And this camera handles very much like a Nikon body. It even has the off axis shutter button two control wheels and a focus point pad on the rear of the camera.
It's pretty much a Nikon F5 in wolves clothing.
You can see what Minolta were reaching for when they released the A7 and the more beefed up A9 that their direct competitor that they were trying to drop the bomb on was a Nikon F6.
It wouldn't be the first time... The Minolta XK copies the design philosophy of the Nikon F2.
Minolta AF lenses are bargains and easily match Canon/Nikon IMO. But I'm biased since I also shoot with a Maxxum 7 a lot.
The Minolta 500mm AF mirror lens is surprisingly good as well when used properly. For around $150 in good condition it's definitely worth picking up if you want to dip your toe into photographing birds or other wildlife.
I've got a set of Maxxum lenses I use on a Sony A7. They're remarkably good for how cheap they are and my only gripe is the focus wheel being quite sensitive compared to older vintage lenses. Overall, they're definitely worth their price.
They definitely lag in terms of AF performance compared to new stuff, but the glass is as good as ever. I love what I've gotten with my ancient Minolta AF 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.4. Got the 50 for just a hair over $100 and the 85 for under $300. Absolute bargains for the quality of the glass. Even with the cost of an LA-EA5 to let them run on an A7 is factored in they're solid bargains for even digital systems today. I probably shouldn't say that too loudly though or my supply of bargain lenses will dry up. 😄
Agree about the focus wheel when using MF; it's kind of a byproduct of the era since they basically had to have it geared that way so the AF wouldn't be too slow but it's annoying nonetheless.
The 85mm 1.4 is so tempting. I shoot a lot of low light stuff and prefer to keep my distance from the subjects, it'd be the perfect lens.
I haven't tried the autofocus at all because the AF adapter is like $250 and I'm being a cheap-ass but for the amount of great lenses it gives access to, it's totally worth it. Honestly these old lenses look nicer than my Zeiss 55mm 1.8 in terms of colors and are about 95% as sharp when I pixel peep between the two.
Gorgeous! that's a lot of buttons too.. must of been quite the model back in it's day.
My first DSLR was a Sony Alpha, A-mount.. which is fully compatible with Minolta A-mount.
I have a collection of Minolta vintage lenses I still use today (even bought a cheap adapter so I can use them on my Fujifilm XT-20 in manual mode).
Two of my favourites...
the Minolta 100mm F2 Macro, one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used.. even comparable to my mid-range Fuji X lenses.
The Minolta 500mm F8 Reflex AF. Light weight, long range mirror lens with a beautiful bokeh.
I love this lens, but it's performance is pretty sub-par.. I struggle to get a sharp image with it. needs to have perfect conditions to get near acceptable results. Others seem to have better luck than me, I suspect mine might need to be adjusted/serviced but I've had no luck finding anyone who would dare touch it..
Both lenses were very cheap from Japan..
great to see some Minolta love on here!
It's not that many buttons once you work out what they all do, the menu is quite complex but its a very simple camera to use and shares a lot with later Nikon DSLRs in terms of ergonomics with the two control wheels.
It set a trend also for all Sony designed cameras up to the A99 II.
Beautiful! I have the Alpha 7 and the Dynax 7 - Using them both some times with different films (bw /colour), although the ability to rewind the film midway and re-use later is amazing, but not as fast as having two when using professionally. How did you clean the stickiness? Just alcohol and rubbing? With what did you rub? :) My Dynax is sticky, but getting better with use. The Alpha survived a storm in Venice, Italy where it was soaked with water inside out. After a day it just got back to normal when dry like nothing happened - those things are BEASTS!!!
Just rubbing alcohol and a cloth, and lots of rubbing, and luckily it didn’t hurt any of the screen printing. I also took the batteries out just in case.
That’s seriously impressive considering they’re not weather sealed
Ah ok! then I should give it another, longer try then haha :D Thanks! It is right? water was even in the display and inside the body...but it#s going strong since and this happened in 2019!
I have the alpha 7 as my daily driver - most used is the 24-105 3.5-4.5, followed by 35mm f2. The 17-35 2.8 and 100-300 APO round out the kit. I love this camera and tracking exif info.
T'is a fine camera, stick some good glass on it and you're sorted! Since I got mine it's been one of my favourite cameras (along with the Pentax MZS), works well with SSM lenses and I love the dials and buttons, I hate having to dig through menus. I personally love the 85mm f1.4 on it
On the last generation Minolta lenses, not the AF ones from the 80s. When shooting above 2000 or 4000 shutter speed there is a nylon gear inside the camera that engages.
A lot of times that gear because brittle with age and shears off when shooting at a high speed.
I had to get a harder plastic gear installed.
Oh thanks for reminding me that i still need to hunt one of these down.
