As with all things; the newest. That's just me.

With you there!

;)

C

....Got a Knob or button on every surface...

Pete

Has to be my KM5D - till the next upgrade.

Never realised how good it was till I got the Tamron 200-500mm.

Handheld, iso1600, 1/80s.

Which other camera could be handheld at that speed and still get a result? And noise levels so low?

My 7D has a special place in my bag but I have found myself taking the A700 out more and more.

Chris
SmokeyCreekImages

Hello All,

I have used my Nikon F for over 30years but opted to buy a new DSLR this past summer. My choice, because I could no longer use my extensive Nikon lens kit, was to start from the ground level and build a whole new system. SONY wedded Zeiss and that was my decision maker.

My a100 body was purchased along with a CZ1680za as my foundation. Now I've added a Maxxum 7 film body(truly a remarkable instrument!)

My current Minolta Maxxum AF lens kit is as follows;

24mmf2.8
50mmf1.7
50mmf2.8macro
Carl Zeiss DT16-80f3.5/4.5za
35-70f4.0(baby beer can)
35-105f3.5/4.5
100-200f4.5
70-210f4.0(beer can)
75-300f4.5/5.6(big beer can)

and growing! Only one digital lens the rest are full frame and waiting for SONY to bring out the a900!!!

Its great to have our own spot on the WWW

Hi all, Paul here, Minolta/KM/Sony enthusiast from Northern Ireland.

As for a favourite, that's so hard! I have recently bought an A700 and it is a wonderful machine, especially with the 16-105 lens which does everything I expected and does it spectacularly well for a zoom.

I also have 5D - lovely camera though it has developed a fault which is going to cost me a bit to get fixed.

As an all in one solution for travelling light my Dimage A2 has many merits and it does something neither my A700 of 5D will do - real flash sync (not HSS) right up to 1/4000th.

I have various film bodies of which my favourite is the 800Si - I still use it for some work for Duke of Edinburgh Awards where they give me a couple of rolls of film, I hook up to their studio lighting and yell out the frame nos as I photograph the award winners. Just my occasional bit for charity.

I have a 50 year old Autocord in full working order too and I'd wager that it is capable of taking pictures at least the equal of the A700, just much more difficult to achieve the results, and although my flatbed scanner is capable of achieving the necessary resolution, the noise and restricted dynamic range doesn't do the film justice so I can't doa real comparison. It's a joy, once in a while, to pop in a film and go and do some real manual photography though!

Which is your favorite?

This is the thing Carl - they all have their merits and I've enjoyed taking hundreds or thousands of phots with all of them. The A700 is the bees' knees though, having had it only a couple of weeks during which time the weather has been mostly lousy I haven't done much beyond cat photos and the odd bit of widefield astrophotography, but it is beautiful to use and turns in results that exceed expectations by a mile. It is to Digital as my 800Si is to film, so the verdict is the A700!

Although if you has asked me with each new camera what was my favorite, it probably would have been the newest one I was using at the time.

I will say, the A700 is the first camera that I can remember that hasn't had me lusting after new releases. To me that says something.

That may or may not add credibilty to the A700, but it seems to be the consensus that most people are extremely happy with it's design and the beautiful images it is capable of. Tonality and color are pretty hard to beat when things are done right.

Thanks for letting us know!

Carl

I reckon the one that I ALWAYS love it for ever would be Minolta Dynax 7 which is perfect in my opinion.
Still I DO have it and adore it very much.

kombizz

Dynax 7.

Out of all the minolta bodies, this is the one that really hits the spot more than the others do. I just nails it, AF, exposure, amazingly good VF and handling, plus some neat tricks that never made it to digital. Stand out areas are the metering display for each of the zones, the DOF readout on the lcd when you press the DOF button. Handling it is hard to fault, I like the ability to change flash mode simply by turning the inset dial on the right hand side of the body.

Very hard to find fault on this camera, it delivers the goods all over.

I like it so much, I might just get another one ;-)

Be nice to see some film cameras on here :)

Carl

When I left school and went to Uni, I saw the film Minolta SRT 101s a lot. Saved up to buy the XE-1 - built heavy, great cold metal skin feel. However, it's film advance ratchet is now broken and the prism / glass has deteriorated. When I started work, got an X-700 and although that was a peak in Minolta consumer design and value for money, that was the beginning of the end for me.

On a rare trip to Denmark, the ISO wheel fell off and I was silly enough not to bracket shots. It was repaired but then other things in life got in the way and soon the autofocus bodies were not compatible with the Minolta MD mount.

I'm looking at the Olympus DSLRs to hope of taking a couple of my old lenses. Even though the Alpha 200 seems a very classy camera.

35 years ago my still functioning Minolta Hi-matic G, then a few years ago my still very good Minolta Dimage Xg, two years ago my still beloved KM5D and since october 2007 my much more used and cherished A700.

My site: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mathschlosserfotografie/

Also worth checking out is the Dynax 5, good feature set..I like that one, sell for silly cheap money on ebay, and you get eye start AF too. Bit rare, but the odd Dynax 60 crops up (think its a maxxum 70 in the USA), trades blows with the 5 in many areas, better in some worse in others. Lacks the 1/4000 sec top shutter, ratio flash, eye start, slower flash sych. But gives you twin dials, DMF, a more meaty GN 16 onboard flash, CW metering, plus a few more custom options, nicer handling and feel, top metal plate too!

