Question:
I can scour the ads with a bit more confidence, I’ll keep my eyes open for the 800si.
There is nothing in the Minolta lineup that has me wanting to trade in my 800si just yet. Suggest you also look at the about to be released( in the US anyway) Maxxum/Dynax 5 before you buy a used camera. It has a lot of the features of the 7 at a lower price.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I currently have an old minolta 7000 (my first slr) and want to upgrade to the same lens fitting, but a newer body. So I trolled through loot, and the second hand ads in AP for a newer body, and got thoroughly stumped. Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i – 500si, 700si, 800si – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they? Thanks for any handy hints, and sorry for all the questions, I just got a bit overwhelmed that’s all! Paul C newbie to photography – please help out with technique questions posed at http://www.milvain.fsnet.co.uk p.s. I _have_ surfed the Minolta UK and US sites, but they don’t seem to have too much info on old stuff…
You have droppped maxxum600si/650si from your list. Excellent control lay-out on a mid-range camera! Also look at: www.35mm.freeserve.co.uk/mug/mug.html For a lot of information on various aspects of Minolta system, including Minolta cameras. A very useful source of information. Check "www.keh.com" and "www.bhphoto.com" for prices on Minolta cameras new and used. Also check Ebay, (type minolta in search box) for checking the prices of Minolta cameras there. Among the ones that you have mentioned, 800si is the most recent one with more features than the other. 9xi is the most ruggedly built one, resistant to miosture/dust. So, depending on what factors are more important to you, my suggestion is to go for 800si or 9xi or 600si.
Response:
You may want to shy away from the Max 5000i, 7000i, 8000i, 7xi, and 9xi. It becoming more difficult to get parts for these models. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I currently have an old minolta 7000 (my first slr) and want to upgrade to the same lens fitting, but a newer body. So I trolled through loot, and the second hand ads in AP for a newer body, and got thoroughly stumped. Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i – 500si, 700si, 800si – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they? Thanks for any handy hints, and sorry for all the questions, I just got a bit overwhelmed that’s all! Paul C newbie to photography – please help out with technique questions posed at http://www.milvain.fsnet.co.uk p.s. I _have_ surfed the Minolta UK and US sites, but they don’t seem to have too much info on old stuff…
Response:
I currently have an old minolta 7000 (my first slr) and want to upgrade to the same lens fitting, but a newer body. So I trolled through loot, and the second hand ads in AP for a newer body, and got thoroughly stumped. Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i – 500si, 700si, 800si – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they? Thanks for any handy hints, and sorry for all the questions, I just got a bit overwhelmed that’s all! Paul C newbie to photography – please help out with technique questions posed at http://www.milvain.fsnet.co.uk p.s. I _have_ surfed the Minolta UK and US sites, but they don’t seem to have too much info on old stuff…
Response:
Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i
Second generation AF cameras – the generation immediately following that of yours. Not bad cameras, but getting a bit long in the tooth. – 500si, 700si, 800si
The generation right before the current 7 and 9. All very nice cameras indeed. Much better AF than the 7000, and the i series above. – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi
This one is out of order – the xi series followed the i series, so the goes 1) AF (5/7/9000) 2) i (5/7/8000i) 3) xi (5/7/9xi) 4) si (500/600/700/800si) 5) 7 and 9 It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they?
Well, you have asked about a very broad spread of cameras, and there is no way I’m going to do that kind of legwork for you. If you want to find prices, I would go to KEH.com and have a look there. Each generation added few things. The i generation had better AF, more sophisticated metering (8 segment was added to average and spot), and changed the flash shoe to the current iISO from the one you are used to. The xi generation changed the 8 segment meter to a 14 segment, added wireless flash, and improved AF yet again. The si added high speed sync to upper level bodies (flash sync throughout the shutter speed range – up to 1/8000th with the 800si), even better AF, more control over flash and so forth. The latest improved the flash meter, changed the control paradigm completely from buttons to knobs, has fantastic AF, and other features. The best camera in the groups you looked at was the 800si. It is a wonderful machine. Mike
Response:
All of the information you are looking for is here: http://www.photozone.de/minoltacamera.htm HTH Denny Mickelson East Greenwich, Rhode Island
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I currently have an old minolta 7000 (my first slr) and want to upgrade to the same lens fitting, but a newer body. So I trolled through loot, and the second hand ads in AP for a newer body, and got thoroughly stumped. Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i – 500si, 700si, 800si – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they? Thanks for any handy hints, and sorry for all the questions, I just got a bit overwhelmed that’s all! Paul C newbie to photography – please help out with technique questions posed at http://www.milvain.fsnet.co.uk p.s. I _have_ surfed the Minolta UK and US sites, but they don’t seem to have too much info on old stuff…
Response:
Lovely reply, thank you. I can scour the ads with a bit more confidence, I’ll keep my eyes open for the 800si. Cheers, Paul C p.s. and thanks to Denny Mickelson too. 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Could someone kindly offer some hints as to what the merits and ages of the following range of bodies are (these are a few I’ve seen for sale): – Dynax 5000i, 8000i Second generation AF cameras – the generation immediately following that of yours. Not bad cameras, but getting a bit long in the tooth. – 500si, 700si, 800si The generation right before the current 7 and 9. All very nice cameras indeed. Much better AF than the 7000, and the i series above. – Dynax 5xi, 7xi, 9xi This one is out of order – the xi series followed the i series, so the goes 1) AF (5/7/9000) 2) i (5/7/8000i) 3) xi (5/7/9xi) 4) si (500/600/700/800si) 5) 7 and 9 It seems there are three ranges as I’ve grouped them above – my principal question is what is the difference between these ranges? And what’s a reasonable price for 2nd hand? How much of an improvement over my 7000 are they? Well, you have asked about a very broad spread of cameras, and there is no way I’m going to do that kind of legwork for you. If you want to find prices, I would go to KEH.com and have a look there. Each generation added few things. The i generation had better AF, more sophisticated metering (8 segment was added to average and spot), and changed the flash shoe to the current iISO from the one you are used to. The xi generation changed the 8 segment meter to a 14 segment, added wireless flash, and improved AF yet again. The si added high speed sync to upper level bodies (flash sync throughout the shutter speed range – up to 1/8000th with the 800si), even better AF, more control over flash and so forth. The latest improved the flash meter, changed the control paradigm completely from buttons to knobs, has fantastic AF, and other features. The best camera in the groups you looked at was the 800si. It is a wonderful machine. Mike
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