First True Outing With Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D (image heavy)

gryphon1911

gryphon1911

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Also known everywhere else on the planet outside the USA as the Dynax 7D.

Had posed the question about getting this in another thread. Decided to snag it, since it was still at the camera shop when I returned.
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Minolta Maxxum 7D - worth an experiment in 2022?

So, back when I first started my own photography business, I was shooting film and was looking to upgrade to digital (2004). I was really drawn to the the Minolta Maxxum 7D. I thought that would be great for me, liked having the IBIS and all those great buttons! About a week before I...
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I'm still writing up a review and want to use it for a few more weeks before making any final judgements...but initially - I like the process of using it more than I did the Fuji S2 Pro. Fuji had more options to adjust the JPG, and the feel in the hand of the Fuji S2 was better.

Anyway - images speak louder than me. I'll indicate if the images were SOOC JPG or if they were processed from RAW. Know that even the JPG was run through Lightroom.

Lenses are Minolta 20mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.7 and 70-210/4 "Beer Can"

1 - SOOC JPG
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2 - SOOC JPG
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3 - SOOC JPG
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4 - SOOC JPG
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5 - SOOC JPG
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6 - RAW
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7 - SOOC JPG - honestly surprised by the wide open performance here - did not expect it to be this good, especially with the backlighting and the bright, grey sky.
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8 - SOOC JPG
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9 - SOOC JPG
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10 - RAW
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Everything in this post is SOOC JPG

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3 - I thought the 7D was a little too red in the WB on this shot originally - so I tweaked it a bit here to tone down the aggressiveness.
Also, this is a 50% crop, not resized. Not too bad for a 6mp sensor!
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7 - another surprise for me on this 20mm and the performance at f/2.8 - I think it has a unique Bokeh to it
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Went out again today. Shot almost exclusively with the 20mm. Also had a chance to use the anti-shake.

For the 20mm - for some reason, sharpness in JPG is actually worse than in the RAW file. Must be something in the algorithm that causes this as I did not see any issues in the 50 or 70-210 sharpness/acuity.
I processed all the images you see here from the 20 from the RAW file and I really like what I see. I probably should be shooting in RAW with this older sensor anyway - which will give me the most latitude anyway.

Weather is still not very cooperative, so doing the best I can with what nature is giving me.

20mm shots
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Testing with the Anti-Shake system on.

50mm f/1.7

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70-210mm f/4 - this might be a fluke...but anti-shake was on and i managed to pull this shot.

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I have to believe it's the glass. I poked around Flickr for images using these lenses and some others that were recommended to me by some of you here.
Some were on the Maxxum 7D, but a lot were on first gen Sony Alpha DSLRs and they still looked good.

Something I noticed is that the Maxxum 7D does it's best to not ramp up the ISO too much. I have mine set to AUTO ISO and I gave it the whole range from 100 through 3200 and so far, from all the shooting I've been doing, I don't think the camera picked an ISO over 400 yet. I might just force it manually to 1600 and 3200 to see what that looks like and how I can process those with Lightroom and some other tools like Topaz AI.

It may not be for everyone, but this is a decent setup. I can see why Sony bought them and used it for their base of camera line.
 
These old non-Canon, non-Nikon cameras were all bashed unmercifully by the perhaps 'slightly biased' reviewers of the time, Andrew.

In fact, even small sensor 5 MPx and above were highly capable of taking better photos than even the last generation of 35mm film cameras, under almost all conditions. e.g. my 2/3rds", 5 MPx Nikon E5000 (2003?). That camera wouldn't come close to my 5 MPx Olympus E-1 (2003), but both were better than 35mm film in every respect.

My E5000 will give good prints at A4 size.
My E-1 will give excellent prints at A2 size, if I get everything right in-camera.

So your excellent results from your 'new' 7D do not surprise me in the least.

Phil Askey's review is here:

www.dpreview.com

Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D Review

The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D (Dynax 7D in Europe) was first revealed to the general public on 12th February 2004 at the PMA tradeshow, at that time we were able to produce a hands-on preview of a pre-production camera. Finally on 15th September 2004 just before the Photokina tradeshow Konica Minolta fleshed out the detail with full specifications and an official press release. A few days later we were able to get our hands on a pre-production camera and publish some exclusive samples and a full
www.dpreview.com www.dpreview.com
 
John King said:
These old non-Canon, non-Nikon cameras were all bashed unmercifully by the perhaps 'slightly biased' reviewers of the time, Andrew.

