Konica Minolta Dynax 7D in 2020 as a digital companion for the film Dynax 7

havanna60 · Oct 24, 2020

I love so much my recently acquired Dynax 7 that I am thinking of buying a decent condition 6.1 megapixel, CCD, APS-C, no-live-view, 7D as a companion. The 7D has more or less the same button layout as the 7, which has changed on later models even on the 5D.

Are you, 7D owners, still happy with your camera?

Joseph Balson · Oct 24, 2020

I'm still super happy with my 7D. It is the camera I really enjoy holding and using. It just feels right in my hand.

http://www.joseph-balson.com/essays/2019/09/shooting-the-minolta-maxxum-dynax-7d-in-2018-back-to-the-fondamentals-of-photography/

havanna60 · Oct 25, 2020

In your nice review you wrote "And You can use all the now often cheap quality Minolta lenses, and most of the more expensive Sony A-Mount lenses."

Which lenses it doesnt work with?

Joseph Balson · Oct 25, 2020

at the time of the writing i had issues with my sony 70-300 SSM first version but it turns out the lens was dying. So my guess is now any sony a-mount should work.

Paul Barnard · Oct 25, 2020

havanna60 said:
I love so much my recently acquired Dynax 7 that I am thinking of buying a decent condition 6.1 megapixel, CCD, APS-C, no-live-view, 7D as a companion. The 7D has more or less the same button layout as the 7, which has changed on later models even on the 5D.

Are you, 7D owners, still happy with your camera?

The 7D is my all time favourite camera. It’s a perfect compliment to a Dynax 7. The colour is just spectacular. It feels slow when compared to current generation bodies but it is a fantastic camera to use especially for landscape.

they are all slowly failing with first frame black which is unfortunately untreatable.

havanna60 · Oct 25, 2020

Paul Barnard said:
they are all slowly failing with first frame black which is unfortunately untreatable.

I checked what was/is this FFB, and I found it a fascinating story, and possibly a fatal mistake by the Minolta camera engineering department.

My understanding that FFB occurs only when the camera hadn't been used for a longer period of time. Eventually, could it happen that every time you switch on the camera, FFB happens and the camera became totally unusable? Is this what you mean with "untreatable"?

I've just won a bidding for a decent 7D, I am very exited, as if I had won an auction for an A7RIV or A99II. I wonder, if it is developing this FFB problem. Actually it was a hot bidding fight for this camera, I think I paid a premium price.

Joseph Balson · Oct 25, 2020

reminds me of very old conversations. From what I recall, not all the 7D had ffB, mine still have no problem. Seems the first batches had that issue more often, and also, shooting the first photo with stab on seemed (emphasize SEEMED) to trigger FFB more.

Some of the first cameras were fixed by minolta, but it wasn't free.

3mm4n03l · Oct 27, 2020

FFB has never been issue for me. I would just turn off the camera, restart it and shoot without problem. Minor inconvenience as compared to the batteries which is my real problem. Most of my NP-400 cannot even charge anymore and the remaining ones don't provide many shots. I have tried the vertical grip but I am getting even less shots than with a 36exp film roll. The batteries are draining really fast, even fresh and fully charged.

SQLGuy · Oct 27, 2020

Knock on wood: just tried mine for the first time in a couple of months, and the first frame was fine. Then tried using the built in flash, and got a way over exposed shot that required -3EV EC to correct (FEC didn't make a difference). Still, a great camera to shoot with, and, yes, very comfortable to switch between this and the Maxxum 7. The 7D is a lot heavier, but otherwise quite similar.

The only down side is that it's APS-C, so the coverage isn't a direct match for the lenses. One option, though, if you want to share lenses, is to use a 1.4X TC, like the Kenko MC4, and then you get pretty much the same field of view with a DT (APS-C) lens on the TC + Maxxum 7 as you do with no TC on the 7D.

Works fine even with a relatively recent Sony 18-250.

neilt3 · Oct 27, 2020

3mm4n03l said:
FFB has never been issue for me. I would just turn off the camera, restart it and shoot without problem. Minor inconvenience as compared to the batteries which is my real problem. Most of my NP-400 cannot even charge anymore and the remaining ones don't provide many shots. I have tried the vertical grip but I am getting even less shots than with a 36exp film roll. The batteries are draining really fast, even fresh and fully charged.

