Minolta X-700 User manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL
~
MINOLTA

Before using your camera
for
the first time, study this
manual carefully
all the way
through - or at least all the
sections covering your photo -
graphic needs.
As you read,
attach a lens, load batteries,
turn the main switch on, and
handle
your X-700 to acquaint
yourself with its parts and
features. Then load it
with film
and proceed
to actual pictu re
taking. In this way you can
take good photos and begin to
realize the broad potential of
your X-700 right from the
start.
To obtain many years of
service from your X-700, be
sure
to read and follow the
precautions given on page 8
and elsewhere. Keep th is
manual for reference later as
necessary.

Your Minolta X-700 , the state-of-the-art SLR camera at the center of the Minolta
Program System, offers you the focus-and-shoot simpl icity of programmed auto-exposure
(AE) control : Both aperture and shutter speed are automatically set over a wide range by
the camera, with continuous viewfinder LED readout of speeds being set. The program is
designed to maintain fastest practicable speeds as light dims, then give audible beeps, if
desired, to guard against blur from subject/camera-movement, making the X-700 ideal if
you're starting out in photography or if you want full program automation for ease of use
or fast-breaking action.
The X-700's aperture-priority AE mode lets you control the depth of field but still
maintain AE control of stepless shutter speeds fine-tuned for proper exposure with light
metered up to the instant of exposure. This mode is excellent for AE photography with
the wide range of Minolta SLR system lenses and accessories available, including mirror
lenses and close- up bellows - not possible with shutter-priority AE systems. For full
creative flexibility, aperture and shutter can be set independently in any combination in
the X-700's metered/full-manual mode.
Other handy features of your X-700 include: touch-switch metering that keeps the
LEDs on for 15 seconds after you first touch the operating button ; AE lock for holding
adjusted-framing meter readings; +/- 2EV stops' exposure adjustment with LED indicator
in finder; self- timer with triple -rate visual/audible indications; flash-ready and Flash
Distance Checker (FDC) indications in finder; split -image microprism spot and Acute
Matte focusing screen; integral front and back grips for surer holding; Safe Load Signal;
and a new easy-load take-up spool.
A programmed autoflash,
multi-function back, and quartz data back (see pages 53 to
55) complete the Minolta Program Sy.stem; also available are a new wireless controller, a
motor drive and auto winder, and a broad range of other SLR system accessories.

2
CONTENTS ........................................ ~
NAMES OF PARTS/MAIN FEATURES . ... .4
TAKING CARE OF YOUR X-700 ...... . . .. 8
Strap and case .......... .... . .. .. .. .. . . .... 9
PREPARING TO TAKE PICTURES ..... .. 10
MOUNTING AND CARE OF LENSES . .... .. . 10
Body and lens caps . .. ... . .. .. .. ... . ...... 10
Attaching and removing lenses . . . .. . ... . .. . . 11
Care of glass surfaces . .... . .. .. ... .. ... ... 11
BATTERIES AND POWER... .......•...... .12
Batteries
.. .. . .... . . .. ... ...• . .•. . . .. . .12
Main switch
.... . . .. . .. .. . ... .. .. . . . . . . .13
Operati
ng button . .... . . ....... . ..... . . .. 14
Automatic battery check and shutter lock ..... 14
Battery holder . . .. . ... . ................ .15
Cold-weather operation
......... . . .. ...... 15
FILM AND FILM SPEED ...... . ..... .. ..... 16
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM . .... . .. .17
Loadi
ng fi lm ....... . . . ... .. .... . ....... 17
Film-advance lever . . .
... . .. . ...... .... ... 20
Safe Load Signal/Frame counter . .. ... ...... 20
REWINDING AND UNLOADING FILM . ... ... 21
TAKING PICTURES WITH YOUR
X-700
.. . .... . ... .. . .. . .. .. . ...... .. ... 23
Pre-shootlng check .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
EXPOSURE CONTROL WITH THE X·700 ..... 24
Summary
of modes ... . ... . ....... . ...... 24
Mode/shutter-speed selector and
P/A·lock release . ...... . ... .... . . ... . .. 25
Minimum-aperture lock ..... . . . .. . .... . ... 25
Eyepiece cap
.... . .. . . . . . . ... .... . . . . . .. 25
PROGRAMMED AUTO·EXPOSURE
MODE (P mode) .. ..... .... . ... . ...... .26
D
FUNDAMENTALS OF EXPOSURE . .... . ... 28
COUPLED RANGES AND PROGRAM
GRAPH .. .. .. ... .... . .......... . .... . 30
LENS AND MODE COMBINATIONS ... ..... 31
APERTURE · PRIORITY AUTO ·
EXPOSURE
MODE (A mode) . .. . . . ...... 32
METERING WITH THE X·700 . . .. .. . . . .. . . 34
AE LOCK ...... . ........ .. ....... .. ... 34
EXPOSURE·ADJUSTMENT CONTROL . . .. . . 35
DWHENTOUSEAELOCKAND
EXPOSURE·ADJUSTMENT CONTROL . . . .36

