this guy should have his own TV program. He is a natural and does not pollute his spoken text with space-filling ummm's, ahhhh's, etcetera and everything is interesting. He now has me replacing my search for a Leica M rangefinder with the Minolta CLE! Five star video - thank you for taking the time to share your enthusiasm and knowledge! hope that Sony arrived shortly after your original post, although fifty bucks says you've already moved on to its second generation.
I watch his Minolta videos over and over again now and again that is, but this was the first time i looked past the lovely addictive cameras, he is perfect as a presenter, @Gary Friedman , hope to see you having your own tv show, u are absolute made for that! Or go into Acting, can't imagine u would ever have to do a re-take!
I appreciate this video as my family doesnt understand why i love my vintage minolta SRT 101 - my kids have grown up in this digital world and just dont have the appreciation for vintage / analog gear. I just shot a roll of Delta 100 with my SRT 101 and the tactile feel of shooting, the deliberate shots that i had to think of before just pushing the shutter, the magic of analog / film! Minolta will always have a soft spot for me!
I started with a dynax 4 minolta in 2006 and I'm hooked in photography till now , Thank you Gary for every single video you made about the minolta cameras / lenses
Damn camera snobs. A pop-up flash is something I miss on my newer Sony's as it's a free built in wireless flash trigger and a great emergency fill light when traveling. Loved the look back at these cameras and the presentation, especially for a video that's made 9 years ago.
Got into photography just as the XD-5 was released. Absolutely loved that camera and still have it! Never bought anything else until they quit making Panatomic-X (ASA-32) whereby I went digital. Used to develop all my color-slide and B&W films; miss those days so much…
Nice line-up of great cameras! I still have my Dynax (Maxxum) 7 which I purchased after the 1st was stolen. Never used it though, as I stepped up to digital in the same period, but I will never get rid of it, and I just wish I saved my older cameras as well... Very clear video and you talk about it with enthusiasm, I like that!
Very good explanation, I like your eye for details and the modification you did on the 9000 auto focus and your sense of perspective when it comes to the state of the art western technology in comparison to the simple basic designZenith camera!
Loved this< I a have been a lover of Minolta for many years and was devastated when they pulled out of Camera manufacturing. like you ( to a lesser degree) I have done many things where my camera has been. It is amazing how when I think back.on old photographs, I can pinpoint what camera I used back then. Thank you for the great video.
The XE-7 is still my favorite camera of all time. I've purchased three over the years, along with many other Minoltas, going back to the SR-7 and SR-2, the SRTs, the XK1 and most of the XGs and Maxxums. The XE-7 was never really surpassed. Aperture priority and depth of field preview were all I ever needed! And now, all my old Minolta glass works even better on my Sony A7!
Great video. I remember the nonsense about the Dynax 9 in the photography magazines but it did not stop me from buying it. Fantastic camera and I still have it. The Dynax 7 was a better camera and it replaced my workhorse Dynax 700si. The Dimage A1 was a fantastic upgrade from the Dimage 7Hi. I used it on my travels and I loved that there was a vertical grip for it which with took 2 batteries. The RX10 series seems to be the modern version although there is no option for a vertical grip.
My faves are the SRT-201 (depth of field preview and great, but bottom-weighted meter, so if you weren't shooting landscapes, be careful) and the X-570 (metered manual, which the X-700 did not have). Rokkor lenses have always been great, although underrated. Excellent vid--thanks!
You, sir, are right and I stand corrected. Thanks for helping me remember way back when. LOL!! I'm passing my X-700 along with a couple of lenses to a friend this afternoon. Her daughter is getting into photography and I can't think of a better way to start than an X-series Minolta. I am, however, keeping both of my X-570's, an X-370 and all of my SRT's. Again, thanks for the correction!
Been looking at some of the later low end autofocus slr’s that can shoot panoramas, any suggestions? 450xi? 300 series? Also picked up an alpha 7 recently and love it!
Don't be fooled; film cameras can't actually shoot panoramas. Cameras that claim to have this ability just mask off the top and bottom third of the frame, leaving a thin strip in the middle which gets exposed. Printing houses then knew to print "panorama"; but the fact is you can take ANY negative and tell them to print it Panorama style. Just the center third will be printed. That feature was truly a farce.
Sir, I got my first DSLR in 2008. It was a used Sony A100. I have finally come full circle. My Konica Minolta 7D arrived today! I now own 4 minolta lenses(28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.7, 70-210 f4 and 75-300 f4.6-5.6) I also have the Sony 35 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 now. I first got the sony lenses when a friend of mine sold me his NEX-3 with LAEA1 and the two Sony Lenses. I will have reached my apex when I pick up the Sony A850 next week. (Sony A3000 emount will be my go to camera for HD video for now) Daughter and I went shooting and filming the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 this weekend. The 7D has an issue I think I resolved. If I don't push the memory card all the way down or pull it out very very slightly it works fine. Otherwise it just has a "cannot read memory card error should I format" However since it is a 1gb I want to try a bigger card. Maybe it's an issue with the card and not the camera.
Hi, do you have any suggestion for having a Minolta Dynax 9 viewfinder led issue repaired ? I read Minolta made a recall soon after they started selling it. Regards
I never heard of that recall. And right now Precision Camera is probably the best option for repairing Minoltas, despite their uneven history. www.precision-camera.com/
Some electronics just die. Some require disassembly to figure out what the problem is. And of course some things are impossible to troubleshoot via messages like this. I can tell you only that I haven't heard of this being a common failure mode. 😞
@@FriedmanArchives I hope it is something simple? I have finally got the full Minolta 9000 system together and the Eb-90 doesn’t power up! Is there a certain way to switch it on? Cheers
@@codenamegrimlock I have never owned the extended back. I really can't comment intelligently. I tried googling "Minolta EB-90 failure" but nothing relevant came up. I wish I could be more helpful!
