Home > Consumer Reviews > Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D 6MP Digital SLR w/ Anti-Shake Technology & AF 28-100mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens

Wow, this is one great camera. Great built, made in Malaysia. The camera feels sturdy and fits snuggly in my palms. I was afraid that this camera will be heavy as heck since on paper Canon touts that their cameras are lighter and more suitable for traveling and such. I have not carried it on a long trip yet but initial impression on this camera is that while it may be heavier than other cameras, it's still a manageable weight for a 160-pound guy like myself. This is my first digital SLR camera. I have shot great photos with a Canon S400 but I feel it's time that I upgrade. I had wavered between a Canon rebel XT, Canon 20D, and this baby. Since I have a couple of Minolta lenses already, and supposedly this camera is in the same class as the 20D, this would be a more cost-effective solution without too much sacrifice on image quality. The stock lens is horrible and feels like a piece of plastic toy. Don't pay more than $20 for it. I have a Sigma 28-300mm lens and it works great. No incompatibility issues. Great image quality. Still need more time to read the manual to figure out what all the buttons do but it would be fun. 2.5" LCD is very clear.

I finally converted to digital this month and immediately took it on a two week trip to Italy. Although the camera has plenty of options and adjustments available, the settings are easy to figure out and the small manual is understandable and is organized in a way to makes it easy to find the explanations needed. The photo quality is excellent and the anti shake technology really works, even with my 18-200 mm lens. I carried a spare charged battery since I seemed to use one up before I was finished taking photos.

A real, live, working photographer must of had some input on the designing of this camera. All of the little problems that other digital cameras have, has been delt with. I've been shooting this camera for nine months now, and love it. If there is anything i don't like, it would be the flipping mirror. noise, you know.

Not too many of these cameras left out there for sale. It was the digital version of the Maxxum 7 film camera.

I'm very happy with the pictures it takes, particularly in low light. This is a benefit of the 6mp sensor, which nowadays seems like a low figure, but unless you want to go much larger than 8 by 10 prints, shouldn't be an issue.

What I want to warn people about are a couple of problems with the electronics. The 7d has a known problem of first frame black, the shutter doesn't fire the first time it is used, then you turn it off and back on again and it will work.
Eventually though it will stop working.

The other problem is with the anti-shake mechanism. The camera will refuse to take a picture while the anti-shake lights go off in the view finder, accompanied by a whirring noise.

Both these problems can be fixed, normally by Precision Camera. It will cost you though. I was lucky enough to get one that had been fixed, and was still under the warranty from Precision. Ask the seller about these problems.

I've had my Maxxum 7D since September 2006 and can't find enough words to say how i love it! I've had moments when i danced like a kid who just scored a goal after openning up the images on the computer screen!!! This baby reflects every aspect of my personality and helps me bring out my crazy photo ideas.
I hesitated and was patiently waiting till i could get it all together with the 28-75mm 2.8 lens, my second best was Nikon's D200, but i decided to follow my dream and i've been happy ever after. Sweet!!! 6MP is just fine with me, printing posters the size of a wall isn't my hobby, so why splash out so much to keep up with the Joneses?! MP count has nothing to do with the quality and a good lens like the one mentioned proves it. The camera is so well designed i barely use the LCD screen, it's on only to review the shot and get some initial settings done, buttons and dials are so intuitively laid out, one doesn't have to take his eye off to make an allignment!!! It's become my arms extention and i now see as if having a viewfinder always on me and the moment i spot something extraordinary i know i can take the challenge - i'm all set for it! Excellent job by KM!
I tried Canon 30D in a store before and after the purchase, surely the results are sweet, but it feels like a toy or like an aoutomatic transmission car compared to a well built solid stick shift! You drive it, not the opposite, that what makes your shots so differnet!