New batteries are readily available , quite cheap too .

Time for a fresh set perhaps ?

Blumax® NP-400 NP400 Replacement 1400mAh 7.4V Battery Power Pack for Minolta DiMAGE A2 a Sweet Digital a-7 Maxxum 7D: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Shop Blumax® NP-400 NP400 Replacement 1400mAh 7.4V Battery Power Pack for Minolta DiMAGE A2 a Sweet Digital a-7 Maxxum 7D. Free delivery and returns on eligible orders.

www.amazon.co.uk

neilt3 · Oct 27, 2020

The Dynax 7d was the second DSLR I bought , the first being the Sony a100 .

It's a lovely camera to handle and the high ISO gave much nicer results than the a100 .

My main film camera was then , and still is , the Dynax 7 , and the two matched each other well . very intuitive when your using them both at the same time , swapping from one to the other . ( colour on the digital , B&W film in the 7 ) .

My main DSLR's now are the Sony a900 and a77ii , but I still enjoy taking the Dynax 7d out every so often .

The a100 and a580 on the other hand just get a fresh battery in then every so often and some shots taken to keep them in good order .

.

If you can get one who's antishake and shutter/sensor are still good , grab it .

Download a copy of the manual of Minolta's website and get some fresh batteries if needed and enjoy it .

https://www.konicaminoltasupport.com/index.php?id=23&L=0

You can download the latest firmware update if it needs it too from there .

--
https://www.flickr.com/photos/neilt3/sets

3mm4n03l · Oct 27, 2020

neilt3 said:
3mm4n03l said:

FFB has never been issue for me. I would just turn off the camera, restart it and shoot without problem. Minor inconvenience as compared to the batteries which is my real problem. Most of my NP-400 cannot even charge anymore and the remaining ones don't provide many shots. I have tried the vertical grip but I am getting even less shots than with a 36exp film roll. The batteries are draining really fast, even fresh and fully charged.

Click to expand...

New batteries are readily available , quite cheap too .

Time for a fresh set perhaps ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blumax®-NP...=1603835023&s=electronics&sr=1-3&tag=mh0a9-21

Thank you for that link. I will give it a try!

neilt3 · Oct 28, 2020

3mm4n03l said:
neilt3 said:

3mm4n03l said:

FFB has never been issue for me. I would just turn off the camera, restart it and shoot without problem. Minor inconvenience as compared to the batteries which is my real problem. Most of my NP-400 cannot even charge anymore and the remaining ones don't provide many shots. I have tried the vertical grip but I am getting even less shots than with a 36exp film roll. The batteries are draining really fast, even fresh and fully charged.

Click to expand...

New batteries are readily available , quite cheap too .

Time for a fresh set perhaps ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blumax®-NP...=1603835023&s=electronics&sr=1-3&tag=mh0a9-21

Click to expand...

Thank you for that link. I will give it a try!

There's plenty of different brands available from other places too .

If your doing a search , the Pentax k10d and k20d also use the same battery , but by a different name .

So doing a search for their batteries will give more options .

I only linked to Blumax as I seem to remember their a decent quality battery , but do a search first .

Either way , needing fresh batteries or a charger is simple fix .

3mm4n03l · Oct 28, 2020

neilt3 said:
3mm4n03l said:

neilt3 said:

3mm4n03l said:

FFB has never been issue for me. I would just turn off the camera, restart it and shoot without problem. Minor inconvenience as compared to the batteries which is my real problem. Most of my NP-400 cannot even charge anymore and the remaining ones don't provide many shots. I have tried the vertical grip but I am getting even less shots than with a 36exp film roll. The batteries are draining really fast, even fresh and fully charged.

Click to expand...

New batteries are readily available , quite cheap too .

Time for a fresh set perhaps ?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blumax®-NP...=1603835023&s=electronics&sr=1-3&tag=mh0a9-21

Click to expand...

Thank you for that link. I will give it a try!

Click to expand...

There's plenty of different brands available from other places too .

If your doing a search , the Pentax k10d and k20d also use the same battery , but by a different name .

