| Author:
M Flagg, normal Amateur | Date: Mon, Oct 3, '05 at 04:40 CEST |
|
| Pro | Fast, well made and dependable! |
| Contra | none |
| Thoughts | I purchased my 7000i new at the ship's store aboard the USS Horne CG-30 (guided missle cruiser) while comming back from the Gulf War in 1991 for $600 with 35-80mm lens. I still have it in new condition. It has worked perfect all these years! |
| |
| Author:
Simon Spiers, advanced Amateur PHOTO GALLERY | Date: Sun, Feb 27, '05 at 16:54 CET |
|
| Pro | Well made
Great for night photography (top LCD is backlit) |
| Contra | Heavy mirror vibrations |
| Thoughts | I bought this Camera second hand five years ago for £86 in a local town.The idea was to replace my Minolta 500si that i was less than happy with.
The 7000 was faster and more reliable at focusing and felt far better built that the newer (but cheaoer)500si.
The 7000 has been to the south of france on the back of a motorbike dropped from chest height onto frozen ground and it still keeps going. Users of newer or more up market equipment will notice the noisy shutter action and vibration when the shutter fires. Saying that i would recomend it to anyone who wants a cheap rugged camera for next to nothing. |
| |
| Author:
Longbow, professional Photographer | Date: Sat, Aug 2, '03 at 08:00 CEST |
|
| Pro | Have shot 190 weddings ( one thousand rolls, 36,000 exposures) plus some studio work, with one 8000i, without a glitch, till the shutter finally quit during a wedding. Grabbed my backup 8000i, switched cameras in the flash rotater bracket, and continued as if nothing had occured. I am completely satisfied with its durability, longevity, performance and functions. That shutter was rebuilt, and no doubt has another 36,000+ shutter trips ahead of it.
My two 8000i's and a Mamiya 645 medium format rig are my bread and butter...the 35's lack little that I can't live without. I consider the 8000i to be a thouroughly professional camera. It has supported my family for over a decade...what more proof is needed? |
| Contra | Depth of field preview and (to a lesser degree) mirror lock-up would be nice, but I manage well enough without them. To those who might consider the 8000i's a bit noisy by today's standards--compared to a medium format reflex with motor drive, they are nearly silent! |
| Thoughts | Obviously well built; the PC connection a big help with studio flash; the easy double exposure ability a must for weddings; the ergonomics fit me to a "T". By comparison, my Canon F1N's feel like sharp-edged rocks in my hands.
A note about lens sharpness: if, among Minolta, Sigma, Tokina and Tamron, one cannot find enough critically sharp lenses to cover about every shooting situation even a Pro faces, the problem lies in the selection process, not in the lack of top quality lenses. I wish I didn't have to pay $2000 for a simple two-to-one zoom lens from Mamiya; I know just the four-to-one zoom at less than half the price from an independent I would buy in a heartbeat, if only they were made to fit. |
| |
| Author:
Tawny Dusk, Beginner | Date: Sun, May 25, '03 at 09:23 CEST |
|
| Pro | Minolta Dynax. Love the camera; but am trying to find prices for it as want to sell it to buy a digital camera.
If you have lost your manual or want info:
www.geocities.com/eska Hopefully this will take you there. |
| Contra | None |
| Thoughts | Only beginner so apart from great photos; do not really know that much about it. |
| |
| Author:
liono, professional Photographer | Date: Thu, Feb 20, '03 at 11:48 CET |
|
| Pro | I boght both a second hand 7000i and an 8000i and found them wonderful. I am however looking at buying a 700 si simply because of the vertical grip but refuse to sell the other two as they are such great cameras. |
| Contra | No vertical grip and no dioptric eye piece. |
| Thoughts | a bit heavy but wonderful pictures, rafts of features and built like a brick out house. |
| |
| Author:
Bongo | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | 7000i
Wery durable (I use it for 12 years and everything is still working perfectly!), good AF (but slow compared to EOS US), easy to use, great holding balance. Cheap and good/great Minolta lenses. |
| Contra | Loud, no DOF, no double exposure. |
| Thoughts | I have also used friend's EOS 5 and F80, but I just feel more comfortable with my 7000i. I will use it as long as it will work! |
| |
| Author:
Schwerpunkt | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | The 8000i
An awesome older camera which is still very competitive and well-built. A fast shutter speed (1/8000 sec), reasonably fast flash sync of 1/250 sec, card function makes the camera much more versatile than it's competitors.
Panoramic adaptor available amongst other good accessories.
AF miles ahead of similar cameras in it's day e.g. the slow and prehistoric AF of the Nikon 801 - totally brainless, extremely slow and useless in low light and only 1 sensor.
Metering better than the competitors.
Flash system better than the competitors.
Real value for money.
Spot, centre-weighted and matrix metering which is influenced by in-focus subject info. |
| Contra | No DOF or Mirror lock up (MLU considered unnecessary by Minolta due to the mirror mechanism design).
