It is better than my wife and perhaps better than a sex. Because it does not nag and does NOt get tired!

There is not many prime lenses for it as second hand.

I have this camera for more than 4 years. It is a complete camera. It is smaller than Nikon or Canon and my small hands could hold it much easier. The main reason I bought that camera was because I has Minolta Dynax 700Si for more than 10 years. It is a perfect camera for those people who do NOT want to follow the mass media or adverts about the other main competitors. I guess before you choose a camera, you should hold it in your hand in order to find it if you are comfortable with it.

Customer Service

I guess they are alright.

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I used fixed lense Canon.

Ergonomics - all controls at easily at hand/MLU/Metering readout on back display

Would like to see "true" MLU vs the 2 second timer driven MLU

The best 35mm I have ever put my hands on. Feels even better with the VC-7 on it. All controls are easily accessible and right where you need them. Autofocus is fast and accurate and with the wonderful Minolta prime lenses the images produced are outstanding. I love this camera so much I just purchased a second body to replace my backup 7xi.

Customer Service

Repaired my "new" camera soon after purchase when it kept locking up. The factory workorder noted previous repair made that was not to standard. Seems Penn Camera did not sell me a new Maxxum 7 but a repaired item. (First & last time I ever bought a camera not in a sealed box)

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Yashica 35mm Minolta 7000i and 7xi Mamiya 645 1000s

the ability to go directly to the unexposed frame when loading a partially used film one button AF/MF Data function Good handling Easy controls(with the vc-7) Relatively good body quality

Not experinced yet.

Amazing!!! Maxxum 7 with the vc7 grip is the ultimate shooting machine that I have encountred yet. The mid-rool reload function (and the ability to go directly to the unexposed frame when loading a partially used film), The smooth trans focus, one button AF/MF, and of course the data functions are amazing. On the other hand handling the camera and using it is a real pleasure. It took me only a few day to understand all the functions.

Customer Service

no need yet

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Nikon N80 Canon Elan 7ne Canon Eos 1

Bright clear viewfinder Best flash metering in the business Wireless TTL flash (W/ 5600, 3600) Great LCD display on the back Light and comfortable to hold Great ergonomics

Had to send the camera back to repair a film rewind problem. Great ever since...

After using the M7 for over a year I decided to write a review based on my experience with this great camera. The Maxx 7, in my opinion, is one of the best Japonese SLR's made today. I say Japonese because I also have used the Contax N1, which is a very nice camera indeed. I have always enjoyed cameras that have a straight forward control layout and the Maxx 7 does not dissapoint. With Canon & Nikon, it always seems that you have to "hold this while pushing or turning that" to select a function. Not so with the Minolta, very intuitive and simple to change fuctions. Actually, I think that the M7 may have too many options, ones I never have used in over the year that I owned it, but if you need them they are there. Has a program mode for the beginner to a dizzying array of manual controls for the pro or techno-head out there. If it lasts, it may be the last camera I buy. As a side note, I just handeled the Nikon F6 today at my local dealer and I was amazed at how similar the F6 is to the M7. Looks like nikon finally caught up to the M7. :-)

Customer Service

Great, even though I bought my camera used, they repaired it free of charge.

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum 7000 Contax N1 Nikon F2

What everyone else says. A large number of features. Don't know if I will use it, but am impressed with the display in the navigation window that shows how far the metering of each section is from the selected aperature. Fill flash on when flash is up, none when it is down - I could never quite figure out how to make sure my Nikon was going to fire. Able to reload partial rolls.

See above

I haven't run a roll of film through this, but I found a problem that was very annoying that is probably a design flaw. I haven't seen it in other reviews. I selected the Maxxum 7 based on the consistant positive reviews. After handling the camera and reading the manual until it is dog-eared, I will probably eventully agree with the consensus in large part. I bought the camera for travel photograpy in a trek to the Everest region of Nepal after I managed to break the lens mounts of several lenses on a Nikon 65. I wasn't quite satisfied with the N65 as the focus always seemed a little soft; whether because of the lenses or the camera, I don't know, but it was a good excuse to upgrade. Along with the body, I bought the Minolta 24-105 D and 100-300 APO D lenses - the more expensive lenses consumer lenses - as well as the Minolta 50-1.7 lenses. After playing with the camera for a day or two, I started examing the Manual / Automatic focus features of the camera and found that the focus seemed to lock up on the D lenses when it was put in manual mode. The lense would initially focus to the near range of the scale, but seemed to rachet as focus was moved to the distant range. I did not want to force the focus for fear of damaging the camera. The camera seemed to work correctly with the 50 mm. lens. Sent the camera to Minolta for warrenty repair. When I got it back, the operation was only marginally improved. I read the manual again and found the "smooth focus" option. The point out that the focus of some lenses can be rough when used with a teleconverter, so there is a mechanism to completly disengage the focus drive. You have to depress the lens release and the AF button at the same time, then release the AF button before releasing the lens release. The body whirs and burps, then the lens focuses smoothly. Am very annoyed that this is happening when there is complete brand compatibility.

Customer Service

Second part of rant. Called Minolta customer service. Service rep did not seem to be familiar with this camera. Got an RMA and camera was serviced under warrenty. No feedback on what was done to fix camera or indication that the problem might have been operator error with instructions on how to correct the problem. A confermation notice regarding the warrenty repair indicated that it might be 3 to 4 weeks before the camera was returned. Since this might be after my flight left, I called to see if I could get the repair expidited. No way, but I could pay for overnight when they got it fixed. Could they call me when they got it fixed so that I could make the decision at that time? No. Look if I need to pay overnight shipping, it's too late anyway. The camera represents a significant portion of what it is going to cost to do the backpack traveller bit in Asia for three months and I might have to buy a new body. I'm aware that warrenties don't cover loses beyond the repair of the camera, but have a heart Minolta.

