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Minolta Maxxum 4: Best Bargain 35mm AF SLR?

Minolta's $165 winner: rock-bottom price plus fantastic features!
  • By The Popular Photography & Imaging Staff on December 16, 2008
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Minolta Maxxum 4 vs. its competitors

• Canon EOS Rebel GII ($170 street): AF system similar, controls somewhat more convenient to use than on Maxxum 4, has depth-of-field exposure mode; uses more powerful CR123 batteries, but there's no release-priority AF or spotmetering; slower fps film advance.

• Pentax ZX-60 ($160 street): Only single central linear AF sensor sensitive to subjects with vertical lines; no shutter speed or aperture numerals in the finder, (only symbols), although LCD panel on body has full info; no release-priority exposure; two-segment TTL exposure metering, but no spotmeter or flash-OK signal in finder; 1 fps film advance.

Specifications

Camera: Minolta Maxxum 4 35mm AF SLR. Approx. street price: $165, body only; $230 with 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 AF D Zoom.

Focusing and viewing: Central AF cross sensor sensitive to both horizontal and vertical lines, with left and right outer single-line sensors sensitive to horizontal lines; wide focus area, spotfocus, or selected right and left local areas; autoswitching, continuous, single-shot AF, or manual focusing with visible and audible focus-OK signals; focus tracking, focus priority, or (by custom function) release priority. AF sensitivity range EV -1 to 18 at ISO 100. Range of AF aidlight in flash head, 3.3-16.4 feet. Noninterchangeable mirror-prism finder with fixed matte screen showing spotfocus area, spotmetering circle, local focus areas, and wide focus frame.

Shutter and exposure controls: Speeds from 30 to 1/2000 sec plus B. Shiftable or basic program, aperture- and shutter-priority autoexposure, portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, and night subject program modes; metered manual exposure mode. Data printing,

provision for wireless remote release, ±3 EV exposure compensation in 0.5 increments, single or continuous three-frame exposure compensation in ±0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1 EV increments, unlimited multiple exposures; self-timer with warning light and audible signal.

Metering and range: 14-segment honeycomb pattern cell provides evaluative readings from EV 4 to 20; spotmeter EV 4 to 20 at ISO 100 with an f/1.4 lens.

Loading and winding: Autoloading, DX film speeds ISO 25-5000; manual ISO 6-6400; flash 25-1000. Single frame advance or continuous to 1.7 fps.

Flash sync: Four-segment cell provides evaluative metering including distance integration (ADI) with D lenses; flash-OK finder signal; auto or manual pop-up flash; X sync at 1/90 sec; provision for accessory wireless remote TTL flash, second-curtain flash; auto fill flash; redeye reduction option.

Other features: Powered by two CR2 lithium batteries.

For more info: www.minoltausa.com; 201-825-4000