I finally got a Minolta Maxxum 7. Any pointers and tips?

Radost · Apr 22, 2022

Finally I found my dream camera locally.
Absolute the best ever made.
The 8000 shutter speed makes a big difference.
Everything is in the right place and it feels like I have used the camera forever even though I have never held one before.

Did not come with a lens but considering I got the camera cheap I have a wiggle room.
Which are the shining lenses in the alpha mount?

Downsides?
Tough to use any of my other SLRs when I have the Maxxum7.

Sirius Glass · Apr 22, 2022

Enjoy! Have spare batteries and lots of film.

Radost · Apr 22, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
Enjoy! Have spare batteries and lots of film.

Most my cameras need batteries. I have batteries in every pocket, backpack and my glove compartment.

Paul Howell · Apr 22, 2022

The 7 will work all Minolta, Konica Minolta, and full frame Sony A mount SSM lens. In terms of a bargain, lots of choices. I like the 50 1.4, early 5 pins include 35 to 70 F 3.5 to 4.5 and 70 to 2010 F4, nick named to the beer can lens. A bit up the scale the 24mm to 105 3.5 to 4.5. and 28 to 100 3.5 to 5.6. I have the 100, 135, 200, 300 and 400 for wildlife and sports, all excellent lens. Dont have the 85mm which others say is a outstanding lens as well.

Sirius Glass · Apr 22, 2022

I had and used Minolta SLRs from the SR7 in 1966 to XD11 in 2004. Wonderful cameras and lenses.

Radost · Apr 22, 2022

Paul Howell said:
The 7 will work all Minolta, Konica Minolta, and full frame Sony A mount SSM lens. In terms of a bargain, lots of choices. I like the 50 1.4, early 5 pins include 35 to 70 F 3.5 to 4.5 and 70 to 2010 F4, nick named to the beer can lens. A bit up the scale the 24mm to 105 3.5 to 4.5. and 28 to 100 3.5 to 5.6. I have the 100, 135, 200, 300 and 400 for wildlife and sports, all excellent lens. Dont have the 85mm which others say is a outstanding lens as well.

I am curios about the 135 special bokeh..

Radost · Apr 23, 2022

Man you can swap films half roll.
This camera keeps impressing.

Paul Howell · Apr 23, 2022

I have the standard 135 with 2.8, the 2.0 version has the good bokeh.

gone · Apr 23, 2022

My Canon FD 135 2.5 lens was also known as the Beercan Lens. One of the best lenses I ever used, really nice bokeh, but the length made it a lens I usually didn't like to use often on the street.

Congratulations on finding a camera that suits you, from the specs it looks like a keeper.

Radost · Apr 23, 2022

momus said:
My Canon FD 135 2.5 lens was also known as the Beercan Lens. One of the best lenses I ever used, really nice bokeh, but the length made it a lens I usually didn't like to use often on the street.

Congratulations on finding a camera that suits you, from the specs it looks like a keeper.

My canon of choice is Elan7NE. maxxum7 is very similar in philosophy. I will still shoot the canon because of the 40mm pancake which I love. But the maxxum will be my beach camera for sure.

gone · Apr 24, 2022

That's what I ended up doing w/ my 135 2.5. The beach, outdoor events, anywhere that people were having fun and might have a camera themselves. From a decent distance, you can get great shots and never get into people's space. The whole beach is the public space.

Sirius Glass · Apr 24, 2022

I loved the Rokkor f/2.8 21 mm lenses. Not a lens for every occasion, but with a little thought very useful.

Paul Howell · Apr 25, 2022

Is the Rokkor 21 2.8 A mount or MD? I know of several 20mm in A mount, if MD/C or X will work on Minolta 7.

Sirius Glass · Apr 25, 2022

Sirius Glass said:
I loved the Rokkor f/2.8 21 mm lenses. Not a lens for every occasion, but with a little thought very useful.

Paul Howell said:
Is the Rokkor 21 2.8 A mount or MD? I know of several 20mm in A mount, if MD/C or X will work on Minolta 7.

MD mount.

Paul Howell · Apr 25, 2022

Don't have one, widest I have in MD mount is the run of the mill 28mm 2.5 and in A mount the 24mm 2.0, might put in my wish list, the 24mm is too close to the 28, a 21 might be too wide, still very likely a great lens.

ant! · Apr 26, 2022

I have as well a 7, and since I usual use the manual focus kit, I got "only" the 50/1.7, the 28-105/3.5-4.5, the Sony SAM 85/2.8 and very fresh the 28/2.8 and the 70-210/4. All of them quite cheap. But you could of course spend much more...

