"Always stay amateur." The artistic genius of your dad.

Something else to note is that when Sony first purchased Minolta's camera division they continued the A-mount for quite a few years and the early DSLRs they produced were more or less conceived by Minolta. Many of them were APS-C, but there were a few full-frame DSLRs and they produced lenses for them as well. So as crazy as it sounds, you can find really amazing Sony/Zeiss glass that is backwards compatible with 80's SLRs. I recently picked up a Sony a350 for $100 because it has the old CCD-style sensor and it was super fun to throw the Minolta 50mm f1.7 on it. There are also a ton of great MD-mount (manual focus) Minolta cameras and lenses for cheap as well, for folks looking for an even older-school experience. There are a gillion copies of the X-700 out there - I'll often pick one up at an estate sale for dirt cheap, clean it up, and gift it to someone interested in exploring film. The MD lenses can also be adapted onto modern mirrorless bodies.

CORRECTION: I mentioned the secret handshake lens was the Beercan 70-210mm. It was actually fabled to be the Minolta AF 28-135mm F/4-4.5 lens, NOT the 70-210mm, though the latter is widely praised as being one of the best lenses in Minolta's lineup.

Love the story about your dad. So many things we do in life are influenced by our parents, whether we notice it or not.

I LOVE this story and the romanticism of this camera. it's the reason I keep a couple of my old FD Canon's! Thank you for sharing this! Also "Always Stay Amateur" is such a beautiful mentality! It's the only way to learn and explore!

I recently was gifted the 7000. I’m blown away. The autofocus is amazing and viewfinder is large and bright like you said. I find the buttons to adjust the settings on the 7000 very easy to use.

I purchased my first camera while in Okinawa Japan it was the Canon AE1- Program which I love, later before returning to the U.S I purchased Minolta 7000 Maxxum which I loved even more. Both are great film cameras. Thank you for the video new subscriber to your channel.

Yay Minolta! That story about your father is really special. I'd love to get a Minolta 7D at some point but that's digital of course. Minolta's early digital colour science seems spectacularly good, very close to Canon's from same era. I can confirm the 70-210 f/4 "beercan" has legendary status. I didn't know there were other lenses with same nickname :) Most people these days are completely unaware that Konica-Minolta is the basis of Sony's entry into the digital realm, first with DSLRs then eventually mirrorless. My 35mm film cameras are mostly Canon EOS. I also got a half-frame P&S Canon. And a Nikon F4. I actually got an APS Canon EOS IX just last month, I'm gonna shoot it soon :D

What a fun channel, I'm so glad I found your channel. I know this comment is late, but I had one of these Minoltas for many years. It's what I used to learn photography in high school in the early 90s. I had many of the cards as well. The data card was useful for exactly as you say, remembering the settings, useful for class. The fantasy effect card was gimmicky, and I remember loving it. While I no longer have the camera, I still have several lens including the 28-135, that are fun to use on my current Sony mirrorless camera. The 50mm was also great for interesting macro photos, I would just flip it around and hold the aperture open with my fingernail. Fun fact, first purchase I ever made on a smartphone was one of these cameras back in 2002 to replace my original that broke during a move. It did take a pretty serious impact to actually break my original.

Just gave my 7000 to my sister who’s starting to shoot film. 30 bucks for the 50 1.7 and 70-210 and camera body off eBay 3 years ago. Best buy ever!

90s and late 80s 35mm cameras are the best film cameras. You want multiple forms of good reliable metering, fast shutter speeds, ttl flash, tons of lenses AND a comfortable camera (the classic cameras have the looks but cramp the hand, be honest) then you can't beat them. I was always a Nikon shooter but the Minolta Maxxum 7 and 9 really tempted me back in the day.

Really enjoyed hearing these thoughts. Been thinking many times about the sticker on the back of this camera, somehow I just couldn't get it off my mind. Love this channel and thank you for all the effort that u put into this!

Great story of your dad. My dad gave me his Canon AE-1 for my high school photo classes and like you, I've had it ever since! I do have the Maxxum 7000 and love the 35-70mm and 70-210mm lenses which I recommend. As for a cheap autofocus steal, the Nikon N90, the autofocus is crazy fast and I just love everything about it.

Wow this brings back memories, used this camera from 1990 to about 2003. Might be a bit plastic on the outside but the internals are very tough. Partner this with the Minolta Program Flash 2800AF TTL and it never gets it wrong.

A friend gave me one of these for my birthday, and after seeing your video I can't wait to try it out!

I am also shooting with a camera my father owned. In my case, it’s an older DSLR, the Canon EOS 30D. It’s a great experience to shoot with it and I feel a positive connection to my dad which is great 😌 Also that shutter and motor sound is great!

I own 3 copies of the Maxxum 7000 from 1986. It's an excellent camera and to me it is heartbreaking that some of the functions are starting to fail because of age. I hope you get much joy out of your 7000i and that it keeps up the ghost for a long time. I went to Sony A-mount cameras because I started in film with the Maxxum 7000. Thanks for sharing film's elegance!

"Always stay amateur"...so true, so smart....amazing. Great video as always.

