Minolta 7-A / Maxxum 7 / Dynax 7

[kxl]

Another thread re: owning M and F bodies got me to thinking about how nice it might be to own an AF SLR again. Having been a long-time Nikonista, my default choice was the F100 (although @splitimageview's suggestion re: an N80 may be another option).

But then a friend asked "why not a Minolta Maxxum 7?" Simple answer: I know nothing about non-Nikon AF SLR's.

Thus my question -- has anyone here owned an A-7/ Maxxum 7/Dynax 7 (not looking at other Minolta bodies)? Pros? Cons?

 

[p.giannakis]

The dynax 7 and 9 are some of the very few dynaxes that I've never owned. But all minoltas (Dynax) I owned had something in common: broken aperture mechanism. Also a lot of them had issues with rewinding the film before the end or display "Help" on the LCD.

7000, 9000, 7000i, 8000i, 5xi, 7xi, 9xi, 500si, 700si and dynax 5. All of them with problems. Now I only own a 700si which occasionally reminds the film at random times, especially in cold weather. I don't use it much.

The 7 and the 9 suffer from the same aperture issue too. Such a shame Minolta did nothing about it - they knew of the issue while the 9000 was still in production.

If you are going to buy a 7 make sure you get it with a 6 month warranty and very cheap.

 

[aw614]

I am worried about the aperture issue on mine. Mine still works...supposedly there is a way to replace it without a full teardown, but it is something I wouldn't feel comfortable attempting

The Maxxum 5 is a lot cheaper to find and treat as a disposable if you do have issues.. and it still supports the newer A mount sony lenses.

 

[jmilkins]

I've had Minolta Dynax Maxxum series since the 90s, when I moved away from a Nikon MF system. I think the Dynax 7 is a great example of late film SLRs at their peak in the keen amateur market. The 7 is a Miinolta equivalent of an F100 where the 9 was an F6.

I have both systems now of course because... GAS.

This optical design philosophy if true always interested me

Historical perspective on Minolta lens design philosophy

Lovely old Minolta AF glass is known for "Minolta colours" - a lot of gems in their line up. Compared to nikkors ergonomically they were ....focussed (sorry) on AF function - much smaller MF rings. Eye start AF means they start focussing as you lift the camera to your eye.

I particularly like the 7 because it has a physical dial or switch for so many of its functions as opposed to menu diving. But it also has a heap of custom functions that we're used to on modern digital cameras, but were a standout then.

A very interesting feature - see p.84 of the manual - is a brightness register feature that can show you plus or minus 3EV readings from an exposure reading in each of the 14 segment matrix metering zones on the rear LCD.

Well worth picking one up I reckon.

No aperture problems for me, but make sure the rubbers aren't sticky.

 

[blumoon]

but make sure the rubbers aren't sticky.

Or crumbling and falling to pieces

 

[p.giannakis]

A very interesting feature - see p.84 of the manual - is a brightness register feature that can show you plus or minus 3EV readings from an exposure reading in each of the 14 segment matrix metering zones on the rear LCD.

That was something that the 9xi was doing in a much more primitive way. At spot meter mode, it can show you the difference in stops between the original reading and moving the sensor around to other parts of the composition (a bar would appear in the viewfinder). It was quite neat feature if someone knew the basics of calculating exposure.

 

[p.giannakis]

I am worried about the aperture issue on mine. Mine still works...supposedly there is a way to replace it without a full teardown, but it is something I wouldn't feel comfortable attempting

The Maxxum 5 is a lot cheaper to find and treat as a disposable if you do have issues.. and it still supports the newer A mount sony lenses.

I saw some posts sometime ago where people make their own rotors and cogs from metal using a lathe. The prices for making and replacing them was well above the asking prices for these cameras. I think some people were replacing them on their dynax 9.

 

[Michalm]

I have tried several different AF SLR cameras over many years including F100 , but Dynax 5 ended up being my daily driver for a long time, I could have 2 cameras loaded with 2 different films at any given time and still my bag was very lightweight . Except for battery door that I kept breaking or losing, I have never had any issues with them . they could take many knocks and would keep going. It is lot easier being on the street with cheap camera like this which despite looking cheap and fragile was very reliable, AF rarely missed , extras like spot metering button were very useful too.

 

[kxl]

I have tried several different AF SLR cameras over many years including F100 , but Dynax 5 ended up being my daily driver for a long time, I could have 2 cameras loaded with 2 different films at any given time and still my bag was very lightweight . Except for battery door that I kept breaking or losing, I have never had any issues with them . they could take many knocks and would keep going. It is lot easier being on the street with cheap camera like this which despite looking cheap and fragile was very reliable, AF rarely missed , extras like spot metering button were very useful too.

Maybe I'll start looking the Dynax/Maxxum 5 (Nikon N80 as well) as a low cost alternative to the Maxxum 7 or F100. I'm thinking of the same scenario, where I have one type of film in an M body and another in a lightweight AF body in my bag.

