Minolta Maxxum 7 (Alpha 7, Dynax 7) 35mm Film SLR Camera Review with Sample Photos

[@TommySpanos]

Just like you took your Maxxum 9 on your honeymoon, I took my Maxxum 7 on mine. It was an absolutely brilliant experience and some of my most fond memories are blasting through rolls with my Maxxum 7. With that being said, I think you were a bit harsh on the Maxxum 7. While the reliability of this camera leaves much to be desired, the ergonomics, design and general usability of the Maxxum 7 are terrific. I find it to be a wonderful extension to the the already incredible shooting experience of the Maxxum 9. Additionally, some of the features of the Maxxum 7 over the Maxxum 9 are just awesome. SSM support, the ability to reload partially spent film rolls and advance to the unspent frames, the scene-wide zone metering display on the LCD (where you can see what the EV is for each zone in your frame relative to your current exposure) and the large LCD to view previous exposures conveniently. I'm sad that the Maxxum 7 didn't give you the same magic it gave me. I feel like with your love of the Maxxum 9, the 7 would have been nothing but smiles. It seems the product engineers at Minolta who chose the plastic in the film door (and the aperture lever which also goes bad on these Maxxum 7s) had other ideas...

[@DavidHancock]

I admit I'm a bit biased against the 7. I've had three now and all have had some sort of problem. The one I currently have, an almost unused Alpha 7, has to be switched to manual mode when it's turned on and then have the lens mounted after it's turned on, on occasion, for the AF to work. Otherwise I get a big "ERROR" across the rear LCD. But even the 9 has some built-in flaws, like the plastic door hook. I do love to use the 7, though. I feels great and takes very nice photos.

[@DavidHancock]

@M Tech it's not getting over myself. It's getting over this video series costing me more than $700 just to get enough "working" 7 bodies to complete it. And none of those bodies actually being fully functional.

[@DavidHancock]

@M Tech Thank you. I'm glad to know that others have had better luck finding working 7 bodies than I have. I'll reiterate the general point of this video: these are nice but imperfect cameras.

[@victort.652]

I was and still am a Minolta fan. Thanks for your video!

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you!

[@SkylerKing]

This is awesome! I almost bought this camera on two different occasions. It's rare to come across someone who ever owned one, and nearly mythical to come across someone who currently owns one.

[@DavidHancock]

They're nice. If you want to get more options, Dyxum.com has a forum dedicated to Minoltas and a lot of people there know these cameras very well.

[@GuyInAChair3]

I know this comment is 2 years old but... I'm one of those mythical people that not only owns one, but still has one. Mine has been hibernating in the back of the closet for years, but I thought I should take it out, put on a 50mm and shoot a few rolls of Ilford.

[@marcelocampoamor4761]

Thank you David, greats pictures. "the seven" , "the nine" I love both.

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you! Both are very nice cameras in their own rights for sure.

[@AmiPurple]

Well timed video, picked up a fairly mint Minolta dynax 7 last month, only has had 14 rolls of film in its life. That's a great video without getting stuck in a long list of technical specs and numbers. I bought the dynax 7 as the film counterpart to my Sony SLT dslr, this camera has the advantage that it can pretty much use all the lens the dslr ones can even the SSM lenses too. I haven't used the Minolta camera yet, your review and pictures make me look forward to when I do use it. Thank you for the video

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and those two cameras will work very well together.

[@patrickjones8174]

I have a 7 with the aperature error. I recently picked up a failed unit and a working camera with a broken door. Today I finally did surgery and now after 8 years have one working 7 that I look forward to shooting with.

[@DavidHancock]

Very nice! That's a lot of work so definitely well done!

[@612morrison]

I've just bought on eBay a dynax 7 which was advertised as for parts not working, so I messaged the seller to ask what all was wrong with it the answer was it seems to have a electrical power issue. With 2 days left I said what the heck and put a opening bid on it with a second bid a few £'s over that, and I won. The camera arrived within a few days and on inspection the back was sticky but that can be normal. But after cleaning and putting in 2 fresh duracell batteries it worked and I mean it was is in full working condition. Having only dry fired the camera the eqvelent of 10 or 12 films and 4 times with a old film i have just to check the winding and rewinding of all my cameras, but the 7 never missed a beat. Now to test with fresh film. So for the grand sum of £17.45🇬🇧 or $23 🇺🇸 yes that's right £17.45 it's not a typo, plus shipping I have a almost mint and in fully working condition dynax 7 made sometime in 2004 added to my minolta collection of a 7xi and a 800si and several, ok 9 or 10 minolta lenses.

