Description: The Maxxum 9, from Minolta. Our finest photographic tool, designed to meet - and exceed - the demands of professionals. Featuring extraordinary toughness, for true reliability even in difficult situations. Superior speed & precision, for creating the shots you've envisioned in your mind's eye. And the flexibility to individualize its operations to best match your unique shooting style. An ergonomic design ensures that the Maxxum 9 rests comfortably in your hands.
Summary: Looks like I am the first person to review this camera since 2005. I shoot with a Sony Alpha 100 when I want to go digital and need convenience, but when I need to get high resolution prints I shoot film and scan with my scanner. Though many people are selling this camera on Ebay and other similar sites, this camera is nowhere near obsolete, for there are plenty of buyers gobbling them up. I bought 2.
Compared to my Sony Alpha 100, the Maxxum 9 has better weather sealing, a more rugged body, 1/12000th shutter speed vs 1/4000 for the Sony, 5.5 fps vs 3 fps, accurate auto focus and metering, professional capabilities easily accessed with intuitive controls (no tons of buttons), and a flash synch of 1/12000th vs 1/250th. Come to think of it, there aren't any digital cameras that can match its capabilities yet.
The body is made with steel, heavier than magnesium (which most pro cameras are made of today) but also stronger. The weight does not bother me at all.
I use Sony 50mm f1.4 and Carl Zeiss 135mm f 2.8, and though the Maxxum 9's AF is fast to begin with, with lens having large apertures such as these it is even faster. Autofocus speed was as good or better than my sister's Canon Digital Rebel XT - which is one of the fastest AF around. Metering is 14 segment honeycomb - though not as "advanced" as the 40 segment honeycomb in the Sony Alpha 100 or multiple segment metering in the Canon Digital Rebel XT, it tends to give more accurate readings - my guess is that 14 segments are enough and simplicity has it's advantages.
In addition to those features, it is the only professional body that uses infrared to assist focusing (great in dark situations) and has a pop up flash (Sometimes I need flash and may not have time to put the accessory flash on).
All in all, I highly recommend this camera - it makes great exposures, has all the features one will ever need in a camera, and now that Sony took over Minolta's camera business there is great product support for this camera again.
Strengths: Rugged and well built body
Accurate and fast autofocus
Accurate metering
Many lenses to choose from (many bargains to be had)
Simple and intuitive controls
High performance overall
Product supported by Sony now (a company big in cash like this one won't go away anytime soon)
Weaknesses: Camera circuitry needs to be updated to use untrasonic SSM lenses
Ultrasonic lenses not readily available
Similar Products Used: Canon A2E SLR, Canon Digital Rebel SLR, Sony Alpha SLR, Minolta X700 SLR
Customer Service: Spoke with Sony and they will honor any warranties and will provide repair services. Customer service was responsive and knowledgeable.
Summary: The best camera I've ever held or owned. I like it better than the Nikon F100, or even the F5. Fantastic ergonomics. Well thought out. Well built. Looks like the camera that a photgrapher would design/build. It's a professional camera that doesn't get the publicity or respect it deserves. If you have this kind of money to spend on a film SLR, and want to use it as a pro or advanced amateur you will not be disappointed by the camera or KM's lenses.
Strengths: Rugged. Well built. Responsive. Fast shutter speeds. Bright viewfinder. Great lens selection. (although not as complete as Nikon/Canon will be MORE than sufficient for 99% of users) Great "G" lenses available. It's HEAVY, especially with the VC-9 grip, but for many that will be a weakness. I like the feel and don't mind the weight.
Weaknesses: The company. Believe it or not, I will rate the camera a "5", and if I could I would rate the KM company "-5." They NEVER supported this camera and allowed the Maxxum 7 to come out with better technology than the 9, without progressively upgrading the 9. On this web site, the Maxxum 9 has higher ratings than superstars EOS 1V, EOS 3, F100, F5 and Contax RTS. Can you believe that? And the Maxxum 7 is as good! Yet both the Maxxum 7 and 9 are discontinued! Minolta's engineers are the cat's meow. The sales, marketing and management are as imcompetent as it comes. This camera, despite being one of the best, is now discontinued, as has it's little brother, the 7. I would think twice about sinking big money into a product that they've discontinued and have proven they can't market/sell. It's a crying shame. GREAT products, designed by apparently GREAT engineers, mishandled by POOR managers. It's a love/hate thing.