@@FriedmanArchives at least you tried mate! If you look at my channel it fits perfectly but I just don’t think they sold enough of them to have any more information on them
I have my Minolta X300s since the early 90's and still functioning. Recently I got the Minolta Alpha/Maxxum 7 from eBay. For the DSLR, I started with the Dimage A2, and progressed to the 7D. Unfortunately, the 7D got rain soaked and it is waiting for repair. Repair cost will the USD 300+. Now I go with Sony DSLRs.
My srt202 sadly needs to much work to start using it again. Looking for a new camera and YES it's been a while since I've used an slr. I would love a video on what to get in todays market that I can operate on manual mode and take quality pictures without spending a fortune. Thanks. Grreat. Great video.
@@garyfriedman2005 Thanks. I feel back in the day, their were more choices. Now it seems it's all Canon and Nikon and everything shoots video. A little confusing for someone that just wan't to take a picture. Hey Gary. What ever happened to Minolta?
@@garyfriedman2005 Thank you Gary. I watched that Minolta video from start to finish. You're a natural. Expertise is something sorely lacking these days. It's nice to know people like you are still in the mix. Anytime you want to sell something, just shoot a video and you'll find me at home searching my pockets.
RD-175 had three CCDs, indeed. They were 0.4 megapixels only, but one of them captured red and blue information and two captured green. The trick was that they were offset with regards to each other which allowed rather successful interpolation, and you ended up with an interpolated 1.7 megapixel image. The crop factor wasn't even that bad, only 2x (vertically, actually 2.15x diagonally). Even though the sensors were 4.8x6.4 mm (tinier than the one in A2 you had there), there were relay optics with a focal length reducer which compressed the image (16x12 mm) to the final size. Still, it did work.
Great video, I was brought here because I just acquired XD7 (XD11 US) and wanted to see honest review and get more information about it. I thought it will be among the worst ones for a while lol. I used Zenith xp12, russian invention. Not as bad as you might think and definitely better than the one showed in the vid.
Glad you like the video! The link for the 10 worst appeared in the video's description: friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2012/04/the-top-worst-minoltas-ever-made.html
You may be correct on the LCD display, but as far as usability for Weddings the Maxxum 9 runs roughshod all over the 7! So many times the 1/300 sec of the 9 allowed me to get shots not possible with 7. Also remote triggering of a camera is possible with PW + Max 9; not with 7. 7 is not even a close second.
Der Mr.Friedmann, tanks so much for All your great videos, had a Minolta7000 question. Purchased one which has production nr 2,000,000 written on the back of it. Assume it item nr 2million off the production line -do you know when the last 7000 Maxxum was produced?
Hi Mr. Gary Friedman, i really enjoy to listening your explanation about Minolta cameras. I had a question about it, could you help me? Which is better of these 3 cameras; Minolta XE-1, XG-1, or X-700? Because on their specifications, especially for XE-1 and XG-1, because there are not really different (had an Auto mode, and P mode on X-700)..thank you :)
I find myself watching this video after being inspired to shoot film and develope it myself (at least BW for now) and since I have a Minolta 50mm 1.7 af that I used on my sony a350 I figure i would buy a Minolta AF camera and use the same lens that helped start my photographic career on digital to now start on film. What minolta AF would you recommend that can be found at a reasonable price and in working condition?
Such a difficult question to answer! Much depends on the kind of shooting you do and your budget. My favorites are the 85mm f/1.4 and the 80-200mm f/2.8 G lens. The 28-70 f/2.8 is an outstanding lens as well (although it's the slowest focusing lens I've ever used). Their macro lenses are stellar also.
I enjoyed this! For me, happiness is a film advance lever!! There's just something so satisfying about it that no auto advance or digital camera can match! Pure joy! I love my Nikon digital SLR, but my old Minoltas are sooo damned sexy! I have an SRT 101, 2 XD-11s, plus an X-700 and QTSi or some such thing. The X-700 and QT don't get a lot of love though. X-700 is a fine camera, but I much prefer using the SRT and XDs.
Minolta 800si was the only camera till now , to the best of my knowledge, had the built in flash, that could zome with ( menu selectable) the attached zoom lens between the 24-80mm range. Auto Zoom.
Gary, I wanted to know which camera do you recommend me : Minolta Alpha 9 or Nikon F5 ? I prefer Nikon F5 design but specs of Minolta 9. Also Nikon F5 seems to have more lenses adapters for vintage lenses such as Fujica X-Fujinon which i have in 50mm f/1.2 ... I cannot find adapter to A-Mount but there are plenty for F-Mount
Tough choice. I'd say the only advantage the A9 has over the F5 is the built-in wireless flash controller (i.e., the pop-up flash). In most other respects the F5 might be the more versatile of the two.
I have 2, count them Dimage A1.s. Got one with a broken lens, but it still took good pictures!!!!!. Had both sensors replaced while that still would be done free. and the lens got replaced for free. Don't use them much anymore, but they were ground breakers for sure.
Gary Friedman, your suggestions would be appreciated. Mirror locked up & Advance Lever won't advances. Even motordrive attached won't shoot. 4000/F22 shown only at turn on Fresh batteries.
Gary, Gary, Gary! Great video. My (main) Gripe: you simply did not toot the fabulous Maxxum 9's horn loudly enough. I (still) have 2 of these that I used to photo Weddings for $. Best film body EVER made by ANYONE. You forgot shutter sync of 1/300 sec and shutter repeatability with Pocket Wizards. Why have that awful drive on there? Mine were always sans -- less weight -- still 5fps. What about Maxxum 7000 - 1st AF camera ever -- w 1st HSS EVER. Gary!
