Minolta X-300s
The Minolta X-300s is a 35mm film SLR that Minolta aimed squarely at budget-conscious photographers who still wanted a capable, honest camera. It uses the MD lens mount, so it takes the full range of Minolta MD glass. There are two exposure modes, aperture-priority automatic and full manual. The shutter is electronically controlled with metal blades, runs from 1 to 1/1000 second, and has Bulb.
The X-300s is a simple camera. It feels mechanical despite the electronic shutter, and the advance lever and shutter are both described as solid and quiet. The viewfinder is bright and easy to focus with. Two LR44 batteries drive the meter. If they die, the camera still shoots manually, just without metering. Film speed range is ISO 12 to 3200, and flash sync is 1/60 second.
The dating of the X-300s is muddled. One source lists it as introduced in 1985. Another gives actual production years of 1989-1996, with a list price of $325 for the body. In Europe and Asia the same camera was sold as the X-300, which is described as "basically the same camera."
Owner commentary is uniformly positive, though the record contains no negative reviews at all, so that is not the same as universal praise. One Reddit user called it "a fantastic little camera" with a bright viewfinder, and another said it was the best $80 they ever spent. A Norwegian collector noted it "just feels great in hand." That ~$80 figure tracks with the current used market.
Documentation gaps remain: no weight or dimensions, no filter thread size, no confirmation of a self-timer, and no detail on the flash shoe beyond the 1/60 sync speed. Sources also conflict on whether the meter is needle-based or LED. That is unresolved, so it is omitted here.
- Type: 35mm film SLR
- Lens mount: Minolta MD
- Shutter: electronically controlled metal blade, 1s – 1/1000s + Bulb
- Flash sync: 1/60s
- Film speed: ISO 12–3200
- Exposure modes: aperture-priority AE, manual
- Power: 2 LR44 batteries
- List price: $325 (body only)
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