The 600si is simple and straightforward to use. I have consulted the manual maybe three times in four years of ownership. The 14-segment metering is d*** near perfect. It handles well, especially with the VC-600 vertical control grip. The grip may be hard to find, but if you do track one down, don't hestitate to break out the Visa to buy it. I don't know about you guys, but I get plenty of attention when I raise my 600si with VC grip and 5400HS flash. If I'm at a wedding, people get the hell out of my way, whether I'm the official photog or not. Shutter and winding are nice and quiet. Love the wireless off-camera TTL flash. That feature alone makes it worth buying a Maxxum. Simply a great camera. I'll probably shoot with this one till it dies.

No problems that have required service. This camera has been solid and reliable. Autofocus could be alot quicker and quieter in my opinion. No other major complaints.

Too bad it's discontinued. If you find one, new or used, it's a great choice. Perfect for someone stepping up from an old autofocus, or from an entry level 400si, Rebel or the like.

Customer Service

Haven't required any, apart from the initial purchase.

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum 7000, 400si, 3xi; Pentax MG (my Dad's old camera), ME Super; Nikon Pronea S and Pronea 600i, Nikon F401s.

Great camera - light weight, graph that tells you difference between set exposure and the current one, decent spotmeter, and a great user interface. Best Minolta camera in my opinion.

No mirror lockup, viewfinder not 100%, manual focus with AF lenses awkward (aren't they all), bracketing control limited to 1/2 stop.

Best value I know of for 35mm photography, one of my two favorite cameras. Just about everything is done perfectly for layout, and it's a solid photographic machine with great (and often cheap) lenses.

Customer Service

Haven't needed any

Similar Products Used:

7xi, 8000i, 7000, 300si, XK, XE-5, SR-T-101, SR7

Easy to use, But highly configurable

No

I think anyone who can still find this camera and likes the minolta line should get one...
Even if it is just a backup...

I have been using mine since the beginning of summer and have found it to be painless to use... I tried both the Cannon ellan 2 and the nikon n70 and hated them both.... The nikon was impossible to use the the cannon felt cheap...

I have yet to take a picture were the exposure was not perfect, and the 50 1.7 lens always produces tack sharp iamges.

For my money this camera is the best value around

Similar Products Used:

Cannon Ellan 2, Nikon n60,n70

What's not to like? Every feature you would ever need as a serious photographer: normal flash sync 1/200 sec., high speed flash sync 1/4000 sec., built-in flash, the ultimate combination of user-friendly interface (twistable mode dial on top for exposure mode, spot or wide AF levers and an AE lock button on back) and a viewfinder that tells you how much exposure compensation is set as well as your current exposure reading in relation to it. Its large enough to provide a substantial grip for your hand yet small enough and light weight enough to make it a constant companion. Electronic depth of field preview in all exposure modes and the ability to set the AE lock switch as a "toggle" touch once on touch again off so your finger doesn't have to constantly depress the d*** thing all the time like some other 35mm cameras/brands w/c will remain nameless. Bright viewfinder and a viewfinder display on the bottom that doesn't intrude into the viewfinder like some other brands...

Not really a problem, but it would be nice if the motor drive was faster than 2 f.p.s. and I can get a quciker reaction time/less shutter lag by keeping the shutter button partly depressed for shots when I expect to take many photos of the same scene in quick succession (like photojournalism and some forms of informal portraiture). It doesn't come in grape , lime, orange, strawberry, blueberry and that 60's aqua flavors like Macintosh computers (just kidding). I actually prefer its all black look and much prefer it to the "retro" 1/2 black 1/2 white/silver look of the Canon Elan IIe and the Pentax Zx-5N (but for a "half and half retro camera the 5N is quite nice looking too!). I prefer black bodies and lenses that don't call unue attention to themselves and say "look at me I'm a camera!"

