- Price (nothing can beat this price/quality) - 3 FPS is nice in comparison to the newest camera's - DOF preview - Metal bajonet - 1/8000 Performance

- AF could be better - Chipcards - Slightly heavy - Bit noisy

I've been long a loyal customer to minolta, but about a year ago I decided that it was time to move on. My dynax 5xi was quite annoying because of its xi lenses and autopopping up of the flash (and charging), because of the eyestart. Glad you can turn that one of with the 700si. Which caused high usage costs, cause the 2cr5 batteries are quite expensive. Changing to the dynax 7 digital is not possible yet, and then quite expensive I decided to choose a intermediate solution a 700 si. Price is biggest strength, you get quite a lot features and a rugid design. Many people whine about the chipcards, being not practicle-- in practice they are right. On the road you tend to lose those things and swapping takes time. The AF is spot on and metering. Though under difficult conditions, taking pictures of a kitesurfer (on 400mm) on a violent sea, proofs to be difficult. I believe the eos 300 has better performances. Internal flash is good enough, but with one object in front and nothing in the background some other people tends to overexpose the people in front. The ergonomics are really great, mucht better than other camera's, the canon tends to have much more to small buttons in impossible positions. If you want to learn before stepping up to expensive digital slr camera's this is the one you'll be needing. But if you have a little more money to expend, buy the 800si...

Customer Service

None used

Similar Products Used:

XG1,7000, 7000i, 5xi, canon eos 300

High quality images on full auto, Metering system is superb, ease of use, with Custom Function card you are able to fine tune the auto features to be synergistic with your style and needs. The wide array of expansion cads allows ANYONE to deliver consistent professional quality images. Weight is just right to provide both balance and durability. Cost is the "Best Bang for thr Buck" on the market bar NONE.

Buy stock in a battery company, eats em up, especially when using the xi zoom lenses.

Minolta SLR's are the best bang for the buck on the market bar none. The 7xi is capable of producing professional images that are equal to or better than Nikon & Canon slr's costing twice as much or more. When the xi generation came out I became a true convert to Minolta systems. Marry this slr up with some quality glass, do some homework studying all the different functions, pick up whatever expansion cards will best assist your type of shooting and you will be very happy with the resulting images, VERY happy. Finally, you can hand Uncle Robert this camera, select full auto, turn your back and the results will be simply amazing. Uncle Robert will buy one for himself when he gets home. If you can find one get an older, metal bodied 28-85 - 3,5/4.5 Minolta Macro zoom for everyday type shooting, great piece of glass, durable as hell and produces excellent images. Find this lens and you can have a PROFESSIONAL grade camera ready for everyday birthday to first-step shots with MACRO for less than 300 bucks. Try finding that in Nikon or Canon, won't happen, never, nada, no way Jose!!!

Customer Service

Have had over 20 different Minolta lenses (primary & zoom) 5 different slr bodies and have NEVER had a problem other than cleaning at the local shop.

Similar Products Used:

Olympus, Yashica, Canon, Nikon, Mamiya, Minolta 7000, 7000i, 7xi, 5000i

Technically Excellent (Comparable with top of the range Nikon or Canon, except slower AF, Not as Rugged) Well Price Very well build Ease to use

Custom card needed

Great Camera! Technically is comparable to Nikon F5 and Canon 1N RS. Build quality is very good, but not as rugged as Nikon F5 and Canon 1N RS. Not cost as much. In short, Great camera if you have limited budget and don't need the ruggedness. Check out www.camerareview.com for the comparison.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

800si, Dynax 9

Shutter speed is outstanding 1/8000, pop-up flash is manually lifted by hand-Great advantage (for those who don't like automatic pop-up like many experts and personal requests from photographers of Minolta products), durable body (made in Japan of course), accept cards insertions, great location of buttons and ease of use, oh too much to tell because it's just one of the best cameras!!

I've always respect the technology from Minolta. I have never had problems with their products, especially made in Japan!!! Therefore, there is NO weaknesses of any kind.

I first started with the Minolta Maxxum 5 with 2 Sigma Lens I bought from Ebay for about $400. I felt better to buy myself a Maxxum 700si, and so I did!! I sold my Maxxum 5 body and was happy to stay with my 700si. The 700si is a better, super-rugged body, better shutter speed, more professional, and very durable than the Maxxum 5. The Maxxum 5 was a GREAT camera, but felt too weak on my grip and unprofessional to my taste. When I first took a picture on my 700si, the click of it was just awesome and the quality = beautiful pictures. I bought my 700si with v-700 grip (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) for $287.00 on Ebay, just like new!! It was hard to decide if I should buy a 7xi, 9xi, or the 700si. I'm glad to choose the 700"si" - Sophisticated Intelligence. If you like one, go get one on Ebay for a great price!! I feel like getting another body just in case, or otherwise upgrade to the GREAT Maxxum 800si!!!!

Customer Service

None

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Freedom Zoom Escort, Minolta Maxxum 5 with Sigma 28-80mm lens and 70-300mm lens, Minolta 35-105mm Macro, Minolta standard 50mm f/1.7 lens.

fast af for the generation, solid feel and size is comfortable to hang around your neck all day. quality metering system is reliable even in difficult lighting.custom function cards give you a nice variety of extra functions not built in.

menu can be a bit of a chore to work thru until you are familiar with it.function cards- learning all there is to know about each one. not much of a handicap, but not everyone wants to learn everything there is to learn in a camera.