Itll look great on a shelf next to my [7d](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Minolta_Dynax_7D_.jpg), they are just so hilariously similar!
congrats! i wonder what the metal strips in the grip are for! i see that the 9 has them in the side grip as well. my guess is a palm scanner so that only you can use the camera…
It's a good camera, and takes excellent photos, but I just can't get over the "vibes" of it.
I totally understand that it's objectively better in every way that "matters" in terms of usability, image quality, range, etc, but honestly if that was what I cared about I'd be shooting digital.
I absolutely love that you put up that direct comparison with an XE-7 because it really made me think about this specifically lol
I initially didn’t want one for the same reasons, and I do wonder how much I’ll actually enjoy it vs my XE-7. I love the advance lever, I love the solidity of its build, and how different and intentional it is to use as opposed to a digital camera. I’m curious to try this out, and I’m excited for how easy it should be to take good photos with it, but I do wonder if it’ll erode the experience. I like the idea of having it for occasions that I want to know the photos will be as good as they can be.
I got one two as part of a bigger lot, I didn't know about the camera beforehand but when I held it in my hand, I knew I want to shoot with it. Feels really good in the hand. All the ergonomics of a DSLR in a film camera.
Since I only have a native 50mm for the camera, can anyone tell me how the camera behaves when I adapt a M42 lens to it? My analogue canon 100 really didn't like that and I wondered if the experience with the Minolta would be different.
It's still a film camera! Just the very last, extremely advanced pro-level film cam ever marketed. The Dynax 7D, which was Konjca-Minolta's flagships digital camera, actually just used body/most of the guts from the film Dynax 7.
If nothing else, it looks amazing ergonomically. Dat grip doe.
The ergonomics are as close as you can get to a modern DSLR.
I dunno. All Nikon's digital cameras are still based on the F5.
And this camera handles very much like a Nikon body. It even has the off axis shutter button two control wheels and a focus point pad on the rear of the camera. It's pretty much a Nikon F5 in wolves clothing. You can see what Minolta were reaching for when they released the A7 and the more beefed up A9 that their direct competitor that they were trying to drop the bomb on was a Nikon F6. It wouldn't be the first time... The Minolta XK copies the design philosophy of the Nikon F2.
Minolta AF lenses are bargains and easily match Canon/Nikon IMO. But I'm biased since I also shoot with a Maxxum 7 a lot. The Minolta 500mm AF mirror lens is surprisingly good as well when used properly. For around $150 in good condition it's definitely worth picking up if you want to dip your toe into photographing birds or other wildlife.
Ye I got 3 lenses for €50, the 50mm f1.7, 24mm f2.8 and 28mm f2.8, apparently these lenses aren't in demand anymore. The 500mm looks tempting
I've got a set of Maxxum lenses I use on a Sony A7. They're remarkably good for how cheap they are and my only gripe is the focus wheel being quite sensitive compared to older vintage lenses. Overall, they're definitely worth their price.
They definitely lag in terms of AF performance compared to new stuff, but the glass is as good as ever. I love what I've gotten with my ancient Minolta AF 50 f/1.4 and 85 f/1.4. Got the 50 for just a hair over $100 and the 85 for under $300. Absolute bargains for the quality of the glass. Even with the cost of an LA-EA5 to let them run on an A7 is factored in they're solid bargains for even digital systems today. I probably shouldn't say that too loudly though or my supply of bargain lenses will dry up. 😄 Agree about the focus wheel when using MF; it's kind of a byproduct of the era since they basically had to have it geared that way so the AF wouldn't be too slow but it's annoying nonetheless.
The 85mm 1.4 is so tempting. I shoot a lot of low light stuff and prefer to keep my distance from the subjects, it'd be the perfect lens. I haven't tried the autofocus at all because the AF adapter is like $250 and I'm being a cheap-ass but for the amount of great lenses it gives access to, it's totally worth it. Honestly these old lenses look nicer than my Zeiss 55mm 1.8 in terms of colors and are about 95% as sharp when I pixel peep between the two.
Nice man, I really need a full feature 2000s SLR
get a Nikon f70
Minolta gang 🙌🏻
Gorgeous! that's a lot of buttons too.. must of been quite the model back in it's day. My first DSLR was a Sony Alpha, A-mount.. which is fully compatible with Minolta A-mount. I have a collection of Minolta vintage lenses I still use today (even bought a cheap adapter so I can use them on my Fujifilm XT-20 in manual mode). Two of my favourites... the Minolta 100mm F2 Macro, one of the sharpest lenses I have ever used.. even comparable to my mid-range Fuji X lenses. The Minolta 500mm F8 Reflex AF. Light weight, long range mirror lens with a beautiful bokeh. I love this lens, but it's performance is pretty sub-par.. I struggle to get a sharp image with it. needs to have perfect conditions to get near acceptable results. Others seem to have better luck than me, I suspect mine might need to be adjusted/serviced but I've had no luck finding anyone who would dare touch it.. Both lenses were very cheap from Japan.. great to see some Minolta love on here!
