Ergonomics, ergonomics, ergonomics; sensible design; AF speed; value: excellent features;

Lenses and accessories more difficult to find than Canon or Nikon. However, I can only comment in this regard on places I've been to since I've had the camera - Australia and South America.

Quite simply, the Maxxum 7 is a brilliant camera. I have owned quite a few SLRs in the last few years, but this is easy the best. The ergonomics are absolutely brilliant. I am normally very skeptical of user reviews, they tend to polarise into 5 star or one star. However, I can in all honestly, and objectively, give this camera 5 stars. It's that good. I could not in good faith give any other camera I've used before (see below) such a good score. You can tell a lot of thought has gone into this camera by someone who uses cameras frequently. This is an absolute joy after my F70, with its "hold these two buttons while rotating this wheel" interface. An example of a simple, but thoughtful and very useful feature is the custom function that allows you to (independently) make the AF lock and AE lock buttons either toggle on and off, or hold for on and off. The camera is beautifully thought out and laid out. There are 5 times as many features and functions (many of which are very useful) as my old F70, yet I find the Maxxum 7 far far easier to use and understand. In short, this camera is a joy to use. the LCD screen is more than a gimmick - it's very useful, and it's about time a manufacturer put one on the back of the camera rather than on top. It's this sort of thing, simple yet evident of attention paid, that makes the Maxxum 7 so good. Also of note is the AF speed. I used this with a Minolta 50mm f1.4 and was in image quality and AF speed heaven. Unfortunately, some clown here in Bolivia stole my beloved combination. However, I would buy another one in an instant, and in fact will, as soon as I am able. This is not something I would say about many other cameras I have used. Camera is also excellent value compared to Nikon/Canon competitors. Only negative is that outside North America, it may be difficult to find accesories and lenses. I had some (only a little) difficulty in Australia, but here in South America, it is very difficult to find much for Minolta.

Customer Service

Not needed.

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Nikon F70/N70, terrible ergonomics, and underfeatured for price; Nikon F65/N65, very good, liked it very much; Nikon F60/N60, not bad; Canon T70, excellent allround camera, suitable for beginner, o

Price. you wont find a Canon or Nikon that can compete with this, for less than 50-75% more money. AF, one of the best metering systems out there, tightest spot meter, best wireless flash system made. ADI metering with "D" series lenses. Metering overall is extremely accurate.

Lens line isnt the best out there, but where the other beat this one out, you are talking lenses over $2000 on up, a tiny niche market.A bit of a learning curve, but, all the newest AF's have a huge book to thumb thru. this ones is about 160+ pages, my old X-700 was i think, 45 or so. other than that, there are none.

One of the best AF cameras out there, forget Manufacturer or price range. AF is superb, fast, accurate. LCD screen on back flips from horizontal to vertical as the camera does. 35 built in functions that can be customized, 3 more customized to your own specs. camera retains memory of 5-7 rolls of film-apeture/speed/f-stop, others depending on back screen you choose to use. Ultra high speed flash sync, fastest out there with proper flash.

Customer Service

none. dont expect any either.

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum 9xi, Maxxum 5, Maxxum 700si

Fast focus, nice built, good quality! I love it!

not too smooth with Sigma 24-70 2.8 pro lens.

This Camera gives very good detials on everything you are doing during the shooting!

Customer Service

no need yet! hopefully don't ever need it!

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 9XI

Focusing system,Metering system,Fast shutter speed 1/8000 sec.Dept of field preview button.LCD screen is a wonder.

Minolta needs to extend its variety of lenses.

I have had the Maxxum 7 Camera for 4 months now.It performs superbly.The AF Focus system is fast and accurate.The metering options offer you many ways to create your vision on film.The view finder is bright and clear.The VC-7 grip is a must buy,especially for me since I have big hands.I could go on and on.Plus I am still learning the possibilites of this camera.

Customer Service

Non!

Similar Products Used:

Maxxum HTsi PLUS,Tamaron 28-300 zoom lensef3.5-6.3 170-500 zoom lense f5-6.3

Fast and accurate AF, Awesome custom functions, reliable metering, 14 honeycomb metering display(?), light weighted compact body, appropriate waterproof quality, ergonomics...still a lot more

Built in quality. it doesn't look tough enoughly for extreme condition like mounatineering photography. not so variable lense lines.

One of the best camera on this market. I took about 40 rolls after my purchasing. and more than 90% of shots were technically good. eventhough there was some strange shot, they were because of extreme condition like shining bedrocks on rock climbing.