Fine camera, with custom function cards adding a large variety of functions that cost you more than double to duplicate them in newer cameras. fast AF, excellent metering system with spot that is narrower than canon or nikon. Build is nice, a good size for most people. Sleek, menu is easy to use if you are already comfortable with menu style interfaces. wireless flash with the best wireless flash maker out there, minolta.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

Minolta Maxxums: 7xi, 600si, 5, 7, 9xi

Really like the ease of use of minoltas plus the ability to make use of advanced functions when you need them. Autofocus ( although not the fastest ) is very dependable and I can't remember getting a dud-focused shot in 7 years of usage. Metering is generally quite good - very low % of incorrectly-metered shots. VC7 grip is wonderful - just add AA batts and off you go. Very nice vertical holding as well. Solid construction, my camera saw a fair bit of bounce of the years and handled it fine.

None really at the price point - very good value for money.

A very good camera that's equally at home for a beginner as well as an advanced user.

Customer Service

Never had to make use of them yet ...

Similar Products Used:

Dynax 5, Dynax 9, 500si Super, 500si

As mentioned previousely, the camera is a joy to hold and has a shutter speed up to 1/8000 of a second! The spot metering buttons are convienently located as it the grip sensor. It is also very compatable as far as lenses and expansion cards go.

None! (What do you expect, it's a Minolta!)

This is an excellent SLR in my opinion. I have this (700si) and the 7xi. Now, this is an older camera, but it is just as good as a Cannon Rebel or a Maxxum 7. First of all, I am partial to Minolta, so don't expect any critism.

Customer Service

What about it?

Similar Products Used:

7xi

It just feels fabulous in the hand. Hold one and you will see what I mean. It''s compact and comfortable to grasp like no Canon or Nikon (or Minolta!) I know of.I can fit this body, a 100-300 Minolta apo, Minolta 24-85 and Tokina 20-35mm ( all reviewed elsewhere here at photographyreview.com by the way!) plus a whole heap of filters, batteries etc in a Lowepro Nova 1 bag. Try that with a contemporary EOS 5! The metering is excellent and great spot metering is available at the press of a button. Hardly anyone realises that this is one of very FEW cameras that can instantly show you the exposure compensation applied by the evaluative (honeycomb) metering vs centre weighted.So you know exactly how much exposure compensation the camera has already factored in. I''m indebted to the Hove guide for explaining this feature, which I found myself using all the time. Here''s how: in honeycomb metering mode, just hit the exposure compensation button. The scale on the left of the viewfinder will show you the variance vs centre weighted. If you disagree and think it needs more, turn the front or rear control dial to add( or subtract) compensation.If you want extra assurance hold the compensat

The depth of field preview is NOISY.Also some people reckon it is inconveniently placed. They are right about the noise, but the placement is PERFECT, IF and only IF you are holding he camera PROPERLY, ie with the left hand cradling the lens underneath!!If you do this, the DOF button falls immediately under your index finger- unlike the Maxxum/Dynax 7 where Minolta has clearly acceded to the masses (!) that apparently don''t know how to hold an SLR in the most stable fashion! It would have been good to have full stop exposure bracketing (for print film) built in rather than just half stop. The placement of several minor controls inside the little side door is a bit annoying, but I can put up with this in the context of the rest of the body which is so darn NICE to hold and use. Some people don''t like the cards. If you don''t like ''em don''t buy them! However I got HUGE mileage out of the data card (stores your exposure data) and the panning card ( a GREAT way to perfect your Formula 1 shots - the camera automatically selects a shutter speed consistent with your panning accuracy.The more accurate you are, the slower the speed it sets ) and also used the Custom Function c

I have used a 700si for 7 years. It has been subjected to 50 degree celsius (ie 120deg F) heat in Oman and freezing snow in the New Zealand alps. This was the camera that took me from just taking pictures to UNDERSTANDING them and really extending the limits of my photography. Although surpassed these days in terms of things like ultimate AF speed ( see Maxxum/Dynax 7) it can still show many up to the minute cameras a few tricks, and remains a remarkable photographic tool. The best recommendation I can state is that three people who know me have bought 700si''s after seeing what it did for my photography.I feel this camera has been somewhat unfairly overshadowed by the less competent but knob controlled 600si and larger, clunkier but only slightly more competent 800si. It''s really taken the Maxxum/Dynax 7 ( which I now own- review to come!) to convincingly outperform it...and there are still one or two things I miss about my old friend!

Customer Service

I have hardly used it, but here in Australia it is seriously average.

Similar Products Used:

SRT 101, 3xi, Dynax 7, EOS 5, N8008

excellent camera. Minolta lenes are as good as they make. Easy to use, good placement of buttons.

Uses cards for many features that are built into other cameras. Can only use 1 special card at a time.

Great camera but customer service very weak. Even though the camera is great I would probably chose another camera because of the customer service.

Customer Service

Not very good. Had camera returned twice to be fixed. Customer service was not responsive.

Similar Products Used:

Canon, Nikon

Great metering system. An extremely rugged body. This wonderfully built machine can handle anything that you put it through and it will not skip a beat!

Autofocus slows a bit with non-minolta lenses.

This camera possesses every function you will ever need. From depth-of-field preview to the handy built in flash (who hasn't needed a flash when the main was left behind!) you should not need another system. What surprised me most is the Minolta glass quality. Their APO lenses stand up to the best out there. I own several camera's, including a Nikon F5, and my body of choice in the field is my 700si. It is a nice package. Not too heavy (or bulky) and very easy to use. I believe it is the best camera available in its class.

Customer Service

You should not ever need any!

Similar Products Used:

Canon
Nikon
Leica