No battery pack but it isn't a battery hog anyway - just don't keep switching it on and off - it uses less power being left on for hours. |
| Thoughts | The card function - esp. the custom card and data memory card are really useful. You can change a lot of stuff with the custom card - like leave the film leader out, manual rewind only, change the functions of some buttons, etc.
Other makes have to go to a service technician to be programmed, if they have these functions at all. Most don't.
The polymer coated shell is virtually scratchproof.
Very tough - I fell on it once in the jungle and the camera just keeps on going. It's never had a service.
I DON'T agree with some posters who say that Nikon or Canon optics are better. These people have obviously bought the wrong lenses - probably the entry-level kit zoom lenses which are crap in any make. Nikon and Canon have put out bad lenses as well - I know. If you do some research you get excellent Minolta lenses for reasonable prices - rather than overpriced Canon and Nikon lenses. Instead of silly opinions people should check out some scientific tests using MTF data like photodo.com. Try some lenses like the 28-85 f3.5-4.5, 70-210 f4, 28-135 f4-4.5, 400 f4.5, 100 f2.8 macro, 85 f1.4, 135 f2.8 soft-focus, 100-200 f4.5, 50 f1.4, 50 f2.8 macro etc. for good sharp lenses. |
| |
| Author:
Mr Burke | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | I've been using the Dynax 7000i for the last 7 years, taking excellent prints (most of the time) |
| Contra | I need further information where I can get a new motor for the auto focus mecanism. |
| Thoughts | I understand that this product has been discontinued, would you be so kind to confirm. My email address is [email protected], please help me!!!!!!!!! |
| |
| Author:
Donnette | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Great camera - have had it for 12 years. Took great prints - easy to use . |
| Contra | I need information re: if I should bother sending my Maxxum 7000i in for repairs. " HELP " flashes in the display and the camera is inoperable. |
| Thoughts | I understand that this is a known problem with this camera. |
| |
| Author:
carlton Jones | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | A fantastic camera that has never failed me.
Very reliable in all weathers. |
| Contra | A pity that af allways comes on when switched on.
A bit noisy by todays standards |
| Thoughts | I have had my camera for 12 years but have mislaid my manual.
Please can anyone help? |
| |
| Author:
Harry Kaitis | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Very Accurate Exposures (except when using a polarizer), Good and Fast Autofocus (in good light), Reliable, Excellent Handling and ease of Use |
| Contra | No Depth of Field Preview, Sometimes switches to continuous AF even when taking pictures of still subjects.
Standard 35-105mm f3.5-4.5 Zoom Lens is Very Unsharp. |
| Thoughts | I've had my 8000i since X-Mas 1990 and it still runs like new.
I'm VERY satisfied by the 8000's performance and features, but very DISSATISFIED with my lenses.
The Minolta 35-105mm f3.5-4.5, and 100-300 f4.5-5.6 Zoom Lenses are Very Unsharp. |
| |
| Author:
Dieter Dittrich | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Perfect exposures every time. Spot meter is very handy. Auto focus is very good and precise. Battery is lasting longer with every change. Always dependable and never a glitch. |
| Contra | None |
| Thoughts | Was best camera with most features at lowest price when intorduced. Nothing has changed. I have had my 7000i since 1990 and only had it in for servicing once, after some film debris got jammed in the gears. Had a 9000 for a back up and it is no longer usable, moisture problem, my mistake. My 9xi was used mostly for flash photography due to wireless capability and was sadly dropped by a friend and no longer of use. It was too noisy for my liking and did not take better exposed pictures then my 7000i. My next camera will not supercede it either, only as a back-up and to have some negative film in a seperate body. My slide film will only go into the 7000i. It is a real pleasure to use.
