I found one on a flea market a few weeks ago for just 30€, it's a crazy find and I still can't believe it. It's in perfect condition too and has the vertical grip and the minolta hand strap
I had both A-7 and A-9 at one point in my life and decided to sell the A-7. It's a fantastic camera with an amazingly fast auto-focus (almost faster than my Pentax K-1 mkII...) but part of the appeal of owning a camera is actually using and holding it. And the A-7 to me was too hollow and plastic feeling. If it has the same metal shell or a slightly lesser version of it i would probably go with the A-7. But the A-9 is staying with me until it or i die. I could probably use the thing as a hammer if the apocalypse hit too...
Back in the day I had a Minolta 7000 shooting sport I bought a used minolta 300 2.8 lens as I progressed I wanted to upgrade to nikon gear but I couldn’t afford to change body and lens. Right at that time the Dynax 9 came out so I jumped in it what an awesome camera I got it with the vertical grip just an all round cracking camera. As digital took over I put the Minolta away I occasionally dust it off and go out shooting it still puts a smile on my face I the canon eos1n and a Nikon F4 love them both but the Dynax 9 still makes me smile 📷
I have one of these and it is the best AF 35mm camera I've ever used. it's worth investing into a SSM model which will allow you to use Sony lenses but otherwise still has a solid collection of Minolta made lenses. I personally use the 28-70mm f2.8 and it practically lives on the body
I got a Maxxum7 brand new when DSLRs were starting to come out at lower prices, Kid at the camera store couldnt belive I was buying a “ Dinasour “ he called it 🤣. Still have it.
I owned a Maxxum 7, the very final version, along with the Zeiss Sonnar 24-70 F2.8 with electronic autofocus in the lens. It was absolutely amazing. The only reason I moved on was because I wanted lens stabilization. I finally landed on the EOS 3, because I could have stabilization and share the glass with the EOS digital bodies. This camera, it's absolutely crazy. I did own it for a short time. I even used the old A-mount glass on an A77. The screw drive lenses got on my nerves though.
I've both the Dynax 9 and a Nikon F6, and with the exception of the autofocus, the Minolta is on par and, in some way, better the the Nikon and I'm a Nikon user.
I’ve always wanted one of these as my ‘ultimate film camera’ for when I want high tech, electronic control and don’t want to fuss with a mechanical camera, but the ridiculous price of a-mount glass has kept me from biting the bullet. Unfortunately a-mount glass is easily adapted to Sony Alpha cameras, meaning it’s still regularly used by collectors and professional photographers, and commands high prices on the used market.
Yup, as an a9 owner, the easy Sony compatibility is the bane of my existence. Over 1 thousand dollars for a 35mm prime? Jesus. I have the 50 1.4, beer can, and the 28-85. Pretty cheap way to get all the focal lengths I’d ever need, but unfortunately I prefer primes and can’t afford them
In 1998 film sales were still growing. Digital photography was like electric cars in 2005. Very few of them. So it made a lot of sense to keep designing good film cameras. Digital was still too far ahead.
These Alpha/Dynax cameras are such a deal . They are so cheap and powerful, that unless you want to use M42 lenses, I really don't think there is a better choice.
Then you are all forgetting The Minolta Dynax 800si which has more or less the same features The Dynax 9 sells for about £175-300 body only the upper figure is those who have an ego inflated pricing The Dynax 800 si £50 -100 sometimes with a lens and or grip if your lucky If rally lucky I bought a mint 800si with 28-80 even the focus screen is unmarked and clear for the nominal fe of £10 a VC700 grip for £15 The Dynax 800 has a impressive array of features fast AF 3 frames per sec. 8000 sec shutter multi pattern metering wireless flash that is if you will ever want one the 800si has one built in with zoom function anyway
The plastic/outer shell materials, were a poor choice by Minolta because it hasn't passed the test of time, like say a Nikon F5, which exhibits less stickiness/deterioration issues. That said, the metering system in the Minolta is better than the F5, and thats saying something because both systems will give you perfect exposures 98/99% of the time, so not much in it. Nikon winds bacause of the lens availability, but the Minolta is a piece of SLR magic/history and Nikon used it as a benchmark going forwards.
