Minolta X-700 User manual

MINOLTA X-700
INSTRUCTIONMANUAL

Beforeusingyourcamera
forthefirsttime,studythis
manualcarefullyalltheway
through— oratleastallthe
sectionscoveringyourphoto-
graphicneeds.Asyouread,
attacha lens,loadbatteries,
turnthemainswitchon,and
handleyourX-700toacquaint
yourselfwithitspartsand
features.Thenloaditwithfilm
andproceedtoactualpicture
taking.Inthiswayyoucan
takegoodphotosandbeginto
realizethebroadpotentialof
yourX-700rightfromthe
start.
Toobtainmanyyearsof
servicefromyourX-700,be
suretoreadandfollowthe
precautionsgivenonpage8
andelsewhere.Keepthis
manualforreferencelateras
necessary.

YourMinoltaX-700,thestate-of-the-artSLRcameraatthecenteroftheMinolta
ProgramSystem,offersyouthefocus-and-shootsimplicityofprogrammedauto-exposure
(AE)control:Bothapertureandshutterspeedareautomaticallysetovera widerangeby
thecamera,withcontinuousviewfinderLEDreadoutofspeedsbeingset.Theprogramis
designedtomaintainfastestpracticablespeedsaslightdims,thengiveaudiblebeeps,if
desired,toguardagainstblurfromsubject/camera-movement,makingtheX-700idealif
you'restartingoutinphotographyorifyouwantfullprogramautomationforeaseofuse
orfast-breakingaction.
TheX-700'saperture-priorityAEmodeletsyoucontrolthedepthoffieldbutstill
maintainAEcontrolofsteplessshutterspeedsfine-tunedforproperexposurewithlight
metereduptotheinstantofexposure.ThismodeisexcellentforAEphotographywith
thewiderangeofMinoltaSLRsystemlensesandaccessoriesavailable,includingmirror
lensesandclose-upbellows— notpossiblewithshutter-priorityAEsystems.Forfull
creativeflexibility,apertureandshuttercanbesetindependentlyinanycombinationin
theX-700'smetered/full-manualmode.
OtherhandyfeaturesofyourX-700include:touch-switchmeteringthatkeepsthe
LEDsonfor15secondsafteryoufirsttouchtheoperatingbutton;AElockforholding
adjusted-framingmeterreadings;+/—2EVstops'exposureadjustmentwithLEDindicator
infinder;self-timerwithtriple-ratevisual/audibleindications;flash-readyandFlash
DistanceChecker(FDC)indicationsinfinder;split-imagemicroprismspotandAcute
Mattefocusingscreen;integralfrontandbackgripsforsurerholding;SafeLoadSignal;
anda neweasy-loadtake-upspool.
Aprogrammedautoflash,multi-functionback,andquartzdataback(seepages53to
55)completetheMinoltaProgramSystem;alsoavailablearea newwirelesscontroller,a
motordriveandautowinder,anda broadrangeofotherSLRsystemaccessories. 1

CONTENTS
NAMESOFPARTS/MAINFEATURES. ..
TAKINGCAREOFYOURX-700
Strapandcase
PREPARINGTOTAKEPICTURES
MOUNTINGANDCAREOFLENSES
Bodyandlenscaps
Attachingandremovinglenses
Careofglasssurfaces
BATTERIESANDPOWER
Batteries
Mainswitch
Operatingbutton
Automaticbatterycheckandshutterlock....
Batteryholder
Cold-weatheroperation
FILMANDFILMSPEED
LOADINGANDADVANCINGFILM
Loadingfilm
Film-advancelever
SafeLoadSignal/Framecounter
REWINDINGANDUNLOADINGFILM
2
TAKINGPICTURESWITHYOUR
X-700
Preshootingcheck
EXPOSURECONTROLWITHTHEX-700......
Summaryofmodes
Mode/shutter-speedselectorand
P/A-lockrelease
Minimum-aperturelock
Eyepiececap
PROGRAMMEDAUTO-EXPOSURE
MODE(Pmode)
FUNDAMENTALSOFEXPOSURE
COUPLEDRANGESANDPROGRAM
GRAPH
LENSANDMODECOMBINATIONS
APERTURE-PRIORITYAUTO-
EXPOSUREMODE(Amode)
METERINGWITHTHEX-700
AELOCK
EXPOSURE-ADJUSTMENTCONTROL
WHENTOUSEAELOCKAND
EXPOSURE-ADJUSTMENTCONTROL...
4
8
9
10
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
14
14
15
15
16
17
17
20
20
21
23
23
24
24
25
25
25
26
28
30
31
32
34
34
35
36

