Any Minolta manual camera users here?
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Before coming to Singaore, I used my brother's Seagull DF2-ETM with a standard lens 50/1.8 for about 3 years. That camera is heavy and solid, but I won't advise anyone to buy such a body, no matter new or used. Why? Because the vibration of the mirror and shutter is too strong, the sound is too loud and the body is easy to get into trouble due to its own not-quite-high quality (even I'm from China, I have to say this is the truth.)
After arrived in Singapore, I've bought a new X-300s and used it for 5 years before its winding mechanics failed. At that time, I already bought a second-hand XD7, which was quite new and also not that cheap. Therfore, all along I'm using manual Minolta stuff, and I found their designer and manufacturer really put their hearts into the products (at least no worse than Nikon or Canon). Simply, I fell in love with Minolta. Then I decided to stick to Minolta if I would use AF SLR. Recently I've puchased some AF Minolta stuff.
Even though I never used an X-700, I know it very well (maybe even better than some X-700 owner?). I've been thingking to get one for a long time. While, after using XD7, I found it's actually a slightly better model than X-700, even it was released earlier. The good thing of XD7 is that you have the Shutter-Priority mode which allows you to set the speed, while the Program mode on X-700 is actually a simplification of this mode with only one speed of 1/125 sec. And XD7 also has a better vertical-traverse metal shutter (it is a horizontal-traverse cloth on X-700) with a faster flash sync. speed of 1/100 sec (1/60 for X-700). The only advantage of X-700 may be its TTL flash (quite useful for close-up and macro photography) and numerous X-series accessories. Another thing should mention here is that Leica has been working together with Minolta to develope its R4 SLR, which is almost the same camera as XD7 except the metering system and other minor parts.
In Singapore, I see few people using manual cameras (most are elders) and Minolta users are even less. Anyway, I'll stick to Minolta and I believe it can produce better pictures. Since last year, I often go to Botanic Gardens to shoot flowers and plants (hardly to find other subjuects in Singapore). If you go to there on weekends and see one guy using manual Minolta on a tripod, it should be me.
After arrived in Singapore, I've bought a new X-300s and used it for 5 years before its winding mechanics failed. At that time, I already bought a second-hand XD7, which was quite new and also not that cheap. Therfore, all along I'm using manual Minolta stuff, and I found their designer and manufacturer really put their hearts into the products (at least no worse than Nikon or Canon). Simply, I fell in love with Minolta. Then I decided to stick to Minolta if I would use AF SLR. Recently I've puchased some AF Minolta stuff.
Even though I never used an X-700, I know it very well (maybe even better than some X-700 owner?). I've been thingking to get one for a long time. While, after using XD7, I found it's actually a slightly better model than X-700, even it was released earlier. The good thing of XD7 is that you have the Shutter-Priority mode which allows you to set the speed, while the Program mode on X-700 is actually a simplification of this mode with only one speed of 1/125 sec. And XD7 also has a better vertical-traverse metal shutter (it is a horizontal-traverse cloth on X-700) with a faster flash sync. speed of 1/100 sec (1/60 for X-700). The only advantage of X-700 may be its TTL flash (quite useful for close-up and macro photography) and numerous X-series accessories. Another thing should mention here is that Leica has been working together with Minolta to develope its R4 SLR, which is almost the same camera as XD7 except the metering system and other minor parts.
In Singapore, I see few people using manual cameras (most are elders) and Minolta users are even less. Anyway, I'll stick to Minolta and I believe it can produce better pictures. Since last year, I often go to Botanic Gardens to shoot flowers and plants (hardly to find other subjuects in Singapore). If you go to there on weekends and see one guy using manual Minolta on a tripod, it should be me.
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