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Minolta QTSI, Nicon N65

* A lifetime of features available - and you could indeed spend a lifetime exploring all the possible combinations, which I plan to. * Very Intuitive controls - easy to figure out what to do with it. * Rear Display screen is excellent - especially for tripod mounted shots. The backlight for low-light conditions, and the orientation sensor - which switches the display to a vertical layout when you turn the camera on end - are definite pluses. * Nice, solid feel - a good fit in the hands - which is unusual with today's plastic cameras * At least the lens mount IS metal - and that's where it really counts

My only fault with it is the plastic case. I grew up when cameras were metal, after all. But since I don't drive nails with a camera body (at least not recently), I can learn to live with plastic.

For my 41st birthday, I couldn't afford a sports car or motorcycle (for a 'proper midlife crisis' type of purchase), so I decided to spring for The Ultimate Camera - which is what the Maxxum 7 is, for those of us still firmly committed to Film as our photographic medium. I found the controls to be very intuitive - an easy transfer from the HTsi Plus which I used previously (and which is still my backup camera). I was able to start shooting away 'right out of the box', and have picked up quickly on many of the advanced features. I still keep the manual handy, for when I stir up something I haven't seen before. And there are some advanced combinations of capabilities that are totally beyond my understanding - thus I have room to grow with this camera, even with my years of experience.

Customer Service

Have never needed it with Minolta - and I've had Minolta gear since 1996.

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Nothing quite on the level of the Maxxum 7. I also own a Maxxum HTsi Plus and several Vectis S-1's - and previously owned a Canon EOS Elan outfit and AE-1.

+ )What I like most, is the data memory for the last 7 rolls of films. I love to compare the datas with the results - the pictures. With this possibility, I can learn a lot about the right parameters for exposure and other settings. +)The flash-system with the possibility of wireless flashing, high speed synchronisation and distance integration (with "D"-lenses). +) The diagramm of the 14-segment metering on the LCD +) The bright viewfinder +) The possibilty of eye-start, when you need to focus fast +) the intuitive ergonomics of the camera

Compared to other camers, focusing is a bit loud.

This camera is an amazing tool to take pictures. It expands your capabilities with every film you shoot.

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Leica R6, Minolta Maxxum 5, Nikon D70, Yashica D, Canon EOS 300 (=Rebel)

As note by the others. Great layout, a wide enough range of quality lens to choose from. LCD panel; interchangable focusing screen (M or ML is very good; slightly darken viewfinder; but much clearer on what's being focused.)

Focusing (QC ?) problem as noted above. Although I generally like their products; shops do not carry as many accerories as the other brands; need to wait forever to ship from Japan. Website not globally updated ... its excellent 70-200 f2.8 SSM is not even listed... very disappointing...

Great layout and control. Often being asked as if its' a DSLR, because of its LCD panel... More features than I really need. Eye start seems helful at first; find it annoying and disable it ever since. The main reason for using Minolta is the quality of their lens. Color is more natural to the eye, second to Lecia. If you like color very clean and snappy, or even cartoonish; please choose other brands. Focusing is noisy on 28-70 f2.8G; prime lens seems fine; 70-200 f2.8G SSM very smooth. For this Dynax7, it was unable to focus when used on the wideangle side, always focus towards infinity. Took it to service center to change focusing screen to M to reconfirm. Took it to service center again to fix this problem. It's working great now after recalibration. While sitting around, played with Dynax9 a bit, and it felt much more responsive. Couldn't help but bought the Dynax9 too. Now Dynax7 is used as my second body.

Customer Service

Very good and helpful in HK. Change focusing screen.

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Dynax 9; Nikon F5; medium format to 4x5. Lens with this Minolta system: 17-35 f3.5G 28-70 f2.8G 70-200 f2.8G SSM 35 f1.4 85 f1.4

Fast, accurate AF Bright viewfinder Good ergonomics Accessible function buttons Long battery life Reliability

Noisy AF. May be awkward when shooting in environment where silence is golden.

I've been using the Dynax 7 for just about 1 year and have put in more than 100 rolls of film. It has been incredibly reliable, even though its been subjected to cold wind and light rain (5 degree celcius) and tropical heat and humidity(32 degree celcius). Its handling and weight has been most comfortable and is packed with more features than I thought I'll need, but have grown to appreciate them, especially as different shooting requirements will demand different settings. This includes switching different types of film midway, an accessing MF button, knobs on its bodies to adjust modes and exposure compensations instead of pouring through LCD menus. Its fast and accurate AF is a boon for any event photography, giving the user a peace of mind. Its long battery life via its 2x CR123 batteries means its more economical to use. Of course, you can always rely on the AA batteries if you have the VC-7, of which I don't own.

Customer Service

Haven't needed them

Similar Products Used:

Various digital and film compact cameras, Minolta Dynax 404si, Nikon SLR

Huge number of functions, wchich are not necessery for every-day photo-amateur. However it gives great oportunity to learn in many different ways. Just perfect solution for ambitious photographers.

Expensive accesories.

Generally the best semi-profi SLR I've ever met. In my opinion its best product on its level. I've started my photo-adventure with that camera and I'm still impressed.

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Nikon 801s Pentax mz6