With mid roll changing does the camera remember each roll? Or will it load the next roll put into the camera to the same place? Example shooting tmax to frame 15, mid roll reload, shoot a roll of ultramax. Reload the tmax. Will it know to resume it at 15?
Not knowing anything about Minolta's financial difficulties at the time, I found it incomprehensible that the company could go from producing incredible high tech cameras like this to bust within a few short years. Very sad.
It was a stupid merger forced on them by the Japanese government between Konica and Minolta that destroyed both companies in the end, giving us Noritsu out of Konica's printing labs, and Sony an eventual input into the digital camera market in a meaningful way. On the other hand it did lead to the eventuality of a digital version of the 7D which would be copied in design all the way up to the Sony A99 II so something came out of it in the end. Sony's model structure around the A5, 5000, 7, and 9 continue to this date as a legacy with a lot of the inputs of these spectacular dual control wheel, rear dial cameras living on in the basis of design for all modern Sony cameras to this date. In terms of ergonomics, these are perhaps the best camera to exist for the time. Arguably better than Canon's 1N and 1V, and it's a horse trade between features and lenses whether you have a preference for A mount, EF, or Nikon F mount lenses... All of them are good, arguably the Minolta is better because you can get good examples with lenses for about a third of the prices compared to Canon and Nikon bodies. The only thing I would contend is the level of closeness for most people in terms of feature sets with the 7D as Minolta's best film camera.... it is certainly in many ways more modern at the very least, lighter, and adequately fast....
I found one on a flea market a few weeks ago for just 30€, it's a crazy find and I still can't believe it. It's in perfect condition too and has the vertical grip and the minolta hand strap
Woahhh
If I had an unlimited supply of film................
I had both A-7 and A-9 at one point in my life and decided to sell the A-7. It's a fantastic camera with an amazingly fast auto-focus (almost faster than my Pentax K-1 mkII...) but part of the appeal of owning a camera is actually using and holding it. And the A-7 to me was too hollow and plastic feeling. If it has the same metal shell or a slightly lesser version of it i would probably go with the A-7. But the A-9 is staying with me until it or i die. I could probably use the thing as a hammer if the apocalypse hit too...
Back in the day I had a Minolta 7000 shooting sport I bought a used minolta 300 2.8 lens as I progressed I wanted to upgrade to nikon gear but I couldn’t afford to change body and lens. Right at that time the Dynax 9 came out so I jumped in it what an awesome camera I got it with the vertical grip just an all round cracking camera. As digital took over I put the Minolta away I occasionally dust it off and go out shooting it still puts a smile on my face I the canon eos1n and a Nikon F4 love them both but the Dynax 9 still makes me smile 📷
I have one of these and it is the best AF 35mm camera I've ever used. it's worth investing into a SSM model which will allow you to use Sony lenses but otherwise still has a solid collection of Minolta made lenses. I personally use the 28-70mm f2.8 and it practically lives on the body
I got a Maxxum7 brand new when DSLRs were starting to come out at lower prices, Kid at the camera store couldnt belive I was buying a “ Dinasour “ he called it 🤣. Still have it.
I owned a Maxxum 7, the very final version, along with the Zeiss Sonnar 24-70 F2.8 with electronic autofocus in the lens. It was absolutely amazing. The only reason I moved on was because I wanted lens stabilization. I finally landed on the EOS 3, because I could have stabilization and share the glass with the EOS digital bodies.
This camera, it's absolutely crazy. I did own it for a short time. I even used the old A-mount glass on an A77. The screw drive lenses got on my nerves though.
I've both the Dynax 9 and a Nikon F6, and with the exception of the autofocus, the Minolta is on par and, in some way, better the the Nikon and I'm a Nikon user.
Brilliant and all encompassing review!!
I’ve always wanted one of these as my ‘ultimate film camera’ for when I want high tech, electronic control and don’t want to fuss with a mechanical camera, but the ridiculous price of a-mount glass has kept me from biting the bullet.
Unfortunately a-mount glass is easily adapted to Sony Alpha cameras, meaning it’s still regularly used by collectors and professional photographers, and commands high prices on the used market.
Yup, as an a9 owner, the easy Sony compatibility is the bane of my existence. Over 1 thousand dollars for a 35mm prime? Jesus. I have the 50 1.4, beer can, and the 28-85. Pretty cheap way to get all the focal lengths I’d ever need, but unfortunately I prefer primes and can’t afford them
Love it. Got 2.