It was probably the best 6 MP camera made. Perfectly publishable images (I know, I've published A3-sized images taken with it.) If it doesn't have the first frame black problem, then by all means go take it for a spin and delight in all that it offers!
Gary, Love your show! I just bought an old Minolta SRT201 with a Rokker 50mm and a 200 mm lens..Could you please give me an idea of it's value? also, where can I get flim for it?
Hi Gary, Can you do a presentation on Minolta legacy lens compared to current Sony G lenses and Zeiss for Sony lenses. My camera is the Sony A 7ii and as you likely know the better lenses for that system are rather costly It would be most helpful to your subscribers and owners of your "how too books" if you examine the quality of the Minolta legacy lenses. Thanks in advance.
@@FriedmanArchives I really do enjoy the 9xi and have since 1997. I don't see where Minolta failed as I see it i like every function on it. With 56 years of owning 35mm cameras I have a lot to compare it to.. There were several models the company had that I didn't like like the 7000 and 5000 , seems later the 3000 came. Now the 8000i came out that was my first auto focus camera, function was flawless but I got to use a 9xi for a weekend and liked everything about it including the body design. Why should any camera be shaped like a 2X4 when the human hand is not. The cards were neither here or there for me, I have 5 cards and use them off and on, ya they help expand the let's say spectrum. Professional uses , i know two where I live that earn a living using them . No it doesn't have Leica written all over it which is fine as I don't shoot for NG anyway.
Minolta used to use standard hot shoes (with proprietary flash control contacts, like everyone else) until the xi series came out. That continued until a few years after Sony bought them.
i had a minolta max8000 with zero shutter count, thats right, it was never used.....I sent it to Adorama, asked them it they wanted to buy....Adorama loast it, or so they said, i believe either an employee stole it or they did....Adorama sent me back a minolta max9000 clearly not in the same condition that my 8000 was in....How bad a lose did i take ?........
thank you, i am not sure if this 9000 works or not, but adorama rated it's condition high.......if you could let me know how i could send you this camera i will for your evaluation.....thanks again.....i am in Europe now, did Minolta make another 9000 model?
wonderful presentation. Large viewfinder is important to me. I have aging eyes that still want to manually focus, and need viewfinder to support my desire
Gary Friedman for the Minolta XD series, I'm guseeing contact lenses should suffice for glasses wearers. Gary, are there any websites that provide the details of viewfinder magnification (and similar details)? I am interested in retro manual film cameras, and would like to explore the Minolta system like I have the Pentax & Konica brands. The Pentax MX has an amazing viewfinder that I find extremely easy to manually focus, and the Konica T4 is pretty good as well. (The Pentax LX is absolutely amazing along with special optioal attachments, but the complex electronics is not robust enough for my purposes. I don’t want it to break down on me. There are fewer repair options available as time goes on. (Potential clunkers are more suited for museums that for my actual intent for usage in the field) Here’s a fantastic example site that gives viewfinder details of Konica cameras. www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eT4Daten.html KONICA T4: Magnification: 0.89x (with 50mm lens at ∞) Viewfinder shows 90% of actual image area
Manual cameras in winter time CAN stick, because any lubricant inside anywhere, can thicken in the cold, jamming the mechanism. Also, the film can tear because it gets brittle in the cold. But battery powered electronic shutters die almost immediately; so yes, the manual shutter is a bit better. But it's not a perfect world, even though the build quality of old cameras & lenses is superb, compared to almost anything today.
@@FriedmanArchives I did (by accident) took some pictures with 200 ISO and I know exactly what you mean lol. I did however was able to remove the blur quite nice with Topaz Sharpen AI and some Affinity FFT Denoise filters
Not sure who told this guy he should leave his cameras in full cocked mode. If you ask me with those older cameras your asking for trouble doing that by keeping tension on the shutter spring mechanics . Specially the really old ones with spooled cloth shutter systems.
Completely agree - "spring creep" is a real metal fatigue and that's why I always store my lenses off of the camera body and stopped down, and that's why I store them without cocking the shutter.
hey gary i just today found a minolta maxxum 7000 at a thrift store i bought it but i have no idea if its a good camera or really too much about it. Im not sure if you talked about it in either category (best or worst) but wondering if you could tell me anything about it. Even if its not that great it doesnt matter i only paid $8 for it. So please tell me either way
+Clayton Prins Neither best nor worst; but it was the first commercially available consumer system. They're relatively slow to AF (by modern standards), and that particular model is prone to failures of the aperture-control mechanism. If yours exposes well on a bright day, then you're not suffering from this problem. Congratulations on your find! GF
no to shooting with it..........thanks for the help, good luck with your book and assignment....i will return to states middle of October, be well, be safe....
***** I am surprised you responded to me considering I am using a anime charcter. Any tips for a noob so far I am looking up tutorials and plan to take for a test run as far as I can tell it works.
thats a bit of a shame, that wouldve been useful. a mechanical shutter. didnt know that did the first models of the SRT and XD lie have mechanical shutters?
I used the SRT 202 for almost two decades. it was my personal favorite. I coupled it with a Vivitar Zoom, macro lens that made it an all around phenomenal camera. it was rugged and reliable especially when trekking through the rain and cloud forests of Costa Rica. That combo allowed me to zoom in on wildlife in the distance, and a quick click of the lens to macro allowed me to capture the most minute flora and fauna. Sadly, it was destroyed. If I could find a digital camera with the same features I would buy it in a heartbeat, but the newer cameras seem to be designed for imbeciles who need all the settings done by computer.
