Difference between revisions of "Minolta 7000"
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The '''[[Minolta]] 7000 AF''' ('''Maxxum 7000''' in North America and '''Alpha 7000''' in Japan) was the first popular autofocus SLR camera. | The '''[[Minolta]] 7000 AF''' ('''Maxxum 7000''' in North America and '''Alpha 7000''' in Japan) was the first popular autofocus SLR camera. | ||
| − | Before the Minolta 7000, [[Nikon]], [[Canon]], [[Pentax]] and [[Olympus]] had experimented with self-contained auto-focusing lenses that worked with their existing cameras and used their existing lens mounts. In 1983 the Minolta 7000 was preceeded by Nikon's professional [[35mm]] SLR Nikon F3AF with built-in through-the-lens contrast focus detection<REF>Nikon F3AF, presented in 1983 together with a portait AF Nikkor lens and a tele AF Nikkor lens, see [http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/f3afbasic/index.htm Modern Classic SLRs: Nikon F3AF]</REF>. Minolta burst onto the scene in 1985 with their | + | Before the Minolta 7000, [[Nikon]], [[Canon]], [[Pentax]] and [[Olympus]] had experimented with self-contained auto-focusing lenses that worked with their existing cameras and used their existing lens mounts. In 1983 the Minolta 7000 was preceeded by Nikon's professional [[35mm]] SLR Nikon F3AF with built-in through-the-lens contrast focus detection<REF>Nikon F3AF, presented in 1983 together with a portait AF Nikkor lens and a tele AF Nikkor lens, see [http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonf3ver2/f3afbasic/index.htm Modern Classic SLRs: Nikon F3AF]</REF>. Minolta burst onto the scene in 1985 with their own in-body auto-focus camera system and changed the SLR camera market forever by having made the technology affordable for [[photography]] amateurs. In rapid succession the company released three cameras ([[Minolta 5000|5000]], 7000 and [[Minolta 9000|9000]]) and several lenses to make a completely new fully featured AF system. For the next couple of years Minolta autofocus film cameras dominated the market. |
In addition to autofocus, the Maxxum had manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes. Knobs and dials were replaced with pushbuttons and internal and external liquid crystal displays (LCD's). Popular with many new buyers, the LCD displays were disliked by photographers used to the older controls. The new camera body utilized a large amount of plastic composites which also came in for both praise and criticism. Universally disliked was the rather slow flash sync-speed (1/100) and no multi-exposure capability. | In addition to autofocus, the Maxxum had manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes. Knobs and dials were replaced with pushbuttons and internal and external liquid crystal displays (LCD's). Popular with many new buyers, the LCD displays were disliked by photographers used to the older controls. The new camera body utilized a large amount of plastic composites which also came in for both praise and criticism. Universally disliked was the rather slow flash sync-speed (1/100) and no multi-exposure capability. | ||
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When Pentax and Nikon entered the autofocus segment, both utilized a similar passive array AF system as Minolta, but decided to retain compatibility with their existing manual-focus K and F mounts respectively. Canon, like Minolta, chose to change their mount completely, introducing the EOS 600-series a few years later, breaking the compatibility with the former FL and FD lens mounts. Like Canon, Minolta's decision to orphan its manual-focus mount cost it the support of some loyal customers, but in so doing, it also gained some new customers. | When Pentax and Nikon entered the autofocus segment, both utilized a similar passive array AF system as Minolta, but decided to retain compatibility with their existing manual-focus K and F mounts respectively. Canon, like Minolta, chose to change their mount completely, introducing the EOS 600-series a few years later, breaking the compatibility with the former FL and FD lens mounts. Like Canon, Minolta's decision to orphan its manual-focus mount cost it the support of some loyal customers, but in so doing, it also gained some new customers. | ||
| − | In 1987 Minolta presented another pioneering product, | + | In 1987 Minolta presented another pioneering product, the video [[CCD]] camera back '''SB-70''' to convert the camera into a 307.000 [[Pixel]] still camera based on analog electronics. The camera back wrote its image data onto special 2" floppy disks.<REF>[http://www.mhohner.de/sony-minolta/onebody.php?id=sb-90 SB-70/SB-90 camera back data] at M. Hohner's</REF> |
== References == | == References == | ||
Revision as of 15:08, 27 October 2010
The Minolta 7000 AF (Maxxum 7000 in North America and Alpha 7000 in Japan) was the first popular autofocus SLR camera.
