Minolta DSLRs

Minolta DSLRs

The real ancestors of the Sony cameras we know today

Minolta Family by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Minolta RD-175 (1995)
1.75 MP sensor (1528x1146)
with a multiplication factor of 2.0
Price: $9,995.00 USD
A single sensitivity of 800 ISO

Minolta RD-3000 (1999)
2.7 MP sensor (1984x1360)
with a multiplication factor of 1.5
Price $3,400.00USD
200 & 800 ISO

Konica Minolta a-7 Digital (2004)
6.1 MP sensor (3008 x 2000)
with a multiplication factor of 1.5
Price $1,600.00 USD
ISO100-1600

Behind the scenes by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

I’m always amazed about how much DNA the Sony Alpha 700 / 900 had from the Konica Minolta 7D. (The Alpha 700 / 900 still had the Minolta design team working on them, I guess.) I hope I can fiddle with a 7D some day. I suspect that it has one of the best UI (User Interface) of all digital cameras made for photography (no video). When the Sony Alpha 77 arrived, the Sony Cybershot design team had taken over, presumably.

By the way before the Sony Alpha 700 I had a Konica Minolta A2.

Personally, I love the Minolta RD-3000 (1999) ❤️
A very pleasant camera to use! The grip and the sound of its shutter is a real treat ;)

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Some pictures were taken with the Minolta RD-3000 (24 years old)

N°20 Minolta RD-3000 (1999) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Texture by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Graffiti by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

The Twin Brothers, Collaboration between Minolta and Agfa
Agfa Actioncam (1996) / Minolta RD-175 (1996)

The Twin Brothers by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Both companies marketed the device under individual labels.
The camera that served as the basis was the Dynax 500si

Minolta RD-175 (1995) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Large sensors cost a fortune to produce
See the astronomical price of Kodak DCS cameras!
They used instead, three small CCD sensors of 380,000 pixels each (768x394) with a prism that generates three light beams. Which gives after interpolation a final resolution of 1.75 million pixels (1528x1146)

Agfa Actioncam with HP compaq nc8000 et RD-175 soft by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Faire ombrage by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Clochette by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

It's probably here by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

I had a Konica Minolta 7D for a while, and used it mainly for testing Minolta AF lenses. It was replaced by a Sony A100 which was based on the KM 5D. While improved in many respects I vastly preferred the handling of the larger 7D. It's one of those digital cameras I wish I'd kept, like the Fujifilm X-E1.

Dave, HCL

I started off with Minolta film cameras , the Minolta 7000AF I bought used in the early 90's .
My first digital SLR camera was the Sony a100 not long after it came out , specifically because it could use my Minolta A mount lenses .
Followed not long after by a used Minolta Dynax 7d as a back up and because it gave nicer low light images .
The Minolta RD-175 and RD-3000 came next and a Dynax 5d with a touch of FFB ....
I also have the bridge cameras , DiMage 7 , 7i , 7Hi , A1 , ( with dodgy sensor ) A2 and A200 , which gets the most use out these .
I also have a few of the point and shoot cameras as well .
Most of the lenses that I use on my Sony A mount cameras ( a900,a77ii and a99ii ) are Minolta too .
The prices have come down so much in recent years I've picked up lenses i could only dream about in years gone past .

I'll see if I can post a few images ;
I'll have to check if I can post an image you don't need to click on to view !

Minolta Dimage RD-3000 , 50mm Macro lens , southern Comfort on ice .

That seems better .

Just saw an RD3000 with 5 lenses, case, flash, papers all excellent listed here in the US for $650.

Here's my latest comparison with my Minolta RD-3000 and its Minolta V Macro 50mm f / 3.5 lens.

Between the Minolta RD-3000 (1999) and the Nikon D810 (2014)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72177720309097537

I always enjoy using this RD-3000, this time I stayed with macro or proxiphotography for comparison.
So I used my nikkor Macro AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8 G IF-ED, with the D810.

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Nikon D810 (2014) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Minolta RD-3000 (1999)
2.7 MP APS-C sensor ( 1984x1360 )
Photos were taken with the Minolta V Macro 50mm f/3.5
(multiplication factor of 1.5)
Price : $3,400.00 USD
ISO 200 & 800
_______

Nikon D810 (2014)
36.3 MP FF sensor (7360 x 4912)
Photos were taken with the Nikkor AF-S VR 105mm f/2.8 G IF-ED
(multiplication factor of 1.0)
Price: $3,300.00 USD
64-12800 (32-51200) ISO

N°02 Minolta RD-3000 (1999) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

N°02 Nikon D810 (2014) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

Your turn to judge: www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72177720309097537
Of course, your remarks are welcome!

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Nikon D810 (2014) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

If you're interested in seeing the genius inside your camera.

Watched this video from “James from the Snappiness YouTube channel”

www.youtube.com/watch?v=--Xkgwcapo0

Who dismantles the Minolta RD-3000, to see the DUAL CCD design

You can admire the complexity hidden inside 😍 👍🏻

Here's a recap of the comparisons made with one of my favorite DSLRs!
I named the Minolta RD-3000 from 1999

Minolta RD3000 (1999) by Marc Aubry, sur Flickr

A very pleasant device to use. 😍

Kodak DCS 520 (1998) / Minolta RD-3000 (1999)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72177720302462825

Kodak DCS 330 (1999) / Minolta RD-3000 (1999)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157689344538484

Minolta RD-175 (1995) / Minolta RD-3000 (1999)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157669477353776

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Nikon D1 (1999-2000)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157673066232093

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Canon EOS D30 (2000)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157676052374971

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Fujifilm S1 Pro (2000)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157684244718772

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Pentax EI-2000 (2000)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157714100990671

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Olympus E-300 (2004)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157682183045535

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Nikon D500 (2016)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72157702559182492

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Pentax 645D (2010)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72177720300239873

Minolta RD-3000 (1999) / Nikon D810 (2014)
www.flickr.com/photos/maoby/albums/72177720309097537

We welcome your comments and suggestions 👍🏻

Konica Minolta "Hybrids" were very popular in the years 2001-2004
But their electronic viewfinders were of poor quality.