Maxxum 7D DSLR

Minolta (actually it’s Konica Minolta now after Konica bought Minolta) has Maxxum 7D DSLR now. You can get it at amazon.com for $1,689.95 including an AF 28-100mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens. I’m thinking about buying a new DSLR to replace my current Maxxum 7xi SLR.

Here’re the Product Specifications.

* Type: 6MP digital SLR camera with anti-shake technology
* CCD resolution: 6.3 megapixels
* ISO equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
* Maximum shutter speed: 30 seconds
* Minimum shutter speed: 1/4000 second
* Resolution modes: 3008x2000, 2256x1496, 1504x1000 pixels
* Image quality mode: Standard, Fine, Extra-fine, RAW, RAW+JPEG (Fine)
* File format: JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG, (DCF 2.0 compliant,
   DPOF supported by printing functions in ver.1.1, Exif 2.2)
* Memory: Type I and Type II CompactFlash Cards
* LCD monitor: 2.5-inch TFT color
* Autofocus modes: Single-shot AF, Continuous AF,
   Automatic Autofocus (DMF is selectable in menu).
   Predictive focus control for moving subjects.
   Auto-tracking focus point display
* Metering type: Direct TTL metering; 14-segment honeycomb-pattern
   metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering
* Flash modes: Fill Flash, Pre Flash with Red-eye reduction
* Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed system with optical-glass pentaprism
* Self-timer: 10- and 2-second delay
* Other functions: Instant playback, customizing, zone matching
* Video output: NTSC/PAL
* PC interface: USB 2.0 high-speed
* Battery: 1 NP-400 Li-ion battery
* Width: 5.91 inches
* Height: 4.17 inches
* Depth: 3.05 inches
* Weight: 26.81 ounces (without battery or media)
* In the box: Maxxum 7D camera body, wide strap (WS-4),
   remote cord clip, eyepiece cap II, eyepiece cup (FC-1400),
   shoe cap (SC-1000), body cap (BDC-1000),
   video cable (VC-500), USB cable (USB-2),
   LCD monitor protect panel (MPP-1000),
   lithium-ion battery (NP-400), lithium-ion battery charger (BC-400),
   DiMAGE software CD-ROM (includes DiMAGE Viewer)

You can compare it to a
$8,000 Canon EOS-1 Ds Mark II 16.7MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)!


Maxxum 7D DSLR

Minolta (actually it’s Konica Minolta now after Konica bought Minolta) has Maxxum 7D DSLR now. You can get it at amazon.com for $1,689.95 including an AF 28-100mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens. I’m thinking about buying a new DSLR to replace my current Maxxum 7xi SLR.

Here’re the Product Specifications.

* Type: 6MP digital SLR camera with anti-shake technology
* CCD resolution: 6.3 megapixels
* ISO equivalent: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
* Maximum shutter speed: 30 seconds
* Minimum shutter speed: 1/4000 second
* Resolution modes: 3008x2000, 2256x1496, 1504x1000 pixels
* Image quality mode: Standard, Fine, Extra-fine, RAW, RAW+JPEG (Fine)
* File format: JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG, (DCF 2.0 compliant,
   DPOF supported by printing functions in ver.1.1, Exif 2.2)
* Memory: Type I and Type II CompactFlash Cards
* LCD monitor: 2.5-inch TFT color
* Autofocus modes: Single-shot AF, Continuous AF,
   Automatic Autofocus (DMF is selectable in menu).
   Predictive focus control for moving subjects.
   Auto-tracking focus point display
* Metering type: Direct TTL metering; 14-segment honeycomb-pattern
   metering, Center-weighted metering, Spot metering
* Flash modes: Fill Flash, Pre Flash with Red-eye reduction
* Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed system with optical-glass pentaprism
* Self-timer: 10- and 2-second delay
* Other functions: Instant playback, customizing, zone matching
* Video output: NTSC/PAL
* PC interface: USB 2.0 high-speed
* Battery: 1 NP-400 Li-ion battery
* Width: 5.91 inches
* Height: 4.17 inches
* Depth: 3.05 inches
* Weight: 26.81 ounces (without battery or media)
* In the box: Maxxum 7D camera body, wide strap (WS-4),
   remote cord clip, eyepiece cap II, eyepiece cup (FC-1400),
   shoe cap (SC-1000), body cap (BDC-1000),
   video cable (VC-500), USB cable (USB-2),
   LCD monitor protect panel (MPP-1000),
   lithium-ion battery (NP-400), lithium-ion battery charger (BC-400),
   DiMAGE software CD-ROM (includes DiMAGE Viewer)

You can compare it to a
$8,000 Canon EOS-1 Ds Mark II 16.7MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)!


Canon EOS-1D Mark II, wow!

Check this out.

Pre-PMA 2004: Canon today announced the impressively specified EOS-1D Mark II which features a new 8.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, it can shoot at just over eight frames per second and has a 40 frame JPEG image buffer (20 frames in RAW mode). This means that shooting at full resolution at full speed the camera is buffering 69 megapixels per second (or 100 MB/sec). Other changes include the addition of a USB port, an SD slot, the removal of the external white balance sensor as well as some subtle body styling changes. More …

eBay

I tried first time to buy some photo items from eBay. I have a Minolta 7xi. I like to add Child and Travel cards so my wife can use the camera without any additional adjustment on the camera. Most of time, we just use it as point and shoot. With Child and Travel cards, it would be easier to just point and shoot and get nice pictures during traveling or playing with kids.

It’s amazing to see the price to buy the same camera has dropped a lot. I paid about $600 for the body in 1993. You can get the same one with $150 now, though it would be probably used one.

The top of line on Minolta now is Minolta Dimage 7Hi 5.2MP costing about $1,000. Nikon has Nikon D100 . Nikon D1X is the professional D-SLR. And Canon has a whopping 11 MP Canon EOS-1Ds. Wow!

Maybe it’s time to buy a digital. If cost factor is put aside, I would go for Nikon D100 for sure.

Here’re the snapshots. Both Canon and Nikon carry on the traditional body desgin, but Minolta chooses a desgin similar to Olympus.