Modern Classic SLR Series
Minolta Maxxum 7000 AF SLR camera - Index Page


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The immensely successful Minolta X-700 has firmly reestablished Minolta position among the top BIG FIVE 35mm SLR camera manufacturers in Japan. in 1981, Pentax drew the first blood by introduced a camera called Pentax ME-F which carried a focus assist feature, it was a manual precursor to autofocus technology where, when subject is in focus, a focus confirmation LED light will grow and supplemented by audible confirmation. A dedicated SMCP-AF 35-70mm Zoom with an internal motor inside was also being designed for this camera. Overall, you can claimed Pentax has introduced the first autofocus SLR employing a TTL autofocus sensor.
 

The sketchy Pentax AF camera has spearheaded a competition among many makers and many prototypes have been brought out in sequences. Canon responded with a AF Zoom lens and followed with a Canon T80 with a series of three FD mount AF Zoom lenses; Olympus has adopted a more conservative approach by introduced only a Zuiko mount AF Zoom lens (See both Canon's FD and Olympus Zuiko version). Nikon has on the other hand, chosen their top of the line Nikon F3 as a basis to introduced quite a serious prototype, Nikon F3AF camera along with two very interesting AF lenses (AF 80mm f2.8 and AF 200mm f3.5 ED-IF) that has an internal motor built-in. For a while the concept adopted by Nikon seemed very promising.
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<<<<<- ----- Credit: Image Copyright © 2002 Courtesy of Mr. Jarret LaMark <jlamark@wbhunt.com> of huntsphotoandvideo.com
However, a relatively low profile Minolta rocked the entire photographic community in January 1985 with a new breed of AF camera which has a revolutionary concept that made it differed from other "mainstream industrial design" adopted by other makers. "New" because there were two major factors of which one of them has a great impact to the existing Minolta users - the Company decided to drop support for the older MC/MD mount and replaced with an fully electronic lens mount with no backward compatibility.

But a more important element is, the Maxxum 7000 AF SLR camera was the first true system AF SLR with an body integrated AF design with a host of new AF lenses built around the camera.

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In fact, Minolta was so well prepared in the emerging AF high tech war zone that within the same year, there were THREE Maxxum models, the 7000 featured here, Maxxum 5000 and a professional class Minolta Maxxum 9000 * with varying performance and budget being introduced. Catapulted Minolta as the most influential 35mm manufacturers in Japan during the mid '80.

<<<<<<- ----- Credit: Image of the Maxxum 9000 Copyright © 2002 Courtesy of Mr. LEONID.SL<leonid.sl@prodigy.net> * Mr. Magnus Wedberg for rectifying a mistake made in this site relating to Maxxum 3000.

The Minolta Maxxum (or often called "Dynax"* in some areas, in fact, for instance, I was told the Maxxum 7000 was simply being referred as Minolta 7000 in countries around Pacific Oceania region) series SLR models was so successful that it has actually forced companies like Canon to scrap the fragilely-spec Canon T80 and went back to the drawing board which eventually resulted with the birth of the EOS concept in late 1986. During the initial few years, neither any other 35mm camera manufacturers such as Nikon, Pentax and Olympus have found any practical solution to answer the aggression of Minolta's clear dominance with the Maxxum 7000 and Maxxum 9000, which had the amateurs and professional market well covered. Well, it took other manufacturers three years to respond, caught up quickly in this "AF war zone" and strangely, Minolta has not been fully capitalized on their early footing of this emerging playground and allowing others to recapture back the territorial advantage. Whatever the reason and happening, those are history now.

* The name "Dynax" was also introduced with the "i" series. The 7000 cameras were called "Minolta Maxxum 7000" in USA, but only "Minolta 7000" in Europe. I don't know if the "alpha" designation of the Asian market was introduced back then. - Mr. Magnus Wedberg -

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<<<<<<- ----5 fabulous views. Credit: Image Copyright © 2002 Courtesy of Mr."Rehmat Iqbal" <srafiq@houston.rr.com>

Other than technologies employed inside the body, human engineering on modern camera design has been significantly improved over the years and is best represented by the Minolta Maxxum 7000. Like any of those SLRs that was marketed during the '80 which usually adopted a universal design especially at the hand grip section. The camera is comfortable to hold as if It becomes an extension of the hands that hold it. But Minolta opted for another significant operating feature in its push button operating sequences instead of traditional turning wheels and dials (But I think the Pentax ME Super was the first SLR that pioneered such idea ..so, even if Minolta was not the first camera manufacturer that invented it, but daringly, they adopted such feature for the new AF camera). Another mainstream usage was the clever usage of LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) in a multimode automatic SLR where its superior energy saving characteristic as compared to LEDs was a perfect supplement to complexity and power hungry autofocus system. In fact, Minolta even designed a fall safe key-control system with LCD panel that puts you In full command of photographic situations. Together, a automatic film control system that banishes film loading, winding and rewinding worries with Its uncanny precision. And a full complement of a series of Minolta autofocus lenses with a revised electronic lens mount and autofocus system accessories to open up a lot of potential photographic possibilities never previously imaginable.

