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MINOLTA Dynax (Maxxum) 7D

Type: 35mm SLR digital camera.

Lens Mount: Minolta A mount.

IMAGE CAPTURE
Image Sensor: Interline primary color CCD (23.7 mm x 15.6 mm) with interlace scan.
No. of Pixels: Total 6.3 million; Effective: 6.1 million.
Sensitivity: Auto / 100 /200 / 400 / 800/ 1600 / 3200 equivalents.
White Control Balance: Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash), Custom, Color temperature setting available

RECORDING
Recording Media: CompactFlash I and II Cards / Microdrive, SD*Memory Cards / Multi Media Card*.
* with optional SD-CF1 in use
File Format: JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG, (DCF 2.0 compliant, DPOF supported by printing functions in ver.1.1, Exif 2.2).
Format Function: FAT 12, 16, 32.
Folder Name Formats: Standard, Date.
No. of Recorded Pixels Storage Capacity (with 256MB CF card in L: 3008 x 2000, M: 2256 x 1496, S: 1504 x 1000 size): STD: 138 / 235 / 463, FINE: 81 / 141 / 292, EXTRA-FINE: 41 / 72 / 157, RAW+JPEG: 19 / 21 / 23, RAW: 26 / – / – .
Color Mode: Natural (sRGB), Natural+ (sRGB), Adobe RGB.
Image Quality Mode: Standard, Fine, Extra-fine, Raw, RAW+JPEG.
Contrast / Saturation / Sharpness / Hue Adjustment: -2, -1, 0, +1, +2 steps.
Noise Reduction: Available at shutter speed longer than 1 s.
Delete Function: Single, multiple, or all frames in a folder / memory card can be deleted
*selectable in the Menu, except single frame deletion.

PLAYBACK
LCD Monitor: 2.5-inch TFT color, Total pixels: 207,000.
No. of Frame Displayed: 1, Index (4, 9, 16 selectable).
Display Mode: Image only, image + text, image + text + histogram.

AF SYSTEM
Type: Minolta’s TTL phase-detection system with CCD line sensors\ (9-point, 8 lines, center cross-hair sensors.
AF Sensitivity Range: Ev-1-EV18 (at ISO 100 equivalent).
Main Functions: Wide area with local area selection, AF-A/C/S/MF switchable, predictive focus control for moving subject, auto-tracking focus-point display.
AF Illuminator: Activated with the built-in flash in low-light / low contrast situations; Range: between 1m and 5m (between 3.3 ft and 16.4 ft).

AE SYSTEM
Metering Type: Direct TTL metering; 14-segment honeycomb-pattern metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering.
Metering Cell: 14-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC.
Metering Range: between EV 0 (EV 3 with Spot metering) and EV 20 (ISO 100 equivalent, with f/1.4 lens).
Exposure Modes: P/Full-auto program (Programmed AE with program shift), A, S, M.
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3EV (1/2 EV increments), +/- 2EV (1/3 EV increments).
Flash Compensation: +/- 2EV (1/2 EV increments).
Flash Metering System: Multi-segment ADI / P-TTL flash metering, Manual.
AE Lock: Automatically activated with AF lock. Available with AEL button.

BUILT-IN FLASH
Guide No. 12 (in meters at ISO 100), 17 (ISO 200).
* with 24mm lens cover in use
Recycling Time: 3s (approx.).
Control: Manual switchover; lift-up for Fill Flash, push down for Flash Cancel.
Flash Mode: Fill Flash, Pre Flash with Red-eye reduction. (Rear flash sync, Wireless/Remote off-camera flash, High-speed sync: Flash available with external flashes).

SHUTTER
Type: Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type.
Range: Between 1/4000s and 30s, Time-exposure (Bulb).
Flash Sync Sspeed: 1/160s (Anti-Shake OFF), 1/125s (Anti-Shake ON).

VIEWFINDER
Type: Eye-level fixed system with optical-glass pentaprism.
Focusing Screen: Spherical Acute Matte (G-type as standard).
Field of View: 95% (approx.).
Magnification: 0.9x.
* with 50mm lens focused on infinity, at -1 m^-1
Eye Relief: 25mm (approx.) from the eyepiece, 21mm from the eyepiece frame in -1 dioptor
(-1m-1), Eyepiece cup removable.
Diopter Control: Between -3.0 and +1.0 m^-1.

DRIVE
Drive Mode: Single,Continuous, 10 s / 2 s Self-timer, Single bracket, Continuous bracket.
Continuous Advance: Max. 9 frames (RAW / RAW+JPEG), max. 12 frames (JPEG, L-EXTRA-FINE), max. 15 frames (JPEG, L-FINE).
Interval: 2-240 frames; Interval time:0.5/1-10/15/20/30/45/60 minutes; Start timer is equipped (Settings: 0.5 to 24 H, in 0.5 increments).
Self-timer: 10s / 2s delay selectable, with time display by LED.
Exposure Bracketing: 0.3 / 0.5 EV increments, 3 / 5 frames.

