Minolta Dynax 8000i
Minolta Dynax 8000i image by Doutchy (Image rights) |
The Minolta Dynax 8000i, also sold as Maxxum 8000i for the North-American market and as the α-8700i for the Asia/Pacific market, was launched as an improved version of Minolta Dynax 7000i. Both 8000i and 7000i share a lot of common features. The main improvements over the 7000i are:
- faster maximum shutter speed, 1/8000 (vs. 1/4000 for the 7000i)
- faster flash synch speed, 1/200 (vs. 1/125 for the 7000i)
- high-eyepoint viewfinder
- improved LCD screen
alpha 8700i image by nik.jalopx (Image rights) |
Minolta α-8700i "Mir" special edition
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Dynax 8000i Mir images by Jose Mota (Image rights) |
In late 1989, a Japanese reporter, M. Toyohiro Akiyama, was invited on the Mir international space station. Minolta provided him with a special kit that comprised:
- a white α-8700i camera body
- a regular (i.e. black) 3200i flash
- a regular 24-35mm f/4 zoom lens
- a regular 35-105mm f/3,5-4,5
- a regular 100-300mm f/4,5-5,6
As M. Akiyama was the first Japanese ever to stay on the Mir space station, Minolta issued in 1990 a limited edition of the α-8700i, known as the "Mir" version. This kit comprised:
- a white α-8700i camera body
- a white 35-105mm f/3,5-4,5
- a white 5200i flash
This kit was sold in a specific box that also comprised a leaflet on this limited edition camera. It was also sold in the North American and European market, under the respective names for these markets (Maxxum 8000i and Dynax 8000i).
Maxxum 8000i (mir) image by Andre Paquette (Image rights) |