Why a Dynax 9

Advantages: Quality, handling, robustness
Disadvantages: Heavy, quite expensive

...Why a Dynax 9? Minolta SLRs have been a problem for some time: not the most popular as professional cameras, but with a very strong following among amateurs. So is the Dynax 9 no more than a figurehead, which no-one will buy when they can get the more advanced features of a Dynax 7 so much cheaper? And can anyone take it seriously as a competitor for the EOS 1n or Nikon F5? The answers are ?yes? and ?yes? - the 9 is a real and useful camera for serious photographers. It has wonderfully-intuitive handling for both stick-in-the-muds like me, and those brought up on dials instead of rings on the lens. The results are superlative. After a 24-year affair with another manufacturer?s product, I needed to get a newer body. Sadly, the latest version is VERY big and heavy, for no obvious reason. So, after enjoying an old Minolta 9000...

Dudler 03.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 9

Excellent SLR, a precursor to the Dynax 7.

Advantages: Fast autofocus, solid build, equally good for beginners and more accomplished photographers.
Disadvantages: No date imprinting on standard model, auto focus a bit noisy.

...BACKGROUND INFO I had used this camera for a few years and it was the main reason I upgraded to Minolta's current flagship model the Dynax 7. This SLR was the "prototype" release in Minolta's last generation line-up, all the other models in that range were different in that they were all button operated. The 600si had the important functions incorporated in two dials placed at the top of the camera, just like the classic cameras in the days before auto focus became mainstream. The development of the 600si led to the current top of the range Dynax 7 and 9 models, with the layout of the controls and general appearance being almost identical. BUILD QUALITY The general build quality is solid and feels robust. The lens mount is of steel construction which unlike, the plastic mounts that comes with the cheaper cameras, there is no danger...

geeman1305 03.11.2004 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax600si Classic

I Wanna get Digital, Digital

Advantages: Minolta AF lens mount, Anti-Shake CCD, Flexibility, Resolution, OUtput
Disadvantages: Price, Weight

...Some time ago I bought myself into the Minolta way of photography and over the years my kit-bag has grown to contain various Minolta camera bodies, lenses and accessories. So it's hardly surprising that I have waited until Minolta (now Konica Minolta) released a proper Digital SLR, that would allow me to use the majority of my existing kit, before I jumped into the expensive world of "pro-sumer" digital SLRs. While Minolta have been happily releasing model after model of SLR-a-like cameras with integrated lenses, there has been a distinct lack of a true SLR system. You can imagine my excitement then, when I heard that a digital version of my beloved 35mm Dynax7 was under development. Months seemed to pass and eventually I forgot all about it, until one day I decided to catch up with the folks at my local Jessops store and stumbled...

LegendaryMrDude 14.12.2004 · Read review
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Review of Konica Minolta DYNAX 7D

The SLR is dead. Long Live the SLR!

Advantages: Good range of features, Lightweight, Cheap
Disadvantages: Out-dated, out-specc'd

...add to your collection to give you more flexibility and it has an accessory attachment for a more powerful flash. It's small (for an SLR) light and relatively sturdy and makes good use of the batteries as well. In the last 4 years I've shot hundred of rolls with it (probably only a handful of shots halfway decent but that's not the cameras fault!!!) and not had any problems. It has since been relegated to the ignominous position of "spare body" in my camera bag, having been replaced by the outstanding Dynax 7, but short of a second Dynax-7 I can't think of another camera I'd rather have as a spare. [Originally posted on DooYoo.co.uk (by me) way back in 2001. Minor updates to ttext during the port to Ciao.]...

LegendaryMrDude 09.09.2004 (10.09.2004) · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 505si super

Perfection for Professionals

Advantages: easy to use with manual settings for pro's
Disadvantages: dosnt have the eyestart feature which i love about the dynax 5

...My partner purchased this camera from EBay for my birthday as I was still using the ancient Praktica MTL5, which was certainly outdated. Style:- The Dynax 404si is quite a compact-sized SLR camera, with performs well in both manual and automatic modes. It has a silver finish with a black grip and a standard silver and black lens. I feel the colouring used gives the camera a classic, sleek professional look. The camera is certainly not ?big and bulky? it is a more compact version than most SLR 35mm cameras. It is lightweight and not easy to scratch or damage (I have already dropped mine!) It is also perfect to handle, with a hand grip on the right hand side of the camera body. Push button automatics for beginners:- I would most definitely say that it is great for beginners as they can use the automatic focus (by pushing...