METERED/FULL-MANUAL EXPOSURE
MODE (M mode) . .... ... . . . ... .. .. . ... 38
Long exposures ("S" setting) . . . • . ........ 39
FOCUSING ... ......... . ... . . .. . .. ....... 40
Focusing aid . . .... . ... . ... . ... . .. .. ... .40
Distance scale .... .. .. . . .. •.. . • . . ... . . . .41
Film -plane index . ... .. . ... . ...... . ..... .41
Infrared
index .. . .... .. . .. .. ... .... .. ... 41
ODEPTH OF FIELD . . ... ...... . . • ... . .. . . . 42
Preview button ... .. .. . .... .. .... .. .... . .43
Depth-of - field scale . ............ . ... .... .43
O
BLUR FROM CAMERA/SUBJECT
MOVEMENT . ............ ..... ... ... .. .44
SUPPORTING THE CAMERA AND
RELEASING THE SHUTTER ............. .45
Siow-shutter-speed warning .. ... ....... . ... 46
Mounting camera on tripod .. ... . ..... .. .. .46
Self-timer
..... . ... . ....... . . . ....... ... 47
Other ways of releasing shutter .. .. . . .•..... .47
O CREATIVE CONTROL OF APERTURE
AND SHUTTER SPEED . ............... . .48
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ... . .. . ..... .. .. . . . 50
ACCESSORI ES (Minolta Program
System) ....... . .. .......... . .... . ...... 53
TECHN ICAl DET AI lS ................... 58
STORAGE ... .. ..... . .. ..... ... .. ... .... 61
0 : Supplemental informat ion on fundamentals of
photography given in boxes
3

4
NAMES OF PARTS/MAIN FEATURES ____________ •
Exposure-adjustment contr ' ol --~
2 EV stops continuous adjust -
ment over or under normal ex-
posure, with LED indicator in
viewfinde r
Back-cover release knob
Rewind
Film-speed window
Exposure - adjustment "nnt.rnl ---'
release
rnllo.de,Ish,utter'
-S[,eE.d selector
P: Programmed AE
,--- C)penltirlG button
A : Aperture - priority AE
1- 1000 : Stepped shutter speeds
for metered/full manual
("
bulb") exposures
For dedicated programmed auto-
flash and X-series autoflashes
Sync contact
"Soft touch" electromagn etic
release;
locks when battery
power too low
"Touch switch" metering with
15 - sec , hold of LED display
Frame counter
PIA-lock release
ilrrl-aldviant:e lever
Smooth 130
0 advance s
trok e
after 30
0 unengaged
movem ent
Main-switch position indicator
OFF , ON , ON ») (audible slow -
shutter -speed warn ing and self-
tim er beeps)

AE lock/self-timer switch ---------,
- AE lock for holding close-up or
MD coupler
,------ - letns-mounting index
adjusted-viewing meter readings
.
Electronic self-timer with
triple-rate blinking LED and
optional aud ible beeps
Front grip ------------,
Integral front and back grips
giving camera surer
hold
Sync terminal ----- -1
Bayonet lens mount
New integrally lubricated stainless-
steel
mount offers greater durabili-
ty and smoother lens changing;
accepts
virtually all Minolta SLR
interchangeable lenses and acces-
sories
.----- lens-release button
,----- Mirror
Not visible:
•
Silicon photocell atop penta-
prism for fu II-aperture metering
for viewfinder LED display, and
for "fi nal check" stop-down
metering
Specially coated to make
viewfinder 11 % brighter
eyelet
- ~:h"'tt,.r_lrAIA"·'" socket
Preview button
Easy-to-use spring-loaded
button for previewi ng
depth of field
• Second silicon photocell in
mirror compartment for Direct
Autoflash Metering with PX-
series Auto Electroflashes
5

