Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D Digital SLR Camera Review
If you’re burnt out on cameras from Canon and Nikon, take into consideration the Konica Minolta Maxxum series of cameras. The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D features are under review in this article.
The Maxxum 7D is a midrange digital SLR that can incorporate optical image stabilization with any lens. It has an Anti-Shake system that is remarkable in that it can be utilized with all lenses and also has a well-organized control layout.
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D is finished in a professional matte black comparable to most standard DSLRs. Although conservative in its angular design, it still looks good. The body consists of a hybrid of magnesium-alloy and plastic and is well-built and crafted. It includes a nicely contoured grip and feels sound. Without a lens, the camera weighs in at about 30 ounces, which is an ounce or two heavier than average for this camera class.
Similar to the Olympus Evolt E300, the Maxxum 7D forgoes a separate status LCD and instead relies on the camera’s main LCD to exhibit shooting settings. On this Maxxum, the large 2.5-inch LCD has room to display more settings than the usual status LCD, such as ISO, color mode, and image parameters, along with others.
The optical system of the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D has obviously been carefully thought out to enable one to take great photos. The digital camera comes with a 6.1 megapixel resolution and an Anti-Shake mechanism.
The Anti-Shake device averts picture blur caused by camera movement. This mechanism is in the Maxxum 7D’s body, working by shifting the CCD, so it operates well with all Konica Minolta autofocus (AF) lenses.
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D’s advanced AF system includes nine focus points.You can leave all of them active and let the camera choose which to use from shot to shot or you can select the active point yourself. You can also set the camera to automatically switch to continuous or tracking AF operation if it detects subject movement.
The Maxxum 7D offers a broad range of exposure selections. These consist of all four standard exposure modes; three light-metering modes (14-segment honeycomb, center-weighted, and spot); ambient exposure compensation either in half-EV increments to plus or minus 3EV or in one-third-EV increments to plus or minus 2EV. The sensor’s sensitivity can be set to auto or from ISO 100 to ISO 3,200 in 1EV increments.
Ok, now let’s look at the user controls for the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D. As should be the case with a serious shooter’s camera, most important features are controlled via dedicated external buttons, rather than being buried in the menu system.
Other shooting settings, including exposure adjustments are controlled with thumb and forefinger command wheels. The white-balance control is one of the quickest and most flexible available, consisting of a rotating switch surrounding a button that ingeniously accesses several menu choices.
Flash setting or ambient exposure compensation can be controlled with a dial on the camera’s top left side, but can also be made using the forefinger wheel, which I found to be more proficient. Overall, control placement and operating efficiency on this camera are among the best I’ve seen on any DSLR.
The Konica Minolta 7D’s noted battery life is more or less adequate for a full day’s shooting. If you are reliant on a long battery life, you can always take along some extras that can be purchased at your neighborhood camera store.
The Minolta 7D allows your pictures to be stored in CompactFlash Type I/II memory cards. A MicroDrive can also be used. Pictures are easily moved from the camera to the PC through the USB 2.0 interface.
There are only a few negatives to note in the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D. First of all, the camera has a slow start-up. You are also limited to one JPEG compression ratio in raw-plus-JPEG, and there is no way to steer clear of noise reduction processing in high ISO images.
I do hope this review of the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D has been of help to you. If you’re looking for a decent professional SLR camera to take shots with, then the Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D might be tough to beat. Of course, do your own research first before shelling out your cash. Happy shopping!
Two important considerations when buying batteries are the cost of the battery and how long it will last, compared to other batteries. It\'s also important to examine how the battery has to be inserted or used with the device, as...
Time to purchase a new digital camera?Buying a new digital camera can be a very overwhelming endeavor. Technology is in a constant state of change and there seems to be new camera announcements every month! There is a way to ensure that you purchase the right...
Great Digital Cameras From Canon And NikonThe latest high end canon digital camera is the power shot S2 IS. This is a 5.0 mega pixel Canon digital camera that features a 12x optical zoom and a 4x digital zoom. This baby is furnished with Optical Image...
Image Stabilizing Digital Cameras ComparisonWith no longer any need for film, digital cameras have started a whole new era for photography. Most of the mechanical parts of a traditional film camera are no longer necessary except for the optical zoom lens. The images are...
The Want for Setting up Nanny Hidden CameraMany among us have to entrust our babies in hands of a nanny as we have work to attend to then we as parents constantly worry as to if the babies are safe. As an employer if your worry is...