Difference between revisions of "Minolta"
(→Links) |
Rebollo fr (talk | contribs) m (internal link) |
||
Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
The 7000AF remains an iconic symbol of the 80's, however, Minolta did not hang on to their technological lead for long and Canikon fought to regain their position as market leaders. By the 90's Minolta was back to its former underdog-brand status. Minolta still offer a large line of products covering the gamut from the most basic to the most 'serious' of cameras. Among camera intelligentsia Minolta are known for their amazingly competitive price/performance ratio. What does that mean to you and I? When you buy a Minolta you get a lot of camera for your buck. | The 7000AF remains an iconic symbol of the 80's, however, Minolta did not hang on to their technological lead for long and Canikon fought to regain their position as market leaders. By the 90's Minolta was back to its former underdog-brand status. Minolta still offer a large line of products covering the gamut from the most basic to the most 'serious' of cameras. Among camera intelligentsia Minolta are known for their amazingly competitive price/performance ratio. What does that mean to you and I? When you buy a Minolta you get a lot of camera for your buck. | ||
− | Minolta continues to innovate. After popularizing the plastic bodied, push button controlled SLR with the 5/7/9000AF the mid-90's saw them reinventing the camera user interface with the 600si Classic. The ''Classic'' insignia indicates a move back to knobs and dials and away from buttons and menus. Photographers applauded this return to a logical control layout that didn't require them to memorize pages and pages from their camera's manual before they could take a shot. This interface was carried forward into their popular pro-level Maxxum/Dynax 7 and similar control layouts were adopted by other manufactures. | + | Minolta continues to innovate. After popularizing the plastic bodied, push button controlled SLR with the 5/7/9000AF the mid-90's saw them reinventing the camera user interface with the [[Minolta 600si Classic|600si Classic]]. The ''Classic'' insignia indicates a move back to knobs and dials and away from buttons and menus. Photographers applauded this return to a logical control layout that didn't require them to memorize pages and pages from their camera's manual before they could take a shot. This interface was carried forward into their popular pro-level Maxxum/Dynax 7 and similar control layouts were adopted by other manufactures. |
With the DiMage X, Minolta solved the problem of the protruding optical zoom lens on ''pocket'' digicams. Their folded lens design alows an optical zoom lens to be totally contained within the body of the camera. This makes the cameras that use this design trully pocketable, faster to turn on and better protected from knocks and damage. | With the DiMage X, Minolta solved the problem of the protruding optical zoom lens on ''pocket'' digicams. Their folded lens design alows an optical zoom lens to be totally contained within the body of the camera. This makes the cameras that use this design trully pocketable, faster to turn on and better protected from knocks and damage. |
Revision as of 15:25, 9 March 2006
Contents
History
Minolta, although counted among the big five, has often been thought of as a second-rung camera manufacturer in the photography world, a step below Nikon and Canon. This has not always been the case. For five years beginning in 1985 Minolta was the biggest seller of SLR cameras in the world. The reason for this dominance was the release of their Maxxum/Dynax system; the world's first 'in body' Autofocus SLR. Before this time manufacturers had dabbled with lenses that focused themselves but that fitted to their existing, manual focus SLR cameras. Minolta was the first manufacture to put the mechanism and electronics for the autofocus system into their SLR camera bodies and so the modern SLR was born.
The 7000AF remains an iconic symbol of the 80's, however, Minolta did not hang on to their technological lead for long and Canikon fought to regain their position as market leaders. By the 90's Minolta was back to its former underdog-brand status. Minolta still offer a large line of products covering the gamut from the most basic to the most 'serious' of cameras. Among camera intelligentsia Minolta are known for their amazingly competitive price/performance ratio. What does that mean to you and I? When you buy a Minolta you get a lot of camera for your buck.
Minolta continues to innovate. After popularizing the plastic bodied, push button controlled SLR with the 5/7/9000AF the mid-90's saw them reinventing the camera user interface with the 600si Classic. The Classic insignia indicates a move back to knobs and dials and away from buttons and menus. Photographers applauded this return to a logical control layout that didn't require them to memorize pages and pages from their camera's manual before they could take a shot. This interface was carried forward into their popular pro-level Maxxum/Dynax 7 and similar control layouts were adopted by other manufactures.
With the DiMage X, Minolta solved the problem of the protruding optical zoom lens on pocket digicams. Their folded lens design alows an optical zoom lens to be totally contained within the body of the camera. This makes the cameras that use this design trully pocketable, faster to turn on and better protected from knocks and damage.