6
Q Mode indicators
M: Metered manual
A: Aperture-priority AE
P: Programmed AE
(blinks
if lens not set
at minimum aperture
or non-MD lens in use)
G) Over-range LED
C9 Shutter-speed scale/LEOs
• LED indicates stepless speed
set
by camera in P and A modes
• LED indicates
stepped speed
recommended in M mode
• "60" LED blinks at 2Hz as
flash-ready
indicator with
PX - and X-series Auto Electro-
flashes
•
"60" LED blinks at 8Hz as
flash-distance
checker (FDC)
with PX-series Auto Electro-
flashes
(!) Under -range LED
(9 Exposure-adjustment LED
o Aperture setting
~ Focusing screen
Split-image
spot, microprism
band, and Acute Matte field;
exchangeable with eight
other
screens at authorized Minolta
ser.vice facilities
Q Focusing grip
G) Distance scale
C9 Depth-of-field scale
(!) Aperture ring/scale
(9 Mounting index
o Minimum-aperture lock
Prevents accidental movement of
aperture ring in P mode
~ Diaphragm-control pin
Lens shown:
50mm f/l.7 MD

Cl) Back-cover release knob
G) Film-cartridge chamber
e Shutter curtain
Horizontal-traverse focal -plane
type
(!) Sprocket
C9 Take-up spool
o Pressure plate
o Eyepiece frame/eyepiece
CD Memo holder
o ISO (DIN·ASA) table
o Back grip
., Battery-chamber cover
o Tripod socket
@ Rewind release Accessory
connections:
o Contact terminals for camera
control by Multi-Function
Back and data-imprint control
with Multi- Function Back or
Quartz Data Back 1
iii Motor-drive guide socket
I) Motor-drive contacts
D Winder contact
IiJ Winder/motor-drive coupler
m Winder/motor-drive guide
socket
7

8
TAKING CARE OF YOUR X-700 ______________ ~
Your Minolta X-700 is a high-precision instrument
designed to give many years of trouble -free picture
taking if used and cared for properly. The precautions
you should follow for keeping the camera in good
operating condition are given below and at various
places throughout the text.
• Always keep your camera in its case with the lens
capped
when not in use, or with a body cap on when a
lens
is not attached.
• No part of the X-700 should be forced at any time .
If operation is not as you think it should be, carefully
restudy the applicable instructions or consult an
authorized Minolta service faci lity .
• Never
subject your camera to shock , high heat
and/or humidity, water , or harmful chemicals. Be
particularly careful not to leave it in the glove
compartment or other places in motor vehicles where
it may be subject to high temperatures.
• Never
lubricate any part of the body or lens.
• Never
touch the shutter curtains or the front inside
part of the body with fingers or other objects or blow
against them, as doing so might damage the alignment
and movement of either the curtains or mirror .
•
External camera and lens barrel - but not glass -
surfaces
should be wiped with a soft, silicone -treated
cloth now and then, especially after using the camera
near salt
water .
•
It is recommended to have your camera cleaned
once per year at an authorized Minolta service facility .
Lens-care
instruct ions are given on pages 10 and 11.
If you will not be using your camera for an extend ed
period , see the stor a ge instructions at the back of the
manual.
If you have questions concerning operation of your
camera or about photography, feel free to contact
your local Minolta agent or distributor by writing one
of the offices listed insi de the back cover.
CAUTION
• Before using lenses, flashes, or other accessori es
made by companies other than Mino lta, attach them
to the camera to make sure they function properly
and take test photographs if necessary.

Strap and case
The strap (provided with camera)
and case (sold separately) should be
attached as shpwn to keep your
came ra handy for use and to pro -
tect it from being dropped or
bumped .
NOTE
• The protective plastic film on the
camera's base can be removed if
desired.
9

PREPARI N- .. G iI. TO .. T IIiI A . K . E ~
PICTURES.
10
The next fou r sections cover
things
you must do to prepare your
camera for taking pictures:
•
Attach lens (at right).
· Insert
batteries and turn main
switch
on (pp . 12 and 13).
•
Set film speed (p. 161.
· Load camera
with film (pp . 17
to 201.
You
must always install batteries
properly and turn on the main
switch
before loading film; the
order of other steps may vary.
Instructions for rewinding and
unloading film are also given
in this
part. We recommend reading them
before starting to use your camera,
so that you will be sure what to do
when you come to the end of the
film .
MOUNTING AND CARE OF LENSES ______ ..
Body and lens caps
Remove
body and lens caps as
shown above.
CAUTIONS
• Always cap
the rear end of the
lens and the lens mount of the
camera when the lens is not at-
tached, and the front of the lens
when the camera is not in use.
•
To prevent damage to the control
pins, never set a lens with its rear
end down unless a rear lens cap is
on.
• If it is necessary to set an un-
capped lens with its front end
down. do so on a smooth surface.
Fisheye lenses should always be
capped before being placed front
end down.
• Keep lenses, properly capped
front and rear, in their cases when
not in use.

