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

Thestrap(providedwithcamera)
andcase(soldseparately)shouldbe
attachedasshowntokeepyour
camerahandyforuseandtopro-
tectitfrombeingdroppedor
bumped.
NOTE
•Theprotectiveplasticfilmonthe
camera'sbasecanberemovedif
desired.
Strapandcase
Eyepiececap
Battery
holder
Shoulderpad
9

Thenextfoursectionscover
thingsyoumustdotoprepareyour
camerafortakingpictures:
•Attachlens(atright).
•Insertbatteriesandturnmain
switchon(pp.12and13).
•Setfilmspeed(p.16).
•Loadcamerawithfilm(pp.17
to20).
Youmustalwaysinstallbatteries
properlyandturnonthemain
switchbeforeloadingfilm;the
orderofotherstepsmayvary.
Instructionsforrewindingand
unloadingfilmarealsogiveninthis
part.Werecommendreadingthem
beforestartingtouseyourcamera,
sothatyouwillbesurewhattodo
whenyoucometotheendofthe
film.
10
MOUNTINGANDCAREOFLENSES
Bodyandlenscaps
Removebodyandlenscapsas
shownabove.
CAUTIONS
•Alwayscaptherearendofthe
lensandthelensmountofthe
camerawhenthelensisnotat-
tached,andthefrontofthelens
whenthecameraisnotinuse.
•Topreventdamagetothecontrol
pins,neverseta lenswithitsrear
enddownunlessa rearlenscapis
on.
•Ifitisnecessarytosetanun-
cappedlenswithitsfrontend
down,dosoona smoothsurface.
Fisheyelensesshouldalwaysbe
cappedbeforebeingplacedfront
enddown.
•Keeplenses,properlycapped
frontandrear,intheircaseswhen
notinuse.
PREPARINGTOTAKE
PICTURES

Toattachlenses
Afterremovingthebodycapand
rearlenscap,aligntheredmount-
ingindexonthelensbarrelwith
theredindexonthecamera'slens
mount,insertthelensbayonetinto
thesocket,thenturnthelensclock-
wiseuntilitlocksintoplacewitha
click.
Toremovelenses
Whilepushingthelens-release
button,turnthelenscounterclock-
wiseasfarasitwillgo,thenliftit
outofthemount.
CAUTION
•Becarefulnottotouchanything
insidethecamerawhenattachingor
removinglenses.
Careofglasssurfaces
•Nevertouchlensoreyepiece
surfaceswithfingersorotherob-
jects.Ifnecessary,removeloose
matterwitha blowerbrush.Use
specialphotographiclenstissueora
soft,cleanclothtoremovesmudges
orfingerprintswitha gentlecircular
motion.Onlyifabsolutelyneces-
sary,thetissuemaybemoistened
veryslightlywithnotmorethan
onedropofa satisfactoryquick-
evaporatingfluidcleanerspecially
compoundedforphotographic
lenses.Suchfluidsmustneverbe
droppeddirectlyontheglasssur-
face.
•Neverliftthemirrorortouchits
surface,asdoingsomightdamage
thealignment.Smallsmudgesor
fingerprintsonthemirrorwillnot
affectthemeterreadingorimage
quality;iftheyareveryannoying,
havethecameracleanedatan
authorizedMinoltaservicefacility.
11

Batteries
ForoperationoftheX-700's
circuitryandshutter,useoneof
thefollowingtypesofbatteries:
•Two1.55vsilver-oxide(SR44:
EvereadyS-76,EPX-76,orequiv.)
•Two1.5valkaline-manganese
(LR44:EvereadyA-76orequiv.)
•One3vlithium(CR-1/3N)-See
noteonp.15.
CAUTIONS
•Neveruse1.35vmercurybatteries
(MR44:EvereadyEPX-675or
equiv.),whichhavea similarshape
andsize.
•Toavoidbatteryleakageorburst-
ing,donotmixbatteriesofdifferent
types,brands,orages.
•Usedbatteriesshouldnotbedis-
posedofinfire.
WARNING:Keepbatteriesaway
fromyoungchildren.
12
1.Unscrewcounterclockwiseand
removethebattery-chambercover
onthecamerabottom.
BATTERIESANDPOWER
2.Afterwipingtheterminalswitha
clean,drycloth,holdthebatteries
bytheiredgesandinsertthemplus
(+)sideoutintothesleeveonthe
insideofthecover.

Mainswitch
Forthecamera'scircuitryand
shuttertooperate,themainswitch
mustbesetateither"ON"or
"ON".Thelatterpositionshouldbe
usedwhenyouwantaudiblebeeps
duringself-timeroperationoran
audiblewarningwhenevertheshut-
terspeedsetorrecommendedby
thecamerais1/30sec.orslower.
(Fortheslow-shutter-speedwarning
tofunction,theoperatingbutton
mustbetouchedorslightly
pressed.)
Topreventaccidentalexposures
andbatterydrain,movethemain
switchto"OFF"whenyouare
donetakingpictures.(Whenthe
switchislefton,however,battery
drainoccursonlyiftheoperating
buttonistouched,soyoumay
wanttoleaveitontoavoidmissing
unexpectedshots.)
13