@@FriedmanArchives I read a review and you are correct, however, the prices are way too high for me to afford. The cheapest I found was around $500 on eBay for a questionable used camera body, to $2,000.
100th Comment!...Gary, it’s all your fault. I always had a soft spot for Minoltas too. I now own the SR-T101 in Black, SR-T201, XE-7, XD11, X-700, Maxxum 7000! All mint condition, like new. I’m allowing myself one more, probably the Maxxum 7 soon. I love them all, and use them all! Film is still fun and just so unique compared to Digital.
Well, on the plus side, you didn't have to change film as often on the XK! :-) But you're right - all the competitors could go faster than 3 fps on their motor-driven bodies.
I am currently looking at the Minolta 7000. I have always wanted a film camera and felt the quality of the pic always seem better/true, i.e. more personal, captures the essence, and feeling. Now that digital didn't do that and it also depends on the individual taking the picture too. The individual selling the camera barely used it and its been stuck in storage. They are selling it for 150.00 as a set: Minolta Maxxum 7000 Camera with case Kiwi Cushion Case with many pockets Minolta AF Lens 50 49mm with case Kalimar Lens 60 Auto Focus 300mm with cushion case Minolta Maxxum Flash 2800AF with case Would this be a good buy?
Gary: more: The Maxxum 7 was a lame (consumer oriented camera) attempt to imitate the Maxxum 9 -- I have 2 of each type -- the 7's IMO are a relatively lame compared to the '9; and those 9's are head & shoulders above in every respect. However, I never had any of those fancy data backs you are showing.
Maybe he just didn't care for them. My first camera was an X-370 what I wore out and then I picked up the X-700 that I thought was great. Later I shot a Maxxum 7 and was looking at the 7d. That was right around the time Sony bought Minolta. It took awhile before Sony was able to get a digital camera to market and waiting so long I ended up going to Canon mainly because of there lens selection. I do miss all my old cameras and the memories though.
this guy should have his own TV program. He is a natural and does not pollute his spoken text with space-filling ummm's, ahhhh's, etcetera and everything is interesting. He now has me replacing my search for a Leica M rangefinder with the Minolta CLE! Five star video - thank you for taking the time to share your enthusiasm and knowledge! hope that Sony arrived shortly after your original post, although fifty bucks says you've already moved on to its second generation.
I watch his Minolta videos over and over again now and again that is, but this was the first time i looked past the lovely addictive cameras, he is perfect as a presenter, @Gary Friedman , hope to see you having your own tv show, u are absolute made for that! Or go into Acting, can't imagine u would ever have to do a re-take!
Yes to all that, and he does it all without annoying background music! Well done that man.
I too watch the ummmmms
I have been a Minolta fan in the film days and really enjoyed the way you presented those cameras. Brought back lots of memories. Thank you!
my left ear really enjoyed this :D
I appreciate this video as my family doesnt understand why i love my vintage minolta SRT 101 - my kids have grown up in this digital world and just dont have the appreciation for vintage / analog gear. I just shot a roll of Delta 100 with my SRT 101 and the tactile feel of shooting, the deliberate shots that i had to think of before just pushing the shutter, the magic of analog / film! Minolta will always have a soft spot for me!
Thanks so much, and I hope it helps your family to understand. I certainly feel the same way about it as you do!
I started with a dynax 4 minolta in 2006 and I'm hooked in photography till now , Thank you Gary for every single video you made about the minolta cameras / lenses
Damn camera snobs.
A pop-up flash is something I miss on my newer Sony's as it's a free built in wireless flash trigger and a great emergency fill light when traveling.
Loved the look back at these cameras and the presentation, especially for a video that's made 9 years ago.
Thank you, and I completely agree with you about the utility of the pop-up flash!
Got into photography just as the XD-5 was released. Absolutely loved that camera and still have it!
Never bought anything else until they quit making Panatomic-X (ASA-32) whereby I went digital.
Used to develop all my color-slide and B&W films; miss those days so much…
Nice line-up of great cameras! I still have my Dynax (Maxxum) 7 which I purchased after the 1st was stolen. Never used it though, as I stepped up to digital in the same period, but I will never get rid of it, and I just wish I saved my older cameras as well... Very clear video and you talk about it with enthusiasm, I like that!
Very good explanation, I like your eye for details and the modification you did on the 9000 auto focus and your sense of perspective when it comes to the state of the art western technology in comparison to the simple basic designZenith camera!
I always enjoy watching this video!
Loved this< I a have been a lover of Minolta for many years and was devastated when they pulled out of Camera manufacturing. like you ( to a lesser degree) I have done many things where my camera has been. It is amazing how when I think back.on old photographs, I can pinpoint what camera I used back then. Thank you for the great video.
I have recently bought an srt 200 I really enjoy it Thank you for the video
that is a superb camera. i saved up and got one new in 1980 for use while travelling.
Impressive collection for sure and easy to see your love for them!
Thanks!
u left out the x700....that shd've been one of the best cameras ever made
See the follow-up blog post - link is in the description.
The XE-7 is still my favorite camera of all time. I've purchased three over the years, along with many other Minoltas, going back to the SR-7 and SR-2, the SRTs, the XK1 and most of the XGs and Maxxums. The XE-7 was never really surpassed. Aperture priority and depth of field preview were all I ever needed! And now, all my old Minolta glass works even better on my Sony A7!
@@garyfriedman2005 Agreed. And now, shutter priority, too!.. That's why all the newer Minolta lenses have a green 22.