leannerobotham 25.08.2004 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 404SI

SHOOT TO YOUR HEARTS DELIGHT

Advantages: Easy to operate, takes excellant photographs
Disadvantages: lens detach button too prominently situated

...I am a long way from being any kind of photographer – the majority of my pictures are taken with an idiot proof camera of reasonable quality. Since this has now given up the ghost and gone to the great tripod in the sky, I decided to borrow my father in laws camera to see how I get along with it before buying a new one. This camera is the Minolta Dynax 300si to give its full title! On looking at the camera, it looks pretty daunting to someone who is used to three button cameras! One button to remove the lens cap and one button to turn on the flash, and one to take the picture! Despite the 8 (?) buttons I carried on regardless and examined the camera in detail. On further examination of the camera it is not so difficult to figure out how to use it. There is the ‘lock/on’ button which in short turns the camera...

LICARUS 08.08.2001 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 300si

Hocus-Focus

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

...When I got bitten by the photography bug about 6 years 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 visits to Jessops, I spied what looked like a 'baby' Dynax-9. What was this? It was cheaper (£600), smaller and boasted a whole range of new features. I had to take a look. Testing the new Dynax-7 out, on the spot, in the store had me hooked. So after a period of frantic saving I returned and bought what, I am happy to say, is my primary...

LegendaryMrDude 10.09.2004 · Read review
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Review of Konica Minolta DYNAX 7D

Sure Shootin

Advantages: A small, light camera which is easy to use, and also gives you the chance to further your hobby.
Disadvantages: There is no such thing as a cheap SLR.

...The Minolta Dynax 303si is the cheapest in the Dynax range, and thus has the least features. That said, this SLR camera has all the features that I need, plus more. I wanted an SLR camera to give me a better chance at taking better photos (I have never been able to aim at all accurately when the view finder is above the lens). I also did not want to spend too much money, nor did I want a camera with too many gadgets gizmos and features to ?play? with. The Minolta Dynax 303si , seemed to fit with what I needed. It is a 35mm camera, so there?s no option of picture format and you will have to load the film. This simply means putting the film cassette in and pulling the film across to the red marker on the other side. On closing the door, the film is automatically fed in and the indicator on the LCD display (when the camera is switched...

WallaceSP 20.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 303si

A good quality camera for the serious amateur

Advantages: Looks good, more features than you could ever need
Disadvantages: Takes a while to get the hang of all the extra features!

...The Minolta Dynax plus lens comes in at just under £200 new - the price bracket of the 'serious amateur' (if that's not a contradiction in itself). However, I was lucky enough to pick mine up for less than £100, courtesy of a well known auction site (so it certainly pays to shop around). The first thing that strikes you about this camera is that it looks the business. Rather than being all silver and chrome looking, this is more reminiscent of the camera that my dad used to play with 20 years ago - it looks like a serious piece of kit. But unlike the camera my dad used to own, this little baby is a fraction of the weight - meaning it's very portable and doesn't require you to have physiotherapy after having it around your neck for a whole day. The next thing that strikes you is that, despite only having around 6 buttons or so...

MJ79 23.10.2004 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 5

Lion of a camera in sheep's clothing

Advantages: FAST autofocus, sharp pictures, great value for the price!
Disadvantages: None at this level

...The Dynax 5 is Minolta's serious amateur's camera and frankly, it wipes the floor with equivalently priced models by any other manufacturer. Choc-full of features and well worth the money at a more than reasonable £250.00 (as of March 2003). Features in detail: LENS You can buy the Dynax 5 on its own with no lens, or with a 28-80mm (D) zoom lens (I'll explain the 'D' bit later). Some other combinations exist, but these are down to individual companies. The 28-80mm gives decent coverage, from landscapes to portraits, and is a good lens with which to start. If your photographic interests take you into a specific area of photography e.g. close-up work, professional portraiture, landscape photography etc, you might consider buying more specialised lenses which give better results than the basic 28-80. The Dynax 5 accepts any...

guano 15.03.2003 · Read review
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Review of Minolta Dynax 5 Rleflex Camera