Minolta Dynax 7 DATE

Advantages: Versatility, Construction, Focus speed, LCD info-display
Disadvantages: Price

...ago I bought into the Minolta range of cameras, my first being a Dynax 505si (reviewed elsewhere on this very site). Having used it for two years or more I felt I'd pretty much pushed it to it's limit. This, combined with my continuing need for new gadgets, saw me glancing longingly at the Dynax 9 in Jessops. But £1000 was too much for me to justify on a camera body, so i just admired from afar.. Some while later, on one of my relatively frequent ...
...which are familiar across the Minolta range. The biggest difference between the 505 and the 7 in this respect is that on the top-plate of the 7, there are two dials; one each side of the camera. The left-side dial is used for setting exposure compensation in either half or third stops. It's much quicker and far more intuitive to use than the exposure compensation controls on the 505. The dial on the right-hand side of the camera controls film transport ... Read review

Advantages: Controls are well positioned and easy to use.
Disadvantages: Could be daunting for many camera users

...any other (not too old) Minolta flash gun. The built in pop-up flash is more powerful than I expected and syncs at 1/200s. External flash guns can support High Speed Sync at any shutter speed (up to 1/8000s). This is great for fill-in flash as is the 3-D flash calculation which takes background distance into account. The unique LCD information screen on the back is a tour de force of functionality. At first it just looks like it reproduces viewfinder ...
...customise the detail level shown, monitor exposure compensation versus recommended exposure for film and flash, review fstop and shutter speed readings as well as access the custom function menus (below). My favourite display is the zone metering display which shows a diagram of each of the sixteen metering segments and the exposure value of each. You can see which parts of the image will be over and underexposed and the tonal spread throughout the ... Read review

Advantages: Has loads of functions
Disadvantages: Too many functions for the amateur/beginner

A fantastic camera, with just a few disadvantages. It has many, many features - too many for the occasional user, and too complex for the beginner. But for those already used to cameras of this kind it is a revelation, it does everything with the minimum of fuss. The huge LCD display is great, you can keep track of everything from there. If you are short/long-sighted the camera will compensate for your lack of focus (up to a certain limit). The body ...
...for the fingers - as long as you are a person with small to medium hand size. Those with large hands may find it a touch fiddly as the body is smaller than many older Minoltas. In short, though a bit pricey, well worth the money as long as you are a competant camera user, willing to spend bit of time trawling through the instruction book. ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent build quality, ergonomically laid out controls, fast auto focus and lcd screen showing plenty of information.
Disadvantages: Expensive camera, expensive accessories.

...perfectly and have never failed me due to an equipment limitation. My previous SLRs were the Dynax 7 and Dynax 600si and this latest incarnation of the Minolta “7” series SLR does not disappoint. Fans and users of Minolta will find the quality and feel of the camera very familiar. ... Read review

Advantages: Intuitive controls, Plain English manual, Eye Start for focusing and exposure, Frame history
Disadvantages: Price (a bit steep)

...proud owner of the new Minolta dynax 7 camera. After wading throughover 50 pages of the instruction manual I have finally got the hang of most of its features. This camera is suitable for intermediate to advanced users and is packed full of features. The one i like the most is the automatic exposure and focusing as soon as you pick up the camera and look through the view finder, now those missed once in a life time action shots are a thing of the ...
...heavy or too light, and the grip of the camera is superb. All the controls of the camera easily fall to hand (or finger) and are intuitive to use. Overall I would say that for the intermediate to advanced user spending just over £600.00 for this camera is well worth it and you won't be dissapointed in the results. ... Read review