What size lens can I fit, and can I put ANY brand lens for my Minolta X-370n?

I have a Minolta X-370n. It comes with I think is a 50mm lens so I'm guessing I can fit any lens as long as it's 50mm? I'm asking because, first of all I'm just a beginner, but also in the past I was looking for the size for a camcorder I had and I got confused with the different "mm"s that I got the wrong size. I think it was the "lens diameter" that I figured out the correct fit. But I tried looking for the "lens diameter" for my Minolta X-370n but came up with nothing. I have never owned an SLR before.

Also about flashes. The flash it came with is literally destroyed. If I were to look for a flash for the Minolta X-370n, what exactly do I look for? Do hot shoes have different sizes? Can a Nikon/Canon flash fit in my camera?

Any Minolta SR mount lens or after-market (Vivitar, Tamron) SR mount lens can be used on your X-370n.

There isn't any such thing as a Minolta MC/MD lens mount. When Minolta first began using a bayonet lens mount around 1959 instead of the M42 screw-mount they named the new lens mount SR and the early camera models were designated as SR - as in SR-1 etc. In 1966, when Minolta introduced meter coupled lenses the new lens line was designated as MC - as in MC ROKKOR-X 50mm f1.4 etc. The cameras that used the new meter-coupled lenses were ones such as the SRT-100, SRT-101, etc. The new MC lenses could still be used on the older non-meter coupled cameras.

When Minolta introduced the X-700 with its Program Mode they introduced the MD series of lenses.MD stood for Meter Dedicated since, according to Minolta, the lens had to be locked at its minimum aperture (f16, f22, f32) for the Program Mode to operate correctly. (In Program Mode the camera selects aperture and shutter speed - more control than I'm willing to give a camera).

I use my MC Minolta lenses on my X-700 and my MD lenses on my SRT-202 or XE-7 and its all good.

Here are two Minolta lenses worth having: MD 35-70mm f3.5 zoom and MD 70-210mm f4 zoom. Both are constant aperture zoom lenses that give excellent results. Minolta made variable aperture models of those focal lengths but they aren't worth having so be sure to get the ones that are constant aperture. I also recommend the MD 28-85 f3.5-5.6 variable aperture zoom for event photography. I load ISO 400 film, shoot in Aperture Priority and usually leave the lens at f8. On a sunny day there's always sufficient shutter speed.

I've used a Vivitar 283 flash on my Minolta cameras since 1976.In my younger dumber days I used the 283 for wedding photography. So pick up a Vivitar 283 and your flash needs will be met.

50mm has nothing to do with what fits and does not fit the camera. 50mm only refers to the focal length of the lens. The purpose of the SLR is the ability to change lenses to different focal lengths.So, you can use a 24mm lens for a much wider angle of view, or a 135mm or 300mm lens for a much more telephoto view, as well as a myriad of lens focal lengths in between. So long as the lens is designed as a Minolta fitment MC / MD design, then it will work. The Minolta lenses for this camera series are excellent and very reasonably priced on the used market. I suggest you stick with only Minolta MC / MD lenses.

Yes, your Nikon / Canon flash will probably work with the camera, but you will have NO automated control of flash output. You will have to learn to use guide numbers, or get an external flash meter to measure the light and set the camera aperture accordingly. The max flash sync speed is 1/60, which is where you will set your shutter speed, (or lower). If you have the ability to manually adjust the output of your flashes, that will help, but you will still have no idea on Earth where to set your aperture without a flash meter.

I suggest you get an automatic flash instead. The Vivitar 285 HV is such a flash, and is inexpensive. There are various flash output ranges you set on the flash, and a corresponding aperture you set on the camera. The flash has a sensor that reads light reflected back to it, and automatically adjusts output to give proper exposure. I have found self contained automated flashes of this nature to often do a better job with exposure than more modern through the lens metering.

I use a Minolta X700 by the way, which is a few steps up from your camera, but basically much the same thing.

steve

ADD: Ahh, Edwin, my Minolta guru, has given you some more great information. Glad he saw the question! Good advice from him as always!