[@DavidHancock]

That's fantastic!

[@_Calabasasvolgs314]

Want lens’s did you use for majority of these pics?

[@DavidHancock]

Minolta 50mm 1.4, Minolta 28mm 2.8, and Quantaray (Tamron) 70-300.

[@ernestoregaldo]

Is there still places that can repair the Maxxum 7? I just bought one in really good condition at a flea market for $40 - knowing full well there was a risk that it might not work. I bought new batteries and put them in and nothing it’s completely dead. I’m hoping it can be repaired. It’s such a cool camera.

[@ernestoregaldo]

Never mind it’s working now. Turns out one of the batteries was drained.

[@DavidHancock]

That'll do it. I'm glad you got a really great camera for such a great price, too.

[@spangancayco]

I have the 5. Worth getting the 7 for a few extra features?

[@DavidHancock]

I prefer the 5, honestly. Lighter and the few things that the 7 does in addition aren't used very often for most photographers.

[@GiuseppeMarano]

Thanks for this review! I just bought one and I’m waiting for it! It’s possible to use also lenses from others brand? Or just Minolta ones? Thank you 🙏🏼

[@DavidHancock]

Hmmm. It may be possible. 50mm f/1.4: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHzKhop_jrx4Zpofeature=shared 28mm f/2.8: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jomnYZukqdSWnbsfeature=shared Here's a playlist to all my lens review (95 as of today): kzbin.info/aero/PL6MrZtHJOVgGI2OPWmoeTdXu1lHZ437je

[@jackmatthews9390]

Dave, I just bought an alpha - 7. I can't wait to test it with Lomochrome Purple while spring is still here off and on in Centennial. Say I was wondering where that photo of the barn with the windmill is located? I ofter shoot Cherry Creek and 17 mile farm house with two windmills ;-) But i have never seen the one you were at... Anyway another great review from yours. Thank you, Jack Matthews

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! The farmhouse is down at the homestead near Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs.

[@drewjames808]

I must have got lucky with mine it’s such a awesome camera and I’ve never had a single issue with it.

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! It's also possible I was just very unlucky.

[@drewjames808]

Or maybe mine just hasn’t been used much. I bought a small collection of cameras off of a man in his 70’s and all the cameras were in mint condition. Only thing I found that I didn’t like was some kind of sticky film on it that I was able to clean off with little effort and after I cleaned it it looked brand new. I use the camera very often as my go to camera when I’m out and about and don’t want to pack heavy gear. I have really enjoyed the camera.

[@hocadidilyocuttCAP]

you can replace the grip rubber with some gun grip tape, and it works really well

[@DavidHancock]

I haven't tried that. Thank you!

[@hocadidilyocuttCAP]

@@DavidHancock Sure! My tape was kind of grey, but I put some shoe heel blackener on it and it made it a nice glossy black

[@alvinkinsey9317]

I still have mine, just like new great camera!

[@DavidHancock]

Nice!

[@skylineracer329]

So where does it stand compared to the a9? Which of them would be a better choice?

[@DavidHancock]

I strongly prefer the A9. I've had three A7 bodies and all have had problems of some sort. That's a small sample size, but it's enough that this camera isn't one of my favorites. The only thing this does that the A9 doesn't is simulate STF lenses.

[@FlickMonthana]

what film/films were you using to take the color photos?

[@DavidHancock]

Multiple films. I don't recall all of them but Porta and Ektachrome for certain.

[@scoobyrex247]

Great video. Love the weird swirlyboka on the butterfly. Looks like helios. Any tips for cleaning the rubber on mu beercan?

[@DavidHancock]

Thank you and that's, I think, the Sigma-made Quantaray 70-300 for those shots. For sticky rubber, clean it off with 91% rubbing alcohol and paper towels. Just keep cleaning until it's not sticky any more.

