minolta x-700 photos

[perkeleellinen]

well im yet to get a really good shot thats sharp and clear but i cant work out why im not really getting that as my lens is fine camera is spotless

I do think that Jessops is your problem. I had a similar issue when I lived in Sweden: prints and scans were a little soft and quite contrasty, it drove me mad for a while, I started questioning my lens, my technique and my film. But those same images that seemed so soft are now producing wonderfully sharp 10x8 prints in my darkroom. The problem was the scanning.

Try another lab, it might have to be mail order but you need to find a good one before you can start working on your technique. Otherwise you'll never know if it's you or the lab that's to blame.

[cyberspider]

Well just don't get any lens, check the forums for the best "bang for buck" ones to get. The reason I got Minolta cameras (also have SRT101b with 58mm f1.4 for £12) to my collection was because:- lenses e.g. Vivitar were going a lot cheaper than for say a Nikon.
Anyway you haven't said what lenses you are using...........................

ok lenses vivitar sms 80-200 mm 1:4.5 mc macro focusing zoom no.77210559 55mm

minolta md 50 mm 1:2


plus metering with the x700 could some one tell me as the book is a bit cryptic push the timer button down and half depress shutter is this right

[perkeleellinen]

This may help:

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/minoltax700/index1.htm#btn

[Excalibur2]

ok lenses vivitar sms 80-200 mm 1:4.5 mc macro focusing zoom no.77210559 55mm

minolta md 50 mm 1:2


plus metering with the x700 could some one tell me as the book is a bit cryptic push the timer button down and half depress shutter is this right


Well the number 77 on Vivitar means it was made by Kobori (vivitar sub-contracted work out), which means it can be excellent or just OK...in buying Vivitar lenses the first numbers to go for are:- 22, 28 and 37 as you have a better chance of getting a very good lens. From memory and what I have read, your Minolta lens is not the best 50mm but you should still get very good shots from it.

On the X-700 why not let the camera do the work, set it on "A" and set the lens to e.g. f5.6 for daylight for 200asa film... and you can concentrate on taking shots and you can always go to manual any time.

[Ralph Javins]

Good morning, SyberSpider;

Perkeleellinen may have a point. I also wondered about the processing of the film and printing of the negatives or the digital scanning. I have several samples of the Minolta X-700, and if there is not an obvious problem with the body, the film comes out fine. One of my X-700s is in the shop right now trying to see why the 1/500 and 1/1000 second shutter settings come out about 1 full stop slow (1/500 is about 1/270 second). But for the range where the shutter speeds are valid, that camera has produced normal density negatives with good contrast and saturation. I do not think that the "muddiness" as it has been described is coming from the camera body. If you are using a lens hood and everything is proper, you should be getting good negatives and prints from your body and lenses.

[cyberspider]

ah no lens hood and im shooting a roll now with no uv filter

[mr rusty]

Rather than use Jessops, give these people a try - I have been very pleased with the results. £4 for develop and scan at 2000 x 3000 http://www.photo-express.co.uk/index.html. They post back the day they receive your film.

[cyberspider]

Rather than use Jessops, give these people a try - I have been very pleased with the results. £4 for develop and scan at 2000 x 3000 http://www.photo-express.co.uk/index.html. They post back the day they receive your film.
hey thanks for that link £6.99 for 36 i pay £7 now and have like a 3 day wait

[cyberspider]

may have found the problem with the x-700
as i was cleaning i see this
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e378/mantis2/garden/probx700.jpg

[Rol_Lei Nut]

may have found the problem with the x-700
as i was cleaning i see this


<Wary of being sucked in again>

Is that foam or flocking coming loose or is it bent metal (result of a blow which undoubtedly also changed the alignment of the lens mount)?

If deformation from a blow, it's a wonder you got any kind of sharpish image at all...

If loose flocking, it shouldn't have a large effect, unless it really is seriously blocking the light path.

[cyberspider]

<Wary of being sucked in again>
i really dont know what you mean by that comment

however back to what you said its some sort of canvas or flocking as you called it

i have not seen it show up in any photos maybe a bit of glue would fix it ???

[Rol_Lei Nut]

however back to what you said its some sort of canvas or flocking as you called it

i have not seen it show up in any photos maybe a bit of glue would fix it ???

Glue would probably fix it, but at this point I'd be wary of the camera's general condition.

The camera should really be checked over carefully.
The steps for a sharp photo which I gave a few posts ago should be repeated, but with the lens also => set at full aperture.
That would help show any lens alignment problems.
There are a whole series of tests which you can carry out using one roll of film; if interested, ask.

[cyberspider]

i did the tests you gave me today just need to get the film developed

[Excalibur2]

may have found the problem with the x-700
as i was cleaning i see this
http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e378/mantis2/garden/probx700.jpg

erm looks like someone has rammed the wrong lens in, it might be a plastic cover and just needs tiding up.

[cyberspider]

well the black part seems like some king of card the white seems like some kind of cloth ???

i thought maybe a little super glue would fix it

[Rol_Lei Nut]

well the black part seems like some king of card the white seems like some kind of cloth ???

i thought maybe a little super glue would fix it

White cloth: Asbestos? ;)

Seriously, a contact cement would be a better choice than superglue (mainly, much less brittle).

[cyberspider]

ok you saying its asbestos i really hope thats a joke

[Rol_Lei Nut]

ok you saying its asbestos i really hope thats a joke

Yes, a joke... (at least I really hope so!)

While concerns have been raised about radioactive lens elements, lead solder, mercury switches and batteries, asbestos in a cameras would really be news for me.

The bottom line is that, cameras aren't health threatening (not physical health, at least.... ;) )

[Marvin]

I also have 2 X700s and have used them many years with good results. I bought both new when they were current models. No one has mentioned lenses but I have several MD and MC lenses that are very sharp. I also have N75 and N80 Nikon cameras that I think have much better metering systems but I think that if you meter carefully with the X700 you would get good results.