DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

My First Digital Camera Re-born

Started 11 months ago | Discussions
WiltshireMoonraker59
WiltshireMoonraker59 Regular Member • Posts: 488
My First Digital Camera Re-born
2

My first digital camera after moving from 35mm film, was a Minolta Dimage 7Hi. I sold that camera a long time ago but recently whilst scouring the E-Bay listing for older digital cameras, I came across a mint condition Minolta Dimage A1 that came with the battery pack accessory, for only £30. Basically it was the last Minolta before the Minolta/Konica partnership and the 2/3" CCD sensor and the 28-200 f2.8/3.5 lens is exactly the same as the 7Hi model. The 7Hi ran on 4 x AA batteries whereas the A1 has an NP400 lithium battery and also has sensor shift IS. It's interesting that the Minolta A1 has the same sensor as my Fujifilm XS-1 but obviously the A1 is only 5MP whereas the XS-1 is 12MP.

Anyway here is my latest purchase, alongside my other cameras and a couple of photos taken with the Dimage A1

Notice the tilting EVF like on the later Lumix GX9 and the top plate display

Sony RX100 mk1 - Nikon P7800 - Olympus EM1ii - Minolta Dimage A1 - Fujifilm XS-1

 WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list:WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE A1 Nikon Coolpix P7000 Fujifilm X-S1 Sony RX100 Nikon Coolpix P7800 +7 more
Minolta DiMAGE A1 Nikon Coolpix P7800 Sony RX100
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
johnapp Regular Member • Posts: 423
Re: My First Digital Camera Re-born
1

WiltshireMoonraker59 wrote:

My first digital camera after moving from 35mm film, was a Minolta Dimage 7Hi. I sold that camera a long time ago but recently whilst scouring the E-Bay listing for older digital cameras, I came across a mint condition Minolta Dimage A1 that came with the battery pack accessory, for only £30. Basically it was the last Minolta before the Minolta/Konica partnership and the 2/3" CCD sensor and the 28-200 f2.8/3.5 lens is exactly the same as the 7Hi model. The 7Hi ran on 4 x AA batteries whereas the A1 has an NP400 lithium battery and also has sensor shift IS. It's interesting that the Minolta A1 has the same sensor as my Fujifilm XS-1 but obviously the A1 is only 5MP whereas the XS-1 is 12MP.

Anyway here is my latest purchase, alongside my other cameras and a couple of photos taken with the Dimage A1

Notice the tilting EVF like on the later Lumix GX9 and the top plate display

Sony RX100 mk1 - Nikon P7800 - Olympus EM1ii - Minolta Dimage A1 - Fujifilm XS-1

Very Nice ,well Enjoy these new found toys.

Hike Pics
Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: My First Digital Camera Re-born
1

Nice shots from your A1. I have casually looked at getting a 7Hi to add to my M/KM collection but they are always few and expensive here in the states.

I got my A1 about a year ago for $26 US. I declined on an auction this past week for 2 of them for about $22 US. They looked to be in great shape but I already have 2 A2, 2 A200 (both have broken IS) and 2 7i models and didn't feel like doubling up on the A1. I do take these wonderful cameras out on a regular basis.

You have a nice camera collection. I admire the Nikon.

sybersitizen Forum Pro • Posts: 24,266
Re: My First Digital Camera Re-born

WiltshireMoonraker59 wrote:

It's interesting that the Minolta A1 has the same sensor as my Fujifilm XS-1 but obviously the A1 is only 5MP whereas the XS-1 is 12MP.

How can they be the same sensor? Did you mean to say the same sensor size?

WiltshireMoonraker59
OP WiltshireMoonraker59 Regular Member • Posts: 488
Re: My First Digital Camera Re-born

Yes sorry! I did mean the same size 2/3" but the Dimage A1 is a CCD sensor whereas the XS-1 has a EXR-CMOS sensor of course.

 WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list:WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE A1 Nikon Coolpix P7000 Fujifilm X-S1 Sony RX100 Nikon Coolpix P7800 +7 more
WiltshireMoonraker59
OP WiltshireMoonraker59 Regular Member • Posts: 488
Re: My First Digital Camera Re-born

Thank you for your comments. Yes it is very easy to get addicted to using these retro digital cameras. The Dimage A1 is so lightweight and compact and very well specified for its age. I really love the Nikon P7800 too, its lens is super sharp and take beautiful black and white photos but sadly my copy has a few glitches when using the mode dial or the rear dial sometimes. I think the contacts must be dirty or corroded because I have to twiddle the dial sometimes to get the mode I want. I might look out for another one but they are becoming hard to get hold of.

 WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list:WiltshireMoonraker59's gear list
Minolta DiMAGE A1 Nikon Coolpix P7000 Fujifilm X-S1 Sony RX100 Nikon Coolpix P7800 +7 more
Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads