Inexpensive, light, great ergonomics. Metering is typically Minolta-awesome. Wireless flash in a cheap body.

Slow as molasses AF. Doesn't take function cards. No PC socket. Over-programmed.

This is a fairly recent model that has been superseeded by the 505si/HTsi(?). Changing settings is a little difficult, but as a high-end point&shoot it rocks.

I bought it to replace my aged 5000i. It was never quite satisfactory for what I wanted. I had difficulty tracking moving surfers with a 300mm lens, as well as birds in flight.

The light weight body may been a plus for many users, but for me it felt flimsy and cheap. The lack of support for custom function cards was a disappointment. The 500si DOES have the metal lens mount which later models didn't have.

Mated with an inexpensive consumer zoom like a Sigma 28-80 it makes a great P&S camera. The built in flash and great metering make candid people shots easy and fun.

Customer Service

Great e-mail response. Never needed anything else.

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum 7xi, 5000i, MF x-370, medium format TLR's.

Lightweight. Good 28-80 f/4.5-5.6 Minolta lens. Easy to use & learn on. Has shot me some prize-winners so far.

Slow, indecisive autofocus can be defeated by switching to manual, and I often do. No bulb position. No depth-of-field preview. No mirror lockup.

I'm glad I spent the money. Probably my next camera purchase will be medium format. I see no need to switch to any of the other brands. Minolta lenses seem to enjoy an excellent reputation.

Customer Service

No need so far. Changed batteries once so far.

Similar Products Used:

None

A very good learning camera. This was my first SLR, and it's helped me learn basic concepts for photography. Has simplicity for beginners, yet most features that a seasoned photographer would want. That, along with the low price make this a very good option for beginners, and low-budget veterans. I'm starting to outgrow though, but I've had it for four years now.

Hardly any. The camera has frozen up about four times. Also, you have to switch to manual if the camera thinks there isn't enough lighting. Small annoyances.

Solid purchase. Very good learning camera. I never understood why Minolta doesn't get the respect that Nikon and Canon does: they have cameras just as good. I'd recommend the 400si to everyone except the hardcore professionals.

Customer Service

Never had to use customer service.

Similar Products Used:

I have used a Canon Rebel G, but I don't own it.

A very nice beginner camera. It always manages to take great pictures. With the Tamron 28-200 lens, it really is a very good, affordable and very dependable camera. I bought it as a student and for the money there was no comparable product in the market.

The autofocus takes a little getting used to.

Best bang for the Money. Get a tamron 28-200 lens. Would highly recommend it to a beginner.

Customer Service

Never had the opportunity to call them.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel XS, Nikon N70

Good beginner's camera, fairly inexpensive

no multiple exposure feature, no locking bulb shutter speed.

ok for beginners, but something left to be desired.

Customer Service

don't know: guy i bought it from lost the warranty

Similar Products Used:

Canon

Usually easy to use (apart from autofocus)

Indecisive autofocus, very noisy, questionable build quality.

Although this camera can sometimes produce good results, it's autofocus drives me to distraction. For instance, if you point the camera at the sky or the horizon it will simply refuse to take a picture, but it will noisily grind through the whole focusing range with each stab at the shutter release, over and over again, without actually taking a photograph. It seems to have a problem with focusing on anything that isn't tangible and close.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

None

Has virtually all the features I desire, and they all operate very well, once you figure out how they operate. Only features I miss- auto-bracketing, spot metering. Great ergonomics. Combined with the Tamron 28-200 lens, a great all-in-one setup.

Nope.

The best camera in its price range, until the recently introduced Minolta XTsi.

Customer Service

No problems.

Similar Products Used:

Canon Rebel, Elan IIe, Nikon N50, N70

this is my first SLR, and it was a gift so i didn't have much say in picking it out. it's sharper than all the p&s cameras i've ever had, and lighter than most auto/manual SLR's i've met. i'm outgrowing it; but it's taken me years to do so and i'd recommend it to anyone who doesn't plan on going pro and doesn't have a huge budget.

little quirks; like the autofocus sometimes gets confused. i wish it could bracket and had an ISO override... but you can't always have everything.

a good intro camera if you're coming from point & shoot land like i was.

Customer Service

i've had the 400si for almost 4 years now, and i go through about 20-30 rolls of film a year and never once had a problem. i've had to change the battery maybe 3 or 4 times...

Similar Products Used:

i've used the Nikon N90S, which made beautiful pictures and weighed a ton.

very nice beginner camera. very sharp pictures. easy to use, point and shoot.

autofocus is slow compares to more expensive models. But on the par with competitions. flash is manual pop-up

a step up from point-n-shoot, good picture quality and great 2nd camera. Don't sell your 7000i for this one. The 7000i is better built and focus faster.

Customer Service

All of my maxxums have been great, never needed service yet

Similar Products Used:

Nikon N60, Canon Rebel

Nice feel, nice weight and good looks. Ease of use and handy flash unit.

Autofocus (if you can call it that), The flash tends to red-eye people. Quality of images seemed to be inconsistent. Auto-film advance problems.

I sold my Minolta X-570 after 12 years to get my first AF camera. I liked Minolta and settled on the 400si for the strenghts mentioned above. I fought for 4 years with the AF on the camera trying to control me instead of vice-versa. The Auto-film advance broke at about year 2 and cost $110 to replace, the repairman said he had fixed many a Maxxum si camera with the same problem. I got maybe a few shots per year I was really happy with and finally last year I gave up. I went out on Ebay and picked up a super Nikon FE that included a Nikkor 135mm lens and SB-E flash for what I paid for the Minolta. I then sold the 400si on Ebay and re-couped over half-back. I am extremley happy with the FE.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta X-570