Minolta X-370 Tutorial

This 35mm Camera tutorial was made for my brother -in law.
However, feel free to watch and learn how to use this camera on the AUTO settings.
1. This camera takes LR44 batteries, you can purchase them on AMAZON- the batteries should last almost a year.
2. Turn on the camera, set it to AUTO
3. Load the film- Shoots black and white AND Colour film.
4. Once the film is put in properly, advance the roll until you see the number 1 in the little window beside the advancing knob on the top right.
5. Again, make sure the camera is set to AUTO, and make sure the F-Stop is at f. 5.6 or f. 8.0 :
The aperture ranges from 2.4 to 22 -----2.4 for shooting subjects up close, and 22 is you are shooting far away (like landscapes) for now as a beginner, I would leave it at 8 or 5.6
ISO 400 is good for shooting outdoors in daylight. If you are shooting at night or indoors with minimal light, you will NEED a tripod. There is no way you can hold the camera still enough to capture anything at night.
For now, I suggest only using this camera outdoors in the daylight.
6. If you look into the viewfinder and click the shutter release HALFWAY you will see all the lights that will turn on for the light meter. If there is no light, your camera is either OFF or the batteries are dead. We do not need to worry about the light meter, as it is set on AUTO and the camera will do all the settings for you.
7. Once you are finished the roll, rewind the film. Then we can take the roll out.
********NEVER open the camera when you are mid roll, the light will DESTROY all of the images. Make sure you always rewind the film COMPLETELY before opening. ***********
Happy Shooting!!

[@bobbailey7235]

Wow! You could not have done a better job explaining this camera to us.Thank you for this most perfect video!

[@magidaelk]

So happy to hear that Bob! Funny I made this little video for my brother in law and it ended up being a hit!

[@winnerr0085]

thank you! this helps so much for someone who know nothing about photography!

[@magidaelk]

im so glad to hear that!!

[@ArcynicPeach]

This was great! I'm a visual learner and my husband gifted me a Minolta x370 for Christmas. This was very helpful. :)

[@Ale-in6wy]

Thank you so much🙏 My uncle gave me a Minolta that he found at a good will and this video perfectly described how to use one:) Thank you so much!!!

[@Cosmicdelights]

Thank you so much!! I just got a Minolta today and your video has really helped me :)

[@renejoy5134]

Great tutorial thank you 😊

[@tylerball2973]

Just saved a Minolta X370 from being tossed. Always wanted to learn how to shoot film, this tutorial was great for teaching a beginner.

[@magidaelk]

Happy to hear that!!

[@vldmr_mlnkv]

Absolutely amazing video ❤

[@samanta2192]

this video was super helpful!!! Thank you so much really 🫰

[@emmaresto1495]

This helped so much. Thank you!

[@JohnS-fl4cm]

Not sure if you're aware, but you're very good at this. You're lovely and pleasant to listen to, you have a calming and relaxing voice and demeanor, and you really take your time. You're a natural! I followed the links and see that you take great photos, as well. Please continue to make videos. You have a lot to contribute. Talk about your photography, experiences, or whatever. If you're so inclined. If not, no problem. I'm sure you're out there actually living life and perhaps you don't want to be inside making videos all the time. But I just wanted to leave this message of encouragement. Even though I've been into photography for decades, I watched the whole video. I will send this to someone I know who is just beginning with film cameras. Great job. Take care.

[@akbonly6421]

thanks Magida,keep uploading the video to teach your viewers..nice to find your channel 💙💙💙

[@magidaelk]

Wow! Thank you! I’ll post a new video soon!

[@user-jp5et8uj2m]

Excelente explicacion. Gracias

[@littlemissalexmars2855]

That was so informative! 😭 You made me feel so much better about getting one. It was very intimidating 😅

[@renemies78]

Great video! Thank you.

[@julia.ghoulia.]

I just got this camera. This video is soo helpful!

[@magidaelk]

Yay! How is photography going :)

[@andreototototota]

Wow! You explained it excellent!!! Thank you

[@magidaelk]

Happy to hear this!

[@vchmerkovskiy]

So helpful! Thank you

[@jennalenee11]

I just got this minolta and this video helped SO much! i would love a video over aperture!!!

[@magidaelk]

Sounds like a few people are asking for this! Ill think about doing that in a future video :)

[@harymin2488]

Oh my god thanks a lot angel this is what I've been searching for... very helpful video.😃😃🥰🥰

[@magidaelk]

so happy to hear this! Thanks for watching!

[@rhi12able]

This was so helpful, thanks!!

[@magidaelk]

Yay! i'm so glad :) Thanks for the follow!

