minolta-x-370-35mm-japan-slr-camera

Copyright photos: Thomas M. Evans

Minolta X-370

The Minolta X-370 is an SLR camera. It was built by Minolta in Japan from 1984 to 1990. Photographers in the USA and Canada could buy the camera under this name. In the rest of the world, the camera was offered as the Minolta X-300.

The lenses of the 35mm photo camera are interchangeable. This is made possible by the Minolta SR bayonet. There is a wide range of lenses for the lens mount. Most of the time you will find the X-370 together with a 50mm lens. You have to focus the lens manually. There is no autofocus system.

Shooting is made easier by the built-in light meter. It can be used with films from ISO 12 to ISO 3200. Exposure metering is done through the lens. Both the desired aperture and exposure time can be set by the user. However, there is also an automatic mode. In this mode, you only need to select the aperture. The shutter speed is automatically selected by the camera.

The shutter offers times from 1/1000 second to 1 second to choose from. In automatic exposure mode, the slowest shutter speed is 4 seconds. There is also a Bulb mode for long exposures.

Fans of flash photography can easily connect their external lights. There is a hot shoe on top of the camera. The sync speed is 1/60 second. A connection for a tripod and a cable release is also available. A self-timer facilitates self-portraits.

The dimensions of the Minolta X-370 are 13.7 x 9 x 5.15 cm. It weighs 470 grams. This weight refers to the body only, without the lens. The camera requires two LR44 batteries (eBay / Amazon*). This type of battery is still easy to get today.

Films for the Minolta X-370

What kind of films does the Minolta X-370 need? It requires 35mm film. Films of this format are still easy to get today and are still developed by professional photo labs. Possible films for the Japanese SLR are the Kodak Gold 200* for color photos and the Kodak T-Max 400* for B&W images. Both photo films are good for everyday or vacation shots and can convince in test reports. Of course, you can also buy films from other manufacturers.

The film transport is mechanical on this model. A frame counter provides information about the photos taken. As a rule, 36 pictures fit on one roll of film.

Technical Specifications

camera_spec
Property Specification
Film format 35mm
Picture Format 36 mm x 24 mm
Lens type Interchangeable lens
Shutter Speeds 1/1000 to 4 seconds
Bulb Mode Yes
Adjustable aperture Yes
Adjustable shutter speed Yes
Auto exposure No
Light Meter Yes
Supported Film Speeds ISO 12 to ISO 3200
Exposure Modes Shutter Priority, Manual Mode
Flash Connector Hot Shoe
Flash Sync Speed 1/60 second
Tripod Mount Yes
Cable Release Thread Yes
Self-timer Yes
Power Supply 2x LR44 batteries
Size 13.7 x 9 x 5.15 cm
Dimensions in Inches 5.39 x 3.54 x 2.03 inches
Weight 470 grams
Release Date 1984
Age Up to 42 years
Production start 1984
Production End 1990
Production duration 6 years
Manufacturer Minolta

Used Prices

The current average price for this camera is 86,54 € based on 34 offers, as of 6.7.2026.

Average Price per Year

  • 2026: 103,61 €
  • 2025: 115,58 €
  • 2024: 91,35 €
  • 2023: 94,57 €

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ about the Minolta X-370

What type of film does this Minolta SLR use?

Does the camera have an autofocus system?

What is the range of shutter speeds offered by the camera?

How does the light meter in this camera work?

What are the dimensions and weight of the Minolta X-370 body?

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