To attach lenses
After removing the body cap and
rear lens cap, align
the red mount-
ing index on the lens barrel with
the red index on the camera's lens
mount, insert the lens bayonet into
the socket, then turn the lens clock-
wise until it locks into place with a
click.
To remove lenses
While pushing the lens-release
button , turn the lens counterclock -
wise
as far as it will go, then I ift it
out of the mount.
CAUTION
• Be careful not to touch anything
inside the camera when attaching or
removing lenses.
Care
of glass surfaces
• Never
touch lens or eyepiece
surfaces
with fingers or other ob-
jects.
If necessary, remove loose
matter with a blower brush. Use
special photograph ic lens tissue or a
soft, clean cloth to remove smudges
or fingerprints with a gentle circular
motion . Only if absolutely neces-
sary,
the tissue may be moistened
very slightly with not more than
one drop of a satisfactory quick -
evaporating
fluid cleaner specially
compounded for photographic
lenses. Such flu ids must never be
dropped di rectly on the glass sur-
face.
• Never
lift the mirror or touch its
surface,
as doing so might damage
the
alignment. Small smudges or
fingerprints on the mirror will not
affect the meter reading or image
quality; if they are very annoying,
have the camera cleaned at an
authorized Minolta service facility .
11

12
BATTERIES AND POWER . __ ~=====~== ~~~~~~~~~~~
Batteries
For operat i on of the X- 700's
circuitry and shutter, use one of
the following types of batteries :
·
Two 1. 55v silver- ox i de (SR44 :
Eveready S-76, EPX-
76 , or equiv.)
·
Two 1.5v alkaline-manganese
(LR44 : Eveready A- 76 or equiv.)
•
One 3v lithium (CR-1/3N)-See
note on p. 15 .
CAUTIONS
• Never use 1.35v
mercury batteries
(MR44: Eveready EPX-675 or
equiv.), which have a similar shape
and size.
•
To avoid battery leakage or burst-
ing, do not mix batteries of different
types, brands, or ages.
• Used
batteries should not be dis-
posed
of in fire.
WARNING: Keep
batteries away
from young children.
1. Unscrew counterclockwise and
remove
the battery-chamber cover
on
the camera bottom_
2. After wiping the terminals with a
clean,
dry cloth, hold the batter ies
by their edges and insert them plus
(+) side out into the sleeve on the
inside of the cover.

3. Replace the cover and screw it in
clockwise
as far as it will go.
Main switch
For the camera's circuitry and
shutter to operate, the main switch
must be set at either "ON" or
" ON"''' . The latter position should be
used when
you want audible beeps
during self· timer operation or an
audible warning whenever the shut -
ter speed set or recommended by
the camera is 1/30 sec . or slower.
(For the slow-shutter -speed warning
to function, the operating button
must be touched or sl ightly
pressed.)
To prevent accidental exposures
and
battery drain, move the main
switch to "OFF" when you are
done tak ing pictures . (When the
switch is left on, however, battery
drain occurs only if the operating
button is touched, so you may
want to leave it on to avoid missing
unexpected shots.)
13

14
Operating button
Touching the operating button in
the center of the mode/shutter-
speed selector activates the cam-
era's meter, viewfinder LED dis-
play , and exposure-control system.
If proper contact is not possible
(e.g.,
in cold weather, when fingers
are excessively
dry, or when wearing
gloves), press
the button slightly.
The shutter is released when the
operating button is pressed all the
way down .
For easier operation of other
controls while viewing through the
finder, the circuits will remain on
for 15 sec. after you first touch the
button.
NOTE
•
If the operating button becomes
dirty or greasy, turn off the main
switch
and wipe the button with a
clean,
dry cloth.
Automatic battery check and shut -
ter lock
If any LED in the viewfinder
lights
up when the main switch is
on and the operating button is
touched or slightly pressed, the
batteries are inserted correctly and
have
sufficient power for operation
of the camera.
When
battery power decreases to
a point almost insufficient for cam-
era
operation, the LED display will
no longer light up, serving as a
warning
to insert fresh batteries as
soon as possible. When battery
capacity is no longer sufficient, the
shutter will not operate .