Minolta have been criticized for their slowness to get onboard with a digital SLR camera that was compatible with the Maxxum lenses. In late November 2004, Konica Minolta finally released the much anticipated Maxxum 7D DSLR and the innovation continued. What sets the 7D DSLR apart from the competition is the built in image stabilization which works with any lens you can attach to the camera body. History has a way of repeating itself. If Minolta can compete better on image resolution and price point Minolta may at some point in the future, take the SLR market by storm yet again.
In October 2003 Minolta merged with Konica to form Konica Minolta. All new cameras after that time were badged as Konica Minolta (see also Konica Minolta) although, with reference to their camera designs, Minolta remains the dominant partner.
Digital
DSLR
Fixed lens
Minolta and Konica Minolta use the Dimage nameplate on all the fixed lens digital cameras.
- Konica Minolta Dimage A2
- Konica Minolta Dimage A200
- Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31
- Minolta Dimage 7
- Minolta Dimage 7Hi
- Minolta Dimage 7i
- Minolta Dimage F300
- Minolta Dimage Xt
- Minolta Dimage E323
35mm film
Autofocus SLR (Dynax/Maxxum)
The Dynax/Maxxum (Maxxum in North America, Dynax elsewhere) line of Cameras is an Autofocus line of SLR cameras. The cameras are not compatible with the previous manual focus SLR lenses.
- Minolta Dynax 300si
- Minolta Dynax 303si
- Minolta Dynax 3xi
- Minolta Dynax 4
- Minolta Dynax 40
- Minolta Dynax 404si
- Minolta Dynax 5
- Minolta Dynax 5xi
- Minolta Dynax 5000
- Minolta Dynax 5000i
- Minolta Dynax 500si / Maxxum 400si
- Minolta Dynax 500si Super / Maxxum 500si
- Minolta Dynax 505si / Maxxum HTsi
- Minolta Dynax 505si Super / Maxxum XTsi
- Minolta Dynax 60
- Minolta Dynax 600si Classic
- Minolta Dynax 650si
- Minolta Dynax 7
- Minolta Dynax 7000
- Minolta Dynax 7000i
- Minolta Dynax 700si
- Minolta Dynax 7xi
- Minolta Dynax 8000i
- Minolta Dynax 800si
- Minolta Dynax 9000
- Minolta Dynax 9
- Minolta Dynax 9xi
- Minolta Dynax XTSi
Manual Focus SLR
- Minolta SR-2
- Minolta SR-1
- Minolta SR-1S
- Minolta SR-3
- Minolta SR-7
- Minolta SR-M
- Minolta ER
- Minolta SRT 101
- Minolta SRT 100
- Minolta SRT Super (Japan), SRT 102 (USA), SRT 303 (Europe)
- Minolta SRT MC
- Minolta SRT SC
- Minolta SRT 200 (USA), SRT 100b (Europe)
- Minolta SR 101 (Japan), SRT 201 (USA), SRT 101b (Europe)
- Minolta SR 505 (Japan), SRT 202 (USA), SRT 303b (Europe)
- Minolta SRT 100X
- Minolta SRT MCII
- Minolta SRT SCII
- Minolta XK (Japan and Europe), XM (USA), X-1 (Pacific)
- Minolta XK Motor (Japan and Europe), XM Motor (USA), X-1 Motor (Pacific)
- Minolta XE (Japan), XE-7 (USA), XE-1 (Europe)
- Minolta XE-b (Japan), XE-5 (USA and Europe)
- Minolta XD (Japan), XD-11 (USA), XD-7 (Europe)
- Minolta XD-S
- Minolta XD-S Medical
- Minolta XD-5
- Minolta XG-E (Japan), XG-7 (USA), XG-2 (Europe)
- Minolta XG-1
- Minolta XG-S (Japan), XG-SE (USA), XG-9 (Europe)
- Minolta X-70 (Japan), XG-M (USA, Europe)
- Minolta X-7 (Japan), XG-A (USA)
- Minolta X-700
- Minolta X-500 (Japan, Europe), X-570 (USA)
