The Dynax 300si is a 35mm SLR camera manufactured by Minolta and released in 1995. It is also known as the Maxxum 300si in the Americas. It was also sold in American Ritz Camera stores the as the Maxxum RZ300si.
A date version was also available called Dynax 300si QD while the Ritz Camera version is Maxxum RZ330si or 330si RZ as written on the body. A panorama variation called Maxxum 350si was also available. It was also known as Maxxum Panorama Elite. The Japanese version is called α-101si (Alpha 101si).
The user has a choice between fully automatic program mode "P" and five pre-set programs, including portrait, landscape, macro, sports and night-portrait. It has no manual program mode of any kind.
Year of launch: 1995
Manufacturer: Minolta
Type: Autofocus system single lens reflex camera
Lens mount: Minolta AF mount
Film type: 35mm film with speeds of 25 to 5000 ISO, with auto DX (25 to 1000 ISO for flash photography)
Metering: TTL, 8 segment silicon photo cell.
Metering range: 1 to 20 EV (50mm f1.4)
Focusing: CCD TTL phase detection autofocus with AF illuminator.
Programs: landscape, sports, macro, portrait and night portrait
Flash: Guide number 12
Shutter: Focal plane shutter with speeds from 30sec to 1/2000sec, 1 fps
19315669322_841f1a26b4_m_d.jpg
image by John Warwick (Image rights)
Film advance: fully automatic morotorized advance and rewind
Viewfinder: Pentamirror
Battery: 1x 2CR5 6V Lithium battery
Dimensions: 147 × 101 × 68mm
Weight: 380g
The Minolta Dynax 505si Super was a light autofocus SLR camera for 35mm film made by Minolta. It was the same camera body as the Minolta Maxxum XTsi for the American and the Minolta Alpha Sweet for the Japanese market. Its distinguishing features were the "cust" functions, 9 programs for different exposure preferences, and the eye start function (autofocus starts working when the viewfinder is moved towards the eye). Unloading and reloading a film was no problem with this camera. A special version of it was the Dynax 505si Super QD DATE panorama which was switchable to a second exposure format, a panorama format. The camera was made in Malaysia.
Type: autofocus SLR camera body
Year of release: 1998
Manufacturer: Minolta
ASA/ISO range: 25 to 5000 ASA DX-coded (6 to 6400 manually)
Film Format: 35mm
Modes: programmed modes for sports, landscape, portrait, macro and night, fully automatic mode, shutter preferred mode, aperture preferred mode
Exposure Metering: 14 field TTL measuring, spontaneously switchable to spot metering via central field
Focusing: 2 vertical AF-sensors and a central cross-sensor controlled by fuzzy logic system, switchable to manual focusing or single sensor usage. A focusing priority mode allows shutter release only after correct focusing
Shutter speed range: electronically controlled, 30 sec to 1/4000 sec
Viewfinder: pentaprism showing 90% of image
Lens Mount: Minolta A-Lenses bayonet
Flash: guide number 12, selectable as autofocus support light
Weight: 350 g without Lens + Film + Cr2-Batteries
Dimensions: 135 x 90 x 58,5 mm
The Dynax 303si is a autofocus 35mm SLR film camera manufactured by Minolta and introduced in 1999. It is also known as the α-360si (Alpha 360si) as well as the Maxxum QTsi.
The electronically controlled vertical travelling focal-plane shutter has speed of 30s to 1/2000 of a sec. with a flash sync of 1/90. The program exposure mode contains 5 separate modes including portrait, landscape, clo
se-up, sport and night portrait. The metering is TTL based on a silicon photo cell with a range of 4 to 20 EV (ISO 100, f/1.4). It can use DX encoded films with speeds of 25 to 5000 ISO. Non-DX films will use the previous films ISO setting. A electronic self-timer mode is available with a delay of 10 seconds.
