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If you're somewhat of a collector and enjoy occasional shooting with a film camera, get yourself a Minolta Maxxum 7 and lens. For under $200 you can get your hands on one of the most innovative 35mm film cameras ever produced. Dating back to early 2000 many great and (not so great) reviews are available on the internet regarding this 35mm film camera. Innovative features of the Maxxum 7 such as Advanced Distance Integration (a flash related feature which both the camera and lens must support) are found on SONY's current digital cameras. Keep in mind Minolta developed the first successful AF camera the Maxxum (Exxon Crossed XX) 7000 with interchangeable lenses. Minolta's first AF lenses from 1985 may be mounted on SONY A-mount cameras while SONY A-mount lenses may also be mounted on the Maxxum 7. A tremendous advantage of Minolta owners is that all of the Maxxum lenses get the benefit of IMAGE STABILIZATION when mounted on Sony A-mount digital cameras. Building lenses with IS was a marketing decision, allowing a company to resell a lens without any real improvements except for IS. Sony must offer lenses truly superior to the Maxxum lenses. The Maxxum 7 does not have IS and it was the first Minolta camera produced outside of Japan--in Malaysia. Initial production was somewhat of a disaster. Flaws in early production were covered under warrantee. Today, those early production cameras should be avoided. Yet, even though I own the Maxxum 9 (probably the best film camera ever made) I won the bid on a like new Maxxum 7 now in my collection. Immediately shot a roll of film. Love the camera. The professional level Maxxum/Dynax 9, introduced prior to the 7, was the last 35mm film camera Minolta produced in Japan. That said, the original Maxxum 9 did not have ADI as in the Maxxum 7. For the very serious collectors, LIMITED EDITIONS of the Maxxum 7 (or alpha 7) and Maxxum 9 (or alpha 9) were later produced in Japan and may be available at three to five times the cost of the standard models.Read full review
I love all of the features, the layout of the controls, and the logic of operating them. I can't think of a feature I need that this camera does not have. The shutter can expose at 1/8000 if you're using high speed film to adequately freeze action. It has about a gazillion options in how you're gonna shoot, like layering infinite exposures on the same frame before advancing the film, flash timing and multiple remote flash options, EV adjustment in 1/2 or 1/3, exposure bracketing of 3, 5, or 7 frames, spot metering, the smartest autofocus I've ever let do the work, 'eye start' so the camera is fully prepared to shoot the moment you bring it to your eye. In my opinion, nothing beats analog film photographs on silver halide enlargements. This is what you see in the art galleries. Just think of what Ansel Adams had to work with. This body/lens system is super nice. Everything you see from Sony in SLR has been built on this Minolta foundation. All lenses made for Sony alpha work on this body, and all lenses from the Minolta system now interface with the new Sony cameras. Since the Minolta stuff is all discontinued, you can find GREAT deals on ebay from sellers who don't really know what they have to sell.Read full review
I own a bunch of Nikon, Pentax and Konica cameras and have 50 years of experience as a serious photographer under my belt. I recently picked up a mint 7xi on ebay. What a revelation! For the very first time, I have become convinced that Program is a reliable method of exposure. Just hit that big fat "P" button, and then choose your f-stop or shutter-speed with the two command dials. How can you miss with 14-segment metering? So, you are now in either Pa or Ps. If you have any experience at all, you will know how much depth-of-field you will want, what f-stop will provide the best optical quality with your chosen lens and what shutter-speed you need to stop the action or prevent camera-shake problems. One caveat: watch out for high-contrast lighting situations. Spot meter the highlight areas and expose for that in landscape photography. It's not the camera's fault; film has only so much latitude. Once I got into Minolta SLRs, I was quite thrilled to find out what great optics are floating around for these latter-day cameras. By all means, get a hold of a first-edition 28-85mm Minolta zoom. Also, check out ebay's Minolta auto-focus lens section. Cameta Camera of Long Island, NY is currently auctioning off Sigma 28-105s for Maxxum that are going for a song and provide heartening quality for the price. The Quantaray (made by Sigma) 70-300mm Tech 10 is also a real sleeper. It's a good idea to have a monopod for use with this one. I've also had excellent results with the Minolta first-version 35-70mm f4. Very sharp, small, affordable and has a macro function at 70mm. It's a good way to indulge your close-up desires without breaking the bank. Pick up a set of close-up lenses (+1, +2,+4) and maybe even go for a +10 separately. You might have to pay around $20 for this last mentioned item on ebay. Just think of all the glee you'll experience in not having to shell out for a Micro NikkorRead full review
Have always found Minolta to be an excellent company for cameras and lenses. I was greatly saddened when I found out that they had ceased producing cameras last year. Already own digital cameras and do like them loads for their convenience and the fact that I don't have to wait for a photo place to develop pictures for me. Just had to get to my printer and have all the pics I needed. But.... there is still something about a regular camera that speaks to my 'romantic soul'. Minolta's Maxxum 7 epitomizes this. It is that sense of adventure you get when you press that button and 'see'--not with the factual eye of a computerized digital that shoots an 'actual' copy of what is in front of the lens but with the eye of a romantic hoping that what inspired you to take the shot in the first place---an impression, a shadow, the light, the angle----will come through in the photo when it is finally developed. The 7 is perfect because I am not a professional but an avid amateur. I sometimes like the mistake I make with a shot as the faults make the picture more interesting to me. Not on par with experts ---yes--- but very interesting and full of potential. It allows me to take more shots that I would otherwise not risk if not for the 'fail-safe'features offered by the camera. There is real nothing I dislike about this camera and have bought another one for my niece's use as she just graduated from University with a cum laude in Fine Arts that she got in part through using an older Minolta model I had given her father for her thesis photos. Can you imagine what she could do with a camera like this?Read full review
You had the Maxxum 700si, the 800si, still kept the 9xi around for those racing / hummingbird / Speedy G shots that require 1/12000 shutter speeds (a 35mm Nikon? Nope. Only a 35mm Minolta) -- and then, Minolta Sevens begin to be really affordable. You´ve wanted one ever since seeing that huge rear lcd that shows all settings in HUGE NUMBERS (you´re getting older, and tend to surreptitiously pull out the reading glasses when you think nobody´s looking). But a guy who owned one said it´s plasticky, kind of like a Canon, and that you don´t want. On the other hand, it does offer 35 different settings through its menu, it is rather compact, has the great Minolta exposure meter (this is the company that makes those excellent hand-held and stationary light meters and luminosity meters, after all), speedy and spot-on auto focus and the build quality responsible for the fact you find a lot of repaired "other" cameras, but hardly any Minoltas. AND, their lens are not only of excellent quality (which is why Sony is now continuing to build them under their own brand) but also dirt cheap on Ebay, compared to the other makes. Hmmmmmmm. And then a Minolta Maxxum 7 body comes along on Ebay, anywhere between $235 and $300, and you grab it. It´s anything BUT plasticky, it fits right into your hand, beautifully, it is as solid a piece of Japanese technology as could be imagined, it looks great and once you start shooting it, you can´t stop grinning. Digital is fun, but a really great 35mm SLR is just about the optimum. Beautifully exposed, tack sharp photographs that never digitally degrade, gorgeous photos you´re proud to show, and such a plethora of amazing accessories -- who can beat a Minolta 5600HS flash? A Minolta AF 100mm Macro lens? -- that the old dslr, as much fun as it was for the last few years, is relegated to the kids and dog department. See one on Ebay? Buy it. You can´t go wrong.Read full review
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