X-570

(1983) Minolta realized that the X-700 was designed for the top-tier of the photographic market.  Sure, it had cutting-edge features, but it was just too expensive for most, and many others just didn't want all the features that it offered.  So the X-570 was born, although it was two years after the introduction of the X-700.  The body of the X-570 is nearly identical to that of the X-700.  The only change, other than the nameplates, is that the ON-OFF switch is moved away from underneath the shutter speed dial and placed between the pentaprism and the rewind crank.  The features of the X-570 are similar to those of the X-700, but the X-570 added some and lost some.   The biggest change from the X-700 was that the X-570 lacked the programmed exposure mode.  For some this is a big loss, but for others, it is no loss at all since they prefer more control of the exposure.  At the same time, the X-570 maintained the OTF (off-the-film) flash mode, which many find very useful.  In addition, the X-570 had the same interchangeable screens as the X-700.  

Another important change is seen in the viewfinder.  Although, at first, it appears to be exactly the same as that of the X-700, it is not. The X-570 is the first LED-based Minolta camera to display the manually-set shutter speed in the viewfinder.  Another important change is the new oblong LEDs instead of the round LEDs that appeared on all of the earlier LED-based Minolta cameras.  While this might help some people to see the LEDs, it doesn't do anything to help you see the actual shutter speed in low light.  

In automatic-exposure mode, just like the X-700, the X-570 shows an "A", plus the automatically selected shutter speed on the LED scale.  But unlike the X-700, in manual mode the X-570 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!  This made the X-570 much more like the XE-7 and XK models which showed both the metered speed and the manually set speed in the viewfinder. In addition, the X-570 LED scale has an extra LED on the bottom of the scale to indicate the use of the "B" speed.  This wasn't needed on any of the earlier XG cameras, or on the X-700, since they never displayed the manually-set shutter speed, but since the X-570 did, the "B" LED was an important addition.

There were actually two versions of the X-570, depending on the market.

• X-570 -- (1983)
  
  Available in chrome and black.
  
• X-500 -- (1983)
  
  Sold in the Japanese market, the features are exactly the same. 

The X-570 was an immediate hit, but Minolta didn't stop there.  They decided to come out with a less-expensive version of the X-570, and the X-370 was born.  

Many consider the X-570 to be Minolta's best "user" camera -- assuming you want auto-exposure -- with the features most needed by shutterbugs. For a comparative look at the major features of the X-570 models, check out MINMAN's SLR table -- the world's most complete!

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