35mm SLR

by Gregg Hickman

A quick overview of the product line will give the first-time Minolta buyer a better understanding of the Maxxum 7's position. The entire present lineup of Minolta's 35mm SLR cameras starts with the QT-si, the entry-level SLR. Followed by the STsi, XTsi, HTsi and Maxxum 7. Minolta's flagship professional camera is the Maxxum 9.

The Maxxum 7 employs a 14 segment "Honeycomb-Pattern" metering system. This is the "meat" of any camera, and especially the Maxxum 7. As you move up the line of any camera company's SLRs, the main expense you are paying for is the multi-pattern metering system including it's micro-processor. The meter ties to the focus system which locates your subject, foreground and background in the frame and computes the exposure values in all these imperative areas. This data is then fed to the computer and "crunched" to yield an exposure that would take the average 'pro' a few minutes to compute! It is what makes a better camera "BETTER", and gives you the quality images you hopefully seek through better exposure. This technology frees the photographer to put more concentration on the composition of a superior image than the technical mechanics of exposure. These exposure control systems improve exponentially as you pay more for the camera body as do the "garnishes" on the outside. Yes, better cameras have more "bells and whistles" and the Seven has more than any other. In defense of the Seven, these have sincere merit. They give more user interface to the exposure systems and you have a LCD user guide to the camera controls. This camera has been thought through more than most and is far superior to any other Maxxum, short of the flagship of the line, the Maxxum 9.

The ergonomics and balance of the Maxxum 7 does not lend itself to the longer and front-heavy lenses, i.e.: 24-105mm, 24-135mm, 28-105mm, 28-200mm and etc. Thereby enters the extremely ergonomic Vertical Control grip, the VC-7 (Minolta, unlike other manufacturers, numbers accessories with some logic, Imagine that!) The grip extends the body length to fill even the smallest hand eliminating the need for white knuckle griping of the camera. In doing so, the VC-7 reduces the amount of camera shake caused by such a tight grip. The VC-7 has several other very ergonomic features. The VC-7 has a power source selector for the camera that allows you to power the system from the camera OR the grip. One source goes down - just flip a switch! The grip can use either 2 lithium CR-123 batteries or 4-AA's. No matter where you are, AA's are available and if the aren't, steal the four AA's from your flash. The best of the Grip's features is the perfectly located vertical shutter release button. If you are planning on purchasing the Seven with any more than a fixed 50mm lens (which I have not seen a use for in years,) the VC-7 is not an accessory, it is a requirement! Owning the Maxxum 7 without the VC-7 is like going outside without your pants on!

The latest versions of most manufacturer's cameras have gotten away from the center-only focus and have moved up to at least five focusing points. The Maxxum 7 takes a giant stride in creativity in allowing the photographer to change the focus point's location on the viewfinder by use of a NINE-position focus selector pad. It is perfectly located on the back of the camera where the right thumb rests and can be controlled at eye level without missing a beat! Finally, the subject does not have to be centered when the camera confirms focus. The Maxxum 7 incorporates a convenient LED illuminated Focus Area display system. Once you (or the camera) have selected a focus area, it is automatically superimposed in an illuminated red block on the activated focus point in the viewfinder.

Along with the moveable focus locator, the Maxxum 7 offers Spot Metering. A 5.5mm area (3% of the total frame area) in the center of the viewfinder becomes the sole meter reading area when the meter switch is rotated to spot. Maxxum did miss the target, so to speak, by not tying the spot focus indicator to the spot metering sensor. The spot only reads the center of the view finder and doesn't follow the focus point. It is capable of showing the EV variance between the Automatic Exposure Locked (AEL) exposure and the focus area's exposure, which will indicate to you the shadow or highlight detail available in the focus area. As you move the focus area while the AEL button is depressed it shows you the EV variant of the other areas of the frame, giving you a good idea of the levels of detail that the film will render. I know this sounds very confusing (and It is!) but it can be a very useful benefit and teaching tool.

More of the Maxxum 7's advantages are the THIRTY FIVE user setable Custom Functions (available through the rear covered panel below the Navigation display.) You can set the camera to operate almost exactly as you prefer, such as leaving the leader out on rewind, to silent rewind, to adjusting the flash metering.

As far as built-in Pop-Up flashes go (not Very) the "7" has one. Whoopee! To me, a major reason to purchase an SLR is to improve your flash pictures. Too many people confuse the Pop-Up flash with a REAL flash. If it is all the flash you need, why is there a Hot Shoe on top of the camera? Hopefully we are buying an SLR to take better pictures. To take better flash pictures requires a diffused light source well away from the lens. The Maxxum 7 has more than enough high-end flash control built into the body. All we need to add is a real flash that is bounce capable and designed for use with the "7's" system. Then we add a flash diffuser like the Lumiquest Pocket Bouncer (~$24.95.) The higher pivoting head flashes like the 5600HS(D) and the 3600HS(D) (more Numbering to befuddle us) that elevates the flash tube high enough to reduce red-eye. Adding a diffuser totally eliminates any chance of red-eye and softens the light creating more studio like lighting. There is nothing worse than a straight ahead flash picture that bleaches your subject white, and flattens any depth perception. The Pop-Up flash does have its purpose. It is useful as a daylight fill-flash to fill in deep shadows on a very close subject or fire the two above mentioned flashes in Wireless (WL) mode, which is a feature we could talk about for days. The "Pop-Up" like every other brand I have seen, does not have enough power to illuminate a typical scene by itself.

Finally a Minolta camera under $1000.00 with a Depth of Field (DOF) preview button, Only from the "Mind of Minolta"!!! But we don't get a universal screw in cable release port. Instead we get the honor of buying the MINOLTA ONLY electronic cable release to install in the proprietary electronic port in the camera!

Are you buying more bells and whistles than you will use? Heck NO! If you can push the shutter release button without shaking the camera you can get a great picture almost every time with the Maxxum 7. Typically, as you increase dollars spent in any camera line, most of the money goes towards increased exposure control. In other words, more bucks means less times the camera's automatic exposure system is fooled in adverse lighting situations. Most "bells and whistles" are features that are relatively inexpensive for the manufacturer to add. Minolta has spent the farm to put this one together. They are Not the typical take it and leave it "bells and whistles". This camera is loaded for bear! It is not cheap in any way. The 7's 14 segment Honeycomb-Pattern meter is more than adequate for most pros and will keep amateurs from the frustration of the technically poor photos.

A word of caution I try to always extend: Remember when the magic box that holds the film has done it's magic, there is one thing between your subject and the film….IT IS THE LENS! Don't scrimp on the glass!

Minolta has a keeper here. It is expensive but if it is in the budget it is a superior piece with LOADS of features.