[@rotarydial000]

Awesome video! Thanks!

[@magidaelk]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@alexagreenberg9434]

This is SOOOO clear and helpful, thank you!

[@colesherwood7919]

Thank you, this helped!

[@magidaelk]

Thanks for watching :)

[@ThiMaoBingchiling]

Thank you so much😊😊😊

[@antonella1999]

this is an amazing video! thank you so much. i've had this camera for so long know but i was scared to use it cause i didn't really know how. this explained everything so cleary to me

[@magidaelk]

I’m so happy to hear that!

[@ivyaleeza_]

huge thank u❤️

[@zerogravity121]

Thank you

[@rflagg3]

Minolta's choosing of the "AUTO" mode label is a bit misleading in that it really is aperture-priority mode, which I believe some get confused with what was called "program" mode on other cameras (i.e., camera chooses both aperture and shutter speed based upon light meter reading). In "AUTO" mode, the photographer chooses the aperture setting, and the camera decides the shutter speed (assuming said shutter speed is not too fast or slow at the selected aperture and light conditions).

[@mejiavincee]

I like to know about the lights and numbers inside the viewfinder. Full explanation

[@vivianvirachith]

Thanks for this video! I haven’t used my Minolta since high school and needed a reminder. Will you be making a video on shutter speed and aperture too?

[@magidaelk]

I wasn’t planning on it, but I will for you!

[@dudagouveiarodrigues]

Thank u so much!!!

[@magidaelk]

Absolutely!

[@spurrellz]

I was hoping you would be like now don’t mess it up ya doofus at the end. You will get 1 million views on this and it will be all me. Thanks

[@magidaelk]

Hahaha, I wanted it to be cheesyyyy. I was trying to sound like a posting by numbers instructional video 🥸

[@kensometal]

Amazing, i'm thinking to buy it

[@magidaelk]

Were you able to find one?!

[@kensometal]

@@magidaelk there are some of them in Amazon

[@magidaelk]

@@kensometal oh! CRAZY I didnt know that! Let me know how it goes!

[@Eliehbk]

Shoukran

[@lurycastro1039]

olá, sou brasileira, ganhei uma camera igual à esta x370, porem ela não liga, troquei as baterias várias vezes, mas não liga. Como posso saber se esta quebrada?

[@lurycastro1039]

Hi, I'm Brazilian, I got a camera like this one x370, but it doesn't turn on, I changed the batteries several times, but it doesn't turn on. How can I tell if it's broken?

[@rflagg3]

Quick tip: Set the ISO just prior to loading the film cartridge into the camera; that way, you won't have to remember it (or worse, forget it). Grin.

[@magidaelk]

Thanks so much for your added tips! It’s much appreciated for home watching! I suppose that sometimes cameras is second nature to me that i forget to mention things that may feel obvious. Oops.

[@chuydelrio4027]

One quick question, any tips on how to get pictures focus correctly I haven gone through one roll and pictures came a little blurry any tips or tricks ? Thank you so much!

[@magidaelk]

Hi there, there Could be a few things happening here. Either user error or unfortunately camera issues. 1. What is the aperture you tend to shoot at? If it’s 5.4 or lower try shooting at f 8 or higher and see if this solves the problem. 2. Is your viewfinder in place it’s not all wobbly perhaps causing you to think it’s on focus when it’s not 3. Try taking off the lens and then putting it back on 4. Sometimes it the door of the camera is not pressing tightly against the film then it’s creating an extra bit of depth. So make sure the door of the camera is tightly shut. Use some gaphers tape to seal it tight and give it a go to see if that’s the issue. If not then i have no idea!!!!! It could be the lens if it was ever dropped or not taken care of properly and then lens is sort of outta place. Good luck!

[@emmyrose4458]

So what exactly does Auto do? Pick the shutter speed for you from the light meter? (Explaining it like I’m 4 yrs old is welcomed) Never used a film camera with an Auto setting before

[@melaniparrish9448]

hi, I tried to feed the film until it reached number one but instead of seeing one I keep seeing a letter ‘s’. Does this mean that my camera is broken? or that I didn’t load the film right? thanks so much!

[@magidaelk]

Hi Melani, I've never seen this issue before, just to make sure ... you have a battery in it, correct? I did a quick google search to see if anyone has had this issue and read something interesting in this forum if you'd like to take a look: www.photo.net/discuss/threads/x-370-frame-counter.5492091/ a little passage from it " open the camera back and look for a silver metal rectangle in the upper light-trap groove. This rectangle is the end of the counter release lever: check to see if it's stuck inward, or if it moves in and out, or if it may be covered up or jammed up with the foam that fills the groove." Check out that link and see if it helps, Keep me posted :)

[@annamason4379]

the roll of film inside should still have exposures left, but when i take pictures it doesn’t change the number at the window countdown (it stopped at 15)?? did i do something to mess it up

[@magidaelk]

Hi Anna, Is the lever stuck, it won't advance anymore?