Before the Minolta 7000, Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Olympus had experimented with self-contained auto-focusing lenses that worked with their existing cameras and used their existing lens mounts. In 1983 the Minolta 7000 was preceeded by Nikon's professional 35mm SLR Nikon F3AF with built-in through-the-lens contrast focus detection[1]. Minolta burst onto the scene in 1985 with their own in-body auto-focus camera system and changed the SLR camera market forever by having made the technology affordable for photography amateurs. In rapid succession the company released three cameras (5000, 7000 and 9000) and several lenses to make a completely new fully featured AF system. For the next couple of years Minolta autofocus film cameras dominated the market.
In addition to autofocus, the Maxxum had manual, aperture priority, shutter priority, and program modes. Knobs and dials were replaced with pushbuttons and internal and external liquid crystal displays (LCD's). Popular with many new buyers, the LCD displays were disliked by photographers used to the older controls. The new camera body utilized a large amount of plastic composites which also came in for both praise and criticism. Universally disliked was the rather slow flash sync-speed (1/100) and no multi-exposure capability.
The kit lens for the camera was a 35-70mm f4 Minolta AF lens with macro switch. Its zoom setting ring served in macro mode as manual focusing ring.
Early Maxxum 7000 cameras were inscribed "MAXXUM 7000" with a crossed 'XX'. The oil company Exxon considered this a violation of their trademark, as the XX in their logo was linked in a similar fashion. As a result, Minolta was allowed to distribute cameras already produced, but was forced to change the stylistic XX in Maxxum and implement this as a change in new production. All Maxxum cameras to this day have had regularly scripted 'X'.
Unfortunately for Minolta, its autofocus design was found to infringe on the patents of Honeywell, a U.S. corporation. After protracted litigation, Minolta in 1991 was ordered to pay Honeywell damages, penalties, trial costs, and other expenses in a final amount of 127.6 million dollars.[2]
When Pentax and Nikon entered the autofocus segment, both utilized a similar passive array AF system as Minolta, but decided to retain compatibility with their existing manual-focus K and F mounts respectively. Canon, like Minolta, chose to change their mount completely, introducing the EOS 600-series a few years later, breaking the compatibility with the former FL and FD lens mounts. Like Canon, Minolta's decision to orphan its manual-focus mount cost it the support of some loyal customers, but in so doing, it also gained some new customers.
In 1987 Minolta presented another pioneering product, the video CCD camera back SB-70 to convert the camera into a 307.000 Pixel still camera based on analog electronics. The camera back wrote its image data onto special 2" floppy disks.[3]
References
- ↑ Nikon F3AF, presented in 1983 together with a portait AF Nikkor lens and a tele AF Nikkor lens, see Modern Classic SLRs: Nikon F3AF
- ↑ Article, "Minolta Credit Rating Downgraded by Moody's", July 11, 1992, NY Times
- ↑ SB-70/SB-90 camera back data at M. Hohner's
Links
- Minolta Maxxum 7000 and Maxxum (Dynax) 7000i reviews in Modern Classics section of Photography in Malaysia.
- Minolta 7000 in Sylvain Halgand's collection.
- Minolta Maxxum 7000 listed at number 8 in Jason Schneider's Top 20 Cameras Of All-Time on Shutterbug.
- data of kit lens 35-70 f4 at Michael Hohner's [1], with link to Kurt Munger's lens review
| Minolta Classic Cameras |
|---|
| Vest (or Best) | V2 | SR-2 | SRT 101 | XE | XD | CLE | 7000 | 9000 | 800 si |
