Vertical Grip for Minolta Maxxum 7000i

[dabsond]

Recently picked up a Minolta Maxxum 7000i in good condition. I noticed the bottom has electrical contacts. Was there ever a vertical grip/battery grip produced for this camera?

 

[loman]

Hi.
No unfortunately there isn't. But what a cool camera!

 

[Ricardo Miranda]

The 3 electric contacts at the bottom are for something you might find cool, or maybe not.
It is to connect the CG-1000 control grip.
That is, it is for a flash grip.
You can connect an early 2800AF or 4000AF flash to the top of the grip and if you find the complete set, you can even mount 2 flashes, one in the camera and one in the grip and do multiple flash, even with a 1:2 ratio.

The CG-1000 was made for the 7000 and 9000, the first AF SLR from Minolta.
The Dynax 7000i and 8000i that follow were also able to connect to the grip, albeit the flash shoe in the camera was the new type and so not compatible with the early flashes.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/maxxum7k/index4.htm