Minolta X-370S User manual

Your Minolta X-370s is an easy-to-use microcomputerized single-iens-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-370s auto¬
magically sets the precise shutter speed, according to the in-camera meter for correct exposure,
at the aperture you selected. An AE lock can be used to hold a meter reading and then readjust
the framing before releasing the shutter. Auto control is maintained even when using mirror
lenses and close-up accessories such as bellows—not possible with shutter-priority AE systems.
Creative flexibility exists in the X-370s' match-LED/full-metered manual mode: For correct
exposure at the metered value, simply adjust aperture and/or shutter speed to align blinking and
glowing LEDs in the viewfinder. Or you can also 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 signal is given in the viewfinder, and the shutter is automatically
set for proper sync, at 1/60 sec.
Before using lenses, flashes, or other accessories made by companies other than Minolta,
attach them to the camera and make sure they function properly by taking test photographs.

CONTENTS
NAMES OF PARTS.2
STRAP AND CASE.5
SUMMARY OF OPERATION (auto mode). . .6
PREPARING TO TAKE PICTURES.8
ATTACHING AND REMOVING LENS.8
BATTERIES AND POWER .9
Battery check .11
Cold-weather operation.11
FILM AND FILM SPEED .12
LOADING FILM .13
Safe Load Signal/Frame counter .15
VIEWFINDER.16
PRESHOOTING CHECK.17
TAKING PICTURES IN AUTO MODE ... 18
CAMERA SETTINGS.18
FOCUSING. 20
HOLDING CAMERA AND RELEASING
SHUTTER .21
Mounting camera on tripod .22
Seif-timer.22
Eyepiece cap.22
REWINDING AND UNLOADING FILM .23
CREATIVE CONTROL.24
AE LOCK. 2 4
MANUAL EXPOSURE MODE . 2 6
Long exposure at "B" setting.27
DEPTH OF FIELD . 2 8
SHUTTER SPEED. 2 9
OTHER FOCUSING METHODS . 3 0
Distance scale . ..30
Infrared index .30
FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY . 3 1
ACCESSORIES.32
TECHNICAL DETAILS.34
CARE AND STORAGE. 3 6
i

NAMES OF PARTS

Accessory shoe
r~‘~i

STRAP AN
Battery

SUMMARY OF OPERATION (Automatic mode
4, Open back cover ip. 13). 5. Load film properly and
close cover !p. 14).
6

7. Set mode/shutter-speed se- 8. Select lens aperture (p. 19). 9. Adjust focus (p. 20).
lector to “AUTO" (p. 18S.

To attach To remove
Align the red mounting index on While pressing the lens-release but-
the lens barrel with the red index ton, turn the lens counterclockwise
on the camera's lens mount. Insert as far as it will go, then lift it out of
the lens bayonet into the mount, the mount,
then turn the lens clockwise until it
locks Into place with a click.
• Never set a lens mount-side down unless a rear lens cap is attached;
otherwise, its control pins may be damaged.
• Be careful not to touch anything inside the camera, especially the
mirror, when attaching or removing lenses.

BATTERIES AND POWER
Batteries
Use one of the following types of
batteries:
® Two 1.55V silver-oxide (SR-44
Eveready S-76. EPX-76, or equiv.S
* Two 1 ,5V alkaline-manganese
(LR44: Eveready A-76 or equiv.)
• One 3V lithium (CR-1/3N)
1. Using a coin or similar object,
unscrew the battery cover counter¬
clockwise and remove it.
alkaline-
manganese
silver-oxide
ijfvi
lithium
2. Wipe the terminals with a clean,
dry cloth. Hold the batteries by
their edges and insert them plus <+)
side up into the sleeve on the
inside of the cover.
• Do not use 1 35V mercury batteries (MR44: Eveready EPX-675 or
equiv.S, which are the same shape and size, because their voltage is
too low.
• To avoid battery leakage or bursting, do not mix batteries of
different types, brands;or ages.
• Keep batteries away from young children.
9

3. Repiace the cover and screw it
in clockwise as far as it will go.
i . .. ■ = ' - ■■■■ t====fi
Main switch
To operate the camera, slide the
main switch to "ON".
When you have finished taking
pictures, move the main switch to
"OFF" to prevent accidental expo¬
sures and battery drain. (If the
switch is left on, however, battery
drain occurs only when the shutter-
release button is pressed, so you
may want to leave it on to avoid
missing unexpected shots.)
Shutter-release button
Touching the shutter-release button
(with the main switch on) activates
the camera's meter, viewfinder LED
display, and exposure-control sys¬
tem. The shutter is released when
the button is pressed all the way
down.
The viewfinder LED display will
remain on for 15 sec. after you
remove your finger.
10

1000 1000 1000
500 500 500
250 250 250
125 125 125
60 60 60
Battery check
The camera automatically checks
battery power when the shutter-
release button is pressed.
• When batteries are nearly ex¬
hausted, the mode LED ("A"
or "M”) in the viewfinder blinks to
warn that fresh batteries will soon
be needed.
• When batteries are completely
exhausted (or not correctly in¬
stalled), no LEDs light and the
shutter locks.
Cold-weather operation
Since batteries tend to lose power
as temperature drops, always use
fresh batteries when photographing
in cold weather and keep a spare set
with you, preferably in a warm
pocket close to your body. Battery
capacity will be restored when
temperature returns to normal.
For prolonged cold-weather use at
approx. Q°C (32° F) or lower, it is
recommended to use silver-oxide
batteries; if a lithium battery is
used below approx. 0°C (32°F), the
camera may not operate.