Customer Service

not yet

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 707si, 807si/Canon EOS 5/Nikon F80/Nikon F2AS/Canon FTb/Minolta CLE

THE PRICE IS RIGHT! THE FEATURES ARE TIGHT. BUT THE NAVIGATING FOCUS AREAS AND THE QUICK FOCUS ARE OUTSTANDING.

WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH NON-MINOLTA LENSES THAT ARE OTHERWISE COMPATIBLE WITH MINOLTAS OTHER AF SLRS. A LITTLE SMALL IN THE HAND, BUT THIS IS EASILY REMEDIED WITH THE GREAT VC-7.

THIS IS THE BEST OVERALL PRO CAMERA IN THE AF CATERGORY THAT MINOLTA HAS FIELDED. IT'S LIGHT, PACKED WITH FEATURES, AN EASY HANDLER AND THE 9-POINT FOCUS FEATURE AND NAVIGATOR SCREEN ARE OUTSTANDING. FEATURE AND FUNCTION ON THIS JEWEL CERTAINLY OUTWIEGH THE MODEST PRICE TAG.

Customer Service

WIERD LOCK UP PROBLEMS WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED NON-MINOLTA LENSES. ONE CALL TO THE MINOLTA SERVICE CENTER CLEARED THAT UP AND NOW I ONLY USE MINOLTA LENSES WITH THE 7.

Similar Products Used:

MINOLTA 7000, MINOLTA MAXXUM 700, 800 AND MAXXUM 9.

Feels great. Performs without flaw. The best.

None

This is truly a great camera. It has perfomed remarkably well in every situation. I highly recommed this wonderful Maxxum 7.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Minolta X-700

+Lots and lots of usable (custom) functions. +Fast AF +VC7 grip is a must for even greater handling and extra weight combined with heavy lenses.

Will probably not use it in snowy or rainy condition. But that's when my second body, good old pentax-p30, will do the work.

Recently bought it used after trying out my friends dynax 7. Great handling, more functions then I probably will ever need (is that good or bad?). Previously owning a pentax-p30, still using it, this camera is quite something else! Shot a few rolls of film so far and very happy with the result, this camera will be with me for a long long time.

Customer Service

Not needed. Once I inserted a 24 role film and the camera only noted "12", don't know why but the problem seems to be gone now.

METERING OPTIONS

AUTOFOCUS NOT AS GOOD AS EVERYONE MAKES OUT,HUNTS REGULARLY IN DULLISH LIGHT.ALWAYS HAVE TO USE MANUAL FOCUS WITH THE 75-300 D ZOOM AS HUNTS FOR EVERMORE.BACKLIT SUBJECTS CONFUSE IT ALSO,AM VERY DISSAPOINTED WITH CAMERA,BUILD QUALITY IS TOTAL RUBISH,I SCRATCHED IT WITH A FINGER NAIL!LIKE SOME PLASTIC TOY FROM TOYSRUS 2/10 ANYONE WANT TO BUY IT??

EXCELLENT ELECTRONICS AND METERING SYSTEM,AUTOFOCUS NOT TOO BAD GENERALLY,TOO MANY BUTTONS TO PLAY WITH

Customer Service

WAS NO INSTRUCTIONS WITH THE VC-7 CONTROL GRIP THEY HAD THE NERVE TO CHARGE ME £3.50 FOR 2 SHEETS OF PHOTOCOPIES,NEVER DID GET PROPER MANUAL,SO NOT VERY GOOD

Similar Products Used:

EOS 600 10X BETTER EOS 10 20X BETTER

Ease of use. Changing functions is easy. Fast focusing. Ergonomics. Quick film load.

Not as much environmental protection as the Canon EOS 1v. The variety of Minolta lenses are small in comparison to Canon Nikon. The lenses that they do have, especially the G lenses are optically equivalent or better then the Canon USM L or the Nikon AS-ID lens.

I love this camera. I just purchased my second body because I have the other in for Cleaning, Lube and adjustment (CLA). I have shot about 500 rolls of film through it in the past year. I need a second so when the other is in the shop I still have one. This is a great camera that is ergonomically attractive and functional. I has many features that can be easily adjusted (file leader left out or put in when rewound), unlike Nikon where you have to have it programmed at a dealer or tech dept to do it. This has all the features of the Nikon F100, more that the EOS 3 and Contax N1. This is very easy to work with and fast to adjust. Like I said I just bought a second.

Customer Service

Excellent. CLA take about three weeks and is done well.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon F100, N80, EOS-3