Great video. I remember the nonsense about the Dynax 9 in the photography magazines but it did not stop me from buying it. Fantastic camera and I still have it. The Dynax 7 was a better camera and it replaced my workhorse Dynax 700si. The Dimage A1 was a fantastic upgrade from the Dimage 7Hi. I used it on my travels and I loved that there was a vertical grip for it which with took 2 batteries. The RX10 series seems to be the modern version although there is no option for a vertical grip.
I'd like to buy a dynax 7, but i keep reading about its aperture control gear stripping down and breaking. Have you had any experience with that?
My faves are the SRT-201 (depth of field preview and great, but bottom-weighted meter, so if you weren't shooting landscapes, be careful) and the X-570 (metered manual, which the X-700 did not have). Rokkor lenses have always been great, although underrated. Excellent vid--thanks!
You, sir, are right and I stand corrected. Thanks for helping me remember way back when. LOL!! I'm passing my X-700 along with a couple of lenses to a friend this afternoon. Her daughter is getting into photography and I can't think of a better way to start than an X-series Minolta. I am, however, keeping both of my X-570's, an X-370 and all of my SRT's. Again, thanks for the correction!
Good instructional video. Lots of fun! I'm excited about my Minolta!
Been looking at some of the later low end autofocus slr’s that can shoot panoramas, any suggestions? 450xi? 300 series? Also picked up an alpha 7 recently and love it!
Don't be fooled; film cameras can't actually shoot panoramas. Cameras that claim to have this ability just mask off the top and bottom third of the frame, leaving a thin strip in the middle which gets exposed. Printing houses then knew to print "panorama"; but the fact is you can take ANY negative and tell them to print it Panorama style. Just the center third will be printed. That feature was truly a farce.
@@FriedmanArchives ah I see what you mean! Not what I expected thank you
Sir, I got my first DSLR in 2008. It was a used Sony A100. I have finally come full circle. My Konica Minolta 7D arrived today! I now own 4 minolta lenses(28mm 2.8, 50mm 1.7, 70-210 f4 and 75-300 f4.6-5.6) I also have the Sony 35 1.8 and 50mm 1.8 now. I first got the sony lenses when a friend of mine sold me his NEX-3 with LAEA1 and the two Sony Lenses. I will have reached my apex when I pick up the Sony A850 next week. (Sony A3000 emount will be my go to camera for HD video for now) Daughter and I went shooting and filming the Union Pacific Big Boy 4014 this weekend. The 7D has an issue I think I resolved. If I don't push the memory card all the way down or pull it out very very slightly it works fine. Otherwise it just has a "cannot read memory card error should I format" However since it is a 1gb I want to try a bigger card. Maybe it's an issue with the card and not the camera.
@@garyfriedman2005 thank you. the 7D is a beast!
Hi, do you have any suggestion for having a Minolta Dynax 9 viewfinder led issue repaired ? I read Minolta made a recall soon after they started selling it. Regards
I never heard of that recall. And right now Precision Camera is probably the best option for repairing Minoltas, despite their uneven history. www.precision-camera.com/
@Gary Friedman I'd love to see a video on the best A-mount lenses. Zooms first (18-250 or 20-200mm range perhaps) then primes.
Please help me? I cannot get my EB-90 back to power on? Have put fresh batteries in and nothing
Some electronics just die. Some require disassembly to figure out what the problem is. And of course some things are impossible to troubleshoot via messages like this. I can tell you only that I haven't heard of this being a common failure mode. 😞
@@FriedmanArchives I hope it is something simple? I have finally got the full Minolta 9000 system together and the Eb-90 doesn’t power up! Is there a certain way to switch it on? Cheers
@@codenamegrimlock I have never owned the extended back. I really can't comment intelligently. I tried googling "Minolta EB-90 failure" but nothing relevant came up. I wish I could be more helpful!
@@FriedmanArchives at least you tried mate! If you look at my channel it fits perfectly but I just don’t think they sold enough of them to have any more information on them
@@FriedmanArchives when I next come to Canada 🇨🇦 I will bring it with me just in case I see you lol 😂
I have my Minolta X300s since the early 90's and still functioning. Recently I got the Minolta Alpha/Maxxum 7 from eBay.
For the DSLR, I started with the Dimage A2, and progressed to the 7D. Unfortunately, the 7D got rain soaked and it is waiting for repair. Repair cost will the USD 300+.
Now I go with Sony DSLRs.
Thank you for this video! Instant classic!
Glad you enjoyed it!
At 7:46 - this unit is almost identical to mine Zenit-E (1983) with Gelios 44-M2 58/2. Very nice prime lens!
Why didnt you use the 2 of the audio channels?
My srt202 sadly needs to much work to start using it again. Looking for a new camera and YES it's been a while since I've used an slr. I would love a video on what to get in todays market that I can operate on manual mode and take quality pictures without spending a fortune. Thanks. Grreat. Great video.
@@garyfriedman2005 Thanks. I feel back in the day, their were more choices. Now it seems it's all Canon and Nikon and everything shoots video. A little confusing for someone that just wan't to take a picture. Hey Gary. What ever happened to Minolta?
@@garyfriedman2005 Thank you Gary. I watched that Minolta video from start to finish. You're a natural. Expertise is something sorely lacking these days. It's nice to know people like you are still in the mix. Anytime you want to sell something, just shoot a video and you'll find me at home searching my pockets.
For getting things to stick sillocone there's a primer called griper put a bit on let it dry now you stick a bigger button on.