Operatingbutton
Touchingtheoperatingbuttonin
thecenterofthemode/shutter-
speedselectoractivatesthecam-
era'smeter,viewfinderLEDdis-
play,andexposure-controlsystem.
Ifpropercontactisnotpossible
(e.g.,incoldweather,whenfingers
areexcessivelydry,orwhenwearing
gloves),pressthebuttonslightly.
Theshutterisreleasedwhenthe
operatingbuttonispressedallthe
waydown.
Foreasieroperationofother
controlswhileviewingthroughthe
finder,thecircuitswillremainon
for15sec.afteryoufirsttouchthe
button.
NOTE
•Iftheoperatingbuttonbecomes
dirtyorgreasy,turnoffthemain
switchandwipethebuttonwitha
clean,drycloth.
Automaticbatterycheckandshut-
terlock
IfanyLEDintheviewfinder
lightsupwhenthemainswitchis
onandtheoperatingbuttonis
touchedorslightlypressed,the
batteriesareinsertedcorrectlyand
havesufficientpowerforoperation
ofthecamera.
Whenbatterypowerdecreasesto
apointalmostinsufficientforcam-
eraoperation,theLEDdisplaywill
nolongerlightup,servingasa
warningtoinsertfreshbatteriesas
soonaspossible.Whenbattery
capacityisnolongersufficient,the
shutterwillnotoperate.
14

Batteryholder
Freshsparebatteriescanbe
storedinthebatteryholderthread-
edonthecamerastrap(p.9).To
insertbatteries,forma loopas
shownabovethendropthemin.
Slidetheholderoffthestrapto
removebatteries.
NOTE
•Ifthecameraisnottobeusedfor
morethantwoweeks,itisadvisable
toremovethebatteries(especially
oldones).
Cold-weatheroperation
Sincebatteriestendtolosepow-
erastheybecomecolder,always
usefreshbatteriesandkeepa spare
setwithyouwhenusingyourcam-
eraincoldweather.Forprolonged
cold-weatheruse(approx.O°Cor
lower),silver-oxidebatteriesarere-
commended.Batterycapacitywill
berestoredastemperaturesrise.
NOTE
•Ifa lithiumbatteryisusedbelow
0°C,thecameramaynotoperate.
•Nevertransferthecameradirectly
fromlowtohightemperaturesas
condensationmayforminsideand
preventnormaloperation.
15

TheX-700usesstandard35mm
cartridgefilm.Ifyouarenotal-
readyfamiliarwiththemanytypes
available,youmaywanttoexperi-
menttofindoneormorethatgive
pleasingresultsforsubjectsyoulike
tophotographorforspecialsitua-
tions.
TheISOfilmspeed(incorporat-
ingASAandDINnumbers)indi-
catesthefilm'ssensitivitytolight.
ThefirstpartoftheISOnumber
(equivalenttoASAnumber)is
markedontheX-700'sfilm-speed
ring.Eachtimethisnumberdoubles
(e.g.,from25to50,50to100),
therequiredexposureishalved.
Sucha changeiscalledone"stop".
Thoughselectinga high-speed
filmwillallowyoutotakepictures
whenthereislesslight,suchfilms
ingeneralmayproducea grainier
image.
16
Settingfilmspeed
Liftuponthefilm-speedring
andturnituntiltheproperASA
numberappearscenteredinthe
film-speedwindowandlocksin
thatpositionwhentheringisre-
leased.Marksbetweennumbered
graduationsindicatespeedsshown
inthetableatright.
250
320
400
500
640
800
1000
1250
1600
CAUTION
•Filmshouldbestoredina cool,
dry,darkplacebeforeuseand
exposedbeforetheexpirationdate
printedonthebox.
ASA
25
32
40
50
64
80
100
125
160
200
DIN
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
ASA DIN
FILMANDFILMSPEED

AhandyISO(DIN-ASA)table,
witha surroundingmemoholder
forkeepingthefilm-boxendasa
reminderofthefilmtypeand
numberofexposures,islocatedon
thecameraback.
Loadingfilm
Beforeopeningthecameraback,
confirmthatthereisnofilminside
thatcouldbedamagedbylightif
thebackisopened,bychecking
that:
•NoredisvisibleintheSafeLoad
Signal(seep.20).
•Rewindcrankcanbefreely
rotatedclockwisemanytimes
withoutpushingrewindbutton.
Sincetheframecounteradvances
eachtimetheshutteriscocked
evenifnofilmisinside,thecamera
maybeemptyevenwhentheindex
doesnotpointto"S".
Priortoloadingfilm,setthefilm
speed(seepreviouspage)andturn
themainswitchon(p.13).
CAUTIONS
•Filmshouldbehandledandload-
edinsubduedlight- atleast
shadedfromdirectsunlightbyyour
body.
•Donottouchanypartsorareas
showninbluebelow.
17
LOADINGANDADVANCINGFILM

1.Withthecaseoff,pulluponthe
back-coverreleaseknobuntilthe
camerabackspringsopen.Gently
blowawayanydustorotherparti-
clesinsidewitha blowerbrush.
NOTE
•Whenloadingfilmina darkplace
orwiththelenscapon,loadingwill
beeasierifthemodeselectorisnot
setat"P"or"A".
18
2.Leavingtheknobpulledout,
positiona 35mmfilmcartridgeas
shownwiththeprojectingspool
down.Thenpushtheknoballthe
wayin,rotatingitslightlyifneces-
sary.
NOTE
•Ifthefilm-advanceleverstopsat
theendofa fullstrokeduringthe
followingsteps,releasetheshutter
andcontinue(mainswitchmustbe
on).
3.Pulloutenoughfilmleaderto
justreachthetake-upspool,then
inserttheendintoa slotontheleft
(asshownabove),makingsureit
doesnotprotrudefromanother
slot.A holeinthefilmshouldbe
linedupwiththetoothonthe
take-upspool,andthesprocket
teethshouldbeengagedwithholes
atthebottomofthefilm.