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Post by kiev4a on Jan 30, 2007 10:38:08 GMT -5
I don't know how the person like me is called in English but in Finnish it is "vastarannan kiiski" (The pope Acerina cernua on the opposite lakeside) I don't prefer biggest brands. Therefore Olympus is The Camera. It is also one of the forerunners. Wayne, That list of the cameras of the 20th century is pertinent but I would like to ad one more, Kodak Brownie serie. You are right, the Brownie does belong on the list. As far as cameras that "changed" photography the 126 Instamatic probably belongs on the list, too, even if they produced crappy pictures.
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Post by Peter S. on Jan 31, 2007 15:41:11 GMT -5
Minoltaman,
You should try a XD-5 (if You don't want to spend the bucks for the XD-7/11). But be aware: It might infect You (as it did for me). It shares the soft leather (which is joy to use and pain due to its tendency to shrink) and the metal feeling with the XG-1. For me the haptic feeling of a camera is important. I got a Olympus 8080WZ to have a digital option faster than scanning film - but I simply don't like it.
But now back to the topic (I wonder how I managed to keep silent on this topic - it is so seductive to talk on one's prefered camera brand...),
Well I am a confessing Minoltian, and thanks to the Bay of Evil my collection of Minolta glass is spreading here. The dislike of the affiliate should be generally known. Well. I swear I will sell three lenses (to buy four others, keep the finger crossed ;-) - but don't say it loud). At present I got ca. 60 lenses (over 50 being original Minolta ones) all for the SR bayonet. I could not resist in hunting down those Varisoft and shift lenses, and only very few left (big hint: anyone from You want to sell a 4/17 or 2.8/21 Rokkor??).
Everything started two years ago, when I decided to start photography to supplement my water color attempts, because I am a slow painter. It was thought to assist my memory for finishing the water colors - but it immediately outgrew that. Now I am hopelessly infected. I came to Minolta as I didn't like the Leica prices as much as their reputation. A friend (who is a Minoltian, too) convinced me to try Minolta, and I soon understood, that a decent range of lenses (it was not meant to grow out to a collection, what it happened to be :-( ) at a much lower price edge than Canon or Nikon would have implied.
And as I want to photograph scenic views and landscape rather than wildlife, or sports I am happy with the Minolta stuff. And as I like that solid feeling of true precision mechanics I won't ever touch any autofocus gear. You need to know that I am an electrical engineer - and I dislike all that consumer electronics anyway.
Well and I am pretty perfectionistic. I carry the tripod with me most of the time. And I hardly use any zoom lens, just because the feeling of the primes is far superior. And I got the paranoic fear, a zoom might spoil an otherwise good picture...
I will try out an Arca Swiss in spring (I wait for better weather to do so). This is so imteresting...
Best regards Peter
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Post by John Parry on Jan 31, 2007 16:53:43 GMT -5
Try an XG-M Peter!
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Post by Peter S. on Jan 31, 2007 17:28:57 GMT -5
Dear John,
I did - but I sold it to buy some more lenses ;-) . I found the XG-M to be too similar to the X-700, which is a essential Minolta due to the TTL flash option. At the moment I have a SR-T 303 here, but the meter is stuck. I wonder whether I should transplant the meter from a SR-T 101 that doesn't run the slow times anymore.
Luckily enough I got a SR-T 101 fully working, and I love that one, too. It gives me more consistently good results than the more modern cameras. I seem to work more carefully (and slower) with the old camera.
The only strange thing: I never fell in love with the XE-1 - but wait, I now made my mind up to load a film into it. We got foggy weather here. This is good for a few pictures, too. In a week or two I'll report! :-)
Best regards Peter
And Thank You for triggering the XE-1 idea (although that was not exactely what You did propose)
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SidW
Lifetime Member
Posts: 1,107
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Post by SidW on Feb 1, 2007 19:34:34 GMT -5
Peter and Ron,
I've been using Minolta for most of my adult life. Ofter some long-fingered hooligan nicked my Exakta, I got a late SR-1 with the insurance money plus 35mm and 100mm lenses. Later I added a 100xT (I think it was) and finally an XE-5, with a 35-70mm macro zoom. They all worked perfectly, from wild orchids to landscape and the odd bird. Then 15 years ago it felt like time to move on to autofocus, which meant starting from scratch as the lens mount was incompatible, so I switched to Canon EOS. But I've never lost the Exakta "look down" grip, and have always used an angle finder on them all, and still do, just like the Exakta waist level finder with the magnifier up.
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Post by minoltaman on Feb 5, 2007 14:49:56 GMT -5
Thanks for the tip Peter.
Well, I finally did it. I scavenged and sweated long a day and night to find my dream unit and it happened today, Feb 5 2007.
I got a Minolta X-700!!!!!!! I feel like I won the lottery. I just can't wait to use it, especially with the TTL capability.
So, I'll basically be using the X-700 and my XG-1 and that's pretty much it. I don't reckon I need anything else. I like to travel light!
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Post by Peter S. on Feb 6, 2007 4:40:33 GMT -5
Minoltaman,
TTL flash control is a great thing - therefore I always use the X-700 when shooting family snaps indoors. I use a big Metz 45 CL-5 flash, which got a small fill flash and a adjustable large main flash, that I usually direct to the ceiling. (I will however acquire a remote cord to try out the lighting technique byuphoto tried his best to teach us... then of course without TTL) Over the X-700 I would however once again recommend the XD-5 (or XD-7/11 if the additional cost is no concern). The feeling of the X-700 is a bit plasticy, against that the XD is way smoother. And I like the soft leather of the XD's.
