Customers Reviews
2007-12-13
Classic Amature-Grade SLR Camera
The finest sub-500 34mm camera I have ever handled. I adore my Maxxum 5. The Alpha mount system is fantastic (has been applied to a new series of DSLRs from Sony). Plenty of nice lenses available for the platform, too.
It is unfortunate that Minolta is no longer producing cameras. I really loved their system and innovation. The fact that they aren't in the business is the only drawback.
I paid $490-something for mine back in 2002, and have used it a lot. It was well-worth the money then, and is well worth the dramatically lower cost now.
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2007-05-26
Nice Camera with some drawbacks
Initially, I purchased a Minolta Maxxum 4, but was sent the Maxxum 5 instead. No problem, as I figured they were basically the same camera. As has been mentioned, the camera is feather light, which in my opinion, isn't necessarily a plus. I have never cared for the feel of a point and shoot, and this camera reminds me of that. Even though, it's heavy on the functions, and has all the neat stuff a high priced camera has. But, it has some drawbacks. Nearly all of my pictures taken in the auto mode with flash have been overexposed. Every now and then I'll get a nicely exposed photo, but it's been rare. Also, I've had trouble with the power on this camera. Not sure what happened, but I couldn't get the camera to come on. I replaced the batteries (twice), and still no power. And then, as if by a miracle, the power came on and I haven't had any trouble since. Now, wouldn't that be a pain if one were in a situation whereby you were taking memories that were priceless?? Another thing: My camera came with a CD that has the manual on it. I don't care for that in that I've had to print it out and try to make it compact enough to carry with me on shoots.
If I had it to do over, I'm not sure this would be the camera I'd choose. Problem is, I like the functions, and they're relatively easy to learn. Picture quality (so far) hasn't been what I'd expect; not anything near my Minolta Maxxum 7000 that I've had for 15 years.
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2004-12-11
backup camera for a pro photographer
the minolta maxxum 5 is my back up camera for my outher cameras.
this camera is very light it is the 2nd lighest camera on the market. the minolta maxxum 3 is the lightest on the market.
it has most bells for it's of class and it has most of the bells that you would find on the minolta pro camera line.
here is what you get with the camera
Fastest AF in its class
Selectable, 7-point, AF system
AF modes: single-shot, continuous/predictive, and automatic
Exposure: Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, expsoure compensation
Eye-Start
Shutter: High-Speed 1/4000 Sec. and 1/125 Sec. flash sync
3 fps continuous film advance
Depth-of-field preview
Spot meter and a wireless off shoe flash system. you don't need to have a pc cable for it.
as for flash units on this camera. you can find cheap flash units at camrea stores. the reason why Minolta made the flash shoe that way because it's customers where telling them they would like to see a faster locking flash shoe on there cameras. there are no crossover flash on the market that you can use on all the cameras. when you buy a flash for a canon you can't use it on a nikon. but there is onley one flash co. out there that do make a adoptor for all the cameras on the market for there flash.
this is a very simple and easy camera to use and yet very powerfull too.
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2004-02-04
Pro photographer
This is a very good camera is you do not want to gett a cheap slr w/ every thing thing you need but if you ever think of going digatl go with canon becuse they have better bodys and lenses and both work with all the lens they have now so i would say if u r not going to go diatl get this but if you r look at a canon flim SLR
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2004-01-10
Great features, poor reliability
This camera has great features for the price, and I was extremely happy with the quality of the photos I took in the 3 days I had the camera. Then it started eating whole rolls of film. After contacting the manufacturer they would repair it and I would pay all shipping costs. I returned it to amazon instead.
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