I found this thread useful: https://www.dyxum.com/dforum/the-cheap-lineup_topic13972.html

dxqcanada · Apr 26, 2022

Maxxum AF 28-135mm f/4-4.5

Radost · Apr 30, 2022

Unfortunately after 10 pictures my camera started developed the aperture error message. Now I see why I got it for $40.
It works fine with the Sony 50mm F1.4 wide open unless I use a flash.
I really love the ergonomics of the camera, the mid roll film change and the 8000 shutter.

Was the issue ever addressed by Minolta? Should I even try to buy another maxim 7?

Paul Howell · Apr 30, 2022

As you have Sony full frame lens you need another Minolta 7 or 5 as these were factory ready for SSM lens. Cameras that are 30 years old and need long out of production chips, it's just a toss of the dice.

lantau · Apr 30, 2022

Radost said:
Unfortunately after 10 pictures my camera started developed the aperture error message. Now I see why I got it for $40.
It works fine with the Sony 50mm F1.4 wide open unless I use a flash.
I really love the ergonomics of the camera, the mid roll film change and the 8000 shutter.

Was the issue ever addressed by Minolta? Should I even try to buy another maxim 7?

I paid a lot more than that for an import from Japan and the same happened to me.

Later I bought one from a local dealer, which gave me a 12 month warranty by law, and that one is still good. For now. At least I knew I'll be good for 12 months or return it.

It has been longer ow, but I don't use it all the time. It's great for slide film with the matrix metering and the preview of the exposure matrix on the display.

There is also a roll counter somewhere and mine wasn't used excessively. I should actually check the lemon for that.

Paul Howell said:
As you have Sony full frame lens you need another Minolta 7 or 5 as these were factory ready for SSM lens. Cameras that are 30 years old and need long out of production chips, it's just a toss of the dice.

It is a mechanical problem. Some broken plastic gear, iirc.

Electronics rarely die. Certainly not chips from that age. These are big blocks compared to what we have today.

Sirius Glass · Apr 30, 2022

Advice: Buy the MC or MD lenses at bargain prices compared to the original prices while they are still available.

Radost · Apr 30, 2022

Got a 5 last night. It is very unfortunate because the 7

Sirius Glass said:
Advice: Buy the MC or MD lenses at bargain prices compared to the original prices while they are still available.

I have xd11 srt101, with 50mm f1.4 and my.
Not interested in manually focusing a SLR. I have pretty much most good manual SLRs but I only shot my Konica for the nice 40mm lens.

Paul Howell · Apr 30, 2022

Advice: Buy the MC or MD lenses at bargain prices compared to the original prices while they are still available.

MC/D lens will not work with A mount bodies, which one of reasons prices are still fairly inexpensive for great lens. As OP has Sony micro motor A mount lens which will only work with Minolta 5, 7 and a few 9s that were factory modified. Have to say that I'm not sure if the Minolta 3 will work with SSM lens.

I think it's an electronic issue, the SSM lens are like Canon EOF lens, all micro motor lens, no gears which in 5 and 8 pin lens drive the AF, if the Sony lens works on a Sony DSLR then it is an issue with the electronic. Saying that, maybe just give the pins on the 7 a good cleaning with a contact cleaner.

Paul Howell · Apr 30, 2022

I have xd11 srt101, with 50mm f1.4 and my.
Not interested in manually focusing a SLR. I have pretty much most good manual SLRs but I only shot my Konica for the nice 40mm lens.

Unless you are wedded to using your Sony lens I would think about a Canon EOS or an early Minolta body, a little strange but cheap is the Minolta 7 and 9XI, no battery grip, must use lithium battery, and for advanced features must use a set of cards. I have a Minolta 7 and 9, most often I use a 800si with a battery grip, will not work with SSM lens, still a lot of inexpensive 5 and 7 pin lens.

PaulQ · May 3, 2022

Paul Howell said:
I have the standard 135 with 2.8, the 2.0 version has the good bokeh.

I think the 135 STF is the special bokeh lens.

I finally got a Minolta Maxxum 7. Any pointers and tips?

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