Everything!! Construction. Very intuitive layout. Did not need the manual after acclimating to the controls which are very easy to use. Fast autofocus. Great depth of field preview. I use this a lot. I feel that I can go anywhere with this camera and do not have to baby it in the field. Minolta was the first to put pop up flash on a pro end camera.

Hard to find any. Perhaps no mirror lock up without 2 second timer.

I purchased this literally new on E-bay for a great price. I did not expect such an amazing masterpiece! I have a Maxxum 7 which I adore. I have, however, fell in love with the 9 even more. This is the most solid camera I have ever used. It feels like it could and probabaly will last forever. I use it more than the 7. It is built to last. I work out, so the weight of the camera is fine for me. With a heavy lens and the optional battery grip, it is quite a lot, so I do not think this camera is for the smaller person, unfortunalty. But if you are looking for a pro camera with all of the best features and none of the useless bells and whistles, then this is the one for you.

Customer Service

Haven''t had to use yet. Doesn''t always return phone calls for information. Techs generally badly informed.

Similar Products Used:

Minolta 7, 800si, 650si, 9xi, 7xi, Canon ftb, F1

Excellent metering, fast AF, rock solid heavy duty construction, easy to use, lovely layout of controls, a joy to handle.

Heavy, but all top of the line bodies with booster/battery pack are heavy!

Built like a tank, and works like one too. A d*** fine piece of engineering, reliable and robust.

Customer Service

Excellent.

Similar Products Used:

Most Nikons and Minoltas

The Maxxum 9 is a perfect evolution from previous SI camera's. It shows the capability of Minota engineering of light meter and focus technology. I own a Minolta flash meter V, and the 9 compares extremely close in most situations. (extreme white and black are always tricky)
The controls are greatly improved over the former SI camera's. You can easily make flash and exposure compensations with the top mounted control while still looking through the viewfinder. The exposure reading in the viewfinder is very easy to see and can be changed to read in 1/2 or 1/3 stop increments.
Couple this camera with the 5400 HS flash and you can have shutter sync speeds up to 1/12000 of a second (I still don't know if I can use that feature). And perhaps the best feature is the remote flash operation of the Maxxum 9/5400 combination. I use mine with a bogen monopod and I can stick the flash out with one hand for positioning. I also use a monopod brace at times that will allow me to prop the monopod up with my flash on it for even more control.
I would strongly recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in more than casual picture taking. The cost is more than should be paid unless you are serious. However, I have seen some people who are intimidated more by computer technology and might be better off with the 9. It has some computer functions but is still easier to use than the 700SI for instance. Most advanced controls on the 700 are adjusted by a sequence of button pushing and can seem a little much, even more so if you are in a hurry. The Maxxum 9 is not that way. Every control is easy to get to in a pinch. With a little practice, most adjustments can be made without looking.

The weakness I have found is the same with any pro 35mm camera. They are quite impressive to see and I have caught many an eye in some third world countries. This type of equipment can produce enough money for an average family to live for a year or more in some countries. Be carfull with your gear. Many times crooks work in groups to distract you while they take your things. This has not happened to me, however I have felt very uneasy at times.

If you want a very easy to use PROFESSIONAL camera, this is the one. Please, don't be influenced by brand or what someone else uses. This is the camera for me, and it may be for you. Do your research and buy according to how the camera feels to you. Not by fancy funtions.

Customer Service

I have not had any problems with any of the camera manufacturers.

Similar Products Used:

Canon AE1, Canon A1, Minolta 500SI, Minolta 700SI

Extremely high quality high end professional, all metal construction. Absolutely accurate metering and AF. Simple, no nonsense layout which is a joy to use, after those high tech gizmos from Canon and Nikon.

None.

Breathtaking piece of equipment. Unfortunately, the lack of pro level support (CPS/NPS), fast ultrasonic (USM/HSM/AF-S) lenses and maybe an image stablized lens here and there, make people (including myself) look elsewhere for serious professional work.

Customer Service

none needed

Similar Products Used:

EOS-3, EOS-1N, F5, F70, F90, almost all the older Minoltas

Built construction
All pro fascilities available
Easy to use
Flash synch,cordless

None

One of the three best AF SLRs at present

Customer Service

Very Good

Similar Products Used:

Dynax 9xi
Eos 1n RS

The camera has excellent ergonomics, almost no unnecessary features, a superb light meter and an extremely bright viewfinder (100% field of view)

Some people find the af to slow ... I’m not sure of it ... but mostly I don’t need it (and when I do it works perfectly) .I wish the camera was lighter ... I use it with a 28-70 2.8 G lens – it’s a heavy combo

Simply put ... an amazing camera.
If you’re looking for a REAL photographic work tool this is a body to consider.
It's the best one I have ever used...

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

F100, F5 ,Eos 1N

This is arguably the best 35mm camera in the world. The weight balance and construction and the overall feel of the camera is very comfortable. Just about every control for the camera is on a knob or switch, which makes it feel like a real camera rather then a computer. The 1/12000 shutter speed paided off when I had 3200 speed film in and saw a great shot in bright day light. Not a problem for the 9 =)

Eats up batteries, go figure. A bit on the expensive side for people who just want vacation pictures

The 9 is great, it's the only 35mm camera you'll ever need. However, it's rather big and heavy. I still carry a disposable in my pocket.

Customer Service

Haven't had to use it yet

Similar Products Used:

7000, pentax p30, disposables =P

I bought an n90s a few months ago (which, may i addd, is a great camera!) but i still love this big hunk of metal!!! it may not have the speed of the f5 or 1v but this camera has the feel of a well made tool...theres no BS here, no gimicky functions...just a solid camera that will get the job done and do it well...its a photographic workhorse/tool/companion. Great job minolta!

didnt have enough money to buy one=*(
needed to have money left for a good flash and lense, so iwent with my nikon...which is great though...
but i still love this minolta

a great camera!! if you was a rugged, serious, no joke camera...get this....along with the olympus om4, this camera is one of my favorites! you can find it for like $1300 these days which it nice....i even saw a nice 28-70 2.8 G lense used on B&H for like 600 bux!

Similar Products Used:

f5....f100....eos3

It feels like a real peice of machineryin your hand. The metal body gives the feel that this baby can handle what you have planned. It is well balanced so it feels natural in your hands. the metering is great you cannot help but take great photos.

Be sure to keep your manual nearby if you plan to change any of your settings because the camera does so much. I can deal with that sort of weakness.

This is a great camera, I thought along time, before this purchase. I almost jumped ship, to another brand, but Minolta has produced a real pro camera. This will hold its own against any other camera.

Customer Service

have never used it.

Similar Products Used:

400si, Ex5 ,Srt100 and 201.

Very well built, very easy to use, high ownership satisfaction, excellent ergonomics. Great viewfinder.

AF speed not up to Nikon or Canon standard(even for non-USM or AFS lenses). CPU speed a bit slow for this class of camera(makes program shift and change of aperture or shutter value rather slow) Built in flash not as versatile as supposed to be.

One of the bestbuilt pro cameras in the market, if one can stand some minor quirks.

Customer Service

None needed

Similar Products Used:

EOS-1, EOS-1n, F100