Great camera! I used the Dynax 7000, 9000, 9xi and 9. But switched to Nikon when moving to digital.
I have a 9000!
In 1998 film sales were still growing. Digital photography was like electric cars in 2005. Very few of them. So it made a lot of sense to keep designing good film cameras. Digital was still too far ahead.
These Alpha/Dynax cameras are such a deal . They are so cheap and powerful, that unless you want to use M42 lenses, I really don't think there is a better choice.
Then you are all forgetting The Minolta Dynax 800si which has more or less the same features
The Dynax 9 sells for about £175-300 body only the upper figure is those who have an ego inflated pricing
The Dynax 800 si £50 -100 sometimes with a lens and or grip if your lucky If rally lucky I bought a mint 800si with 28-80 even the focus screen is unmarked and clear for the nominal fe of £10 a VC700 grip for £15
The Dynax 800 has a impressive array of features fast AF 3 frames per sec. 8000 sec shutter multi pattern metering wireless flash that is if you will ever want one the 800si has one built in with zoom function anyway
I remember other selling points were the luminous, extra chunky dials and the weather sealing.
This may be next on my list of cameras…
The Dynax 800si is also a contender for the title.
Maxxum 9 if it came out 3 years earlier would've moved Minolta's needle
My flagship 😍😍😍
Wasn't there another one with the "xi" designation? I think it used the same 7, 9 designation. I remember it being more curvy.
The plastic/outer shell materials, were a poor choice by Minolta because it hasn't passed the test of time, like say a Nikon F5, which exhibits less stickiness/deterioration issues. That said, the metering system in the Minolta is better than the F5, and thats saying something because both systems will give you perfect exposures 98/99% of the time, so not much in it. Nikon winds bacause of the lens availability, but the Minolta is a piece of SLR magic/history and Nikon used it as a benchmark going forwards.
I guess with legacy to Sony. Minolta had good focusing system. Sony has the best now.
I have many minoltas unfortunately film and development no longer exist in my country thats why I am surely moving to digital
Which country is that ? If I may ask.
With mid roll changing does the camera remember each roll? Or will it load the next roll put into the camera to the same place?
Example shooting tmax to frame 15, mid roll reload, shoot a roll of ultramax. Reload the tmax. Will it know to resume it at 15?
I think it does do that yes.
I have just sold a canon eos 1v. I am very tempted......
I have the very similar a-7, and both it and the a-9 are just too complicated for me, lol.
How much this cost new?
Not knowing anything about Minolta's financial difficulties at the time, I found it incomprehensible that the company could go from producing incredible high tech cameras like this to bust within a few short years. Very sad.
It was a stupid merger forced on them by the Japanese government between Konica and Minolta that destroyed both companies in the end, giving us Noritsu out of Konica's printing labs, and Sony an eventual input into the digital camera market in a meaningful way.
On the other hand it did lead to the eventuality of a digital version of the 7D which would be copied in design all the way up to the Sony A99 II so something came out of it in the end.
Sony's model structure around the A5, 5000, 7, and 9 continue to this date as a legacy with a lot of the inputs of these spectacular dual control wheel, rear dial cameras living on in the basis of design for all modern Sony cameras to this date. In terms of ergonomics, these are perhaps the best camera to exist for the time. Arguably better than Canon's 1N and 1V, and it's a horse trade between features and lenses whether you have a preference for A mount, EF, or Nikon F mount lenses...
All of them are good, arguably the Minolta is better because you can get good examples with lenses for about a third of the prices compared to Canon and Nikon bodies.
The only thing I would contend is the level of closeness for most people in terms of feature sets with the 7D as Minolta's best film camera.... it is certainly in many ways more modern at the very least, lighter, and adequately fast....
Everyone shot canon or Nikon and it would have been expensive to switch. That's why it didn't really take off.
Prefer the Alpha 7
I can't believe how much I learned from this short video.
I thought this was 12 fps
I’ve got a Canon EOS 1n it blows that minolta away.
Dont think so....
The usual Minolta envy! Suffice it to say, this is certainly a magnificent camera.
No, it really doesn’t.