• Members 6 posts
    April 4, 2023, 10:04 p.m.

    I just rescued my dad's old camera after much convincing that it shouldn't live buried in the closet. I have the motor drive, a flash, 3 lenses and a set of cokin a filters. Does anyone have recommendations for X-700 accessories?

  • Members 621 posts
    April 4, 2023, 10:59 p.m.

    I sounds like you have a decent setup. I love mine as well. What exactly are you looking for? Here’s mine.

    B548ADE3-1FCE-4F78-8EC1-A180F99452D5.jpeg

    B548ADE3-1FCE-4F78-8EC1-A180F99452D5.jpeg

    JPG, 810.1 KB, uploaded by TheDavinator on April 4, 2023.

  • Members 6 posts
    April 4, 2023, 11:21 p.m.

    I was wondering if there was a way to sync the flash and motor drive at hi speed. Also, an a longer range lens possibly? I have a 28mm, a 50mm and a 70-210mm as my largest lens. I've been using a compact sony digital and a fuji instax. I want to set myself up so i can use this system for 10 plus years without feeling like I should have gotten a lens or accessory when they were still around 100 dollars.

  • Members 48 posts
    April 5, 2023, 11:58 p.m.

    If your filter set includes a polariser and some ND grads , your good to go .

    If your into macro a good thing with the X700 is the TTL flash metering , which does away with all the maths !
    The Minolta ring flash comes up fairy cheap If your after one .
    The manual focus version tends to be a bit dearer , but the one intended for the auto focus 7000AF works fine on the X-500 and X-700 , and sometimes sells for about £20 .

    Enjoy using it again .

    I've just got lucky with a lens I've been after a while , a MD 85mm f/2 . spotted one at a good price that's just been listed and snapped it up .
    I should have it by the middle of next week .

  • Members 621 posts
    April 6, 2023, 12:03 a.m.

    Ah. Not sure about syncing the flash at that speed.

  • Members 48 posts
    April 6, 2023, 12:26 a.m.

    What flash do you have ?
    If it's the Minolta Auto 360PX then you set the flash power to the winder sync output ( 1/16th) and off you go .
    Don't forget the flash sync speed of the camera remains unchanged at 1/125th second .
    The flash output is greatly reduced but as this is intender for reportage type shooting , your subject would have been close to you anyway , so would be sufficient .
    What is it your shooting at 3.5 frames per second on film with flash ?

    Regards the lenses , I've got from 17mm to 500mm between prime and zoom lenses , mostly |Minolta , but some Vivitar lenses and Tamron adaptall .
    What do you have in mind ?
    I've a Minolta 300mm f/4.5 and a Minolta 100-500mm as well as a Tamron 500mm f/8 mirror lens , there's plenty of options that aren't too expensive . it all depends on your needs .
    Knowing what your going to do with them would give us a better idea on what lenses might suit you best .

  • Members 6 posts
    April 6, 2023, 1:54 a.m.

    I go to car meets or the drag strip at night and I read that the x700 isn't the best for night photography. I also have been thinking about hiking out and snagging some good pictures of the san juan islands over a weekend this summer

  • Members 48 posts
    April 6, 2023, 8:48 a.m.

    The X-700's fine for night time photography, depending on what's expected off it .
    The problem with the drag strip is the lack of light for the exposure , and still having a shutter speed that takes the shot before the car got to the other end !
    With digital , you just crank it up , with film you need to plan your shot and get in a good position .
    How close can you get ?
    It seems like the ideal would be a 50mm f/1.4 or f/1.2 lens , some ISO 3200 film and a flash at full power .
    Single shot only as flash will take a few seconds to fully recharge . Are you allowed to use flash there ? They might have rules about that so you don't dazzle the driver.

    Even in daylight machine gunning film at 3.5 FPS won't necessarily get you the pictures you want , just a lot if wasted film .
    You need to prefocus on a certain spot and anticipate when the part of the car you want in sharpest focus will pass . Press the shutter a split second before it's their , and you've got your shot .
    It'll take practice .
    If you need longer lenses , look at the Minolta 100mm or 135mm offerings .
    F/2.8 or f/3.5 are readily available.

    Regards hiking , the most used focal lengths I use are between 24mm and 135mm , primes or zooms .
    Unless I'm specifically taking shots of wildlife , then the longest lens I find I need is around 200mm , so a 70-210mm should be fine .
    I would suggest before you go on a shopping spree , get out there and use the gear you have first .
    You'll soon start to see if you've any gaps either lenses not wide enough , long enough , fast enough or you need a macro .
    If it was you grandfather's kit , I would assume it served him well , so unless your interests are different, ie landscape v sports, you should be mostly covered .

    Edit ; just to add , and wet your appetite, here's a link to a website just for SR mount gear .
    Lots of lenses to lust after and other gear .
    www.rokkorfiles.com/index.html

  • Members 6 posts
    April 6, 2023, 10:57 p.m.

    I appreciate the help. I'll post some pictures after I get a few rolls under my belt.