The film transport is motorized with film advance settings of single or a continuous drive speed of up to 1fps. Rewinding the film is automatic at the end of the roll, but a manual rewind is also possible before the end of the roll. The built-in flash has a GN of 12. Flash modes include auto, auto red eye, fill flash, fill flash red eye, and flash off. An AF illumiator is also on the flash, that enables more precise focusing in darker conditions. The camera is powered by two CR2 battery.
Shooting
Frame rate [fps]1
Frame rate with AF [fps]unknown
Shutter speed (still) [s]30 – 1/2000
Timer for Bulb exposuresno
Self-timer [s]10
Bracketing frames (stops)–
Multiple exposures–
Remote release socket–
Wireless remote release–
Release priorityno
Depth of field previewno
Aperture can be changed during depth of field previewno
Silent depth of field previewno
Film features
Leader outno
ISO overrideno
IR safeno
Power
Batteries2× CR2
Battery packBP-100 (4× AA)
Vertical grip–
External power supply–
Construction and accessories
Weather sealingno
Mount materialpolycarbonate
Weight [g]340
Standard accessoriesstrap, body cap, batteries
Data saver–
Date backQD model
he Dynax 404si is an entry level autofocus 35mm film SLR camera using the Minolta AF mount, manufactured by Minolta and release in 1999. In the Americas it was known as Maxxum STsi and in Japan it was called α Sweet S (Alpha Sweet S).
The electronic controlled shutter is vertical travelling with speeds from 20s to 1/2000 sec, plus bulb and a flash sync of 1/90 of a sec. The metering is a TTL based system using a 8 segment silicon photo cell. It has a sensitivity of 1 to 20 EV and in spot mode 4 to 20 EV (ISO 100, 50mm f/1,4. Metering is based on using DX encoded film, which can also be manually set from 6 to 6400 ISO in 1/3 inc. The exposure modes include, program, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual exposure along with settings for portrait, landscape, close-up, sport, night. The film transport has a motorized drive with film automatically advancing after exposure. Drive modes includes single frame, continuous for up to 1 fps, self-timer and multiple exposure. The built-in flash has a GN of 12. The camera is powered by two CR2 batteries.
General
NameMinolta Dynax 404si , α-Sweet S (Japan), Maxxum STsi (USA)
Mount typeA-mount
Supported lensesclassic, xi
Release year1999
Statusdiscontinued
Auto-focus
AF sensors1 line
AF range [EV]−1 – 18
AF modesAF-A, AF-S, AF-C
AF assist lightno
Features
Eye-startno
Custom functions2
Other features–
Metering
Metering modes8 segments, spot
Metering range [EV] (with spot)1 – 20 (4 – 20)
Auto Exposure Lock buttonyes
Exposure modesP, A, S, M
Subject programsportrait, landscape, closeup, sport, night portrait
Exposure compensation [stops] (steps [stops])± 3 (1/2)
Flash
Flash shoe typeiISO
Accessory shoe capSC-1000
Flash modesnormal, red-eye reduction, slow sync
Flash meteringCW-TTL
Requires D flash unitno
Flash guide number [m]/ coverage [mm]12/28
X-Sync speed [s]1/90
High Speed Syncno
Wireless flashyes
Wireless x-sync speed [s]1/45
Wireless HSSno
Ratio flash controlyes
Flash exposure compensation [stops] (steps [stops])–
Studio flash socketno
Compatible with DR-1000no
Shooting
Frame rate [fps]1
Frame rate with AF [fps]unknown
Shutter speed (still) [s]30 – 1/2000, B
Timer for Bulb exposuresno
Self-timer [s]10
Bracketing frames (stops)3 (1/2)
Multiple exposuresunlimited
Remote release socketMinolta/Sony 3-pin
Wireless remote release–
Release priorityno
Depth of field previewno
Aperture can be changed during depth of field previewno
Silent depth of field previewno
Film features
Leader outno
ISO overrideyes
IR safeno
Power
Batteries2× CR2
Battery packBP-100 (4× AA)
Vertical grip–
External power supply–
Construction and accessories
Weather sealingno
Mount materialpolycarbonate
Weight [g]350
Standard accessoriesstrap, body cap, batteries
Data saver–
Date backQD model
The Maxxum 4 is an autofocus 35mm SLR camera manufactured by Minolta in 2002. It is also known as the Dynax 4 or in tetraphobia countries as the Dynax 3. In Japan it is known as the α-Sweet II L (Alpha Sweet II L) and in China as the α-3 (Alpha 3).
