Joe McGloins MINMAN wußte dazu:
http://www.subclub.org/minman/x370.htm
ZITATX-370
(1984) A year after Minolta released the X-570, they introduced the X-370 to the photographic market. It was a less-expensive alternative to the X-570 thanks to fewer features. The body of the X-370 is nearly identical to that of the X-570. The only change, other than the nameplate, is that the shutter speed dial in now covered, only showing one speed at a time. In addition, the camera features are minimized. Perhaps the biggest feature change from the X-570 is that the X-370 lacks the OTF (off-the-film) flash mode -- which many find very useful. In addition, the X-370 lacks the DOF preview button, the PC connection, and the interchangeable screens of the X-570. Together, these changes decreased the price tag of the X-370 significantly.
There were actually several versions of the X-370.
X-370 -- (1984)
[attachment=9180:x370.jpg]
Although, at first, the viewfinder of the X-370 appears to be exactly the same as that of the X-570, it is not. The X-370 does not display the manually-set f-stop in the viewfinder.
[attachment=9181:viewx370.jpg]
But like the X-570, in manual mode the X-370 shows the manually-set shutter speed as a blinking LED in the viewfinder, while the metered speed (recommended setting) was a constantly lit LED -- on the same scale! It also has the "B" setting on the bottom of the LED scale. The X-370 is available in chrome or black.
X-300 -- (1984)
Sold in the Japanese market, the features are exactly the same as the X-370.
X-7A -- (1985)
[attachment=9183:x7a.jpg]
Despite the name, the X-7A is not an X-7. It's really an X-370. The only difference is that the "touch-switch" is gone. Camera production was moved from Japan to Malaysia. Often seen with Hanimex lenses.
X-370n -- (1990)
Around 1990, Minolta moved production of the X-370 to China, and made a few changes to the camera. The most obvious difference is that the X-370n has a film cartridge window on the back -- instead of the film-box tab-holder of the X-370. While this is nice, since you can see the type of film and number of exposures, some people report fogged film under some conditions, such as when fast film is used. Another obvious difference is that the X-370n has more plastic parts on the top and bottom. It's a high quality plastic, but some people don't like the plastic feel or slick appearance. The body grip is now a little larger and has a smooth covering. There are other differences as well. Unlike the X-370, the X-370n shows the manually set f-stop in the viewfinder -- like the X-570 -- and it still offers the match-LED metering in manual mode.
Finally, nine out of ten X-370n cameras lack the cable release connection. This isn't a big deal, because you can use the self-timer as a shutter release, but there are some circumstances where a cable release is more convenient. The X-370n is only available in black.
X-370s -- (1990)
[attachment=9185:x370s.jpg]
Sold in the European market, the features are exactly the same as the X-370n.
X-300s
Despite the name, the X-300s is really an X-9 and is covered on that page.
The X-370 was an immediate hit, due to its low-price. The biggest complaint is that some people don't like the new, covered shutter speed dial. While it helps you to quickly identify what shutter speed is set, when it comes time for a change, you don't know which way to turn the dial, since you can't see the adjoining speeds. But as a first camera or a backup to the X-700 or X-570, it can't be beat. [...]
One important quality control issue pertains to the two capacitors in the X-300/X-370 (and the X-570 and X-700 cameras, as well). They tend to leak, and in the process malfunction. You can usually spot a bad capacitor easily. Turn the camera on, using good batteries. Touching the shutter release button will turn on the LED meter for a second, but then it goes out. Some contend that the problem stems from the move to China and cheaper capacitors. There may be some truth to this as the earliest X-300 cameras have fewer capacitor problems. Others contend that the capacitors leak with time, use and humidy. In any case, it's an expensive repair and one reason some people avoid the last models that Minolta made.
The X-370, in its many forms, became the basis of Minolta's manual-focus SLR cameras after the introduction of the auto-focus Maxxum line. The variouis X-370's were less expensive than the new, auto-focus cameras, but still had all the features that a new or experienced photographer needed. As mentioned, production was moved from Japan to China around 1990, and the X-370n has, and is, being used as the basis for many others cameras from China, sold by Seagull and several other firms. One thing's for sure -- the X-370 will live on, in one form or another, for many years to come.[/quote]
Zur X-7, für die wir ein eigenes Unterforum haben, schrieb er:
http://www.subclub.org/minman/x7.htm
ZITATX-7
(1980) The XG-1 was a simple camera, but it was still more camera than many people needed. Minolta found a few ways to make a more streamlined camera, and the X-7 was born. It was the first camera in the XG body style not to be designated an XG. True, they couldn't call it the XG-1, so what else could they do? How about an XG-0? Anyway, the X-7 was designed as an auto-exposure-only camera. The option for manual exposure was completely removed, but most of the other features remained the same as the XG-SE. The shutter speed dial is redesigned so that there are no individual speed settings. The X-7 still had a +/- 2 EV compensation dial, so there was some ability to adjust the exposure, but the settings are moved from the camera body and placed directly onto the shutter speed dial. The dial also retains the X and B settings, so that electronic flash can be used with non-X units (the camera automatically sets the shutter speed to X with X-style flash units), and time exposures can be taken.
The viewfinder information also stayed the same as the XG-SE.
For some reason, Minolta decided to make some cosmetic changes to the top plate of the X-7. The XG-9 had introduced a slightly modified body style to the XG series. It's hard to notice the difference, but the top plate on the earlier XG cameras tilted inward slightly. The X-7 used this new XG-9 body style in which the plate is much straighter, but made several other changes, as well. For example, the ON-OFF switch on no longer on a separate, black plate, but on a new raised section of the camera body. The rewind crank now is black, and the ISO dial is milled instead of having an adjusting tab. They did the same sort of thing with the shutter speed dial. It is, of course, missing the individual shutter speed numbers, but the dial is now a finer-milled chrome, instead of black, and the release button is now square instead of round. Seems like a bit of expense for a cheaper camera!
But Minolta didn't stop there. On the X-7, if the exposure fell below 1/60, the camera beeped to warn the photographer of the slow speed -- even though it is displayed in the viewfinder. This was the first time this feature was used on a Minolta camera, but it showed up on several later models as well. You can tell if a camera has this feature by the tiny "vents" on the front of the pentaprism. Surprisingly, the X-7 still retained the motor-drive option -- a feature the target audience was not likely to use.
There were actually two versions of the X-7, varying over time. The model is not inscribed on the camera.
X-7 (model a) -- (1980)
[attachment=9184:x7.jpg]
The original X-7 differed from the XG-SE in that it did not have a removable back, so it could not accept the Data Back G. In addition, it lacked the Acute-Matte screen, but had a beeper. The X-7 (model a) should not be confused with the X-7A.
X-70 -- (1981) The X-70 should not be confused with the X-7. The X-70 is a variant of the XG-M, despite the name.
X-7 (model b) -- (1982)
The X-7 (model b) added a removable back, so it could accept the Data Back G. In addition, it added the Acute-Matte screen.
X-7A -- (1990) The X-7A should not be confused with the X-7 (model a). The X-7A is a variant of the X-370, despite the name.
The X-7 was an attempt to compete with the all-automatic exposure offerings from other manufacturers, like the Pentax MV of 1979. For many people, the X-7 is the perfect camera -- simple, clean, and automatic. At the same time as the X-7, Minolta sold the even simpler XG-A. [...][/quote]