Both are great buys for anyone wanting to play with a film body. As are some of the older models..
9Xi is a bit of a cult one, love it or hate it handling, but its a solid tank, cheaper than the 9 which is also great..but still fetches decent ish prices s/h

I even picked up a 404si for a pal, dead happy with it he is. Even on a lower end model like that, you still get wireless flash, albeit with just 1 AF point, and a not as bright as newer ones focus screen, but for £8 can you really complain?

Just to expand on the Film 7.

Not on ergo, but on features.

I find these two are very interesting, and a shame they never got used for digital.

The DOF info is the work of an inspired genius at minolta ;-) Hey why not?

That would be a cracking feature to have on the new digital bodies, and unique. Its has a real practical use too.

Also, the metering info, shows you how each of the zones is dealing with exposure. Whilst its no histogram, it has the advantage over that, of showing you the distribution over the metering zones, where a histogram does not give you that information, just shows the curve as such, not the place. It also allows you to make adjustments with exposure compensation, and see how the zones pan out.

Its these little touches, coupled with excellent metering, flash, good build, great handling..to many, the film 7 remains Minolta's finest camera ever made. And I am not going to dispute that. I urge anyone who has any doubts about picking up a good film body, to give in to the temptation. Its superb camera, and deserves a place in your gear, and to be used.

Thank you for posting this.

Indeed I hope they think about including this information somehow.

I think if anything it would really help a beginner to understand DOF and metering etc.

Really helpful on a film camera too. Lets hope more of the genius of Minolta is prevalent in future cameras.

Carl

The Dynax 7 has to be the pinnacle of human technological achievement and ergonomics in film camera technology.

The Dynax 9 is a supreme object of engineering art and beauty. Needs fondling now and then, almost a divine sexual experience.

I shall be doing some extensive shooting in a few weeks with both the 60 and 7 film bodies. I have a trip to the Isle Of Wight in england. I can post some information later when I get through that lot, esp exposure and AF performance, if I get bored..I could do a review, if anyone is interested. But be warned, I am hyper fussy!

I'll always have a soft spot for my first REAL digital camera...the A1.

I think the a700 will overtake but I'm still dating at this point... :)

I just bought the a200 so I'm sure it will work it's way into my fav list but my fall-back favorite is my Minolta 700si. That thing has been rock solid and never let me down. I remember when I bought it 12 or 13 years ago that I loved it right away. When I bought the vertical grip, I was in heaven. Great metering, very reliable in auto modes, even better when you mess around with it. I also love the expansion cards. But, the best part....I already have an arsenal of great lenses for my new a200...what more can I ask for! I just joined the site tonight...look forward to spending some time on here. --Adam

And congrats on the A200, nice easy camera eh? Good pics too! :) I love it.

Lately, I've wanted to give a go and get a good film body, they are relatively inexpensive and it has been forever since I have used a film body.

Have any idea how much the 700si is going for on ebay etc?

Car;

Since everyone seems to have jumped on the digital wagon you can actually find them dirt cheap. I've seen some (body only) go for $50 and under. One trick (if you can call it that) is that I look for auctions that end at weird hours or on a holiday. I've had good luck with not getting outbid at the last minute on holidays. For a low price like that, it's worth picking one up just for kicks. Though I probably wont be using it too much now that I have the a200, I do prefer it for shooting concerts,etc. If cameras are banned from the show it's nice not to have a screen on back calling out attention, and also I don't like the noise with high ISO digital. I like to just slap in some 800 or 1600 speed film and a fast lens w/ no flash.

my A100.. been taking great pics with it. Although the metering can be fooled indoors with low-light, its still great. After I have learned how it works, I can now estimate the Exposure compensation needed. two kit lenses but still rocks. I think the film SLRs should have live view like the A350 because they can't use the main "sensor" to get the recording and once you've taken a photo you will never know the exposure. so.... Film body's should have Live View

Dynax 7, 8 & 9 are still my working tools. I have recently added a 7D and hope a digital version of the 9 may be in the making. My all time favorite would be the 9...built like a tank....have dropped it on a few occassions and still going strong with only the annual service required. Can't see anyone dropping a digi onto a hard surface without having a heart attack. Nevertheless as mentioned would like to compare what Sony has in the wings in the future in so much as a digi version of the 9...but cant see me putting any of my film cameras into moth balls...chances are I'll take them with me when my pixels are up.

Artur

For some reason this camera just satisfys the beast in me!

hi Jamesdak welcome to the site.

No doubt that's a beaut. looks like a custom blue outter I guess. I've seen a few other minolta RFs with red outters someone was doing, very nice.

Welcome.

XD7 is on my list as well.

Carl

Thanks, the soft original leather shrunk as they are prone to do. This is a cameraleather.com replacement.

Nice sight you've got set up here Carl. Always trying to keep up on the Sony products and looks like you've got a wealth on info here.