In fact, even small sensor 5 MPx and above were highly capable of taking better photos than even the last generation of 35mm film cameras, under almost all conditions. e.g. my 2/3rds", 5 MPx Nikon E5000 (2003?). That camera wouldn't come close to my 5 MPx Olympus E-1 (2003), but both were better than 35mm film in every respect.

My E5000 will give good prints at A4 size.
My E-1 will give excellent prints at A2 size, if I get everything right in-camera.

So your excellent results from your 'new' 7D do not surprise me in the least.

Phil Askey's review is here:

www.dpreview.com

Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D Review

The Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D (Dynax 7D in Europe) was first revealed to the general public on 12th February 2004 at the PMA tradeshow, at that time we were able to produce a hands-on preview of a pre-production camera. Finally on 15th September 2004 just before the Photokina tradeshow Konica Minolta fleshed out the detail with full specifications and an official press release. A few days later we were able to get our hands on a pre-production camera and publish some exclusive samples and a full
www.dpreview.com www.dpreview.com
Click to expand...

Such a shame as I've been might impressed, as you stated - basically every 6mp DSLR and up. My first, the Nikon D50 still has a place in my heart as it was the kit that helped me skyrocket my skillset. I couldn't afford all the film, processing and printing it would have taken to get to where I needed to be in the timeframe I needed it!

This is why, even though I like experimenting with new gear - the process of photography has always been what excites me. I just wish that we could go back to the way cameras like the Maxxum 7D - the handling, intuitive dials and purpose specific gear.

I understand the desire for an all in one machine - and progress...but a purpose built tool that is great for the one thing it was intended is a thing of beauty to use.
 
Not to stamp on your thread, mate, but a couple shots with my E-1.

Bolt supporting the mezzanine floor at the NGV, Melbourne.

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Epworth Medical Centre waiting room.

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And the atrium.

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Went back out with the KM7D and the 20mm. Turned off all the saturation and sharpness changes I did in camera.

The 20mm seems to like that better. It is now relatively equal to what I can pull from the RAW files. I did notice that it does like to be manipulated slightly different than the other lenses, but at least now I can run them through Lightroom like I do everything else.

Another grey, dull day...but I got out to shoot and that is all that matters!! Over my lunch break.

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3 - had to pull this JPG back almost 2 stops from what the camera metered.
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Walk about my 3.5 mile lunch hike and got these with the 70-210/4...way better than it has a right to be for the $40 I paid for it. This is definitely a keeper kit.

All processed from RAW.

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I used Maxxum film cameras for years, my favorite was always my 9000. Not the latest and greatest, but I loved the way it handled. I still have a lot of lenses to fit the Minolta bodies. If one of theses presents itself at a good price, I might have to snag it. Nice picture!
 
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Got the Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 SAM - arrived today. Got to play with it in passing.
Initial thoughts - appreciate the Minolta build quality better, but understand that the price point on this lens was meant to be low.
The KM 7D registers in the display the max aperture as f/1.7 - even though the lens is technically f/1.8.

The processing of the files are a lot like the settings I needed to do with the Minolta 20mm f/2.8
Shot in RAW and processed in Lightroom Classic.

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Compared against a DX prime, like the Nikon 35mm f/1.8G - I feel that the Nikon is technically better in regards to sharpness. I think the Nikon is better at flare resistance as well.

That is not to say that I don't like this lens...it is just different and it will take me a minute to figure this one out.
 
I was thinking about why I love this camera so much (and the Fuji S2 Pro, Fuji X-Pro series) and the conclusion I have settled on is that fact that they are first and foremost cameras for photography.

The Maxxum 7D and the Fuji S2 Pro have no video at all. The layout, the functions the thought, all toward stills shooting. The X-Pro and to some extent the X-T series of mirrorless cameras are close. They do have video but they are still way more still centric than most other "hybrid" DSLR/mirrorless cameras out there.

It may sound that I'm being a grump old curmudgeon, but I'm really not. I've got no interest in video at this point. I tried it and it just wasn't "fun" for me. Even when I was a noob and my photography sucked - I still loved doing it, learning it. An intangible thing about skillfully capturing that one fleeting moment in time, just is where my heart is at.

These stills centric tools help me express that.
 

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