The electronically controlled vertical travelling focal-plane shutter has speeds of 30s to 1/2000 of a sec. with a flash sync of 1/90. Exposure modes have PASM. The program exposure mode contains 5 separate modes including portrait, landscape, close-up, sport and night portrait. The metering is TTL based on a 14 segment honeycomb silicon photo cell with a range of 1 to 20 EV (ISO 100, f/1.4) and a spot metering range of 4 to 20 EV. It can use DX encoded films with speeds of 25 to 5000 ISO. Non-DX films can be set from 6 to 6400 ISO in 1/3 stops.
The film transport is motorized with film advance settings of single or a continuous drive speed of up to 1.7fps. Rewinding the film is automatic at the end of the roll, but a manual rewind is also possible before the end of the roll. The built-in flash has a GN of 12. An AF illuminator is also on the flash, that enables more precise focusing in darker conditions. Self-timer, exposure bracketing and multiple exposure is possible. The camera is powered by two CR2 batteries.
The Minolta Maxxum 4 (Dynax 4 in Europe and Dynax 3 in "in Asia Pacific countries") 35mm SLR camera was introduced in 2002. Konica Minolta has discontinued production of this model but maintains information on it in its website.
A Minolta Maxxum 4 on a tripod.
Capable of automatic focus, the Maxxum 4 has through-the-lens metering, a built-in pop-up flash and a hot shoe for flash. The shutter is an "electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type." It uses infrared sensors to focus, so for this reason the camera's manual advises against using it for infrared photography.
In addition to the essential modes P, A, S and M, the Maxxum 4 has all the usual quick-modes for the beginner: portrait, landscape, close-up, sports and night portrait. As with comparable film cameras of the period, the Maxxum 4 has multiple-frame drive mode, and self-timer; the maximum speed for continuous shooting is just short of two frames per second. Also, like other similar cameras, the Maxxum 4 has a built-in pop-up flash as well as a shoe for a dedicated flash with TTL flash control.
The camera has three autofocus sensors. The centre one is a cross-type sensor. To achieve focus outside the "Wide Focus Area" covered by these three sensors, the manual instructs the user to center the desired subject for focus, engage focus lock, then recompose the shot. This is standard procedure for autofocus systems of this type.
Any standard 35mm still-film (135 format) may be used with a few caveats: Polaroid 35mm instant film shouldn't be used because "winding problems may occur"; infrared film is not recommended because the frame counter shines infrared light at the sprockets (this is a very common feature with motorised film-advance cameras); the camera can't advance beyond the 40th frame in rolls of film with more than 40 frames.
Camera: Minolta Maxxum 4 35mm AF SLR.
Approx. street price: $165, body only; $230 with 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF D Zoom.
Focusing and viewing: Central AF cross sensor sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines, with left and right outer single-line sensors sensitive to horizontal lines; wide focus area, spotfocus, or selected right and left local areas; autoswitching, continuous, single-shot AF, or manual focusing with visible and audible focus-OK signals; focus tracking, focus priority, or (by custom function) release priority. AF sensitivity range EV -1 to 18 at ISO 100. Range of AF aidlight in flash head, 3.3-16.4 feet. Noninterchangeable mirror-prism finder with fixed matte screen showing spotfocus area, spotmetering circle, local focus areas, and wide focus frame.
