 |
The cornerstone of the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is its anti-shake system. This reduces camera vibration when the camera isn't attached to a tripod and produces clearer photos, especially when using long telephoto lenses. This is a great camera for the outdoor portrait photographer who does not want to be tethered to a tripod, and sometimes has to shoot in low-light conditions. The Maxxum 5D is a very easy camera to use, which makes it a good choice for anyone who is technology-phobic. KEY FEATURES The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D's built-in anti-shake system reduces camera jitter and allows you to take hand-held photos at slower shutter speeds. The 6.1 megapixel CMOS sensor inside the camera will let you print your digital photographs clearly up to a size of 11x14 inches. The camera features a very large LCD display (2.5 inches) which helps when reviewing photos and changing camera settings. The 5D stores photos on CompactFlash cards. CompactFlash cards are competitively priced and have a wide range of storage capacities. DRAWBACKS There is only one that I could find, and it's minor. The Konica Minolta 5D displays photos and all camera settings on the large 2.5 inch LCD on the back of the camera. While this big LCD is nice to look at, it also eats up the battery much faster than digital SLR cameras with smaller displays. LOOK AND FEEL The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is right in the middle of the digital SLR scale when it comes to size and weight. The construction of the camera is solid, and it feels comfortable in the hand. The rotating dial in front changes camera settings like aperture and shutter speed while the directional buttons on the back are used for the camera's menu system. You can change ISO, Shooting Mode (One-shot, Continuous, Timer), Autofocus/Manual focus, and white balance without using a single one of the camera's menus. IN USE The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is noticeably slower than other digital SLR cameras. While the autofocus system does a great job of getting things sharp even in low-light conditions, the shutter delay and consecutive photo speed can be a problem. The camera makes up for its slow response time with ease-of-use. Menus are laid out in a clear and consistent fashion, and it's really easy to find all the camera settings that you want to change. The camera's built-in flash is one of the best that I have used. The Maxxum 5D's flash is soft and even. Colors are vibrant, even when taking photos indoors at night. SUMMARY The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is a fantastic camera for anyone who is techno-phobic and just wants a digital SLR camera that is easy to use. It will work well for portrait photographers, and anyone who enjoys using telephoto lenses (like animal and nature photographers) where camera shake is a problem. Since the Minolta 5D's built-in anti-shake system works with all of the lenses that are compatible with the camera, you won't have to spend a lot of extra money on image-stabilized lenses.Read full review
About three-quarters the size of its pricier brethern [7D] my 5D model was offered on eBay for repair or parts, purchased at a modest price, and repaired locally by an able camera technician. (This may not be an option you want to pursue, but the overall savings were considerable; this camera had barely been used.) Even at "only" 6-plus megapixels, the 5D produces fine quality captures that can be converted to high quality 8 1/2 x 11 and 13 x 19 prints, especially if one of many fine older lenses for Minolta are employed. [Megapixel counts by themselves are vastly overrated as quality indicators; many factors go into pleasing outcomes, and this modestly priced Minolta produces them well.] I get especially positive results with the standard 50mm/f1.7 lens. I like to take this light and compact d-slr on hikes and similar outings. Joined to a compact lens like the 35-70mm/f4 Minolta macro, it's comfortable to bring along and ready to capture most photo ops. The built-in stabilizer saves me a bundle on longer lenses, and I gain over two ~ and sometimes over three ~ f-stops when they matter. In short, the Minolta 5D is a useful back-up and will handle a wide range of photo opportunities readily and well. I wouldn't use it to create a wall-size print, perhaps, but that's not a useful capability for what I'm after. I'm after good value, and the 5D provides it.Read full review
The camera has a "mere" 6.1 million pixels, and is therefore on the edge of obsolescence, if mega-pixel count is what rings your chimes. But the highest resolution on your computer monitor is probably significantly less than this (although not directly comparable), and 6.1MP will saturate a 1024 X 768 display. So, moving on: this and the 7D camera were the acme of Minolta's camera mfg., and the camera incorporates an innovation and useability as much as the other SLR cameras which I have acquired over time from them, all the way back to the ST101 35 MM; and including two of the 700 series SLR 35 MM units. In point of discouraging fact, I had hoped to use some of the great lenses from these cameras: (in manual mode..) but despite a general configuration similarity, they will not fit. The CCD which is used in the camera is relatively large compared to many other cameras, which befits the "top of the line" status which it enjoys, along with the 7D. (The 7D has even more "bells and whistles", but not useably more in my application..).... The greatest benefits (imho) are the wide, inexpensive,and excellent lens choices currently available for these cameras: lets face it: they ain't bein' made any more, (these cameras or lenses..) and if YOU wanted to "unload your lenses", you better hurry up and "get 'er dood", while there's still a market. So this brings up an interesting question: why would anybody buy into a dead end dinosaur series of cameras?? 1. VERY good cameras 2. Relatively cheap, given their excellent manufacture.. (HA! go by your favorite big-box camera display and hoist ANY of their "higher end" SLR cameras with 28 to 90 MM super-duper lenses attached: THEN hoist this magnesium framed well built camera, with the high quality Nikkor and similar-quality glass lenses.. and you will know the difference between PVC (or other plastic what do I know).. and quality.) 3. Did I mention the excellent lenses and selections? 4. OK And you ain't giving up anything in "snooty appeal" to Nikon or anyone else. (At least in my opinion..) 5. The bayonet mount design on the lenses is superior to most. (If I recall, the glass in the lenses is closer to the shutter in this design, which generates some optical benefits.) All of the above means nothing if the pictures suck. And quite frankly I was disappointd in my earlier efforts, until I realized that I did not have the "Automatic White Balance" setting on "automatic", and got some blown-out-white skys (which should have been blue). Since then? excellent pics. The camera is complex enough to be interesting, and simple enuff for a tyro to use. The battery is amazingly long lived, and a 4 gig SC card will hold hundreds of high resolution pics. Autofocus is very accurate, and for "extremely touchy" focus pictures, (such as high aperature extreme close ups), there is a setting that will auto focus, first; and then allow you to manually refine the sensor's efforts. When the depth of field is 1/4 inch or less, this is handy.. ============== In rereading this it appears to me that I radiate the reality that I have an obvious bias towards Minolta....... But if you can get one in good condition, maintained by an individual with perfectionist proclivities, with a complete set of lenses, and personal support .. all of which I did.. you can't go wrong, imho. DavidRead full review
I started my search for a digital SLR checking out Nikon cameras, in particular the D70 and D50. After reading some consumer reviews I found that the Konica Minolta Digital 5D had the same CCD as the Nikon D50 (a Sony CCD) but with one decisive advantage for the Konica Minolta - the anti-shake function. The fact that I could use my old Minolta auto-focus lenses with this camera was the final detail I needed to make up my mind. The camera is not as heavy and bulky as some SLRs tends to be. Its menus are fairly easy to navigate through and most important; it takes great pictures. It's probably not the first choice for a professional photographer but for the skilled amateur it's a great camera.
This is Konica Minolta's last digital SLR. Even at entry level, this is still a fabulous cameras for day to day use, the Anti-Shake is NO GIMMICK, all your lenses become stabilized, boy, we are talking about from 16mm to 600mm ! This camera performes flawlessly in cold and hot. What I love: body built-in anti-shake feature, excellent color rendition, ergonomical body design. What can be better: faster RAW conversion software, a battery holder maybe ? Cann't ask too much from an basic camera, or I would have gone to Maxxum 7D.
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Digital Cameras
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Digital Cameras
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