- Minolta X-300 (Japan, Europe), X-370 (USA)
- Minolta X-600
Rangefinder, interchangeable lens
- Minolta 35
- Minolta 35 II
- Minolta 35 IIB
- Minolta Super A
- Leitz Minolta CL
- Minolta CLE
Rangefinder, fixed lens
- Minolta A
- Minolta A2
- Minolta A2 LT
- Minolta A3
- Minolta A5
- Minolta AL
- Minolta AL2
- Minolta ALS
- Minolta ALE
- Minolta ALF
- Minolta 24 Rapid (16 24x24mm exposures on 35mm film)
- Minolta Electro Shot
- Minolta Hi-Matic 11
- Minolta Hi-Matic 7
- Minolta Hi-Matic 7s
- Minolta Hi-Matic 7sII / Revue 400 SE
- Minolta Hi-Matic 9
- Minolta Hi-Matic CS
- Minolta Hi-Matic E
- Minolta Hi-Matic ES
- Minolta Hi-Matic F
- Minolta Hi-Matic FP
- Minolta HiMatic / Ansco Autoset
- Minolta Minoltina AL-S
- Minolta Minoltina-S
- Minolta Uniomat / Ansco Anscoset
- Minolta Uniomat II
- Minolta Uniomat III / Ansco Anscoset III
- Minolta V2
- Minolta V3
Viewfinder
- Minolta Autowide
- Minolta f12
- Minolta F35 Big Finder
- Minolta Freedom I
- Minolta FS-E II
- Minolta Hi-Matic 5
- Minolta Hi-Matic C
- Minolta Hi-Matic CSII
- Minolta Hi-Matic G
- Minolta Hi-Matic G2
- Minolta Hi-Matic GF
- Minolta Hi-Matic S
- Minolta Hi-Matic S2
- Minolta Hi-Matic SD
- Minolta Hi-Matic SD2
- Minolta Memo
- Minolta Minoltina-P
- Minolta Repo (half-frame)
- Minolta Repo-S (half-frame)
120 film
Folding
- Arcadia
- Auto Minolta
- Auto Minolta I
- Auto Press Minolta
- Auto Semi Minolta
- Auto Semi Minolta IIIA
- Auto Semi Minolta P
- Happy Hand
- Happy Hand -- type S
- Minolta
- Minolta Best
- Minolta Marble
- Minolta Six
- Nifca Dox
- Nifca Klapp
- Nifca Sport
- Semi Minolta I
- Semi Minolta II
- Sirius
TLR
- Minolta Autocord
- Minolta Autocord CDS I
- Minolta Autocord CDS II
- Minolta Autocord CDS III
- Minolta Autocord I
- Minolta Autocord II
- Minolta Autocord III
- Minolta Autocord L
- Minolta Autocord MXS
- Minolta Autocord MXV
- Minolta Autocord RA
- Minolta Autocord RB
- Minolta Autocord RG
- Minolta Autocord RI
- Minolta Miniflex
- Minoltacord
- Minoltaflex
- Minoltaflex Automat
- Minoltaflex I
- Minoltaflex II
- Minoltaflex IIB
- Minoltaflex III
127 film
- Baby Minolta
- Minolta Miniflex
- Minolta Vest
- Nifcalette
- Minolta Autopak 800
- Revere 3M Automatic 1034
16mm film
- Minolta 16
- Minolta 16 Automat
- Minolta 16 Cds
- Minolta 16 EE
- Minolta 16 EE2
- Minolta 16 Electro-Zoom-X
- Minolta 16 II
- Minolta 16 MG
- Minolta 16 MGS
- Minolta 16 P
- Minolta 16 Ps
- Minolta 16 QT
- Minolta Sonocon 16 MB-ZA
Disc film
- Minolta ac 101 Courreges
- Minolta ac 301 Courreges
- Minolta Disc-5
- Minolta Disc-7
- Minolta Disc-S
- Minolta Disc-K
110 film
- Minolta 110 Zoom SLR
- Minolta 110 Zoom SLR Mark II
- Pocket Autopak 200
- Pocket Autopak 250
- Pocket Autopak 270
- Pocket Autopak 430-E
- Pocket Autopak 430-EX
- Pocket Autopak 440-EX
- Pocket Autopak 450-E
- Pocket Autopak 450-EX
- Pocket Autopak 460-T
- Pocket Autopak 460-TX
- Pocket Autopak 50
- Pocket Autopak 70
- Pocket Pak 40
- Pocket Pak 440-E
- Pocket Pak 60
- Weathermatic A
126 film
- Minolta Autopak 400-X
- Minolta Autopak 500 / Ilford Monarch / Revuematic 500
- Minolta Autopak 550
- Minolta Autopak 600-X
- Minolta Autopak 700