Shutter and exposure controls: Speeds from 30 to 1/2000 sec plus B. Shiftable or basic program, aperture- and shutter-priority autoexposure, portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, and night subject program modes; metered manual exposure mode. Data printing,provision for wireless remote release, ±3 EV exposure compensation in 0.5 increments, single or continuous three-frame exposure compensation in ±0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV increments, unlimited multiple exposures; self-timer with warning light and audible signal.
Metering and range: 14-segment honeycomb pattern cell provides evaluative readings from EV 4 to 20; spotmeter EV 4 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/1.4 lens.
Loading and winding: Autoloading, DX film speeds ISO 25-5000; manual ISO 6-6400; flash 25-1000. Single frame advance or continuous to 1.7 fps.
Flash sync: Four-segment cell provides evaluative metering including distance integration (ADI) with D lenses; flash-OK finder signal; auto or manual pop-up flash; X sync at 1/90 sec; provision for accessory wireless remote TTL flash, second-curtain flash; auto fill flash; redeye reduction option.
Other features: Powered by two CR2 lithium batteries.
At the start of the millennium Minolta showed for the last time its pride about its autofocus system SLRs with the Alpha-mount. The pride of the company was perfectly represented by another superb camera model of that series, the Minolta Dynax 5. It is also know as Maxxum 5 in the Americas, α-Sweet II in Japan and α-5 in China. In the class of low-price amateur cameras it got best notes in tests and comparisons. It was a light fast camera which got all the features of the Minolta Dynax 600si, thus being a mighty tool for amateurs.
The electronically controlled vertically travelling focal-plane shutter has speeds of 30s to 1/4000 of a sec. plus a bulb mode. Flash sync is at 1/125 or slower. A self-timer mode is available with a delay of 10 seconds.
The exposure system is based in a TTL type system. This measuring element is a 14 segment honeycomb formatted silicon photo diode. It has a metering range of 1 to 20 EV, and in spot mode 4 to 20 EV (ISO 100, f/1.4). Exposure modes include PASM; Program mode, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, and Manual exposure. In Program mode there is also a PA and PS modes along with scene modes for portrait, landscape, close-up, sports and night portrait. A built-in auto pop-up flash is also in the top housing it has a GN of 12.
The automatic focusing system is based on a TTL type system with a range of -1 to 18 EV (ISO 100). Auto focus modes include single or continuous mode. An AF illuminator is activated for lower lighting conditions. A manual focus mode is also possible. When enabled the eye start feature uses sensors in the hand grip and viewfinder eyelet areas and allows the camera to automatically set exposure and focusing.
The camera is able to use DX encoded film with speeds from 25 to 5000 ISO, but can also be set manually and changed from 6 to 6400 ISO in 1/3 increments. Non-DX film will automatically use the previous film's ISO setting. The film transport is motorized and has two drive modes. Single or continuous advance for up to 3fps. Rewinding is automatic, but manual rewinding is also possible in mid-roll. The film back has a window to identify film emulsion type. The film counter is upwards counting on film advance and downward on rewind. The camera is powered by two CR2 battery.
I've never been a big believer in brand loyalty. In my time I've used cameras from Konica, Yashica, Pentax, Contax, Olympus, Fuji and Minolta. The only one which has never had so much as a hiccup and produces great exposures every time is my Minolta 600si. But when people ask me to recommend a good value SLR I always choose the Canon EOS 300, which I've never even used!
t's always been an easy recommendation. The EOS 300 does everything a more expensive camera would do but is cheap, small and light, and easy to use. You have access to the full range of Canon lenses, including Image Stabilisers and the like which aren't available for Minolta cameras. The old Minolta 404si and 505si were clearly no match for the Canon. Nikon and Pentax made equivalent models too, but there was no reason to recommend any of these over the excellent Canon.
But there's a new kid on the block, (first available in the UK only a few weeks ago) and now I have two stock recommendations. For people who want the beginnings of a camera system, and are likely to eventually buy some expensive lenses and other kit, I recommend the EOS 300. For people who just want the best camera for the money, I recommend the Dynax 5.
