Customer Reviews
Great 35mm SLR AF Camera for the money! 
2005-02-22
I've researched SLR cameras for the last few months and I always came back to the Maxxum models by Konica Minolta. Sure, price was a big factor, but also the reviews across the web from other owners and especially regarding the popular and very successful Maxxum 50 finally led me to a purchase of the Maxxum 70. Although this camera seems very sophisticated and it lets you do a lot of the creative settings manually, it's easy in P (green P in a box) which are the auto functions you can and the focusing is just perfect. It's also worth spending the approx. $70 more for the Maxxum 70 vs. the Maxxum 50 because of the focusing features and the in-screen/viewfinder display. The user guide is very helpful and explains the operations of the automatic camera functions well, although some photography knowledge will be helpful to understand especially the manual settings. So far I've only shot a roll of film and it came out perfect. The only little thing that bothered me was that in the viewfinder there were a few very tiny spots and that's why I had to exchange it for another Maxxum 70 unit, and that's why I only gave it 4 stars, although if everything would have been perfect from the start, this camera is definitely worth a five-star rating. This Maxxum 70 is a keeper and it seems to be a solid quality camera -- only time will tell if it holds up, but so far so good. The price just can't be beat, especially with all the features that the Maxxum 70 offers. Also the 28-100mm lens is a nice feature for this price range as most other models come with only a 28-80mm lens, and for a camera like this you most certainly want the 28-100mm lens.
Don't bother if you want to use manual focus 
2004-12-26
This is the first SLR I've seen that doesn't have any precise focusing indicator. It just has the center circle get more or less blurry. Since I mainly wanted an SLR that does manual focus, with autofocus as an option to use occasionally, this is completely useless.
Excellent Camera for Amateurs and Professionals Alike! 
2004-12-20
The Maxxum 70 is an excellent camera having impeccable features for the amateurs and professionals alike. The camera has fully-automated Program mode for completely automatic functionality to Manual mode for manual operations. The top shutter speed is 1/2000 of a second. The camera has 6 built-in exposure modes and 5 Subject Program modes which include Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, and Night Portrait mode. The 14-segment honey-comb metering system ensures perfect exposure for your favourite photographs. The camera incorporates eight 'local focus areas' for emphasizing focus on the specific area of the frame. The 14-segment honey-comb metering system ensures perfect exposure of your pictures.
Discontinued Autofocus Model -- Still Cool! 2008-03-03
I've been an advanced amateur photographer for some time but still have yet to take the digital plunge. I've had the Minolta 70 for some years now and find it to be a reliable workhorse especially when taking candid shots at parades and city events.
The lenses change quickly, the controls are easy to learn. Yes, there is a manual focus just read the manual and figure it out. It also suppresses auto flash when you can simply hook a flash unit on top.
Minolta has a strange slot for a flash unit when you compare to Nikon or Canon. Once in, it locks in and that's fine with me.
The lenses for the 70 are also compatible with Sony's new Alpha system.
Sony Alpha A100K 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-70mm f3.5-5.6 Lens
Sony Alpha DSLRA350K 14.2MP Digital SLR Camera with Super SteadyShot Image Stabilization DT 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Zoom Lens
Konica Minolta 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 Digital Zoom Lens for 5D and 7D Digital SLR Cameras
Sony took over Minolta's camera line so you will no longer see Minolta 70 Maxxum. It is now a discontinued model. Best bet is to take your Minolta kit over to Sony.
Awesome Camera for Price! 2006-10-01
This camera is light, easy to use yet feature rich. I compared it to digital (still to expensive for comparable resolution to 35mm film) and other SLR cameras. The auto focus is fast and reliable, although in low light it strobes its built in flash to assist with focusing. The built in flash is fairly powerful and convenient because it is always available. The complex metering system has handled difficult lighting situations well.
The focus may also be done manually, with focus assist. The f stop and/or shutter speed can be set manually. In addition to the default fully automatic setting there are 5 built in subject programs designed for portraits, close ups, sports, etc. There is a depth of field preview which I have not found on similar priced cameras.
Overall I am quite happy with this camera. I was also happy to find that it works with my old Minolta compatible Vivitar 100-300 telephoto lens, and my old Minolta dedicated 3200i flash. For the money I highly recommend you consider this 35mm camera.
Camera good 2005-10-24
The camera has been fantastic! It works marvelously, and the zoom lenses are amazing.
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Judge the camera for what it is - and READ THE MANUAL! 2005-06-04
First, I would like to comment on previous reviews:
As for the lens shadows: REMOVE THE SUN SHADE from the lens. If you leave the sun shade on during flash/zoom photography, you will get the "shade/shadow effect" you talked about. It's not the lens, it's the shade. This information is included in the manual (always READ THE MANUAL before posting negative reviews!)
To the user disappointed in the manual focus: USE THE FOCUSING INDICATOR. Even in manual focus, the camera will still check for focus. When the small green dot inside the view finder goes solid, you are in focus. Again, this information is in the manual. READ THE MANUAL before posting negative reviews!
Overall, the camera is an excellent value. It is packed with features that were exclusive to cameras costing hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dollars more just a few short years ago. Prices are dropping due to the change in market focus (everyone wants to go digital.) Where else can you get a feature packed camera like this one for under $300?
For the beginner, a good film camera like this one is a great place to start. Learn the basics and KNOW the camera before making snap judgements. If you take the time to learn the camera and how to take pictures, you will NOT be disappointed by this hardware.
Lens Shadows Very Disappointing 
2005-05-17
I purchased this package as I'm an avid fan of Minolta Cameras... and have to say I'm disappointed with the lenses. Either during wide-angle or 100% zoom, the corners of each photo have the lens in them.
I'm in the process of contacting Minolta about the issue because I love the camera but can't take the chance of losing good photos with the lenses.