 

[Michalm]

Maybe I'll start looking the Dynax/Maxxum 5 (Nikon N80 as well) as a low cost alternative to the Maxxum 7 or F100. I'm thinking of the same scenario, where I have one type of film in an M body and another in a lightweight AF body in my bag.

This was for a while my main street shooting combination, no nonsense , no excuses just grab and go. Perfect size and weight for me. Lenses like 28 f2 , 50 1.4 35 f2 af are small top SLR class and very affordable now.

 

[kxl]

View attachment 4881586
This was for a while my main street shooting combination, no nonsense , no excuse just grab and go. Perfect lightweight size and weight for me. Lenses like 28 f2 , 50 1.4 35 f2 af are small top SLR class and very affordable now.

It might even be simpler for me -- just the Maxxum 5 and 50mm macro that's good enough for street and the occasional close up/macro that I come across. Plus an M body and a 28mm.

 

[aw614]

The only issue focusing wise I've had with my Maxxum 5 is it occasionally would back focus on action shots using some telephoto lenses. Could also be my technique though.

I think the viewfinder is a pentamirror and not a pentaprism, so some of the viewfinders get a blueish/yellowish hue to them as they age. Both of my cheap Maxxum5s are ok in that regard, but I did encounter one at a camera store with the issue and the ten dollar HTSi I had also had the issue. Shouldnt affect photo taking though

I really like how cheap and unassuming it looks, yet is still full featured. It doesn't have that nonsense of some of the lower end SLRs like the Nikon N65, N60, Minolta Maxxum4 that restrict the user on some of the manual features like ISO override, etc.

 

[Freakscene]

The only issue focusing wise I've had with my Maxxum 5 is it occasionally would back focus on action shots using some telephoto lenses. Could also be my technique though.

I think the viewfinder is a pentamirror and not a pentaprism, so some of the viewfinders get a blueish/yellowish hue to them as they age. Both of my cheap Maxxum5s are ok in that regard, but I did encounter one at a camera store with the issue and the ten dollar HTSi I had also had the issue. Shouldnt affect photo taking though

I really like how cheap and unassuming it looks, yet is still full featured. It doesn't have that nonsense of some of the lower end SLRs like the Nikon N65, N60, Minolta Maxxum4 that restrict the user on some of the manual features like ISO override, etc.

It is a mirror box, not a prism.

 

[aw614]

It is a mirror box, not a prism.

I am confused because multiple threads online called it that...

 

[Freakscene]

I am confused because multiple threads online called it that...

I am confirming that I have taken a Dynax Maxxum 5 apart and can confirm that there is no prism, just a group of mirrors. Just confirmation.

My terminology is different because the “pentamirror” term is incorrect because there are not 5 mirrors, nor 5 sides to anything. A pentaprism is named because it is 5 sided. There are, in most SLRs that use mirrors instead of a pentaprism, three mirrors including the normal flip-up mirror that all SLRs have. Essentially, although people call it a pentamirror, they are wrong.

It’s so widely accepted as a term that it even has its own wikipedia page Pentamirror - Wikipedia which states “Instead of the solid block of glass of the prism in a pentaprism system, here 3 mirrors are used to perform the same task.” and has a confusing and in some ways, in comparison to most slrs that use mirrors, inaccurate diagram. The main reason the “penta” shape was used was to make slrs that used mirrors look the same as those that use pentaprisms. In practice using mirrors can provide a lot of additional flexibility for shape.

 

[p.giannakis]

It's what Freakscene says.

A pentaprism looks like a solid piece of glass like the one below (from an OM1). They are brighter and more immune to misalignment due to shocks but far more expensive to produce. Pentamirrors are just an assembly of mirrors.

 

[kxl]

Based on everyone's comments here, I reached out to a film camera repair pro and asked him if he would work on a Maxxum 7's broken aperture control. He told me he can no longer source an aperture base module for the Maxxum 7, unless I cannibalize one from another body (which could potentially break anyway), so I think I will stay away form the Maxxum 7.

In the meantime, I found a working Dynax 5 for a reasonable price ($35) and hope to get my hands on it next week. I also bought a 50mm f2.8 macro.

 

[santino]

There is hope, because there is 3D printing.

 

[ellisson]

That minolta 50mm f2.8 macro is a great lens, great color and nice rendering. I shot with it on a maxxum D5 and Maxxum 9 film camera. The 28mm f2 and 35mm f2 are also really good.

 

[Archlich]

There are guys that offer repair on the Dynax 7 with new, brass aperture gears. Unfortunately they only operate in...you guessed it, China.

The camera itself is superb. Arguably the most advanced body of the A mount. The interface got it so right, that not only Sony, but also Nikon and Panasonic are using them on new ILCE cameras even today. Makes me wanting to own one again...as long as the back's dry.