First impressions
It's small and silver. It's VERY small, in fact. And light. But it doesn't feel flimsy - it feels light and compact but sturdy. Nice to hold.
What doesn't it do?
With a camera like this, there's not much point explaining all the features and what it can do, suffice to say there's nothing missing. It has all the features of my 600si, including depth of field preview and there are some new ones like flash metering based on distance (when used with the special D series Minolta lenses). It even has a slightly faster motorwind than the 600si, at 3 frames per second. This is the main area where it beats the Canon EOS 300 which only winds the film at a weedy 1 frame per second.
Exposure
Minolta figured out how to do automatic exposure properly some time ago. I think ever since then the 14-segment honeycomb metering has been the same on all their cameras. It works very well indeed, and every shot on the roll of 36 slides I shot with the Dynax 5 was well exposed, despite the fact I was trying to fool it with difficult lighting situations. So even for slide film users, exposure compensation would only be needed in very unusual situations, and print film users can happily leave exposure to the camera and concentrate on composition instead!
Focusing
Most camera magazines seem to go to great lengths trying to discern the slight differences in focusing speed, accuracy etc between various autofocus cameras. I'm never terribly impressed and prefer to use manual focus. But the Dynax 5 definitely seemed faster to focus than my 600si. The Dynax 7, big brother to the 5, is supposed to be the fastest of all the autofocus cameras, but from my brief test of the 7 in Jessops I couldn't tell much difference between it and the 5 in terms of focussing speed.
Viewfinder
My Dynax 600si has a lovely bright, clear viewfinder. I was expecting the 5 to be a letdown in comparison, considering how small the camera is. I was pleasantly surprised - the viewfinder on the Dynax 5 is just as crisp and bright as on the 600si, with the same viewfinder information.
Whereas the 600si just used to focus on the centre of the frame, the 5, like the EOS300, has several focusing points. Unlike the EOS300, the 5 tells you which one it is focusing on - it lights up red in the viewfinder. This is neat, although I question the value of the various focus points, which seem to make autofocus even more of a hit-and-miss affair than it already is.
Custom features
This brings me to another neat feature of the Dynax 5 - everything can be customised. Don't like the bleep when the camera has focussed? Turn it off. Don't like the eye-start feature? Turn it off. Don't like the multiple focus points? You can set it always to focus on the centre. Just about every aspect of the camera can be customised, although you'll have to look in the manual to find out how to do it - there's no way you could guess what setting "Custom program 8 to setting 3" would do without the manual!
User friendliness
This camera is a bit like Windows 95 - there are always about 5 different ways of doing any particular thing. Whether you think this is user friendly or just added confusion is a matter of personal taste. The Dynax 5 certainly lacks the instant familiarity of the 600si and the Dynax 7 with their old-fashioned style dials. But at least it doesn't have a Gameboy welded onto the back of it like the Dynax 7 does! And there's a very handy "P" button which resets everything to default, but keeps your custom settings. It resets everything which might spoil your shot (like exposure compensation, or putting the camera into manual mode) but keeps your custom settings.
The bottom line
I enjoyed using the Dynax 5. It's smaller and lighter than the 600si but has an equally good viewfinder, equally good autoexposure, better autofocusing, faster motorwind and some new flash features. I don't regret buying my 600si about 5 years ago, and I'm sure anyone who buys a Dynax 5 today will feel the same way about it in 5 years time. It's getting harder to recommend the EOS300, but I'd still recommend it to anyone who wants to build a whole camera system and might want an image stabiliser lens, an underwater housing, a digital body, an APS body etc, all of which are available for the Canon system but not Minolta.
So to go back to my headline, how can I justify calling the Dynax 5 the "best SLR on the market?"
Well, look at the specifications below and see if there's anything that you want it to do which it doesn't do. I suspect not. Then bear in mind that it's about as small and light as 35mm SLRs get, look at the price, and see whether anything else beats it. It might not be "better" than a Nikon F5, but for most people it is, because unless you're a professional photographer you don't want to have to worry about something as expensive or as heavy as an F5.