Get it! Cameras that cost multiple times what this camera does doesn't even have its features (built-in wireless flash), toggle AE lock button, very bright viewfinder and the lenses, especially the used ones are *very* underrated and go for a song compared to comparable new or used lenses of other brands. I own the extrememly sharp 24-50mm f/4 Maxxum zoom that I got used for approx. $250 or less and it has virtually no distortion, focuses to 1.2 feet (closer than most normal leses and much closer than most other wide angle zooms) and sharpness that is unbelievable in any lens much less a zoom. My 70-210 f/4 (discontinued) is also ultra sharp and rather cheap used and much cheaper than any equivalent new Canon or Nikon fixed aperture zoom of roughly this focal length range. The VC 507/600 vertical grip enables you to use standard AA batteries and has a PC outlet. Great interface, relatively cheap price for a feature set that can give most other cameras a run and a half for their money. The only "problem" w/ this camera is that it is being discontinued and we have yet to see from Minolta anything that lookslike a replacement. The HTsi (I've heard or read has slower/worse? AF), the 800 si is very nice but lacks the same easy "classic" interface as the 600 (the 800 has many controls out of view/touch under/in a palm wing door), the 9 is a beautiful if heavy camera w/ all the features of the 600si but who can afford a grand and a half for a camera? Not me! So while you can get it the 600si is probably one of the best buys in 35mm SLR photography. And, no, I'm not a schill for Minolta. I honestly have a hard time deciding whether I should bring my manual focus Contax 167MT and ultra sharp Zeiss lenses or my Maxxum 600si w/ its very very sharp and flexible wide angle and telephoto constant aperture zooms. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much freedom of choice. For those who want to own an excellent AF camera/lens system I can't think of a better start than the 600si. No camera is "perfect" but the 600 is so well done that I just can't bring myself to give it a "4" - and since there is no 4.5 or 4.75 rating - I'll with little regret rate this camera both in value and overall "double fives." (Note: I consider myself a fine art photographer but do so much people work (photojournalism, portraiture, surreal, etc.) that I just decided to put myself in the "people" category for "type of photographer" though I really fit under both categories :-)).

Customer Service

None needed, though I have chatted w/ Phil Bradon and others at Minolta and they have been very friendly/quite kind in going over some technical stuff w/ me...

Similar Products Used:

Canon EOS 630
Contax 167MT (no AF)
Canon EOS 620

This camera is a breeze to use. You can let it do all the work, some of the work, or take complete manual control and it gives you accurate pictures everytime. The AutoExposure lock gives you more flexibility without needing full manual control over all functions.

No problems. Is has diopter correction which is nice, but... The dial has no markings to let you know if any correction is dialed in. Normaly not a problem unless you are using manual focus and don't realize this has been adjusted.

Great camera for someone who wants more than a point-and-click. The ease of use can't be touched my any other camera I've tried with the same feature set. If you can't find one, grab it.

Customer Service

None needed yet.

Similar Products Used:

Canon RebelG EOS, Minolta 330si

Simple to use. VERY simple to use. Learn to operate it with 15mins of handling it even though I had been using Nikon all the while. All the functions are easily available. Nice and bright viewfinder. Best price for quality. The closest competitors doesn't even come close to the ease of use. ( i.e EOS 50e and N70 ) Not much fancy full features but who needs them anyway :)

Except for the not so responsive Auto focus to Manual foucs button......

Great camera. Best value for money. Lens offered by Minolta doesn't lose out to Nikon or Canon....
Easy to use, in both Auto and Manual mode. ( Some camera doesn't allow easy use in manual mode. eg. N70 ) Anyway.... try it out... feel it... just see which camera body you feel most comfortable with. It is the Photographer ( and the Lens ) that makes the picture.... not the body..

Customer Service

No need for any service :)

Similar Products Used:

Nikon 601
Nikon N70
Nikon F2M
Nikon N90
Nikon F5
Nikon FE2
Canon EOS 50e
Canon EOS 5