Submit your own review of this or another digital camera or accessory
The cornerstone of the Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is its anti-shake system. This reduces camera vibration when the camera isn't attached to a tripod and produces clearer photos, especially when using long telephoto lenses.
This is a great camera for the outdoor portrait photographer who does not want to be tethered to a tripod, and sometimes has to shoot in low-light conditions.
The Maxxum 5D is a very easy camera to use, which makes it a good choice for anyone who is technology-phobic.
KEY FEATURES
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D's built-in anti-shake system reduces camera jitter and allows you to take hand-held photos at slower shutter speeds.The 6.1 megapixel CMOS sensor inside the camera will let you print your digital photographs clearly up to a size of 11x14 inches.
The camera features a very large LCD display (2.5 inches) which helps when reviewing photos and changing camera settings.
The 5D stores photos on CompactFlash cards. CompactFlash cards are competitively priced and have a wide range of storage capacities.
DRAWBACKS
There are two: first, the 5D is slower than some of its digital SLR counterparts. There is a noticeable delay in between pressing the shutter and the camera taking the photo. While it might be only a fraction of a second, it does lead to missed photo opportunities.The consecutive photo speed is also sluggish, which doesn't make this the ideal camera for fast action sequences.
The second issue is minor, but something to be aware of. The Konica Minolta 5D displays photos and all camera settings on the large 2.5 inch LCD on the back of the camera. While this big LCD is nice to look at, it also eats up the battery much faster than digital SLR cameras with smaller displays.
That being said, I was able to use the camera for an entire week for periodic photography and did not have to recharge the battery once.
LOOK AND FEEL
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is right in the middle of the scale when it comes to size and weight. It is not nearly as heavy and bulky as the Canon 20D, but it is also not as light and compact as the Pentax *istDs.The construction of the camera is solid, and it feels comfortable in the hand. The Minolta features two controllers, a rotating dial right in front of the shutter button and directional buttons on the back of the camera under your thumb.
The rotating dial in front changes camera settings like aperture and shutter speed while the directional buttons on the back are used for the camera's menu system.
Konica Minolta did a good job of making the camera controls you change the most available as buttons on the camera body. You can change ISO, Shooting Mode (One-shot, Continuous, Timer), Autofocus/Manual focus, and white balance without using a single one of the camera's menus.
IN USE
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is noticeably slower than other digital SLR cameras. While the autofocus system does a great job of getting things sharp even in low-light conditions, the shutter delay and consecutive photo speed can be a problem.The shutter delay is apparent for every photo you take. There is a split second of hesitation from the moment you press the shutter release to the time when the camera takes the photo.
If speed is of the essence for your photographs, you might miss a lot of opportunities with the Maxxum 5D.
The camera makes up for its slow response time with ease-of-use. Menus are laid out in a clear and consistent fashion, and it's really easy to find all the camera settings that you want to change.
If you like to take both horizontal and vertical photos, you're going to love the LCD. It rotates the display with the camera so that you don't have to twist your neck to see the camera settings.
The LCD also turns itself off when you are looking through the camera's viewfinder, so you don't have a bright light shining in your eyes all the time.
The camera's built-in flash is one of the best that I have used. Most built-in digital SLR flash units don't deliver the best results. Photos look washed out, and shadows are harsh and angular. The Maxxum 5D's flash is soft and even. Colors are vibrant, even when taking photos indoors at night.
SUMMARY
The Konica Minolta Maxxum 5D is a fantastic camera for anyone who is techno-phobic and just wants a digital SLR camera that is easy to use.It will work well for portrait photographers, and anyone who enjoys using telephoto lenses (like animal and nature photographers) where camera shake is a problem.
Since the Minolta 5D's built-in anti-shake system works with all of the lenses that are compatible with the camera, you won't have to spend a lot of extra money on image-stabilized lenses.
Chris Roberts purchased his first digital SLR camera 3 years ago, and hasn't looked back. He continues to learn and write about new and emerging digital SLRs to this day with the Digital SLR Guide.
