Minolta Maxxum 5

Jim Spencer wrote:

Alan Browne wrote in message . ..


For general snaps and photo training wheels, the 28-80 kit lens is decent
enough.


That's good to know. From what I gather from further reading on the
group, the 28-100 is not a good lens?

No experience with it, but it appears to be less than stellar. Again, although
not cheap, a good match to the Maxxum 5 is the 24-105 (D). My SO has a Maxxum 5
and is very pleased with her Sigma 28-200 ... which is predictably soft ... but
perfect for her as her photos are used to support her painting and so one lens
covers a huge range of FL's for her... not a lens I'd reccomend at all. I
bought her a used 50mm f/1.7 ... when she used to borrow my 7xi and that lens
she produced sharp, contrasty (and superbly composed) shots.

BTW: My SO shoots 400 Fuji Superia and she rates it at 200 (she sets the ISO to
200). This takes advantage of the exposure range of negative film and she gets
great results.



Maxxum 5 refurbished? Hmm. Better go new. (I say 'Hmm' cause it is a relatively
new model and I'd be surprised that there any refurbs on the market...)


Ebay and Overstock.com both list refurbished cameras. In part,
they're claimed to be returns of new or fairly new cameras. Isn't the
Maxxum 5 3-4 years old?

To me, 3-4 years old a camera is just beginning to be a good friend. I've had
Minolta cameras, lenses and flashes for a little over 10 years. Only one
failure of a 5400HS flash in all that time... which Minolta repaired, N/C out of
warranty.



The built in flash is okay for snaps with high speed film (400-800), but
consider a future purchase of a 2500D or 3600HS D flash as well.


My wife tends to buy 200 film for the family shots. With this camera,
should I encourage the higher speeds, or was your recommendation for
higher-quality photographs?

200 is not much margin for the built in flash. Some 400 speed films are quite
decent for grain, esp. if you don't blow them up too far (they do okay even up
to 8x12 if well exposed).

If you do a lot of flash photos, then an accessory flash will not only do
better, but save the camera battery as well ... and get the flash above the lens
axis and help reduce red-eye...


Thanks for your response. Very helpful.

You're very welcome.

Cheers,
Alan

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

Alan Browne wrote:

wrote:

The "consumer" zoom that B&H packages it with is really very good. It surprised
me. While were on the subject of the Maxxum 5, is there a way to advance the film
without firing the shutter? I'm trying to work out a system to make mid-roll
changes with the camera.

It would be nice if you didn't top post...

Just cover the lens with a cap, set the highest shutter speed and smallest
aperture (f/22 ish) and press the shutter release until you reach the frame you
want.

To rewind with the leader out (this works on the Maxxum 7xi) just hit the rewind
and listen for the sound change ... switch off quickly when the reqind sound
changes. (Or buy the doohickey to extract the leader).


Alan Browne wrote:


Jim Spencer wrote:


Hi. I am planning to purchase a Minolta Maxxum 5 body and would like
advice on what lens to purchase. The camera will be used by my wife
to take snapshots of our children (probably using the auto mode
exclusively), and by me to learn photography (my only experience with
an SLR is from high school yearbook, 15 years ago.) We would like the
lens to be zoom. Our budget for body + lens is $200 or less.

For general snaps and photo training wheels, the 28-80 kit lens is decent
enough. As a rite of passage for learning photography, esp. composition, buying
the 50 mm f/1.7 is a good idea as well (and these are available new and used at
very good prices). At B&H the Maxxum 5 (QD) is $150 and the 28-80 is $70 (US
Warrany). The 50mm f/1.7 is $80.

Bill and Magnus will weigh in here, I'm sure.

(Note: I often reccomend the 24-105 as a GP lens, but it is outside your budget
by a bit).


What are the relative advantages/disadvantages to buying a refurbished
body or lens?

Maxxum 5 refurbished? Hmm. Better go new. (I say 'Hmm' cause it is a relatively
new model and I'd be surprised that there any refurbs on the market...)


Is the extended warranty for this camera a good idea?

No. Or rather only if it so cheap as to be inconsequential.

We plan to buy in the next several days. Thanks in advance for your
responses!

Go for it. Great little camera, great capability for the price If your hands
are large you might find it a bit hard to work with. For most ladies it is a
perfect size.

The built in flash is okay for snaps with high speed film (400-800), but
consider a future purchase of a 2500D or 3600HS D flash as well.

Cheers,
Alan.

--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--



--
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

OK, now I'm bottom posting. There's a feature on the Maxxum 5 that allows the camera to
"automatically" rewind leaving the leader protruding. And you didn't answer my
question. I well aware that you won't get an exposure when using a lens cap. I've had
it happen to me numerous times.

wrote:

OK, now I'm bottom posting. There's a feature on the Maxxum 5 that allows the camera to
"automatically" rewind leaving the leader protruding. And you didn't answer my
question. I well aware that you won't get an exposure when using a lens cap. I've had
it happen to me numerous times.

I didn't know about the leader out option. The only way with that camera to
advance frames is to use the shutter (unlike the Maxxum 9 [and prob'y the 7]
which has a feature to advance it to a specific frame ... which I never use as
it's not something I want to bother remembering and clicking through a few
frames with the lens cap on is no big deal).

If you don't have the Maxxum 5 manual, it can be downloaded in pdf (3 parts,
searchable) from the Minoltausa site.

Cheers,
Alan.

--
"There is no such thing as inaccuracy in a photograph.
All photographs are accurate. None of them is the truth."
-Richard Avedon
-- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource:
-- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.--

"Alan Browne" wrote in message
...
wrote:
(Note: I often reccomend the 24-105 as a GP lens, but it is outside your
budget
by a bit).

KEH has on at a "bargain" for $179. Go to:
http://www.keh.com/shop/product.cfm?...d&crid=8781697

Jim Spencer wrote:

My wife tends to buy 200 film for the family shots. With this camera,
should I encourage the higher speeds, or was your recommendation for
higher-quality photographs?

There is no 200 speed film currently on the market that is better
(sharper, lower grain) than Ultra Color 400, formerly Portra 400UC.
It looks best printed on Kodak or Agfa paper, but works OK on a
Fuji Frontier. I've heard even Walmart sells UC400 now.

Jim Spencer wrote:

My wife tends to buy 200 film for the family shots. With this camera,
should I encourage the higher speeds, or was your recommendation for
higher-quality photographs?

There is no 200 speed film currently on the market that is better
(sharper, lower grain) than Ultra Color 400, formerly Portra 400UC.
It looks best printed on Kodak or Agfa paper, but works OK on a
Fuji Frontier. I've heard even Walmart sells UC400 now.