[@scoobyrex247]

When the a7 plastic door latch fails, what is the symptoms? Does it make a buzz motor noise?

[@tchallahawk6584]

Do you offer workshops. I am having problems focusing my Pentax 67, I need help.

[@DavidHancock]

I don't , but I could probably walk you through whatever's happening. What's going on?

[@tchallahawk6584]

@@DavidHancock I will look at your 3 part videos on the Pentax 67, I may have of missed something, and get back to you.

[@DavidHancock]

Sounds like a plan. Let me know.

[@btrdangerdan2010]

My second best camera after the Minolta a-9!

[@DavidHancock]

Nice! I do like these a lot, too.

[@mchlhth]

Relatedly, the Nikon N6006, which would be the late 1980’s version of a midrange DSLR like the D610 or D750, also became a useless brick of plastic and circuit boards when the flimsy hook on the film door broke. Happened to me the second time I opened my dad’s N6006 to load some film.

[@DavidHancock]

That sounds about right. The N6006 was a consumer-level camera. They took good pictures and had good capabilities, but yes they had a molded plastic hook.

[@thenexthobby]

I’ve always felt this way about my Elan II, which yes did also break _its_ film door latch. As they unfortunately must.

[@DavidHancock]

Yeah, the plastic hooks are infuriating.

[@theottergames1969]

I have this camera. It so customizable i was amazed after reading its manual for an example you are able to use rear wheel instead of exposure compensation wheel. I also heard about lot technical issues, the biggest one is with failing aperture lever mechanism(that was the reason of death my first dynax7). I also heard about film door locking mechanism and now i'm super delicate with this. Despite that two things i thik that the dynax 7 is well built camera. ofcourse it will be better if dynax was all metal and weather sealed(it should be). For all film Rolls wich i shoot on it i haven't see any problem.

[@DavidHancock]

Yeah, the level of customization on this is pretty great. I just tried to film the video manuals for this last week but both my copies of this camera are having problems now (that makes me zero for three on reliable copies of the 7.)

[@theottergames1969]

@@DavidHancock that is sad because this really great camera body

[@jimmyjames8611]

that camera rules. I have two of them. shot lots of film on it. too bad the labs around me collapsed. XP2 for life.

[@DavidHancock]

There's a lot right with this camera for sure.

[@Nick1296]

Hopefully mine works. Got one for $15 as-is and it supposedly has power issues but I'll gamble for $15 to have a chance to own one.

[@DavidHancock]

I hope it works well, too!

[@Nick1296]

@@DavidHancock Needless to say, the 7 was on my short list for a while. I've had others like the 450/500si, but the 7 was one of those I was waiting for a good deal or luck to find. I bought the battery you need on Amazon when I got them on sale in bulk because I wanted them so when I get a 2CR5 adapter for my other Minolta bodies, I have some. I have a Sony mirrorless camera and the LA-EA2, so I use my Minolta glass on both.

[@Nick1296]

@@DavidHancock I got the camera and it turned right on, but I got 2 error lockouts when I loaded film with one of my crap tester lenses (80-200 4.5). I was worried I may have a bad camera on my hands but I tried a 100-200 4.5, without issue. I'm going to leave the batteries in for a bit and see if it has issues for 2 weeks, but if this is not bad I can't believe I own a Maxxum 7 for $15. I'm cautiously optimistic due to what I seen.

[@DavidHancock]

@@Nick1296 Very nice!

[@Nick1296]

@@DavidHancock My $15 one didn't work out but I got one with a broken film door and did the swap to a 7 with no terminal failures. Sadly the $15 one had the dreaded aperture failure due to a cracked nylon gear. I also took special precautions and used the high speed shutter mode to make sure as that will make a nylon gear failure obvious. It also took a test roll just fine, and preserved my film lead out setting even in the full auto mode. Only reason I moved forward with finding a good one (or at least, repairable) i I got to hold one, and it feels right. My bad film door one came with a Quantaray 28-105 f3.8 lens. It also came with unknown Scrunchies the seller used to hold the film door on. The good one wasn't cheap at $109, but rather then fight bum 7's I just got a good one I know was fixable. I also found a way to swap the door without risking the door springs, but you need to be very careful. Came with 2 dead batteries but that wasn't a concern. The replacement film door has glitter glue on it, but that can be cleaned.