NOW you tell me! :-)
the very first camera shown is definitely the best one for me, ;) Very nice. Thank you
RD-175 had three CCDs, indeed. They were 0.4 megapixels only, but one of them captured red and blue information and two captured green. The trick was that they were offset with regards to each other which allowed rather successful interpolation, and you ended up with an interpolated 1.7 megapixel image. The crop factor wasn't even that bad, only 2x (vertically, actually 2.15x diagonally). Even though the sensors were 4.8x6.4 mm (tinier than the one in A2 you had there), there were relay optics with a focal length reducer which compressed the image (16x12 mm) to the final size. Still, it did work.
Great video, I was brought here because I just acquired XD7 (XD11 US) and wanted to see honest review and get more information about it. I thought it will be among the worst ones for a while lol. I used Zenith xp12, russian invention. Not as bad as you might think and definitely better than the one showed in the vid.
Glad you like the video! The link for the 10 worst appeared in the video's description: friedmanarchives.blogspot.com/2012/04/the-top-worst-minoltas-ever-made.html
You may be correct on the LCD display, but as far as usability for Weddings the Maxxum 9 runs roughshod all over the 7! So many times the 1/300 sec of the 9 allowed me to get shots not possible with 7. Also remote triggering of a camera is possible with PW + Max 9; not with 7. 7 is not even a close second.
Der Mr.Friedmann, tanks so much for All your great videos, had a Minolta7000 question. Purchased one which has production nr 2,000,000 written on the back of it. Assume it item nr 2million off the production line -do you know when the last 7000 Maxxum was produced?
Hi Mr. Gary Friedman, i really enjoy to listening your explanation about Minolta cameras. I had a question about it, could you help me? Which is better of these 3 cameras; Minolta XE-1, XG-1, or X-700? Because on their specifications, especially for XE-1 and XG-1, because there are not really different (had an Auto mode, and P mode on X-700)..thank you :)
I find myself watching this video after being inspired to shoot film and develope it myself (at least BW for now) and since I have a Minolta 50mm 1.7 af that I used on my sony a350 I figure i would buy a Minolta AF camera and use the same lens that helped start my photographic career on digital to now start on film. What minolta AF would you recommend that can be found at a reasonable price and in working condition?
Such a difficult question to answer! Much depends on the kind of shooting you do and your budget. My favorites are the 85mm f/1.4 and the 80-200mm f/2.8 G lens. The 28-70 f/2.8 is an outstanding lens as well (although it's the slowest focusing lens I've ever used). Their macro lenses are stellar also.
@@garyfriedman4001 ohh tahnks, i would look for those, and for bodies?
@@1RJ2 My favorites, by a large margin, are the Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum 7 and 9.
@@FriedmanArchives only things is they go for around $300, guess its time to save a little fo endevour haha
I enjoyed this! For me, happiness is a film advance lever!! There's just something so satisfying about it that no auto advance or digital camera can match! Pure joy! I love my Nikon digital SLR, but my old Minoltas are sooo damned sexy! I have an SRT 101, 2 XD-11s, plus an X-700 and QTSi or some such thing. The X-700 and QT don't get a lot of love though. X-700 is a fine camera, but I much prefer using the SRT and XDs.
Minolta 800si was the only camera till now , to the best of my knowledge, had the built in flash, that could zome with ( menu selectable) the attached zoom lens between the 24-80mm range. Auto Zoom.
Almost the same era, Nikon N90 and Canon EOS 5 also builded in zoom flash. That was amazing flim photography era.
Gary, I wanted to know which camera do you recommend me : Minolta Alpha 9 or Nikon F5 ? I prefer Nikon F5 design but specs of Minolta 9. Also Nikon F5 seems to have more lenses adapters for vintage lenses such as Fujica X-Fujinon which i have in 50mm f/1.2 ... I cannot find adapter to A-Mount but there are plenty for F-Mount
Tough choice. I'd say the only advantage the A9 has over the F5 is the built-in wireless flash controller (i.e., the pop-up flash). In most other respects the F5 might be the more versatile of the two.
a jo mysle ze smiena je lepszo
"Like a soldier with his light - or like a Jedi with his light saber" - I couldn't have said better.
Gary that was awesome. Subscibed! More videos about Minolta's please!
I have 2, count them Dimage A1.s. Got one with a broken lens, but it still took good pictures!!!!!. Had both sensors replaced while that still would be done free.
and the lens got replaced for free. Don't use them much anymore, but they were ground breakers for sure.
Gary Friedman, your suggestions would be appreciated.
Mirror locked up & Advance Lever won't advances.
Even motordrive attached won't shoot.
4000/F22 shown only at turn on
Fresh batteries.
I am sorry.
The 9000 (7:22) camera
Gary, Gary, Gary! Great video. My (main) Gripe: you simply did not toot the fabulous Maxxum 9's horn loudly enough. I (still) have 2 of these that I used to photo Weddings for $. Best film body EVER made by ANYONE. You forgot shutter sync of 1/300 sec and shutter repeatability with Pocket Wizards. Why have that awful drive on there? Mine were always sans -- less weight -- still 5fps. What about Maxxum 7000 - 1st AF camera ever -- w 1st HSS EVER. Gary!
love my XD. looove it
Sir, you have forgotten to mention 7D was the first in-body stabilizer DSLR. Missed my 7 and 7D camera.
What are your thoughts on using a Maxxum D7 nowadays. Is there any value left in it?
It was probably the best 6 MP camera made. Perfectly publishable images (I know, I've published A3-sized images taken with it.) If it doesn't have the first frame black problem, then by all means go take it for a spin and delight in all that it offers!
@@FriedmanArchives Thanks for the feedback! Do you think my Sigma lenses from my Maxxum 5000i would work since they’re both Minolta A-Mounts?