METERED/FULL-MANUALEXPOSURE
MODE(Mmode)
Longexposures("B"setting)
FOCUSING
Focusingaid
Distancescale
Film-planeindex
Infraredindex
•DEPTHOFFIELD
Previewbutton
Depth-of-fieldscale
•BLURFROMCAMERA/SUBJECT
MOVEMENT
SUPPORTINGTHECAMERAAND
RELEASINGTHESHUTTER
Slow-shutter-speedwarning
Mountingcameraontripod
Self-timer
Otherwaysofreleasingshutter
•CREATIVECONTROLOFAPERTURE
ANDSHUTTERSPEED
FLASHPHOTOGRAPHY
ACCESSORIES(MinoltaProgram
System)
TECHNICALDETAILS
STORAGE
•: Supplementalinformationonfundamentalsof
photographygiveninboxes
3
38
39
40
40
41
41
41
42
43
43
44
45
4G
46
47
47
48
50
53
58
61

NAMESOFPARTS/MAINFEATURES
Exposure-adjustmentcontrol
2EVstopscontinuousadjust-
mentoverorundernormalex-
posure,withLEDindicatorin
viewfinder
Back-coverreleaseknob-
Mode/shutter-speedselector
P:ProgrammedAE
A:Aperture-priorityAE
1-1000:Steppedshutterspeeds
formetered/fullmanual
B:Long("bulb")exposures
Rewindcrank
Film-speedring-
Film-speedwindow
Exposure-adjustmentcontrol
release
Flash/camera-controlcontacts
Fordedicatedprogrammedauto-
flashandX-seriesautoflashes
Synccontact
Operatingbutton
"Softtouch"electromagnetic
release;lockswhenbattery
powertoolow
"Touchswitch"meteringwith
15-sec.holdofLEDdisplay
SafeLoadSignal
Monitorscorrectfilmadvance
Main
switch
Film-advancelever
Smooth130"advancestroke
after30'unengagedmovement
Main-switchpositionindicator
OFF,ON,ON(audibleslow-
shutter-speedwarningandself-
timerbeeps)
Framecounter
P/A-lockrelease
4

AElock/self-timerswitch
•AElockforholdingclose-upor
adjusted-viewingmeterreadings
•Electronicself-timerwith
triple-rateblinkingLEDand
optionalaudiblebeeps
MDcoupler
Frontgrip
Integralfrontandbackgrips
givingcamerasurerhold
Syncterminal
Bayonetlensmount
Newintegrallylubricatedstainless-
steelmountoffersgreaterdurabili-
tyandsmootherlenschanging;
acceptsvirtuallyallMinoltaSLR
interchangeablelensesandacces-
sories
Notvisible:
•Siliconphotocellatoppenta-
prismforfull-aperturemetering
forviewfinderLEDdisplay,and
for"finalcheck"stop-down
metering
Lens-mountingindex
Lens-releasebutton
Mirror
Speciallycoatedtomake
viewfinder11% brighter
Strapeyelet
Shutter-releasesocket
Diaphragm-controllever
Previewbutton
Easy-to-usespring-loaded
buttonforpreviewing
depthoffield
•Secondsiliconphotocellin
mirrorcompartmentforDirect
AutoflashMeteringwithPX-
seriesAutoElectroflashes
MCcoupler
5

