Lim Hoon Khai
New member
Was looking for a 'prosumer' digital cam to complement a conventional Dynax600si -- digital film saves lots of wasted shots.
I wanted one with negligible shutter lag (long shutter lag makes a joke out of early/low-end digi cams), great zoom (min. 200mm, knowing the limitation of a 28-105 zoom lens), and min 4 MP (for enlargements).
Canon's G3 is still a piece of brick; Sony's 717 is such a handful; Nikon's 5700 is actually spec-ed 'superior' to Minolta's 7Hi in several departments (8x optical zoom, 1024x768 option, vari-angle LCD screen, 2CR5 battery option, 1.2" macro, 0.07 shutter lag), but it's simply the 7Hi that gives you the SLR look & feel. Heart over mind, perhaps.
My first 7Hi was a dud - any attempt to rotate the control dial fired the shutter; shutter couldn't lock focus too. Totally unexpected for a SIN$2000 cam. Initially thought i wasn't reading the manual right. What a let-down on QC, nevermind the country of manufacture.
The replacement worked wonderful.
Ever-delightful feature set. No major complains save for some minor points below. Just have to adapt to the nuances of digi cams.
For situations requiring speedy focus, conventional SLR (with a big-aperture lens) still reigns. Same goes for night shots.
One compelling benefit of the digital 7Hi over comparable conventional Minolta SLR is the virtual 'endless' & 'recyclable' digital film; not to forget the lighter weight for the photographer.
Problems:
No major show-stopper; but hope Minolta can iron out the following :
- Focus speed is still no way near the convention SLR (600si); lost a few candid beach & kids' shots while awaiting the red-rectangle focus indicator.
- CF compartment in handgrip can barbeque your palm after continuous use - same problem with combination of Sanyo/GP battery sets with Lexar/Hagiwara CF cards. Think it's the camera that's cooking, not brand of batteries or CF cards.
- What a battery sucker - don't leave home without 2 reserve sets. If only Minolta can match Sony's stamina battery technology.
- EVF virtually useless in low light - grainy & too dim to figure out facial expressions to catch that Kodak (uh ... CF) moment. Same goes with ISO800 setting, lest you are not that competitive/picky.
- Rotating EVF does not stay in upright position firm enough; tends to slip back down when one tries to peer deeper into the EVF.
- Right ring eye-piece is out of place - blocks CF cover, and the cause of sling slipping/blocking over lens when taking vertical shots.
- LCD is not vari-angle, though cleverly recessed; a vari-angle one that can flip over & protect itself from scratches would have been even more practical (like Nikon 5700)
- When shooting, minimum 2 keys aspects to get the 'basic' photo right (touch-ups like saturation, etc, can follow via editing software, if necessary) : focus & metering. Focus is easy to confirm via red rectangle & easily-switchable cross-hair modes. However, changing between matrix & centre-weighted metering modes is not so direct -- if only the spot metering button can help toggle between ALL 3 metering modes.
I wanted one with negligible shutter lag (long shutter lag makes a joke out of early/low-end digi cams), great zoom (min. 200mm, knowing the limitation of a 28-105 zoom lens), and min 4 MP (for enlargements).
Canon's G3 is still a piece of brick; Sony's 717 is such a handful; Nikon's 5700 is actually spec-ed 'superior' to Minolta's 7Hi in several departments (8x optical zoom, 1024x768 option, vari-angle LCD screen, 2CR5 battery option, 1.2" macro, 0.07 shutter lag), but it's simply the 7Hi that gives you the SLR look & feel. Heart over mind, perhaps.
My first 7Hi was a dud - any attempt to rotate the control dial fired the shutter; shutter couldn't lock focus too. Totally unexpected for a SIN$2000 cam. Initially thought i wasn't reading the manual right. What a let-down on QC, nevermind the country of manufacture.
The replacement worked wonderful.
Ever-delightful feature set. No major complains save for some minor points below. Just have to adapt to the nuances of digi cams.
For situations requiring speedy focus, conventional SLR (with a big-aperture lens) still reigns. Same goes for night shots.
One compelling benefit of the digital 7Hi over comparable conventional Minolta SLR is the virtual 'endless' & 'recyclable' digital film; not to forget the lighter weight for the photographer.
Problems:
No major show-stopper; but hope Minolta can iron out the following :
- Focus speed is still no way near the convention SLR (600si); lost a few candid beach & kids' shots while awaiting the red-rectangle focus indicator.
- CF compartment in handgrip can barbeque your palm after continuous use - same problem with combination of Sanyo/GP battery sets with Lexar/Hagiwara CF cards. Think it's the camera that's cooking, not brand of batteries or CF cards.
- What a battery sucker - don't leave home without 2 reserve sets. If only Minolta can match Sony's stamina battery technology.
- EVF virtually useless in low light - grainy & too dim to figure out facial expressions to catch that Kodak (uh ... CF) moment. Same goes with ISO800 setting, lest you are not that competitive/picky.
- Rotating EVF does not stay in upright position firm enough; tends to slip back down when one tries to peer deeper into the EVF.
- Right ring eye-piece is out of place - blocks CF cover, and the cause of sling slipping/blocking over lens when taking vertical shots.
- LCD is not vari-angle, though cleverly recessed; a vari-angle one that can flip over & protect itself from scratches would have been even more practical (like Nikon 5700)
- When shooting, minimum 2 keys aspects to get the 'basic' photo right (touch-ups like saturation, etc, can follow via editing software, if necessary) : focus & metering. Focus is easy to confirm via red rectangle & easily-switchable cross-hair modes. However, changing between matrix & centre-weighted metering modes is not so direct -- if only the spot metering button can help toggle between ALL 3 metering modes.