@@anonymousushanka4129 They certainly should!
do these cameras take the MD or MC mount lenses?
Everything before the "Maxxum" (AF) cameras could take either the MC or MD lenses.
Gary, Love your show! I just bought an old Minolta SRT201 with a Rokker 50mm and a 200 mm lens..Could you please give me an idea of it's value? also, where can I get flim for it?
Excellent job! I wish I could recall the model I purchased back in the mid 1980's. Phooey!
Hi Gary, Can you do a presentation on Minolta legacy lens compared to current Sony G lenses and Zeiss for Sony lenses. My camera is the Sony A 7ii and as you likely know the better lenses for that system are rather costly It would be most helpful to your subscribers and owners of your "how too books" if you examine the quality of the Minolta legacy lenses. Thanks in advance.
I'm like you i love my Minolta Maxxum camera's 9000 , 7xi and the worderful 9xi..well done ..thanks ..
If you loved the 9xi, then whatever you do DON'T look at my "Worst Minoltas" list. :-)
@@FriedmanArchives I really do enjoy the 9xi and have since 1997. I don't see where Minolta failed as I see it i like every function on it. With 56 years of owning 35mm cameras I have a lot to compare it to.. There were several models the company had that I didn't like like the 7000 and 5000 , seems later the 3000 came. Now the 8000i came out that was my first auto focus camera, function was flawless but I got to use a 9xi for a weekend and liked everything about it including the body design. Why should any camera be shaped like a 2X4 when the human hand is not. The cards were neither here or there for me, I have 5 cards and use them off and on, ya they help expand the let's say spectrum. Professional uses , i know two where I live that earn a living using them . No it doesn't have Leica written all over it which is fine as I don't shoot for NG anyway.
I noticed that some of these have a standard hot shoe, not the kind I associate with Minolta.
Minolta used to use standard hot shoes (with proprietary flash control contacts, like everyone else) until the xi series came out. That continued until a few years after Sony bought them.
i had a minolta max8000 with zero shutter count, thats right, it was never used.....I sent it to Adorama, asked them it they wanted to buy....Adorama loast it, or so they said, i believe either an employee stole it or they did....Adorama sent me back a minolta max9000 clearly not in the same condition that my 8000 was in....How bad a lose did i take ?........
thank you, i am not sure if this 9000 works or not, but adorama rated it's condition high.......if you could let me know how i could send you this camera i will for your evaluation.....thanks again.....i am in Europe now, did Minolta make another 9000 model?
wonderful presentation. Large viewfinder is important to me. I have aging eyes that still want to manually focus, and need viewfinder to support my desire
Gary Friedman for the Minolta XD series, I'm guseeing contact lenses should suffice for glasses wearers. Gary, are there any websites that provide the details of viewfinder magnification (and similar details)? I am interested in retro manual film cameras, and would like to explore the Minolta system like I have the Pentax & Konica brands. The Pentax MX has an amazing viewfinder that I find extremely easy to manually focus, and the Konica T4 is pretty good as well. (The Pentax LX is absolutely amazing along with special optioal attachments, but the complex electronics is not robust enough for my purposes. I don’t want it to break down on me. There are fewer repair options available as time goes on. (Potential clunkers are more suited for museums that for my actual intent for usage in the field)
Here’s a fantastic example site that gives viewfinder details of Konica cameras.
www.buhla.de/Foto/Konica/eT4Daten.html
KONICA T4: Magnification: 0.89x (with 50mm lens at ∞)
Viewfinder shows 90% of actual image area
Manual cameras in winter time CAN stick, because any lubricant inside anywhere, can thicken in the cold, jamming the mechanism. Also, the film can tear because it gets brittle in the cold. But battery powered electronic shutters die almost immediately; so yes, the manual shutter is a bit better. But it's not a perfect world, even though the build quality of old cameras & lenses is superb, compared to almost anything today.
1:14 I love that
SRzt --201. I obtained dot it eight X700. Under appreciated and I have 2 of them
Still enjoying the A1.. it’s so compact and has the best viewfinder of its time.
Did you ever receive the NEX-7?:D
Yes, and I learned my lesson in terms of making dated comments on videos which should otherwise be timeless. 🙂
@@FriedmanArchives great! Going to receive a Dimage A2 today, just to play around and compare with new tech. Can’t wait
@@sjanssen Don't be shocked by the noise levels at anything above ISO 100...
@@FriedmanArchives lol I see what you mean haha, but its mainly for outside photography, low iso. I do love the build quality!
@@FriedmanArchives I did (by accident) took some pictures with 200 ISO and I know exactly what you mean lol. I did however was able to remove the blur quite nice with Topaz Sharpen AI and some Affinity FFT Denoise filters
I recently got a Minolta Maxxum 400si from a flea market, what's your take on that camera?
Not sure who told this guy he should leave his cameras in full cocked mode. If you ask me with those older cameras your asking for trouble doing that by keeping tension on the shutter spring mechanics . Specially the really old ones with spooled cloth shutter systems.
Completely agree - "spring creep" is a real metal fatigue and that's why I always store my lenses off of the camera body and stopped down, and that's why I store them without cocking the shutter.
will Leica lenses fit on any other minolta bodies?
Where did you get the button for the XE-7 shutter release? Would like one for my XE cameras.
I now own the XD11! and had a Dimage 1 but it was stolen..
Great video thanks!
I still have my XM and other Minoltas.
