
from
the release.
Memo holder
An ISO (DIN.ASA) table is
located on the camera back. lt is
surrounded by a handy memo
holder where you can insert the
film box end asa reminder
of the
film type in use.
Intermediatesettings
and DIN equivalents
Setting film speed
DIN ]
L
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LOADINGFILM
Before
opening the cameraback,
make sure there is no film inside
the camera by checking the Safe
Load
Signal
(p.
15).
1. Unfold the rewind crank and
pull up on it to lift the back-cover
release
knob. Pull up on the knob
until the camerabackspringsopen.
2. Leaving the knob pulled out,
position a 35mm film cartridgein
the chamber with its projecting
spool down. Then push the back-
cover releaseknob all the way in,
rotatingit slightlyif necessary.
NOTE
o When loading
film in a dark place
or with the lens cap on, loading
will be easier
if the modeselector is
not setat "AUTO".
o Always handle
and load film in
from directlight by your body.
o Do not touch any parts
or areas
insidethe
camerashown
in blue.
subdued light-at leastshaded

3. Pull out just
enoughfilm leader
to reach the take-up spool. Insert
the end of the film into a slot on
the left side of the take-up spool,
making
sure
that a hole
in the film
is lined up with the tooth on the
take-up spool. The sprocket teeth
should
beengaged
with holes
at the
bottomof the
film.
sprocket
by your left hand,
slowly
operate
the film-advance lever
until
the
film is
wound
firmly around
the
take-up spool, the sprocket teeth
are engaged with holes on both
edges
of the film, and the slackin
the film is taken up. lf the film-
advancelever
stops
at the end of a
full stroke during this procedure,
release
the shutter and continue
(main
switchmust
beon).
5. After makingsure that the film
is taut, close the cameraback by
pressing
it until it locks
shut
with a
click. A red"S" should now appear
opposite the index in the frame
cou
nter.
4. With the film held against
the
14
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3. Pullout just
enough
film leader
to reach the take-up spool. Insert
the end of the film into a slot on
the left sideof the take-up spool,
making
sure
that a hole
in the film
is lined up with the tooth on the
take-up spool. The sprocket teeth
should
be engaged
with holes
at the
bottom
of thefilm.
4. With the film held agairist
the
sprocket by your left hand,
slowly
operate
the film-advancelever
until
the
film is
wound
firmly around
the
take-up spool, the sprocket teeth
are engaged with holes on both
edges
of the film, andthe slack
in
the film is taken up. lf the film-
advancelever
stops
at the end of a
f
u
ll stroke du
ring th
is procedu
re,
release
the shutter and continue
(main
switchmust
beon).
5. After making surethat the film
is taut, close the cameraback by
pressing
it until it locks
shut
with a
click. A red"S" shouldnow appear
opposite the index in the frame
cou
nter.

6. Advance
thefilm and releasethe
shutter until the index points to
"1". A red
bar
shouldappear
at the
f
ar left in the Saf
e Load Signal
indicatingthat film is loaded
and
advancing
proper,ly.lf it does not
appearor swings far to the right,
repeatsteps3 to 6.
The camerais now ready
for taki ng
the f
irst pictu
re, provided film
speed
isset.
Film-advance
lever
The lever has 30" of unengaged
movement
to allow swinging
it out
from the camerabody so the right
thumb will fit comfortably
behind
it. As the lever is moved an addi-
tional 130' until it stops,the f
ilm
and frame counter advance
andthe
shutter is cocked for the next
exposu
re.
Safe Load Signal/Frame counter
As you take pictures and advance
the film. the red bar in the Safe
Load Signal gradually moves to the
right and the rewind crank rotates
counterclockwise, indicating proper
film advance.
Never f orce the f
ilm-advance
lever when it stops and resists
further movement at the end of the
film, which may be somewhat
after the common film lengths
n2, 20, 24, 36 exposures) shown in
red in the f rame counter. The frame
counter stops advancing after 36
exposu res. 15
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VIEWFINDER
Mode indicators
M: Manual
mode
A: Auto mode
Over-range
LED
Blinks
at
4Hz (4
times
per
second)
oShu
tter-speed scale/LEDs
Glowing LED(s)
indicate:
(1) in "A" (auto)
mode, shutter speed set by camera (if two
LEDs glow, camera sets stepless speed
betweenthe two), and (2) in "M" (manual)
mode, the meteredspeed
Blinking LED (at 4Hzl indicates user-set
shutter speed in manual mode
"60" LED blinks at 2Hz as flash-ready
signal with X-seriesMinolta Auto Electro-
flashes
1 - 4 sec./under-range LED
Glows if metered speed
is between 1 and 4
sec.
Blinks
ht 4Hz) if outside
range
B-setting indicator
Focusing screen
Split-image spot, microprism band, and
Acute Matte field
@