Modeindicators
M:Meteredmanual
A:Aperture-priorityAE
P:ProgrammedAE
(blinksiflensnotset
atminimumaperture
ornon-MDlensinuse
Over-rangeLED
Shutter-speedscale/LEDs
•LEDindicatessteplessspeed
setbycamerainP andA modes
•LEDindicatessteppedspeed
recommendedinM mode
•"60"LEDblinksat2Hzas
flash-readyindicatorwith
PX-andX-seriesAutoElectro-
flashes
•"60"LEDblinksat8Hzas
flash-distancechecker(FDC)
withPX-seriesAutoElectro-
flashes
UnderrangeLED
Exposure-adjustmentLED
Aperturesetting
Focusingscreen
Split-imagespot,microprism
band,andAcuteMattefield;
exchangeablewitheightother
screensatauthorizedMinolta
servicefacilities
Focusinggrip
Distancescale
Depth-of-fieldscale
Aperturering/scale
Mountingindex
Minimum-aperturelock
Preventsaccidentalmovementof
apertureringinP mode
Diaphragm-controlpin
Lensshown:50mmf/1.7MD
6

Back-coverreleaseknob
Film-cartridgechamber
Shuttercurtain
Horizontal-traversefocal-plane
type
Sprocket
Take-upspool
Pressureplate
Eyepieceframe/eyepiece
Memoholder
ISO(DIN-ASA)table
Backgrip
Battery-chambercover
Tripodsocket
Rewindrelease Accessoryconnections:
Contactterminalsforcamera
controlbyMulti-Function
Backanddata-imprintcontrol
withMulti-FunctionBackor
QuartzDataBack1
Motor-driveguidesocket
Motor-drivecontacts
Windercontact
Winder/motordrivecoupler
Winder/motordriveguide
socket 7

YourMinoltaX-700isa high-precisioninstrument
designedtogivemanyyearsoftrouble-freepicture
takingifusedandcaredforproperly.Theprecautions
youshouldfollowforkeepingthecameraingood
operatingconditionaregivenbelowandatvarious
placesthroughoutthetext.
•Alwayskeepyourcamerainitscasewiththelens
cappedwhennotinuse,orwitha bodycaponwhena
lensisnotattached.
•NopartoftheX-700shouldbeforcedatanytime.
Ifoperationisnotasyouthinkitshouldbe,carefully
restudytheapplicableinstructionsorconsultan
authorizedMinoltaservicefacility.
•Neversubjectyourcameratoshock,highheat
and/orhumidity,water,orharmfulchemicals.Be
particularlycarefulnottoleaveitintheglove
compartmentorotherplacesinmotorvehicleswhere
itmaybesubjecttohightemperatures.
•Neverlubricateanypartofthebodyorlens.
•Nevertouchtheshuttercurtainsorthefrontinside
partofthebodywithfingersorotherobjectsorblow
againstthem,asdoingsomightdamagethealignment
andmovementofeitherthecurtainsormirror.
•Externalcameraandlensbarrel— butnotglass—
surfacesshouldbewipedwitha soft,silicone-treated
clothnowandthen,especiallyafterusingthecamera
nearsaltwater.
•Itisrecommendedtohaveyourcameracleaned
onceperyearatanauthorizedMinoltaservicefacility.
Lens-careinstructionsaregivenonpages10and11.
Ifyouwillnotbeusingyourcameraforanextended
period,seethestorageinstructionsatthebackofthe
manual.
Ifyouhavequestionsconcerningoperationofyour
cameraoraboutphotography,feelfreetocontact
yourlocalMinoltaagentordistributorbywritingone
oftheofficeslistedinsidethebackcover.
CAUTION
•Beforeusinglenses,flashes,orotheraccessories
madebycompaniesotherthanMinolta,attachthem
tothecameratomakesuretheyfunctionproperly
andtaketestphotographsifnecessary.
8
TAKINGCAREOFYOURX-700