I love pop-up flash. They make fill flash easy and instant.
thanks , great educational video. your very good at your job.
hey gary i just today found a minolta maxxum 7000 at a thrift store i bought it but i have no idea if its a good camera or really too much about it. Im not sure if you talked about it in either category (best or worst) but wondering if you could tell me anything about it. Even if its not that great it doesnt matter i only paid $8 for it. So please tell me either way
+Clayton Prins Neither best nor worst; but it was the first commercially available consumer system. They're relatively slow to AF (by modern standards), and that particular model is prone to failures of the aperture-control mechanism. If yours exposes well on a bright day, then you're not suffering from this problem. Congratulations on your find! GF
+Gary Friedman hey thanks so much Gary much appreciated!
There should be a parallel for Photographers using Analog and Digital exposures.
Thanks for video.Very intresting a same one,but about the minolta lensees)The best 10,and the 10 worst ;)
I forgot to place a bid on the Minolta RD 175 and lost. Rare camera.
What no XG-M or x700? ;)
Read the entire video description.
no to shooting with it..........thanks for the help, good luck with your book and assignment....i will return to states middle of October, be well, be safe....
SRT-101 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📷
X700 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📷
how is the Minolta XD5? I ask because I got it at a thrift store for $35
***** I am surprised you responded to me considering I am using a anime charcter. Any tips for a noob so far I am looking up tutorials and plan to take for a test run as far as I can tell it works.
i just came to hopefully see the Minolta XG-1
its so beautiful
thats a bit of a shame, that wouldve been useful. a mechanical shutter.
didnt know that
did the first models of the SRT and XD lie have mechanical shutters?
@@garyfriedman2005 thats super! thank you!
I used the SRT 202 for almost two decades. it was my personal favorite. I coupled it with a Vivitar Zoom, macro lens that made it an all around phenomenal camera. it was rugged and reliable especially when trekking through the rain and cloud forests of Costa Rica. That combo allowed me to zoom in on wildlife in the distance, and a quick click of the lens to macro allowed me to capture the most minute flora and fauna.
Sadly, it was destroyed. If I could find a digital camera with the same features I would buy it in a heartbeat, but the newer cameras seem to be designed for imbeciles who need all the settings done by computer.
Check out the Sony A900. It is as close to an SRT-101 (in terms of minimalist design philosphy) as you're likely to find.
@@FriedmanArchives I read a review and you are correct, however, the prices are way too high for me to afford. The cheapest I found was around $500 on eBay for a questionable used camera body, to $2,000.
Where is the part two link to the worst?
@@garyfriedman2005 arrigato.
Canon F1 and Canon F1 New are THE best ever made 24x36mm format analog cameras !
SRT-202 was not from the 60's, but 70's
True but it was based on the SRT-101 and you can't get more '60's than that! :-)
100th Comment!...Gary, it’s all your fault. I always had a soft spot for Minoltas too. I now own the SR-T101 in Black, SR-T201, XE-7, XD11, X-700, Maxxum 7000! All mint condition, like new. I’m allowing myself one more, probably the Maxxum 7 soon. I love them all, and use them all! Film is still fun and just so unique compared to Digital.
Xk was crap.. md2 on an f2 did 5 frames per second and was 1500 body and motor.
Did like the xd11 and the xe7. Focal plane shutter vs curtain.
Well, on the plus side, you didn't have to change film as often on the XK! :-) But you're right - all the competitors could go faster than 3 fps on their motor-driven bodies.
I am currently looking at the Minolta 7000. I have always wanted a film camera and felt the quality of the pic always seem better/true, i.e. more personal, captures the essence, and feeling. Now that digital didn't do that and it also depends on the individual taking the picture too. The individual selling the camera barely used it and its been stuck in storage. They are selling it for 150.00 as a set:
Minolta Maxxum 7000 Camera with case
Kiwi Cushion Case with many pockets
Minolta AF Lens 50 49mm with case
Kalimar Lens 60 Auto Focus 300mm with cushion case
Minolta Maxxum Flash 2800AF with case
Would this be a good buy?
+Corazon Cueva That's a steep price considering the price of the 7000 on ebay. The 50mm lens is a jewel, though.
Gary Friedman I have a Minolta dynax 3000 I was wondering wat date was it brought out I think it was 1972 but I think I'm wrong.
And what about Autocord?
No love for the Minolta XE-7, Gary?
HOW MUCH CAN A MINOLTA XK COST?
IMO the Minolta XD-7 are the best Minolta Camera, the worst is the Minolta XG-1.
Your opinion closely matches my own... The XD series was highly rated in this video; the XG-1 and XG-7 weren't mentioned at all.
im minolta user,i have minolta dynax4,dynax404si and minolta dynax 7xi and i still shoot film
YOU FORGOT THE MINOLTA CL & CLE !
x700 had the first ttl flash, exposure lock, exposure compensation etc. I believe it was the best mf camera of minolta
Great! Thanks!
too bad the XK needs batteries
Well, technically it did have the one mechanical flash sync shutter speed...
Where's the Minolta X700?
the a100 spoiled me though
Gary: more: The Maxxum 7 was a lame (consumer oriented camera) attempt to imitate the Maxxum 9 -- I have 2 of each type -- the 7's IMO are a relatively lame compared to the '9; and those 9's are head & shoulders above in every respect. However, I never had any of those fancy data backs you are showing.
I am waiting for the 10 worst.
No X-700?
Maybe he just didn't care for them. My first camera was an X-370 what I wore out and then I picked up the X-700 that I thought was great. Later I shot a Maxxum 7 and was looking at the 7d. That was right around the time Sony bought Minolta. It took awhile before Sony was able to get a digital camera to market and waiting so long I ended up going to Canon mainly because of there lens selection. I do miss all my old cameras and the memories though.
hey - looks like you flaked out on the second part of this. I think it's high time you made the video for the worst ones