Because it is so fully featured yet so easy to use, it is my favorite Maxxum camera. I have also owned and used the Maxxum 9, the Maxxum 7, the 800si among others. The 600si is just great to use. Since I am using the same lenses that were also used on my other Maxxum cameras, I continue to get the same quality results with an easier to use body
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I've had a chance to take the camera out and test it and overall, I am very impressed with it. For a camera thats 14 years old its a pretty sophisticated piece of equipment. The auto focus is very fast, the exposure settings are nice, and the knobs instead of buttons is a really nice feature. I own 2 other 35mm cameras, a Ricoh kr30sp and a Konica Autoreflex TC. The autofocus is a dream, especially the continuous focus feature. Its great for those candid shots because you don't have to focus on the settings, you just push the button and the camera does everything.
This is my second one of these. I got my first one through inheritance and was absolutely pleased beyond what I expect with the ease of use, size, and most importantly the quality of the images. I also have three other vintage film cameras. This particular camera body is pretty much unknown. It was made just when camera functions were being automated. It has things like auto focus, matrix metering, auto film load and rewind. Plus a bright viewfinder with easy to read digital information in it. I pair this camera with my modern Nikon D5500 digital. They are both nearly the same size and look. The Nikon has a little nicer exterior finish, but this Minolta has a much better viewfinder. The other key thing to know about this SLR is that it's functions are with buttons and switches and not menus. The Nikon has a very good touchscreen to adjust functions, but it is much quicker and easier to use the Minolta. This camera is a sleeper. Maybe not as nice to look at as my Olympus OM2n's or my Voightlander, but this one is way way easier to use. Even if you don't know anything about operating a film camera you can use this one. That is not the case on my Oly cameras. On this one you just set to program and shoot away. This prime lenses are the sharpest, but if you want a low cost good zoom the Minolta 30-70 is very sharp and very cheap. The best lens I have for this camera is the Quantaray - Sigma 50mm f2.8 macro. A great sharp standard prime with wonderful bokeh.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I bought this camera because I already had the Maxxum 9 (Alpha 9), and this cameras has the same design, except lighter. (The Maxxum 9 is clad in solid steel!) Some people reported that the 600si is too cheap plastic, and that put me off for a while. Not true at all. This is a very well built camera, although not made of steel,it has a good, solid feel, very similar to the Maxxum 9, at a price a fraction of it's big brother. The viewfinder is large and bright, auto-focus is quick and dead-on. Minolta scored big with this design idea of a traditional looking camera with large knobs and dials that recalls the classic European camera styling, particularly Leica, but with cutting edge electronics and quality components.
Verified purchase: No
"My brother in law used to photograph weddings and such so I asked him to give me his opinion on my recent E-Bay camera purchase. He was astonished at the condition of the camera and stated that he beleived it was very well taken of. Most of all he was amazed that I was able to get a camera of that quality camera for that kind of price! I have a small compact digital camera that I took on a cruise with me and not all of the pictures came out as expected so I then decided to try a professional camera to see if I could duplicate the quality exposures that are seen in magazines! My brother in law tells me (jealously I might add) that I've purchased the right equipment to start!!!
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