Minolta Maxxum 5D - New dSLR

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05...kmmaxxum5d.asp

"Konica Minolta has today announced the Dynax / Maxxum 5D digital SLR.
This new digital SLR is Konica Minolta's answer to the Nikon D50 and
Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT), a more affordable digital SLR aimed more at
the beginner market. It's both smaller and lighter than the Maxxum 7D
and has fewer external controls (although those which are left are the
most useful; WB, ISO, etc.). The 5D of course still features Konica
Minolta's unique in-camera Anti-Shake system which stabilizes the
sensor rather than a lens element."

So its fibre glass as against the 7D metallic body and sports a 2.5
inch LCD display. What else's different?

- Siddhartha

Martin Trautmann wrote:
On 15 Jul 2005 03:59:46 -0700, Siddhartha Jain wrote:
=20
So its fibre glass as against the 7D metallic body and sports a 2.5
inch LCD display. What else's different?
=20
=20
no prism,
less LCD resolution,
USB 1.1,
no exchangable matte,
motive programs,
smaller (130,5 x 92,5 x 66,5 mm vs. 150 x 106 x 77,5 mm)
lighter (590 g vs. 760 g)
=20
and hopefully much cheaper than the overpriced 7D
=20
There are some more minor differences, such as =B1 2 EV in 1/3 steps on=
ly
and extra white balance.
=20
- Martin


Well, it *is* an entry level camera.

--=20
jer
email reply - I am not a 'ten'

Has anyone seen the $US prices for this? Here is some info from
photographyblog

"The Konica Minolta Dynax 5D is available in September and will cost
=A3599.99 body only, or =A3649.99 including the AF DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6
(D) lens.

The price of the Dynax 7D has also been revised: body only =A3799.99
(was =A3899.99), including the AF 28-100mm f3.5-5.6 (D) lens =A3899.99
(was =A3999.99)."

Any opinions on the comparison between the konica cameras and the other
major brands?

Brian wrote:
Has anyone seen the $US prices for this? Here is some info from
photographyblog

"The Konica Minolta Dynax 5D is available in September and will cost
£599.99 body only, or £649.99 including the AF DT 18-70mm F3.5-5.6
(D) lens.

The price of the Dynax 7D has also been revised: body only £799.99
(was £899.99), including the AF 28-100mm f3.5-5.6 (D) lens £899.99
(was £999.99)."

Any opinions on the comparison between the konica cameras and the other
major brands?


The 5D looks like a very good deal. In the U.S. it's priced at $800 for
the body only.

It's essentially a de-featured 7D, so they can be in the amateur
segment. It'll be real competition for the Nikon D70s, but other than
the anti-shake technology, it still isn't quite as good as the EOS-350D.
If you have Minolta lenses already, or want the anti-shake in the camera
as opposed to in the lens, then it's pretty compelling.

I've added it to the website, and based the ranking on the fact that it
is essentially a defeatured 7D.

The U.S. price is $800 for body only, see
http://ww1.onecall.com/PID_29056.htm.

Available in September 2005.

What's ironic is that supposedly Konica-Minolta was not going to
continue in the digital camera business, according to a report a month
or so ago. But they would seem to be in the best position to be a real
competitor to Canon and Nikon in the DSLR market, with products far
better than Olympus or Pentax.

Steve
http://digitalslrinfo.com

Martin Trautmann wrote:
On 15 Jul 2005 03:59:46 -0700, Siddhartha Jain wrote:

So its fibre glass as against the 7D metallic body and sports a 2.5
inch LCD display. What else's different?


no prism,
less LCD resolution,
USB 1.1,

The 7D is not hi-speed USB 2.0 either.

no exchangable matte,
motive programs,
smaller (130,5 x 92,5 x 66,5 mm vs. 150 x 106 x 77,5 mm)
lighter (590 g vs. 760 g)

No optional grip, appparently.

and hopefully much cheaper than the overpriced 7D

The 7D has come way down in price, to less than $1200. KM apparently
feels that the anti-shake feature is worth paying more for. It was very
overpriced to begin with, especially with the more capable Canon 20D
selling for much less.

On Fri, 15 Jul 2005 17:21:54 GMT, SMS wrote:

The 7D has come way down in price, to less than $1200. KM apparently
feels that the anti-shake feature is worth paying more for. It was very
overpriced to begin with, especially with the more capable Canon 20D
selling for much less.

More capable how?

I have a 20D, but lately I'm wishing I'd gone with the K-M.
Antishake would be real nice. Of course, the 7D wasn't for
sale when I got my camera.

--
Ben Rosengart (212) 741-4400 x215
Sometimes it only makes sense to focus our attention on those
questions that are equal parts trivial and intriguing.
--Josh Micah Marshall

On 15 Jul 2005 13:58:18 GMT, Martin Trautmann wrote:

On 15 Jul 2005 03:59:46 -0700, Siddhartha Jain wrote:
So its fibre glass as against the 7D metallic body and sports a 2.5
inch LCD display. What else's different?

no prism,
less LCD resolution,
USB 1.1,
no exchangable matte,
motive programs,
smaller (130,5 x 92,5 x 66,5 mm vs. 150 x 106 x 77,5 mm)
lighter (590 g vs. 760 g)

and hopefully much cheaper than the overpriced 7D

There are some more minor differences, such as ± 2 EV in 1/3 steps only
and extra white balance.

- Martin

Why would you say the 7D is overpriced? Competitively, it's in league
with the Canon 20D and once you outfit the Canon with a decent lens,
doesn't it cost more than the Minolta? They have both avoided the
plastic bodies of the entry-level cameras as well and that is where
much of the money comes into play.
-Rich

RichA wrote:

Why would you say the 7D is overpriced? Competitively, it's in league
with the Canon 20D and once you outfit the Canon with a decent lens,

The 7D was overpriced when it first came out. When I bought my 20D about
nine months ago, the 7D was $1500 and the 20D was about $1200. Now they
are both about $1200 for the body only.

doesn't it cost more than the Minolta? They have both avoided the
plastic bodies of the entry-level cameras as well and that is where
much of the money comes into play.

Actually this is not an area where most of the money comes to play. The
polycarbonate bodies are used mainly because they are lighter and easier
to manufacture to the tolerances required.

Ben Rosengart wrote:

More capable how?

Don't be silly -- it says "Canon" on it. It'll increase your lifespan,
make you a sexual powerhouse, and do your laundry without complaint.

--
Jeremy |

Siddhartha Jain wrote:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0507/05...kmmaxxum5d.asp

"Konica Minolta has today announced the Dynax / Maxxum 5D digital SLR.
This new digital SLR is Konica Minolta's answer to the Nikon D50 and
Canon EOS 350D (Rebel XT), a more affordable digital SLR aimed more at
the beginner market. It's both smaller and lighter than the Maxxum 7D
and has fewer external controls (although those which are left are the
most useful; WB, ISO, etc.). The 5D of course still features Konica
Minolta's unique in-camera Anti-Shake system which stabilizes the
sensor rather than a lens element."

So its fibre glass as against the 7D metallic body and sports a 2.5
inch LCD display. What else's different?

The 7D also has a 2.5" LCD (which my crappy 20/150 eye appreciates no
end), but appears the 5D has far fewer pixels (115,000 vs 207,000).

The green asterisks in the specifications at the URL above indicate
differences between the 5D and 7D.

Bob ^,,^