Camera Type:35mm SLR with built-in flash, auto focus (AF), and autoexposure (AE)
Film Type:35mm film
Lens Mount:Minolta A mount (metal mount)
Eye-start Automation:AF and AE automatically activated/deactivated by combination of eyepiece and grip sensors.
Eye-start Automation can be disabled.
Focus system:
AF sensor system:Minolta's TTL phase-detection system with CCD line sensors (7-point AF system with a center cross-hair sensor)
Sensitivity range:Ev -1 - 18 (at ISO 100)
AF illuminator:Built-in flash automatically activated to aid focusing in low light and low-contrast situation.
Range: approx. 1 - 5m (with 50mm lens)
Autofocus areas:Wide focus area
Any local focus area can be selected from the 7-point sensors.
Predictive Focus Control:Multi-dimensional Predictive Focus Control for moving subjects
Focus modes:Autofocus, Manual focus
Manual focus:Visually monitoring the viewfinder focusing screen or the focus signals on the viewfinder data panel
Exposure system:
Metering:Ambient: 14-segment Honeycomb-Pattern, Spot
Flash metering: Direct TTL OTF (ADI or TTL multi-segment can be selected with a custom function.)
Metering cell:14-segment Honeycomb-Pattern SPC (silicone photocell), 4-segment flash-metering SPC
Metering range:14-segment Honeycomb-Pattern: Ev 1-20
Spot: Ev 4-20
(ISO 100, f/1.4 lens)
Exposure modes:Programmed AE (with PA/PS Creative Program Control), Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual
Subject program selection:5 user-selectable programs tailored to specific subject or scene characteristics - Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports action, Night portrait
Shutter and aperture control:In 0.5 Ev increments
Exposure compensation: ±3 Ev in 0.5 Ev increments
Exposure bracketing:3 exposures in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 or 1 Ev increments
ISO setting:Automatic setting for DX-coded film
Manual setting
Non DX coded film is set to the previous ISO setting.
ISO range:Automatic setting: ISO 25 - 5000 in 1/3 Ev increments
Manual setting: ISO 6 - 6400 in 1/3 Ev increments
With flash: ISO 25 - 1000
AE lock:Exposure is automatically locked when focus is locked.
Exposure within the spot metering area is locked with the spot AE-lock button.
Shutter:
Type:Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type
Speed:1/4000 - 30 s, Bulb (up to approx. 7 h with fresh batteries)
Flash-sync speed:1/125 s or slower
With shutter speeds faster than 1/125s, camera automatically switches to high-speed sync (HSS)*.
* available with Program Flash 5400HS, 5600HS(D), and 3600HS(D)
Flash:
Type:Built-in
Guide number:12 (in meters at ISO 100)
Coverage:28mm
Flash modes:- In programmed AE and subject program selection modes: autoflash. Fill flash and flash cancel can be selected.
- In aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes: fill flash is manually selected.
- Red-eye reduction (using pre-flash)
- Wireless/remote off-camera flash (including ratio flash function)
Viewfinder:
Type:Eye-level fixed pentaprism
Focusing screen:Spherical acute matte
Field of view:90 x 90% of film frame (with 50mm lens focused at infinity)
Magnification:0.75X (with 50mm lens focused at infinity)
Eye-relief:16mm from the eyepiece, 13mm from the eyepiece frame
Diopter:-1 diopter
Eyepiece cup:Removable
Depth-of-field preview:Control placed on the front of the camera
Film transport:
Type:Automatic with built-in motor drive
Auto threading, Auto advance to first frame, Auto rewind, Manual start of rewind
Film advance:Single frame advance, Continuous advance
Continuous advance speed:3 fps (max.)
Rewind time:Approx. 8 s (with 24-exposure film)
Film Chamber Lock:Automatically locks the back cover when the film is loaded
Self-timer:Electronic with 10-second delay
Self-timer can be canceled.
