Minolta produced many cameras in its long history, but the 1981 "camera of the year" model X-700 became its most successful single-lens-reflex consumer camera prior to autofocus. In its 18-year run, the Minolta X-700 gave the advanced amateur photographer a reliable SLR camera with metering through the lens for flash photography and full autoexposure. Most Minolta cameras work the same way as the X-700 with only minor deviations.
Instructions
1. Clean the Minolta camera thoroughly before you start using it. Because these cameras have not been in service for some time, they may acquire dirt and dust throughout their bodies. Start with compressed air to blow out the particles in the cracks and crevices of the camera, inside and out. Use it on the rings of the lens, too. Clean the lens glass with lens cleaning tissue. When you finish cleaning it, even the battery compartment, add new batteries.
2. Set the speed of the film you plan to use. You need to convert modern film speed to old film speed to do this. It's easy, though, because the former ASA number is now the ISO number. The European DIN has been discontinued, so ignore that. On the top left side of the camera, raise the film speed ring and turn it to the number corresponding to your film speed. In other words, turn it to "400 ASA" if you are using "400 ISO" film.
3. Load the camera with 35mm film. Pull up on the film rewind knob on the top left of the camera, above the film speed ring. This releases the back of the camera and it will pop open. Place the 35mm film cartridge upside down in the left film chamber. Take the film leader---the narrow strip at the start of the film---and line it up with the sprockets in the right chamber and insert the end into the slot. Use the film wind lever on the top right of the camera to turn the take-up reel while holding the film flat. Make sure the reel takes up the film firmly. Close the back of the camera. Look at the little window to the right of the film advance lever. It should have an "S" there. Turn the lever until it reaches "1," pushing the shutter button to release as you go.
4. Set the aperture ring to its smallest F stop, the highest number on the ring. This usually will be "22." Then set the shutter speed dial to "P" for full programmed mode. You can experiment with manual and other exposure later. This will get you started. In this mode, the camera will set both aperture opening or F stop, as well as the shutter speed required for the best image. The aperture ring is the one closest to the camera body on the lens.
5. Hold the camera up so you can look through the viewfinder. Focus the lens with the focus ring, the one farthest from the camera body. Compose your image and depress the shutter button on the upper right in the center of the shutter speed dial. Try shooting in different lighting situations such as bright sunlight, cloudy sunlight and various indoor settings to get a firm idea of how your Minolta camera responds.
Tags: film speed, shutter speed, 35mm film, aperture ring, back camera, camera body