Minolta X-700
Introduced: 1981 Discontinued: 1999
Minolta X-700 is Minolta's last popular manual-focus SLR — in production 1981-1999, with the longest production run of any Minolta MF SLR. The X-700 added program AE mode to the XD-11's shutter-priority + aperture-priority + manual lineup; it pre-figured Minolta's transition to autofocus (Maxxum 7000, 1985) by establishing the program-AE expectation for consumer photographers.
Key features
- Minolta MD bayonet
- Electronic vertical metal-blade shutter — 4s to 1/1000 + B
- Four modes — Program AE, Aperture-Priority AE, Manual (no shutter-priority)
- CLC metering
- Battery-dependent
- Compact body
Practical notes
- X-700 bodies on used market: $150-300 working examples
- 18-year production run means many used examples available
- The MD lenses required for full AE compatibility
Related cameras
- Minolta SRT-101 — mechanical predecessor
- Minolta XD-11 — XD-mount AE predecessor
- Canon AE-1 Program — competitor with program AE
Native lenses
Compatible with all MD-mount Rokkor lenses