[@sheldonhodge13]

Anybody know where we can find a battery replacement?

[@magidaelk]

I wrote it in the notes and mention it in the video! This camera takes LR44 batteries, you can purchase them on AMAZON- the batteries should last almost a year.

[@awsomesociallife5301]

my minolta doesnt count the frames, I dont know if i put the film in wrong or that mechanism is broken :/

[@magidaelk]

Hi, I've personally never encountered this issue, but found an interesting thread that may help you: www.photo.net/forums/topic/500269-x-370-frame-counter/

[@brianastanford7584]

My Minolta doesn’t have a button on the bottom of it to release the film… So I’m kind of stuck. Does anybody have any help?

[@magidaelk]

Is it the same model?

[@cloudy9862]

Hi, would you buy this camera for $100?

[@harymin2488]

2:37 ....I need help when I try to unlock it my shutter was not working , it was stucked I don't know what to do...shutter not working so the liver is locked...how to fix this ? 😕

[@magidaelk]

Silly question maybe, did you put in some fresh batteries? And is your camera set to On?

[@harymin2488]

Ugh ohh😳...actually I forgot to change the batteries bcoz this was a very old camera of my dad.. I just took this today after years 😅😅...

[@harymin2488]

@@magidaelk you opened my eyes hahaa..iam just curious to use that so I forgot about the batteries haha...well I will buy the batteries 1st ...thanks

[@magidaelk]

@@harymin2488 There we go! You can get batteries off Amazon for cheap! they are : LR44 batteries Let me know how it goes!

[@harymin2488]

@@magidaelk suree thing 😁 thanks angel haha

[@renzo6173]

❤ty

[@zoelikesmakeup]

The back door of my camera is not releasing... help :/

[@magidaelk]

Hi Zoe, Did you try pulling up the lever until it pops open, or is the door rusted shut? Like shown at 1:10 minutes in?

[@zoelikesmakeup]

@@magidaelk I did try like in the video and it's not popping open at all. Maybe it is rusted shut, I just don't see any rust or damage. Is there a safe way I could pry it open?

[@magidaelk]

@@zoelikesmakeup It's possible its rusted. I would take a cotton swab or qtip soaked in alcohol and just run it along the openings see if it loosens up. if you want to send me a photograph or short video, I can give you a better idea what might be going on! ( [e-mail])

[@samorasamora7206]

bonjour j'en a un a vendre

[@samorasamora7206]

سلام.عندي واحدة للبيع

[@T3RM1N4T0R2201]

My Friends Giften me this Camera as a Birthday Gift, Typ for the helpful Video :)

[@sohmiJesuswithme]

Jesus love you all✝️❤️

[@LetsRestoreIt]

Amen!!

[@joeyward2662]

I... I have never downvoted a video before and I am incredibly sorry that I have to do this. You didn't explain what the switch on the front of the camera does aside from the timer, you didn't explain what attachments can work with the hotshoe, you basically wasted a roll of film while others would've gone and actually shot some photos then finished the video, you somehow confused focus and aperture and didn't explain how aperture actually works, you didn't explain in ANY detail about the viewfinder readout or settings, you didn't talk about exposure or metering at all, you said that the exposure counter counts down when in reality it counts up so you need to know how many shots you can take when you put the film in or you'll likely break something, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting....

[@magidaelk]

Joey, I’d like to thank you for taking such an immense amount of your time to write such a detailed comment listing out every single thing I’ve done wrong in this tutorial. It appears that you have such extensive knowledge in cameras that I would love to see your version on this video. It’s would be great for someone like me who clearly doesn’t not know anything. I would also love to view your portfolio and admire all the photographs you would have taken with the roll of film I’ve wasted. (When In fact no frames were wasted. I can still use the roll and still did) I look forward to your video and a link to your portfolio. Warmly, M

[@joeyward2662]

@@magidaelk I'm sorry if my comment came off harsh. I was tired. I was trying to give you constructive criticism and clearly came off as only as asshole. I still hold to most of what I said however I just don't have time to think of a nicer way to say it.

[@JohnS-fl4cm]

There were so many better ways to say this. She did a fine job. There are different levels of tutorials. She explained the basics to get someone started. Lighten up.

[@jan1agush]

Great video! Thanks.

[@magidaelk]

Thanks for watching!