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This IS the Minolta Maxxum 7000. A true unique camera with innovative, trend setting conceptual thoughts behind its design which has proven to be an instant classic of modern time. It was well remembered as the world's first truly body integrated Autofocus SLR camera. This Minolta Maxxum 7000 site has three segments which I think they are closely associated, beginning with the pre-AF Minolta X-700, followed by the AF Minolta Maxxum 7000 and its next major upgrade in the AF Minolta Maxxum 7000i. The compiled resources here include respective instruction manual(s) which I think may be more useful for owner of any of these used camera body. Enjoy.

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<<<<<- ----- Angel Jin, Kuala Lumpur. Copyright-Free images collection © 2001 eofooTM.gif

Lastly, this site, along with many other classic cameras featured in this website, aimed to inspire current owners, support potential future users, and also chronicles another photographic legend.

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As a matter of record: The innovative Minolta MAXXUM 7000 AF SLR was again voted as the "European Camera of the Year " award by EISA (European Imaging and Sound Association) in 1985. It was Minolta's second SLR camera that has received such award within a short span of four years, after the Minolta X-700 which first snapped it back in 1981.

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Specification | Main Reference Map
Instruction Manual for Maxxum 7000 (6 Parts)

First Generation Minolta AF Lenses

Minolta XD-7/XD-11 | Minolta XK/XM/X-1 |
Minolta X-700 | Maxxum 7000 | Maxxum 7000i
A good resource for Manuals for other Minolta SLRs/accessories - External Link

Other Minolta (now Konica-Minolta) resources on the web:
Free Instruction Mannuals in PDF format downloads for:
Minolta X-370 (300) (2.9 MB) | Minolta X-570 (1.9 MB) | Minolta XG-1 (1.8 MB) | Minolta XG-7 (1.5 MB) | Minolta XG-A (1.8 MB) | Minolta XG-M (1.9 MB) | Minolta SR7 (1.5 MB) | Minolta SR-T (7.0 MB) | Minolta SR-T 102 (1.8 MB) | Minolta SR-T 200/201/202 (2.8 MB) | Minolta SR-T 303 (1.7 MB) | Other models & system accessories (USA) All works courtesy of Mr. Jim, lensinc. Ltd. Thank him, as these are not my effort.

About this photographic site.

| Message Board | for Minolta X-700 | Maxxum 7000 | Maxxum 7000i
| Message Board | for your Minolta optics in a shared environment
| Message Board | Specifically for Dispose or Looking for Minolta Photographic Equipment

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Credit: Mr Aaron Oh, for lending his old Maxxum 7000 brochure to prepare certain content appeared in this site; Mr. Magnus Wedberg for rectifying a mistake made in this site relating to Maxxum 3000; LEONID.SL<leonid.sl@prodigy.net> for his great image of the Maxxum 9000; Johannes Huntjens <yawngie@msn.com>, LT Jack B. Nunley <jnunley@insightbb.com> and "Jarret LaMark" <jlamark@wbhunt.com> huntsphotoandvideo.com for their generosity for granting permission to use some of the Maxxum 7000 images appeared in this site; Lapapl@aol.com for his image of the Minolta Maxxum 7000 AF Body / Program Back 70;"Camera Works" <cameraworks@qwest.net> for some superb view of the camera; Dan Dorsey <Fotowv123@cs.com> for his shots of the 7000 Body w/ Org. Box & Manual; "Rehmat Iqbal" <mimifour@hotmail.com><srafiq@houston.rr.com> for being so considerate and helpful. Certain content and images appeared in this site were either scanned from official marketing leaflets, Instruction Manual(s) & brochures published by Minolta and/or contribution from surfers who claimed originality of their work for educational purposes. The creator of the site will not be responsible for may discrepancies arise from such dispute except rectifying them after verification. "Minolta", "Rokkor", "X-700", "Dynax" & "Maxxum" are registered trade names of Minolta Optical Inc., Japan. A site dedicated to all Minolta fans worldwide. Site made with an Apple IMac.