So doing a search for their batteries will give more options .

I only linked to Blumax as I seem to remember their a decent quality battery , but do a search first .

Either way , needing fresh batteries or a charger is simple fix .

HurdyGurdy · Oct 28, 2020

used that combo frequently - definitely works

All these recent posts made me dig out my old 7D - charging batteries now , let's see how it goes

havanna60 · Oct 28, 2020

Do you have a gurdy, hurdy?

You can take a photo of your gurdy with your 7D.

When I have the 7D in my hands, I'll take a couple of photos about my wife's "nyenyere"

HurdyGurdy · Oct 28, 2020

havanna60 said:
Do you have a gurdy, hurdy?

You can take a photo of your gurdy with your 7D.

When I have the 7D in my hands, I'll take a couple of photos about my wife's "nyenyere"

:-D

can't help you unfortunately , but these folks can !

hurdy-gurdy-wooden-model-build-your-own

Paul Barnard · Oct 29, 2020

HurdyGurdy said:
havanna60 said:

Do you have a gurdy, hurdy?

You can take a photo of your gurdy with your 7D.

When I have the 7D in my hands, I'll take a couple of photos about my wife's "nyenyere"

Click to expand...

:-D

can't help you unfortunately , but these folks can !

hurdy-gurdy-wooden-model-build-your-own

Completely off topic but that company makes very good models. I received on as a gift a couple years ago.

havanna60 · Oct 31, 2020

neilt3 said:
My main film camera was then , and still is , the Dynax 7... but I still enjoy taking the Dynax 7d out every so often.

Thank you, Neil. Here are my first steps with 7D.

Dynax 7D, Sony 50mm/f1.4, with angle viewfinder. 6M, APS-C, CCD DSLR camera from 2004, which I purchased from a nice person from UK in 2020 October. The camera arrived with fully working order, and the CF card had a handful of photos from 2005.

When I had my Nikon Df, my first DSLR, which I sold later, I bought an angle viewfinder for it, since my preferred way of viewing is looking down in the chimney, the Mamiya RZ67 style and shooting from chest level. The same angle viewfinder can be used both on my film Dynax 7 and digital 7D.

6M gives not much room for cropping, at most changing to 1:1.

Part of the experimenting is the number of failed photos. She asked me to take a photo of her standing on the stone. I used wide focus area with Automatic-AF mode, and the focus shifted to the background (F1.4).

First I thought that maybe my camera has a severe back focusing issue, but since the focus on a number of photos were spot on, I think it was because of my inexperience with using the camera. I checked the focus accuracy with spot AF, and it seems I have no back or front focusing issue.

Definitely, the IQ doesn't come even close to today standards, still I like the rendering, just as I like the lowly instax film. This is my first CCD camera.

neilt3 said:
If you can get one who's antishake and shutter/sensor are still good , grab it.

I did. How can I test if antishake works?

neilt3 said:
Download a copy of the manual of Minolta's website and get some fresh batteries if needed and enjoy it .

https://www.konicaminoltasupport.com/index.php?id=23&L=0

My camera came with instruction manual, pocket reference guide and quick start and installation guide.

neilt3 said:
You can download the latest firmware update if it needs it too from there .

The camera already had the latest 1.10e firmware.

Joseph Balson · Nov 1, 2020

the Sony 50mm is super soft at F/1.4, at F/2.8 it's is much better. But that softness does good on the little girl photo, super creamy portrait, I like it.

testing the stab is quite easy: put the stab on, take some photos with a speed under 1/15 with your 50mm.

I'm glad someone is gonna use a 7D again.
- buy a few spare batteries. Even the brand new aftermarket ones I bought recently don't last long.
- shoot raw,
- set exposure compensation to -0.3EV or -0.7EV to save the highlights when needed
- don't be afraid of high ISO: just use whatever you need: DXO deep prime and / or Topaz denoise get rid of the noise.
- if you like shooting this camera, you will want a 70-200 F4 beercan, replace the sony 50mm with the minolta 50mm f2.8 macro, and get the 28mm f2.8: all great non expensive lenses that you can also use on any sony A-mount.

Konica Minolta Dynax 7D in 2020 as a digital companion for the film Dynax 7

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