Sid,
the three lenses You mention all got a very good reputation - probably the 100mm does outperform the other two. It is a very good complement to the 35-70mm zoom, as the zoom is know to become a bit soft at the long end (it is near perfect in the normal and the wide angle range). I got a MC Rokkor copy of the 100mm lens, which is of the older 6/5 design, and this lens has one of the silkiest focus rings I ever saw. The newer ones are however a bit more resistant to flare thanks to improved coatings. (I got the big original lens shade with the lens, so I don't care too much).
Best regards Peter
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Post by minoltaman on Feb 6, 2007 10:28:57 GMT -5
Peter, thanks for the response, you've been a big help. Do you have a link to byuphoto's tutorial on flash that you mentioned?
The biggest reason I wanted the X-700 was for it's P mode, and that's because I'm going to be shooting several of my friends live bands in the days and months ahead.....from Jazz to Rock....and I can't be fussing with anything when I'm in those situations, besides manually focusing. Even in A mode, the X700 has TTL features that sets proper flash for any selected aperature.
I also want to practice wedding photography....and my brother-in-law has asked me to take photos at his wedding in late 2007 (he had also hired a professional photographer anyway. I hope the pros don't laugh at me.)
The X700 will give me the confidence that the exposures will be perfect in such critical situations, especially since it's film we're talking about here. I'm sure shooting with digital SLR's is challenging enough in such situations, nevermind film. In any case I am going to shoot all these live performances and weddings, free of charge, since I'm not a professional.
I have an Acheiver 1850 Dedicated Twin Flash unit that I've used on my XG-1 and I know that it will be fantastic to finally use the TTL mode on the flash with the X-700.
If anyone has any tips on shooting live bands or weddings please contact me.
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Post by Peter S. on Feb 6, 2007 18:21:40 GMT -5
Dear Minoltaman,
I have to confess that You are the first person I got in contact with, that was in favour of the X-700's P-mode. If You need to freeze movement and You're better off with the shutter priority mode of the XD series. Against that that P-mode is a bit of a strange beast...
Wrt to lighting tips of byuphoto... well, You should surf a bit more on the board here ;-)
Best regards Peter
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Post by kiev4a on Feb 7, 2007 12:20:44 GMT -5
You guys lose me with your Minolta talk. Somehow I never got around to owning that brand. Don't know why. There is no particular reason. Funny since I've at least played around with just about every SLR brand ever made. Actually, I think Minolta really started coming on strong toward the end of the '70s--about the time I started a 20-year hiatus from still photography. That might explain it.
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Post by Peter S. on Feb 7, 2007 15:10:31 GMT -5
Dear Wayne, I eagerly await the arrival of an Arca Swiss camera that could stop my Minolta talk, but firstly it hasn't arrived here so far. And second it would be off topic here. I seem to have a certain indulgence to out-of-fashion camera systems. I started a thread on film supply for the Arca, and it was obvious that this topic didn't hit the nerve of the camera collectors dwelling in this message board... But back to the Minolta-speak: I also visit the Manual focus forum at oomz.net/mf/index.php, and there Minolta manual focus isn't a concern - the Manual Minoltians seem to become extinct. Here is one of the last refuges around (beside a couple of Yahoo groups). So forgive me... On the other hand, You might run into a SR-T with a 50mm MC Rokkor for only a few $$s that You might try it out yourself (I think the label Nikon alone has a higher value than that). Best regards Peter
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Post by minoltaman on Feb 7, 2007 15:10:39 GMT -5
Peter and Kamera, thank you for your responses.
Yes, I'm a basic weekend warrior when it comes to photography, although when I am taking pictures I'm really serious about getting a perfect shot. I really love the aperature priority on my Minoltas. And with the X700 I can meter the subject even in manual mode if I so desire. But, I like more having control over aperature size as opposed to shutter speed and I guess that's why I prefer these late 70's/early 80's Minoltas.
What I'm really excited about is the TTL capability on the X 700 when either in P or A mode, which for a dilletente like me, will make flash photography very enjoyable.
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Post by Randy on Feb 7, 2007 19:58:13 GMT -5
I shoot with my X-7A and X-570 most of the time, but my SRT-202 always has a roll of film in it. I have many other cameras in my collection, but I always gravitate back to my Minoltas.
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Post by John Parry on Feb 8, 2007 15:58:14 GMT -5
Minoltaman,
I don't think we've ever had a dilletente member before! How about taking a little time to fill in your profile fully, so we know something about you - where you're from, what your real name is - so on!
Regards - John
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galenk
Lifetime Member
Posts: 206
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Post by galenk on Apr 29, 2007 18:02:15 GMT -5
I started out with a Minolta XG-A that I bought when I got out of High School, then a friend gave me a X-700 with a Vivitar 28-80 mc lens "because it didn't work" and after collecting a few more lenses I just started picking them up,
It may sound funny but I think I liked the XG-A the best, even though it was AP only. At the time I was into nighttime and long exposure pics and it had an auto shutter speed of up to four min. which sure saved on a lot of thinking and took great exposures most of the time.
Of the other Minolta's I have I use My X-700 the most I just like the way the controls are laid out, I use it on AP mode the most, I don't care for the cameras choice on full auto. Sorry! I know this seems to have turned into a Minolta forum, But you can't argue with the best ;D ;D ;D
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