Minolta Dynax 404si camera rave
My shiny Minolta Dynax 404si is great. Although only a "basic" SLR, it has so many features packed into its tiny size. Features that a few years ago I am sure would have been top of the line. It is light, snap shoots well and is fairly intuitive to use. I haven't pushed its limits yet, although I may need to get a macro lens to take better photos of my warhammer figures. I think opening up the aperture wider may also help, as sometimes the focus is not even over the whole figure. I am however trying to take the pictures closer than it recommends.
It received good reviews in various photography magazines, better than the Cannon EOS 3000, although I get the feeling "true photographers" seem to look down upon anything which isn't a Nikkon.
No complaints, and so far the photos have turned out quite well considering. I do like the way you can compose your shots better, poor lighting isn't a problem anymore, camera-shake seems more noticeable than on my previous cheaper cameras, but that may be due to these pictures just being sharper, which makes it seem worse.
I now also have a Tamron 28-300mm super zoom, and a 2x Teleconverter. This is like having a telescope that you can record images on. The Tamron lense has won quite a few awards, and means that you can get away with having just once lense to cover wide angle-distance shots. It is much heavier than my Minolta 28-80mm, so if I know what I am doing I can just take that, otherwise the Tamron gives you an awesome range to compose from. The teleconverter seems to give a reduced image quality, but does "double" your range. I have to rake some more shots with both of these, and as summer (and Tourney season) is approaching, there should be a wealth of oppertunities soon.
Here's some statistics-
 | 404si Price = £220 (Pounds Stirling) with 28-80mm f/3-5.6 lens |
| 35mm autofocus single-lens reflex |
| Autofocus = one-point AF. Single-shot, continuous, automatic modes |
| TTL Metering = eight-segment Honeycomb pattern, and spot metering (central 2.7%) |
| Exposure modes = Program AE, subject biased programs (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night), aperture-priority AE, shutter-priority AE and metered manual modes |
| Flash modes = TTL program flash with integral flashgun, uses all i, si and HS series Minolta flashguns |
| Film speed range = Auto DX ISO 25-5000; manual ISO 6-6400 in one-third EV increments |
| Film transport = Auto load with auto wind on. Single or continuous frame advance (1/sec). Mid-roll rewind |
| Shutter = electronically controlled vertical-travel, focal plane shutter. Speeds from 30 seconds to 1/2000 sec plus Bulb. Flash sync at 1/90 sec |
| Viewfinder = eye-level pentaprism with roof mirror. 90 per cent converage |
| Battery = two CR2 lithium cells |
| Dimensions = 135x90x58.5 |
| Weight = 350g
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