Remote control*:IR Remote Control RC-3 (sold separately)
* IR remote control capable model only
Audio signal:Tone indicates focus lock, IR remote-control operation, and self-timer countdown.
Audio signal can be disabled.
Other functions:Remote-control terminal
14 custom functions
Multiple-exposure mode
Power:Two 3-volt CR2 lithium batteries
Battery-condition indication: 3-stage indicator appears when the camera is turned on.
Dimensions:127(W) x 87(H) x 60.5(D) mm
Weight:335g (without batteries)
The Dynax 500si is a 35mm SLR camera manufactured by Minolta. It is also known as the Maxxum 400si and Maxxum RZ400si. A Date version was sold in American Ritz Camera stores the as the Maxxum RZ430si or 430si RZ as written on the body. A panorama variation called Maxxum 450si was also available, which is known as the α-303si (Alpha 303si) in Japan.
A Dynax 500si was also used as a test bed for APS film development. It had additional APS frame markings in the finder and modified film opening on the camera back, but used APS sized film loaded into 135 fiim canisters.
Type: Autofocus system single lens reflex camera body
Manufacturer: Minolta
Year of launch: 1994
Film type: 35mm film with speeds ASA 25 to ASA 5000, DX film speed acknowledgement
Lens mount: Minolta AF mount
Metering: 2 Si photo diodes, one for flash TTL control, EV 1 to 20
Focusing: 1-CCD TTL phase detection autofocus
Programs: landscape, sports, macro, portrait and night portrait
Modes: program, fully automatic, aperture priority, shutter priority, manual settings
Flash: for wide-angle (28mm), guide number 12, flash sync shutter speed 1/90 sec
Shutter: focal plane shutter with speeds from 30sec to 1/2000sec plus bulb mode, 1 image/sec
Film advance: fully automatic morotorized advance and rewind
Display: LCD
Viewfinder: pentaprism, magnification 0.75, 90% of image frame
Battery: 2CR5 6V Lithium battery
Dimensions: 147×92×66mm
Weight: 395g
The Minolta Dynax 8000i, also sold as Maxxum 8000i for the North-American market and as the α-8700i for the Asia/Pacific market, was launched as an improved version of Minolta Dynax 7000i. Both 8000i and 7000i share a lot of common features. The main improvements over the 7000i are:
faster maximum shutter speed, 1/8000 (vs. 1/4000 for the 7000i)
faster flash synch speed, 1/200 (vs. 1/125 for the 7000i)
high-eyepoint viewfinder
improved LCD screen
For their top-range professional cameras, Minolta used to skip a camera generation. This probably had everything to do with the development costs of such a professional camera(system). So with the x000 series came the professional 9000. This meant the x000i series wouldn't have a professional model. Minolta's solution to this was an even more advanced, advanced amateur camera. This turned out to be the 8000i. The camera Minolta should have brought out in the first place. They could have skipped the 7000i entirely and bring out the 8000i as the '7-range' model. But no, probably for marketing reasons, they first presented the 7000i and later on in 1990 the more advanced 8000i. A trick they would repeat with the 'si' series.
Essentially the 8000i is the same as a 7000i. The most remarkable difference is the shortest shutterspeed which 1/8000th of a second with the 8000i and 'only' 1/4000th with the 7000i. Also shortest flashsynchro time was 1/200th in stead of 1/125th.This probably meant the 8000i had a different shutterbox on board.
Besides this the 8000i also offered center weighted average metering (besides matrix and spot), multiple exposure, a better viewfinder and some other less relevant improvements. All this hardly justified the 1/3rd higher pricetag Minolta put on the 8000i.
A very common problem with the 8000i is the bleeding of the viewfinder readout. This results in unreadable exposuredata. An enormous drawback which affects todays usability in a serious way. So if you're looking for an 8000i check the viewfinder readout. Leave unsold if this doesn't look good.