Would buy another 7000i if I could find one in new condition, even an 8000i. It is too bad that most used 9000 bodies are listed with bleeding LCD panels. |
| |
| Author:
Joann | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | the best pictures ever....clarity....a real diamond. |
| Contra | complicated for the simple minded |
| Thoughts | I bought this camera from a friend who needed cash. This camera is an extension of my heart and mind. I love it. She is in the shop now. Hopefully repairable. I need it back now. |
| |
| Author:
Pete Heberer | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Absolutely fantastic auto focus and exposure system. Extremely easy to use. |
| Contra | The only bad thing is it's not in production. Those that don't have one are missing one of the greatest cameras EVER BUILT! |
| Thoughts | A camera ahead of its time when it came out. It is still a top of the line camera to this day. I've had mine since '92 and it is still in perfect condition and working order. I've just gotten the HOVE book and am still learning just how great this camera is, even today. |
| |
| Author:
Ruben | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Great, crystal clear photographs. Easy to use. |
| Contra | Flash shoe could be a problem if one is trying to attach a non-minolta flash. Such as, in my case, a Metz 45 CT1. |
| Thoughts | If you encounter the same problem, call Minolta at 1-800-808-4888 (or MinoltaUSA.com) and request a modified Minolta Hot Flash Shoe Adapter (FS-1100, modified) item # 88250000-00. It costs about $50 (s&h included) and has a pc connection. This price is the best I have found. Everybody else has it selling at $68 plus s&h. Hope this message helps someone, becuase I went through much work to find this particular piece of equipment. |
| |
| Author:
Raymond | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Seems to be a very friendly and well balanced camera |
| Contra | No problems that I can see |
| Thoughts | I have bought the White Pearl Dynax 8000i. I am a camera collector and own every Nikon form F to F5, & F90 and a mixture of old and new of all sorts. I have retired and decided to buy one of every camera I had ever owned and a few that i wished I'd owned. I am well on the way. I remember when the Dynax White Pearl came out and I remember lusting after it but out of my range at the time, for some reason, house, kids etc. I saw one advertised recently and pounced. I got ABSOLUTELY MINT Camera, 30-105 lens and 5200i flash all white, a 2000xi black flash all straps, manuals 4 cards, 3 unsealed from new. and a professional carry case mint also. And it blows me away. I will put a film through it and it will sit there to gaze at and just go out on sunny sundays. Technology can be a thing of beauty. I notice one guy up there somewhere says he prefers the Nikon for lens performance. That is what I am doing at the moment, comparing similar shots but I have yet to finish the film. I think Minolta is up there with the best. Oh! I just also bought a mint Minolta XM without the motor model. Now there is sexy personified. I watched a professional cameraman taking nature shots out of the side of my helicopter and he was very well known in the area I lived. He had a bag overflowing with Minolta XM motorized and etc. I remember asking him why he didn't use Nikon. What a philistine. Me, not him. Adieu! |
| |
| Author:
Theo | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | Everything |
| Contra | none--No Problems!
|
| Thoughts | I have three 8000i bodies. Great cameras. I even dunked one under water and it worked great once it dried out. This camera was way ahead of it's time with the AF illuminator, multi-segment metering, multi-zone AF, etc.... |
| |
| Author:
aaron | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | . |
| Contra | . |
| Thoughts | love this comera, its beutiful. i found it in a pawn shop in australia for $200 US i tested it out with el cheapo film, 200 speed even, and the pictures were georgeous. great camera for a hell of a bargain |
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | I just cant help it making a brief comment on this great camera.I live in Greece and I have my Dynax 7000i for 12 years now.I realy love her!She never failed me.My hobby is Landscape photography and i ve taken my Minolta to places you wouldnt believe.She was faithfull under extreme weather conditions.She has fallen down from a rock 20m high laeving just a few more scratches,she even once fall into a river being submerged for over 2 hours and survived....I know that this sounds incredible but you people incredible she is!!I bought her in Germany .I still have the complete manual both for the body and her eyes(the lens i mean,35-105mm zoom),but it is in german.I know her better than the back of my hands and i would be pleased to answer you any questions.My email is [email protected] You who have bought her either by chance either becouse now you can afford it ,there is just one thing iwould like to say to you :The Minolta Dynax 7000i is not a camera.She is alive ,a breathing extension of your minds eye! |
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | I just thought of buying a new camera, my 7000i is 12 years old, its oh so rare to find a product that will run like a timex and for 12years this cam has never ever failed me once, the quality an craftsmans ship need to be duplicated in more of todays garbage thats put on the market by other companys. one day i surmise this cam will die [maybe] but for now after looking around im stickin with my 7000i, i think its a damn shame that minolta doesnt build more on its reliability when it markets its products....only from the minds of MINOLTA !!!! |
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | i've owned a 7000i for 11 years and it's still
going strong! recently i thought i should give
aps a go and bought a vectis s1 slr.if this is
so called advancement you can keep it!
give me the "old" 7000i any day it's far superior
in every department.
|
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | I found a new 7000i recently at a drug store and bought it just to try a minolta. Was I surprised this is a great camera that has it features located in the right spot and is a fantastic camera to use. Just love it. Have a n90s and elan II and find myself using the minolta more and more. Great camera. |
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | Great specs and far ahead of its time. Still up there when compared with current cameras. Fast shutter, good metering, nice handling and especially great balance, good AF and some nice details like AF illuminator and back lit LCD display. Great second hand value if u can find one in Ex condition. |
| |
| Author:
unknown (legacy entry) | Date: not recorded |
|
| Pro | - |
| Contra | - |
| Thoughts | I had a 7000i for 8 years. It never failed, even in extreme circomstances. It travelled around the world. Very easy to handle thanks to the good layout. Lithium batteries were a bit of a drawback - too expensive. Shame that AF funcyion was turned on every time you put the power on. Otherwise no negative remarks. Only the Minolta optics were a little bit disappointing me, that's the reason I changed towards Nikon. |
| |
