Minolta Dynax 500si Super for the weekend
- Thread starter jemdna
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- Nick
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The af is slow and very picky about what it will focus on, it's plasticky and not very nice to hold, apart from that it's a jem!
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- Samuel
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I've got the 505si super which is a two or three of models better than yours. Although I don't have the slow focusing problem, I would deficiently recommend reading the cameras manual as if its anything like mine then there are a load of useful functions that you would not notice unless you've read it:
http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/manuals/film-cameras/film_af_slr/index.html
Also when using the pop up flash be mindful that when it syncs to its highest shutter speed in low light conditions your likely to black out the background so select the slowest shutter speed that won't cause camera shake, possible in shutter priority mode or manual mode to prevent this. I would not recommend using apperture priority mode with flash as you can only select 1/90. Mine has a slow sync mode that automatically does this when selected so the background is not blacked out.
http://ca.konicaminolta.com/support/manuals/film-cameras/film_af_slr/index.html
Also when using the pop up flash be mindful that when it syncs to its highest shutter speed in low light conditions your likely to black out the background so select the slowest shutter speed that won't cause camera shake, possible in shutter priority mode or manual mode to prevent this. I would not recommend using apperture priority mode with flash as you can only select 1/90. Mine has a slow sync mode that automatically does this when selected so the background is not blacked out.
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- Alistair
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The main problem I find with the AF is that it struggles with areas of low contrast (like many other AF systems).
My simple solution that works quite often is to rotate the camera through 90 degrees or however many it needs to lock on, lock the focus and recompose. I've used that method many times over the 10+ years I've used mine
As for not nice to hold, that's a personal opinion and may be down to hand size, I find it very comfortable to hold and use.
My simple solution that works quite often is to rotate the camera through 90 degrees or however many it needs to lock on, lock the focus and recompose. I've used that method many times over the 10+ years I've used mine
As for not nice to hold, that's a personal opinion and may be down to hand size, I find it very comfortable to hold and use.
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- Samuel
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The AF on the 505si super is a bit better as instead of just one central AF point it also has 2 vertical points as well either side of it which does help in focusing on moving objects and except in very low light areas where it has to pulse the flash to focus, it tends to be quite quick. One thing that I would recommend to anyone though, is to get a 3500xi or better flash as the AF assist lamp is much more discrete and faster than pulsing the flash. Personally as I have small hands I find mine fits my hands quite well.
Ambermile
A Whole Lot of Sparkle..
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- Arthur
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Can't go wrong with a Minolta. Not like I'm biased or anything 
Kodak film? Bit soft and tends to give... "dated" colour rendition? Seems to have little in the way of personality but in effect that makes it a reasonable all-round film.
Kodak film? Bit soft and tends to give... "dated" colour rendition? Seems to have little in the way of personality but in effect that makes it a reasonable all-round film.
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- Ujjwal
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Bry; for most uses, you will not even notice the focussing speed - unless you are doing fast action photography.
The only thing it doesn't do is have a exposure lock function for centre weighted metering; other than that, its a fine camera for any enthusiast use ( unless you are going to photograph horses jumping over fences)
The only thing it doesn't do is have a exposure lock function for centre weighted metering; other than that, its a fine camera for any enthusiast use ( unless you are going to photograph horses jumping over fences
)
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- Samuel
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You can't really go wrong with colour print film these days (when printing) as any decent lab does some colour and density correction before printing, so in my experience both Kodak and Fuji consumer films look very similar though I do prefer the Fuji as its about 50p each cheaper at 7 day shop compared to Kodak and the grain is a bit finer. With just scanning though I suppose you still see differences, I always get mine printed and only occasionally scanned as well.