[@tommyvansickle1194]

Tommy From Colorado! Great Video. (:

[@DavidHancock]

Hey, Tommy, did you see my reply the other day with my e-mail address?

[@tommyvansickle1194]

No I didn't! Can you send it again?

[@DavidHancock]

@@tommyvansickle1194 Weird. YT must have deleted them, which it's never done before. So it's hancockdavidm and I use gmail. Also, here are the shots from last weekend: davidhancock.smugmug.com/9-28-19-K-3/

[@stonehenges5722]

It is a bit crazy how this a-7 focuses in darkness..

[@DavidHancock]

When the AF is set to facilitate low light focusing, definitely. My full manual series on this comes out in a week, I think

[@stonehenges5722]

@@DavidHancock cool. Mine a-7 has some "hiccups": eye control and display turn happen just now and then.

[@DavidHancock]

@@stonehenges5722 It took me 4 of these to make this videos about them and none of them have been without some kind of issue. 😟

[@stonehenges5722]

@@DavidHancock I have had this only few days and happy to tell that "eye start" -problem was user based.. I had dry hands so the grip didn't sense my touch. I also found that custom setting (7) which I switched to "2" and that ignores grip sensors. Display don't even try turn. A feature without which I can live. Eagerly waiting your video manual..

[@Emma-zk6it]

I'm currently on my second 7. Is incredible how much I love and hate this camera at the same time. The first one had issues with the aperture ring. The second one is behaving good for the moment but I don't trust on it. Shame that a company that made great cameras like the Xe-7, x-700, srt-101 and maxxum 7000 went down on that fashion.

[@DavidHancock]

Same here with that feeling. I'm on #4 and the only one that I had that truly worked well had the film door break and the EV compensation dial fall off.

[@Skipsul]

I'm still looking for a good reliable A-mount camera, and this and the 9 have been on my short list as the last of the breed. I have a functional 7D that I love, but it's not full frame. I have a first-run Maxxum 7000 with the crossed X's, but its mylar shutter leaves snag on each other at times, and that has ruined enough rolls of film that I do not trust it as anything more than a collectible (shame too as it was otherwise well built). I have Maxxum 3xi (I bought it for the lens attached - it was going for little more than postage), but it is the nadir of 90s cheap, as most of the terrible buttons and sliders needed to force it out of Program mode do not work or make electrical contact (and its program mode is just awful). Did you ever test the 7's apodizing exposure bracketing? I heard it was very promising, but still experimental.

[@DavidHancock]

I did try the STF simulation mode on this. Basically, it can be done on any SLR with suitable adjustments, including a digital camera. The mode works by taking seven photos in series, basically just a multiple exposure, at different shutter speeds and apertures to create a blurry area character that looks like an STF lens. In fact, back in 2016 I sat down and experimented with this to develop a process that would allow any camera to do it. Here's the article I wrote on that: www.pentaxforums.com/articles/photo-articles/smooth-trans-focus-sony-135mm-f28-guide.html

[@Skipsul]

@@DavidHancock Thanks! Will look that up.

[@diegoscopia]

A true shame Minolta had end it's film line up with cameras that were superb technologically and still remain among the best, but that cut corners and at a high cost. My Dynax 5 suffers from the all too common pentamirror degradation that turns it blue, luckily a minor issue compared to the many others I hear from 7 and 9 users.

[@DavidHancock]

I agree. I've seen a LOT of 5s with the blue to yellow mirror issue. My 9 has an issue where the viewfinder LCD is dying. I'm hoping it's the same part as the LCD in the 7 (they have the same display) because I can at least take the great LCD from my parts 7 and put it into my 9.

[@berhewoldegiorgis6570]

About pattry

[@DavidHancock]

I don't follow.

[@MrMarkpoole]

I know what you mean about quality. I used to work for a car company.

[@DavidHancock]

I hear ya. In very many ways cars today are so much better than they used to be, but in very many ways there are some steps backward, too.