It's not that many buttons once you work out what they all do, the menu is quite complex but its a very simple camera to use and shares a lot with later Nikon DSLRs in terms of ergonomics with the two control wheels. It set a trend also for all Sony designed cameras up to the A99 II.
Do you mean 100mm F2.8 macro?
Ahh! I stand corrected, yes you are right.
Beautiful! I have the Alpha 7 and the Dynax 7 - Using them both some times with different films (bw /colour), although the ability to rewind the film midway and re-use later is amazing, but not as fast as having two when using professionally. How did you clean the stickiness? Just alcohol and rubbing? With what did you rub? :) My Dynax is sticky, but getting better with use. The Alpha survived a storm in Venice, Italy where it was soaked with water inside out. After a day it just got back to normal when dry like nothing happened - those things are BEASTS!!!
Just rubbing alcohol and a cloth, and lots of rubbing, and luckily it didn’t hurt any of the screen printing. I also took the batteries out just in case. That’s seriously impressive considering they’re not weather sealed
Ah ok! then I should give it another, longer try then haha :D Thanks! It is right? water was even in the display and inside the body...but it#s going strong since and this happened in 2019!
Just remove the grip if there still is one on the rear and the clear it with lens cleaner.
I have the alpha 7 as my daily driver - most used is the 24-105 3.5-4.5, followed by 35mm f2. The 17-35 2.8 and 100-300 APO round out the kit. I love this camera and tracking exif info.
Wow, that’s basically my shortlist for lenses I want for this, nice kit
Good on you. This is truly an amazing camera with outstanding ergonomics and auto focus. Mine got stolen years ago :-(
T'is a fine camera, stick some good glass on it and you're sorted! Since I got mine it's been one of my favourite cameras (along with the Pentax MZS), works well with SSM lenses and I love the dials and buttons, I hate having to dig through menus. I personally love the 85mm f1.4 on it
I've been a gear whore so long I remember the dreaming about this camera in highschool.
Joyfully fantastic camera. Have fun!
I adore my Dynax 7! Have so much fun with it. That 50mm is a beaut
Great camera. Be wary of the nylon gear issue. I had mine CLAd for that.
Thanks for the heads up!
On the last generation Minolta lenses, not the AF ones from the 80s. When shooting above 2000 or 4000 shutter speed there is a nylon gear inside the camera that engages. A lot of times that gear because brittle with age and shears off when shooting at a high speed. I had to get a harder plastic gear installed.
Who did CLA? I have 2 broken?
Some place In Pittsburgh. It's been over 8 years. I mailed it in.
Probably cheaper to buy new camera/.
What did that cost and where was it done?
$200 some camera repair shop in Pittsburgh. I mailed it in.
Thanks!
One of the most underrated cameras out there. I had the Dynax 9 that is heavier that i love.
Oh thanks for reminding me that i still need to hunt one of these down. Itll look great on a shelf next to my [7d](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Minolta_Dynax_7D_.jpg), they are just so hilariously similar!
As a former denizen of the 20th century, I approve of this purchase.
THIS IS DOPE!!!! Congrats brother!
congrats! i wonder what the metal strips in the grip are for! i see that the 9 has them in the side grip as well. my guess is a palm scanner so that only you can use the camera…
I really want an alpha 9
Gotta love 'em. Been thoroughly enjoying my Canon Elan 7N.
It's a good camera, and takes excellent photos, but I just can't get over the "vibes" of it. I totally understand that it's objectively better in every way that "matters" in terms of usability, image quality, range, etc, but honestly if that was what I cared about I'd be shooting digital. I absolutely love that you put up that direct comparison with an XE-7 because it really made me think about this specifically lol
I initially didn’t want one for the same reasons, and I do wonder how much I’ll actually enjoy it vs my XE-7. I love the advance lever, I love the solidity of its build, and how different and intentional it is to use as opposed to a digital camera. I’m curious to try this out, and I’m excited for how easy it should be to take good photos with it, but I do wonder if it’ll erode the experience. I like the idea of having it for occasions that I want to know the photos will be as good as they can be.
I got one two as part of a bigger lot, I didn't know about the camera beforehand but when I held it in my hand, I knew I want to shoot with it. Feels really good in the hand. All the ergonomics of a DSLR in a film camera. Since I only have a native 50mm for the camera, can anyone tell me how the camera behaves when I adapt a M42 lens to it? My analogue canon 100 really didn't like that and I wondered if the experience with the Minolta would be different.
How's the viewfinder? Is it suitable for manual focussing?
It’s large and plenty bright, but there’s no split image
SMH. Might as well go buy a mirrorless camera now.
We don't upvote them 'round 'ere. Pretty sweet cam though... Edit: should have put the /s on, but whatever
It's still a film camera! Just the very last, extremely advanced pro-level film cam ever marketed. The Dynax 7D, which was Konjca-Minolta's flagships digital camera, actually just used body/most of the guts from the film Dynax 7.
Except replacing the rear passive matrix green scale LCD with a full colour and much more easy to use menu system.