Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D (Dynax 5D) review

I bought the Maxxum 5D because I inherited an entire Minolta 8000i 35mm collection from my father a few years ago, including three beautiful lenses. I was waiting for a Konica-Minolta A-mount DSLR, but the 7D was too expensive and too manual for my liking.

I waited for the 5D to drop a bit in price, and purchased it one month ago. So far I've shot almost 1,000 photos with it. I couldn't be happier with the 5D.

A few comments have mentioned the poor tactile response on the wheel on back or the plastic body. I give the Construction an enthusiastic 5/5 rating, however. Every component I have for the camera, from the 28-135mm lens made 20 years ago that's no longer available to the 18-70mm kit lens, fits perfectly. The fit and finish of this camera are incredible. And with the 50mm f/1.7 lens, battery, and card it's only 1.85 pounds, so it's no problem carrying it around all day long.

Features are a perfect 5/5. Not only do all the lenses I inherited fit perfectly - they're all Anti-Shake! That along with the zone matching and wireless flash make this the most feature-rich entry-level DSLR available. Image Quality is 5/5, though you have to up the contrast, brightness, and saturation to make it look like a point-and-shoot out of the camera. Saving in JPEG and RAW gives good immediate results and the possibility of tweaking later.

Ease of Use is 4.5/5 because the 5D has the usual great Minolta ergonomics, but some of the features and menus can be difficult to learn. Certain features, like ISO (easy button) and anti-shake (manual switch) are well-implemented. Some other settings are harder to find.

Value for money is a slam-dunk. The 5D and kit 18-70mm lens are less than $700 online now. The 50mm f/1.7 portrait lens is $80. Every lens is anti-shake. This camera is an incredible value.