Battery holder
Fresh spare batteries can be
stored in the battery holder thread-
ed on the camera strap (p.9)' To
insert batteries, form a loop as
shown above
then drop them in.
SI ide the holder off the strap to
remove batteries.
NOTE
• If
the camera is not to be used for
more than two weeks, it is advisable
to remove the batteries (especially
old ones).
Cold·weather operation
Since batteries tend to lose pow·
er as they become colder, always
use fresh batteries
and keep a spare
set with you when using your cam·
era in cold weather. For prolonged
cold·weather use (approx. O°C or
lower), silver·
oxide batteries are reo
commended. Battery capaci ty will
be
restored as temperatures rise.
NOTE
•
If a lithium battery is used below
O° C, the camera may not operate .
• Never
transfer the camera directly
from low
to high temperatures as
condensation may form inside and
prevent normal operation .

16
FILM AND FILM SPEED _______________________ . ~
The X- 700 uses standard 35mm
cartridge film. If you are not al-
ready
familiar with the many types
available,
you may want to experi-
ment to find one or more that give
pleasing results
for subjects you like
to photograph or for special situa-
tions.
The ISO film speed (incorporat-
ing ASA and DIN numbers) indi-
cates the film's sensitivity to light .
The first part of the ISO number
(equivalent to ASA number) is
marked on the X-700's film-speed
ring. Each
time this number doubles
(e.g.,
from 25 to 50, 50 to 100),
the required exposure is halved.
Such a change
is called one "stop" .
Though selecting a high-speed
film will allow you to take pictures
when there is less light , such films
in general may produce a grainier
image.
Setting film speed
Lift up on the film -speed ring
and
turn it until the proper ASA
number appears centered in the
film-speed window and locks in
that position when the ring is re-
leased. Marks between
numbered
graduations ind icate speeds shown
in the table at right.
ASA DIN ASA DIN
25
• 15
250 •
25
32 • 16
320 • 26
40 • 17 400 •
27
50
• 18
500 • 28
64 • 19
640 • 29
80 •
20
800
• 30
100 •
21 1000 •
31
125 •
22 1250 • 32
160 •
23
.1600 • 33
200
• 24
CAUTION
• Film should be stored in a cool,
dry, dark place before use and
exposed
before the expiration date
printed on the box .

A handy ISO (DIN · ASA) table,
with a surrounding memo holder
for keeping the film-box end as a
reminder
of the film type and
number of exposures, is located on
the camera back .
LOADING AND ADVANCING FILM _______ ...
Loading film
Before opening the camera back,
confirm that there is no film inside
that could be damaged by light if
the back is opened, by checking
that :
•
No red is visible in the Safe Load
Signal
(see p. 20).
• Rewind crank can be freely
rotated clockwise many times
without pushing rewind button.
Since the frame counter advances
each
time the shutter is cocked
even if no film is inside, the camera
may be empty even when the index
does not point to "S" .
Prior ~ o loading film, set the film
speed (see previous page) and turn
the main switch on (p. 13).
CAUTIONS
• Film should be handled and load-
ed in subdued light - at least
shaded
from direct sunlight by your
body .
•
Do not touch any parts or areas
shown in blue
below .
17

18
1. With the case off, pull up on the
back-cover release knob until the
camera back springs open. Gently
blow away any dust or other parti-
cles inside with a blower brush.
NOTE
• When loading film in a dark place
or with the lens cap on, loading will
be easier if the mode selector is not
set at "P" or "A" .
2. Leaving the knob pulled out,
position a 35mm film cartridge as
shown with the projecting spool
down. Then push the knob all the
way in, rotating it slightly if neces-
sary.
NOTE
• If the film-<ldvance lever stops at
the end of a full stroke during the
following steps, release the shutter
and continue (main switch must be
on).
3. Pullout enough film leader to
just reach the take-up spool, then
insert
the end into a slot on the left
(as shown above), making sure it
does not protrude from another
slot . A hole in the film should be
Iined
up with the tooth on the
take-up spool, and the sprocket
teeth should be engaged with holes
at the bottom of the film.