Film cameras for beginners: Minolta X-500

Minolta X-500

The minolta x-500/570 (it was called the x-570 in the us) was a cheaper alternative to the big successor the x-700 and although it wasn't as successful as the x-700 it's still a great under rated camera and to many an even better camera in some respects.

Specs:
Modes: The X-500 can be used in either full manual, aperture priority .

Shutter: The X-500 has a shutter speed of 1/1000 - 4s when used in aperture priority mode and 1/1000 - 1s plus bulb mode when in full manual and can be used with either a mechanical or electrical shutter release.

Self timer: It has a self timer of 10 seconds

Iso/asa range: The X-500 has an iso/asa range of 12 - 3200

Hot shoe(flash mount): The X-500 uses a standard hot shoe.

Flash modes: The X-500 has manual and of the film TTL flash modes.

Flash sync: The flash sync(the fastest shutter speed that will sync with the flash) of the X-500 was a standard 1/60th

Lens mount: It uses the minolta SR-mount, which was used for all of their 35mm manual interchangeable lens cameras so there is a wide selection of lenses that you can get.

Light meter: The X-500 has a TTL LED light meter which has a read out of the shutter speeds and will tell you how far you are away from the recommended shutter speed when in manual mode via the LEDs light up next to the shutter speeds.

Power: It takes two lr44 1.5v cell batteries.

Motor drive: The X-500 can be used with the auto winder g for up to 2 fps and the motor drive 1 for up to 3.5 fps.

Depth of field Preview: It does have depth of field preview.

Price: On ebay you can find them from around £40-70 with a 50mm f/1.7 lens but could be found for less.

My thoughts:
The minolta X-500 is another great camera, it has all the features you'll need. It has off the film metering for the flash which if you think you'll use a flash is very useful, although it only has a sync speed of 1/60th so using a flash could be a but limiting. It displays the shutter speeds in the viewfinder and offers multiple motor drives so one wouldn't need to take there eye away from the viewfinder, unless you need to look at the aperture. It has loads of acessories, including the electrical shutter release. It has cheap lenses for it that cane be easily sourced. It's mostly made of plastic so it would be as tank like as some of the others in series and probably won't be able to take as many bangs as the others but the build quality isn't cheap and bad by any means just something to note.