The camera uses standard 35mm
cartridge film. Each film has an ISO
film-speed number which indicates
the film's sensitivity to light. The
ISO number is marked on the
camera's film-speed ring.
For proper exposure, the cam¬
era's film-speed ring must be set to
the correct film speed.
Setting film speed
While pressing the film-speed
ring release, turn the film-speed ring
until the desired number lines up
with the index and Socks in place
when you remove your finger from
the release.
Intermediate settings
Film window
The film window can be used to
confirm the type of film currently
loaded.
12

LOADING FILM
Before opening the camera back,
make sure there is no film inside
the camera by checking the film
window (p. 12),
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 "AUTO",
1. Unfold the rewind crank and
pult up on it to lift the back-cover
release knob. Pull up on the knob
until the camera back springs open.
2. Leaving the knob pulled out,
position a 35mm film cartridge in
the chamber with its projecting
spool down. Then push the back-
cover release knob all the way in,
rotating it slightly if necessary.
* Always handle and load film in subdued light or at least shaded
from direct light by your body,
/=\
» Do not touch any parts or areas
inside the camera shown in blue.
1
13

3. Pull out just enough film 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 be engaged with holes at the
bottom of the film.
sprocket by your left hand, slowly
operate the film-advance lever until
the film is wound firmiy around the
take-up spool, the sprocket teeth
are engaged with holes on both
edges of the film, and the slack in
the film is taken up. If the film-
advance lever stops at the end of a
full stroke during this procedure,
release the shutter and continue
(main switch must be at on).
5. After making sure that the film
is taut, close the camera back by
pressing it until it locks shut with a
click. A red "S" should now appear
opposite the index in the frame
counter.
14

6. Advance the film and release the
shutter until the index points to
"1A red bar should appear at the
far left in the Safe Load Signal
indicating that film is loaded and
advancing properly. If it does not
appear or swings far to the right,
repeat steps 3 to 6,
The camera is now ready for taking
the first picture, provided film
speed is set.
Film-advance lever
The lever has 30 J of unengaged
movement to allow swinging it out
from the camera body so the right
thumb will fit comfortably behind
it. As the lever is moved an addi¬
tional 130" until it stops, the film
and frame counter advance and the
shutter is cocked for the next
exposure.
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 force the film-advance
lever when it stops and resists
further movement at the end of the
film, which may be somewhat
after the common film lengths
(12, 20, 24, 36 exposures) shown in
red in the frame counter. The frame
counter stops advancing after 36
exposu res.

VIEWFINDER
(4 times per second)
• Glowing LED(s) indicate: (1) in "A" (auto)
mode, shutter speed set by camera (if two
LEDs glow, camera has set stepless speed
between the two), and (2) in "M" (manual)
mode, the metered speed
• Blinking LED (at 4Hz) indicates user-set
shutter speed in manual mode
• ''60'' LED blinks at 3Hz as flash-ready
signal with X-series Minolta Auto Electro¬
flashes
© 1—4 sec./under-range LED
• Glows if metered speed is between 1 and 4
sec.
* Blinks (at 4Hz) if outside range
© B-setting indicator
© Focusing screen
Split-image spot, microprism band, and
Acute Matte field

PRESHOOTiNG CHECK
Check the following items to
make sure your camera is ready for
picture-taking:
Self-timer off?
linimum-aperture lock released?
new-type MD lens only!
m loaded correctly?

TAKING PICTURES IN
CAMERA SETTINGS
Set mode/shutter-speed selector
to "AUTO".
Set lens at desired aperture.
AUTO MODE
In aperture-priority auto mode,
all you need to do is set the desired
aperture—the camera will automati¬
cally select the shutter speed
needed for proper exposure.
Viewfinder display
Before releasing the shutter, com¬
pose your picture, focus, and check
the viewfinder for the following:
* Is the under-range LED blinking?
If so, turn the aperture ring
toward the largest aperture (i.e.,
f/2, f/1.7, or f/1.4, etc.) until the
LED stops blinking, or increase the
light level if possible,
* Is the over-range LED blinking? If
so, turn the aperture ring toward
the smallest aperture (i.e., f/16 or
f/22) until the LED stops blinking.
If it does not stop, use a neutral-
density IND! filter, or reduce the
light level if possible.
* Is an LED on indicating 1/30 sec.
or slower shutter speed? Using
slow shutter speeds may result in
blurred pictures due to camera
movement. To correct, turn the
aperture ring toward the largest
aperture (i.e., f/2, f/1.7, f/1.4,
etc.,) until the 1/60 sec. LED
lights. If this is not possible, use
a tripod (p. 22) or flash (p. 31).
NOTE
• In some situations you should use
the AE lock (p. 24).
• If your head is not shielding the
eyepiece from light when the
picture is taken (as when using
self-timer), attach the eyepiece cap
(p. 22).