image by John Nuttall (Image rights)

The X-300s is a 35mm SLR camera from Minolta. It was also marketed in the U.S. and Canada as the X-370N. It is essentially the same camera as the Minolta X-300 (the X-370 for the North American market), but with some minor improvements and a streamlined body. The Minolta X-9 is a special edition of the X-370N and is mentioned as such in Minolta literature of the period. It featured a depth-of-field preview button that was not found on the X-370N.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Minolta
• Type: SLR
• Year of launch: 1990
• Film / frame-size: 35mm film / 24x36mm
• Lens mount: Minolta MC bayonet
• Shutter: focal plane shutter with speeds 1 – 1/1000 sec. plus B mode
• Exposure: shutter speed automatically controlled by means of TTL meter, or manually
• Viewfinder: Pentaprism finder, shutter speed and aperture visible in finder
• Power: Two 1.55v silver oxide SR-44, two 1.5v alkaline LR44 or one 3v lithium CR-1/3N batteries

Legacy

X-370N image by Kenneth Dwain Harrelson (Image rights)

The X-300s (X-370N) was and continues to be used as the basis for many others cameras from China, sold by Seagull (as the Kalimar KX 5000 and the Phoenix P-3000) and possibly several other firms. One thing seems certain – the X-300s will live on, in one form or another, for many years to come.