Vintage FSLR

Zoom Raider · June 3, 2006

A friend of mine's aunt just bought a 1984 model Minolta X-370 (FSLR).
She's wondering if that camera can take good pictures.
I think it can if it works. We dunno yet if it's broken or not. The batteries are dead.
The seller said one moment it was working while shooting,
the next moment it just stopped working.
She paid only $15 for the body, two lenses, (28-70mm F3.5-:dunno and a 135mm F2.8; both made by :dunno )
a mini-tripod, a SunPak flash, shoulder strap and a bag to carry them all.
I saw not even one tiny scratch on the body, lenses or flash; like they were never used.

This isn't her camera, just a photo of one I found on Ebay.

KA0TVO · June 3, 2006

If you need batteries that are out of production go to Radio Shack. They have a warehouse in Texas full of discontinued batteries. They can look these up on the computer. This has helped me with several old cameras that required odd voltage batteries.

Jane B. · June 3, 2006

Another possibility is to use hearing aid batteries. At the time I was using a Vivitar 220/SL it called for the #675 battery at 1.35 volt. The #675 hearing aid battery is the same size but 1.4 volt. The guy at the shop where I purchased my photo equipment back then was also a family friend that I trusted and he told me that there would be NO problems from using one of my hearing aid batteries. He turned out to be right. I am also under the impression that the hearing aid version is still less per battery today than the photo version; but they come in multi packs so that may not be an advantage depending on how much you are using the camera.
Jane

Zoom Raider · June 3, 2006

Thanks, Bob - Jane!

By the looks of the batteries, I think Energizer and Rayovac and others still make them,
`cos they're very much the same size and volts as watch or calculator batteries.
The previous owner thinks it's the camera that broke down,
not dead batteries being the reason why the camera isn't working.
But I dunno yet,`cos the aunt is out of town now. Have to wait until she gets back with
new batteries and some film to test it out.
It's a nice camera, and lenses. If it is broke and she doesn't wanna get it fixed,
then I'll buy it just for vintage collections.

gtc · June 5, 2006

rokkor lenses
with good lenses all cameras will take good pictures if working to manafacturers specs

some of the rokkor lenses fromminolta are quite good-their fast 50 is pretty good and would be a good addition to this if you get it going.

if after sourcing a battery its well worth spending $50.00 on a clean lube and adjust and it should then hang in there for a long time

Zoom Raider · June 5, 2006

gtc wrote:

with good lenses all cameras will take good pictures if working to manafacturers specs

some of the rokkor lenses fromminolta are quite good-their fast 50 is pretty good and would be a good addition to this if you get it going.

if after sourcing a battery its well worth spending $50.00 on a clean lube and adjust and it should then hang in there for a long time

One of her lenses is made by J.C.Penney. The other is made by Prospec... whoever they are.
If the camera isn't broke, I'll tell her about the Rokkor 50mm F1.2 & 58mm F1.2,
`cos I know she wants good pictures from this 22 year old Minolta.
I still wanna buy hers if it's broke and she doesn't wanna get it fixed.
Then someday I'll have it fixed and see what it can do.

Vintage FSLR

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