When it debuted in 1977, it gave the photographer a new level of creative control, ease of use, and reliability. The XD was the first ever SLR camera equipped with aperture-priority, shutter-priority and full, metered manual mode. The XD would be the last high-grade, metal-bodied manual focus camera made by Minolta before the calendar changed to 1980 and the company switched to plastics. Two cameras that resulted from this partnership would become two of Minolta’s best ever. In the 1970s Minolta and Leitz teamed up in a partnership that would see the two powerhouses share patents, technology, and product development. Released in 1999, it was only four years into its lifecycle when Minolta merged with Konica, and seven before Konica-Minolta’s photography operations were sold to Sony.īest Enthusiasts Camera – Minolta XD and CLE Unfortunately like Borg, the a9 wouldn’t enjoy a long career. It stands and delivers, doing the job better than anything else.

It’s saturated with ability and talent, but isn’t superfluous or gaudy. The a9 is the Bjorn Borg of professional grade SLR cameras. Most importantly, a metering system that will not be defeated by even the most inept of users. Its spec sheet speaks for itself a maximum shutter speed of 1/12,000 of a second, stainless steel chassis, weather-proof construction, EV range from -1 to 18, eye start, function dials rather than wheels. The a9 (Maxxum 9, Dynax 9) goes beyond any camera made by the other big camera companies. That said, Minolta did create the greatest professional-grade film SLR camera of all time. But that doesn’t mean its highest-end cameras weren’t as good as Canon’s or Nikons. This divide widened further in the autofocus era - an era that ironically began when Minolta unveiled its Maxxum 7000.

Here is one Minolta fanboy’s nominations.įor as groundbreaking a company as Minolta was, its professional-grade camera bodies never achieved the unanimously high reputation enjoyed by Nikon and Canon’s top models. But deciding which camera to use and what glass to put on it can be daunting with a product line as diverse and decades-spanning as Minolta’s. Shooting Minolta today means you carry a small torch for a fallen comrade. You likely also know that while this company produced incredible and innovative cameras and lenses, they had difficulty in shifting to digital imaging products, and in 2006 were acquired by Sony. Autofocus, shutter-priority, in-body image stabilization, the list of now-common features that were invented or successfully implemented by Minolta goes on and on. You’ve done some research and learned about the company that pioneered many of photography’s most important innovations. If you’ve chosen Minolta, welcome to The Cause.

Manual for minolta camera