Similar Products Used: Minolta MF bodies and lenses.
Customer Service: Poor. I have had questions about the product---not for repairs---and they generally don't answer. Or, they direct you to their web site.
Summary: What a TANK! The first thing you'll notice when you pick up this thing is that it's built like an M-1 Abrams tank. The metal body is rugged and sturdy. The shape of the grip is perfect for my hands. The controls are very simple. One dial for exposure compensation and one for shooting modes. Very intuitive.
With the bright 100% viewfinder means your eyes never have to strain looking through it. By far the best 35mm film camera I've used. Perfect camera for a combat photographer.
Strengths: Rugged body.
Good seeling of the body against environmental elements
Fast autofocusing
Accurate metering
5.5 fps, 4.5 with continuous focusing
Bright 100% viewfinder
Mirror lock up
Wireless flash capability(most minoltas have this feature)
Weaknesses: 3 auto focus points, the Maxxum 7's 9 point AF is perfect.
Shutter release button a little too sensitive in continuous shooting mode.
You need a manual to figure out the all custom mode settings.
Minolta lens selection not as comprehensive as Nikon or Canon.
Similar Products Used: Minolta Maxxum 7
Minolta Maxxum 800si
Canon Eos 1n
Canon Eos 3
Summary: My third generation of Minolta AF professional cameras, after several 9000's and 9xi's. By far the best Minolta camera, very robust (still working perfectly after falling down 2-3 meters on concrete), fairly fast AF, perfect handling (in combination with VC-9 grip); nique power management, no battery change necessary after finishing accu's => just switch from the VC-9 to the camera batteries (ever had failing batteries while taking important shots???); easy-to-manage built-in flash system, and much more.
Strengths: robust stainless steel body, buildt-in flash system, perfect handling, AF, 100% viewfinder, ... and: excellent lenses, especially 2.8/200mm APO
Weaknesses: heavy ;-)
Similar Products Used: Minolta 9000, 7000i, 9xi
Customer Service: not exactly perfect (at least here in Switzerland ==> they have to send everything to Germany first)
Summary: A upgrade user from Dynax 7.
Camera body need updated to use its SSM lens. In HK, 1 SSM lens entitles 1 Dynax 9 update only... otherwise cost you HK$1800@ (US$230)... The update also give you ADI flash metering free as a bonus. However, in this digital age, all Dynax 9 should've been updated already... what kind of policy is this...?
Felt much more responsive than Dynax7. Sort of miss the LCD panel. Otherwise, how do you remember all the custom functions? Although 90% of them are not needed to reset after you 've set it once.
The main reason for using Minolta is the quality of their lens. Color is more natural to the eye, second to Lecia. If you like color very clean and snappy, or even cartoonish; please choose other brands.
Focusing not as fast as F5; however, it is still very fast. I shot my friend wakeboarding on a moving speed boat (shaking in all direction) with the new 70-200 f2.8G SSM and 1.4X attached; no problem whatoever. Photo come out tack sharp with excellent color.
When I bought the Dynax 9, people around were surprised... At this point, DSLR with 6MP+ is definitely killing negatives in the amounts of details; however, slides still have an edge... Using a Minolta Dimage Scan Multi PRO scan 35mm slide (up to 4800dpi), you will get a 80+mb file: details are amazing, natural color, and very little film grain (no noise / pattern issue). For the price, I may get another medium format camera. Unless I got jobs that require a DSLR, I'm not buying yet...
Strengths: As note by the others. Great layout, a wide enough range of quality lens to choose from. Interchangable focusing screen (M or ML; slightly darken viewfinder; but much clearer on what's being focused.); a joy to view.
Weaknesses: Although I generally like their products; shops do not carry as many accerories as the other brands; need to wait forever to ship from Japan. 3 months later, still waiting for the VC9 grip...
Website not globally updated ... its excellent 70-200 f2.8 SSM is not even listed... very disappointing...
Bad policy not shipping all Dynax 9 already upgarded. (I believe they change only one circuit board)
Similar Products Used: Dynax 7; Nikon F5; medium format to 4x5.
Lens with this Minolta system:
17-35 f3.5G
28-70 f2.8G
70-200 f2.8G SSM
35 f1.4
85 f1.4
Customer Service: Very good and helpful in HK. Upgraded for free with purchase of a SSM lens months before. (Don't throw away your proof of purchase!)
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