Canon Puts Efficiency On Press
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"Seemed pricy until I touched it, then I had to have it" on
Pros: Anti-shake and all the good parts of the Maxxum 7. Great battery life with the VC-7D. I have had this camera for a month and I have yet too find a limitation. I have shot with multiple AF lens and all the shots are clear. I have even shot at 3200 ISO and
Cons: None. Remember its not the brand of your camera that makes the shot, its the shooter.
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"You need to read this" on by hurtado
Pros: Excellent images...great color
Cons: Flash...what flash?
Summary: I think this camera would be appropriately priced at about $1,100.00. I just cannot see spending $1600 in a 6.1 megapixel camera. i'm a die-hard minolta fan and have aquired a lot of lenses. If Minolta wants my business, they will have to come down on their price tag.
The pop-up flash is worthless. I was taking some indoor photos and found them underexposed considerably; moreover, my 5400HS does not work with the camera...it has to be the HS(d). Oh well. I hate to say it, but the Canon 20d is a better buy.
Canon 8-megapixels / Minolta 6-megapixels
Canon 5 fps / Minolta 3 fps (maybe 2.5)
Canon $1499 / Minolta $1599
Canon max shutter 1/8000 Minolta 1/4000 -
"Excellent and easy to use" on
Pros: Very simple analog controls, I have had mine for 2 Mos and already 2nd nature. AS? 300mm at 1/4 sec WOW. who needs a flash for indoor candids.
Cons: only price unless you consider the cost of VR and IR lenses on the other brands
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"Overpriced for the resolution (from a pro's standpoint)" on by ktg
Pros: Great image stabilization feature, compatible with any Minolta lens
Cons: Incompatible with earlier Minolta flashes, only 6 megapixels
Summary: I have shot professionally with Minolta SLR cameras for many years. Minolta, once an innovator in the SLR arena (remember autofocus? Wireless flashes?), has been very late to the digital camera party---both with prosumer cameras, and more recently, it's first DSLR. Unfortunately, their lateness has not been accompanied by much innovation. Yes,they get big props for their unique image stabilization system, which spares us the need to pay the cost premium associated with lens-based IS systems (Canon), but this first digital SLR seriously misses the mark on resolution. As such, it is still a very usable camera for the amateur/serious amateur who already owns one or more Minolta lenses.
I agree with the previous reviewer that the lack of compatibility with previous flashes is a real pain. I rely heavily on Minolta's wireless flash capabilities, and having to upgrade all my flashes from the earlier HS model to the newer HS-D model is a costly burden. Their prosumer digital bodies like the Dimage series suffered the same limitation, so this is not a new issue. Just irritating.
I'm also disheartened by the use of a proprietary battery. Having gotten accustomed to prosumer digitals that use ubiquitous and cheap NiMH AA batteries, it's hard to get excited about having to buy an extra, costly battery and charger to have on back-up. This is more the rule than the exception with digital SLRs nowadays, so I guess I cannot be too critical on this point.
In short, this first offering is a bit of a let-down for a pro with a significant investment in Minolta lenses and flashes. The price point is steep for a 6-megapixel sensor. In effect, you're paying a premium for the unique image stabilization feature. It is dynmite, but is it worth the extra cost? You will have to decide. I'm sure their next DSLR body will have higher resolution, but the flash incompatibility problem will remain. -
"Excellent choice for the serious minded" on by hjarmitage
Pros: Excellent images, great controls
Cons: Price a little high, burst mode a little slow
Summary: It looks intimidating but read the manual and you will see it is easy to control. Images are crisp and sharp, color is very, very good. 11x17 prints are a breeze.
A good working knowledge of photography is needed because it's way too expense for a "point and shoot" even though it can. I recommend the battery grip for heft anf feel plus with 2 batteries it shoots for a long long time. Battery life is excellent.
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