ANTI-SHAKE
System: CCD-Shift mechanism.
Shake Display: LED indicator in viewfinder.
Shake Compensation: Equivalent to 2 – 3 steps in shutter speed (varies according to the lens used & shooting conditions).

BATTERY:
Type: Lithium-ion battery NP-400.
Battery Performance No. of frames recorded: Approx. 400 (CIPA measurement),
approx. 600 (Konica Minolta measurement).
External Power Source: 6 V DC (with specified AC adapter AC-11), Vertical Control Grip VC-7D (possible to adopt two NP-400 batteries, or six AA size Ni-MH batteries).

OTHERS
Other Functions: Instant playback, zone matching, remote-storage function*
*Requires firmware update (firmware updater and DiMAGE Transfer software are available for download since January 2005)
PC Interface: USB 2.0 High-Speed.
Video Output: PAL / NTSC.
Operating Temperature: 0 to 40 degrees centigrade / 32 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Printing Output Control: Exif Print, PRINT Image Matching III, PictBridge.
Dimensions (WxHxD): 150 mm x 106 mm x 77.5 mm / 5.9 in. x 4.2 in. x 3.1 in.
Weight: 760 g / 26.8 oz.
* without batteries and recording media

COMPATIBLE COMPUTERS
- IBM PC / AT compatible computers: Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP (Home / Professional), Windows 98, or Windows 98 Second Edition.
- Apple Macintosh computers:Mac OS 9.0 – 9.2.2, Mac OS X v.10.1.3 – 10.1.5, v.10.2.1 – 10.2.8, v.10.3 – 10.3.5.

My comment:

You know I’m not a great fan of digital photography; not a secret. However, I had an opportunity to work with this camera when shooting wedding photos with my friend. Hi, Maciej! I had some more SRL in my hands and I am sure that if I had to choose a digital SRL camera, it would be Dynax/Maxxum 7D.
Every photographer has its own, inspected stuff they trust; we are accustomed to makes. Maybe this is the explanation of my praise for Minolta. If you were using Minolta’s film cameras of Dynax/Maxxum series, you will easily get used to 7D, that’s certain. But this camera works really great. All the often used functions are easy to get, and the menu is simple but more than sufficient. Anti-shake system workd really good; and the idea of allocating it in the camera is brilliant (the great solution for photographers, but worse for company: with its innovations, Konica Minolta seemed to gain followers and lose income). The company’s retired, thus I won’t convince you to buy 7D but I can assure you that it’s a great equipment.

All data from www.konicaminolta.com.

MINOLTA Dynax (Maxxum) 7

Type: 35mm SLR.

Lens Mount: Minolta A mount.

Eye-Start System: AF and AE automatically activated by combination of eyepiece sensor and grip sensors.

AF System: Minolta’s TTL phase-detection system with CCD line sensors; 9-point AF System with Centre Dual Cross-hair Sensors (CDC912); AF sensitivity range: Ev -1-18 (at ISO 100); AF illuminator range: 0.7 – 7m (based on Minolta’s standard test methods with 50mm lens); AF modes: Single-shot, Continuous, and Automatic Autofocus; Manual focusing selectable.

Metering:

Ambient: 14-segment Honeycomb-pattern, Centre-weighted Average, Spot metering.

Flash metering: ADI, TTL 4-segment, or TTL Average can be selected.

Metering cell: 14-segment Honeycomb-pattern SPC (silicone photo cell), 4-segment flash-metering SPC

Metering range: 14-segment Honeycomb-pattern: EV 0-20; Centre-weighted Average: EV 0-20; Spot: EV 3-20 (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens).

Exposure modes: Programmed AE (P mode), Programmed control of aperture (Pa mode) and shutter (Ps mode); Aperture-priority (A mode); Shutter-priority(S mode); Manual (M mode); Full auto ([P] mode); Memory (3 entries).

Build-in Flash: Guide number 12 (at ISO 100); Flash coverage: 24mm angle of view; Recycling time: Approx. 2s.;

Film-Speed Setting: Automatic setting for DX-coded films ISO 25-5000; Manual setting range: ISO 6-6400 (1/3-stop increments); Recommended range with flash: ISO 25-100.

Exposure Compensation: +/- 3 EV (1/2 EV increments) or +/- 2 EV (1/3 EV increments).

Flash Compensation: +/- 2 EV (1/2 EV increments).

Exposure Bracketing:

Single-frame Advance Exposure-Bracketing: 3-, 5-, or 7- can be selected (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1.0 EV increments).

Continuous Advance Exposure-Bracketing: 3-, 5-, or 7- can be selected (0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1.0 EV increments).

Shutter: Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane; Range: 1/8000-30 s, bulb (time count-up is available); Flash sync: 1/200 sec. or slower.

Film transport: Automatic with built-in motor drive; Auto threading, auto advance to first frame, auto rewind, and manual start of rewind; single-frame or continuous advance; Multiple exposure.

Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed pentaprism; Focusing screen: Spherical acute matte; Field of view: 92% of vertical and 94% of horizontal; Magnification: 0.8X (with 50mm lens at infinity); Diopter: -1 diopter (eyepiece diopter adjustable from -2.5 to +0.5 diopter); Long eye-relief.

Depth-of-Field preview: yes

Self-timer: electronic with 10-second delay, cancelable. 2-second delay (delayed shutter mirror lock-up function) can be selected.

Data memory: up to 7 rolls of 36-exposure film; Every roll of film: Data number, ISO value; Every frame: Aperture, lens focal length, lens smallest f-number, exposure compensation/exposure bracketing values, shutter speed, flash compensation/flash bracketing values (including flash on/off status), exposure mode, metering mode, date/time information.

Audio: Available during self-timer count down or when focus is locked.

Power: 2 x 3-volt CR123A/DL123A lithium batteries.

Dimensions: 143,5(W) x 97,5(H) x 65.5(D) mm

Weight: 575g without batteries or eyepiece cup.

My comment:

I had just one opportunity to work with this camera… and it is my goal now to have it. When comparing datasheet of Dynax 700si and 7 you may think the cameras doesn’t differ a lot. But datasheets do not tell the truth, all the truth and only the truth… Both cameras do work great, it is a real pleasure to take pictures with Minolta. The difference consist in the construction solutions. Since Dynax 7 has no slot for cards none of the functions are hidden behind the slot doors. And it’s a great facility. I am a fan of Minolta cameras, so I won’t be bothering you with my admiration for Dynax 7. If you have any comments: your welcome.

All data from www.konicaminolta.com.

MINOLTA 700si

Type: 35mm SLR.

Lens Mount: Minolta A-type bayonet.

Eye-Start System: AF and AE automatically activated by combination of eyepiece sensor and grip sensors.

AF System: Minolta’s TTL phase-detection system with four CCD sensors; Built-in AF illuminator activated automatically; AF illuminator range: 0.7 to 7 mAF sensitivity range: EV -1 to 18 (at ISO 100 in ambient light; Manual focus selectable.

Metering: TTL-type; 14-segment honeycomb-pattern silicon photocell (SPC); second SPC for TTL flash metering. Metering Modes: Honeycomb-pattern, center-weighted average, or spot metering; Range: Honeycomb-pattern: EV 0-20, center-weighted average: EV 0-20, spot metering EV 3-20 (ISO 100, f/1.4 lens).

Exposure modes: Programmed AE (P mode: Pa, Ps, Creative Program Control); Aperture-priority (A mode); Shutter-priority(S mode); Manual (M mode).

Built-in Flash: Guide number 12 (at ISO 100); Flash coverage for 24mm field of view; Recycling time: Approx. 2.5 sec; Preflash for red-eye reduction and remote/wireless off-camera flash control available.

Film-Speed Setting: Automatic setting for DX-coded films ISO 25-5000; Manual setting range: ISO 6-6400 (1/3-stop increments); Recommended range with flash: ISO 25-100.

Flash Compensation: +/- 3 EV (0.5 EV increments).

Exposure Compensation: +/- 3 EV (0.5 EV increments).

Exposure Bracketing: -0.5 EV, +/- 0 EV, + 0.5 EV.

Shutter: Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plain type; Range: 1/8000 to 30 sec., bulb; Flash sync: 1/200 sec. or slower.

Film transport: Automatic with built-in motor drive; Autoadvance to first frame; Single-frame or continuous advance; Double exposure; Frame counter in body data panel with countdown of last 9 frames.

Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed pentaprism; Field of view: 92% of vertical and 94% of horizontal; Magnification: 0.75 (with 50mm lens at infinity; Diopter: -1; Long eye-relief finder with protective glass.

Depth-of-Field preview: yes

Self-Timer: Electronic with approx. 10-sec. delay; Cancelable.

Power: 6-volt 2CR5 lithium battery.

Dimensions: 153.5 x 98.0 x 71.5mm / 6-7/16 x 3-7/8 x 2-13/16in.

Weight: 595g / 21oz. without lens and battery.

My comment:

I must admit I haven’t found any serious lapses in this camera. AF works great; For a long time I worked on Tamron’s zoom lenses and it was a little bit annoying, but since I work on Minolta’s 50mm and it’s just perfect. There’s only one problem: the metering mode change button is hidden, which makes work less comfortable.

All data from www.konicaminolta.com.