Sweet & detail reviews of 7000i. You dad & You ❤️ The creativo expansions Card system of minolta .. very tech advanced for this time.💎 I love your example of fantasy Card. 👍 I have all minolta's eras Mc-Md-Af-Sony A & Sony E Minolta 7000i Minolta 8700i Minolta 9xi Minolta's legacy stay alivie.. I use all of minolta's vintage lens on My Sony a7iii.

Hello! It must have been some years since I was given a 7xi and a 7000i, and I was trying to get my mind wrapped around them (during which the 7xi went belly-up); my experiences with the 7000 was not quite as transferable as hoped! Now I can do with a bit of help from you, as an experienced 7000i user. On the 7000 prism housing, just above the "N" in the brand name, there's a "steal the light" panel for lighting up the viewfinder's LCD panel, and three little orange lights - that can be seen from outside - help it along too. There is a similar one above the Minolta brand on the 7000i, but on my example there seems to be no lights for making the LCD panel legible under low ambient light conditions. I do not know if it's a fault on my example, but would like to hear from you to see if yours have functioning lights, or it's a normal state of affairs; after all, I cannot find anyone talking about this. Thanks!

I love Minolta lenses and they made some fine lenses for the Leica R mount. The story of you Dad’s camera was very touching. What a wonderful reminder to stay grounded in your art. Just think of the camera legacy and memories you are creating for your kids. I can’t wait to see the camera collection. I only have a ‘bottom feeder’ vintage lens collection. I live vicariously through you for the vintage cameras :)

I have a Minolta camera very similar to yours. It is a bit difficult to use so I stopped using it although it's a excellent camera. I now use a basic manual Pentax K-1000. It's a great manual camera, built like a tank. I traded my Pentax Me fully auto for it with my brother. Your video has made me think I will get my Minolta out with the manual and give it a go once again since you explained a lot of it's functions I couldn't figure out already. Sorry your dad has dementia but it's nice to see you carrying on photography with his special camera. You know what they say, " Photographers don't die they just fade away..." But their photos last forever

From the mind of Minolta

Omg love the story here!!! 🥰 I started on my dad's Nikon F2. He got rid of it in the 00s but my totem/homage to it is an F4 😍

heh, i just bought a 7000i dynax, i am soo looking forward to its arrival, also lovely price on it too

I love that you're using dad's camera.Your imagery is beautiful. My favorite lens is the 35-70 f4, it's a stellar lens and the macro function is very useful. I adore the 85 f1.4 for portraits. I own the Maxxum 7 and 9. The 9 is kinda of falling apart but still functional, nothing that a little super glue won't fix.

Back in the day I bought Minolta 9000, pro model of the previous generation, and yes, that camera was AMAZING. But 6 months later, battries died on me after 15 min. of shooting in the freezing cold. And than another set, and than another... in that moment I ralized that technology is not ready for what I do, so I went full reverse gear, sold that thing and bought used Nikon F2 instead. You can still find Minolta 9000 (Maxxum) for pennies on the dollar, but unfortunatley, almost all of them are broken beyond repair...

" I stopped counting at 45" - jeez, I thought I had a problem!! LOL. Thanks Alexis.

My dad gave me his 7000 as well and I will never give it up. He just past away a week ago 🙁

50?! 😂I felt bad having reached 30 cameras in my collection! Great video, thanks!

My first camera in the 70's was a $300 dollar Minolta camera and I loved it. Very expensive at the time. I gave it to a daughter years later as I moved on in cameras and she quickly destroyed it with too many drops, unfortunately.

Haven't watched this one, yet, probably listen on the way to VA. Got 2 more cameras for you. I never had the chance to use these these, Canon basically made a film/digital ver. of the same camera. They're just cool looking. Almost like a jewelry, cigarette or art deco cigar box. Canon IXY 330 & IXUS 330

My new favorite film camera is a Minolta Maxxum 5. I liked it so much I bought another one even before I had the film developed from shooting the first one. I have amassed a large collection of old cameras, too, in various film formats...110, APS, 126, 127, instant, etc. as well as 120 and 35mm. No other way to learn about them than to buy a camera and shoot some film. I like a camera with character. I am at the point of being able to winnow out a few cameras. I say I won't buy any new ones, but you and I know that's probably a lie! I imagine someone's photos or review will catch my interest and I'll have to try the camera. Enjoy your channel. Look forward to seeing your collection.

After watching this, saw one at a thrift store the NEXT day...Smiled and thought of this channel. It was sporting a 28mm lens. Didn't get it though, trying to limit the collection. Looking for a Pentax MX currently...

Hyped for the collection!

There is a connection to Universal, just a very tangential one. Saul Bass designed that Minolta dot logo (the one your dad covered up on the pentaprism!)

Great cheap camera, loved it.

I thought Minolta was a pretty good company a long time ago, although I never used one. I was a Nikon guy(I have always wanted a Nikon FM2). One thing I heard and believed in was, everyone at the time used the Minolta Autometer IVf. So they knew what the were doing, metering-wise.

Love the backstory on the camera. I have one as well and wonder whose hands held it for the past few decades.

Great video as always. Looking forward to the next one!

Amazing video! Subscribed

i had one since 1988

That's a really interesting camera I have a Minolta 400 si in my old film camera collection

Recently picked this up at goodwill for $7.99 but unfortunately no lens but am on the lookout for one so I can try it out soon.

thrifted it today for about 15€ :D great cam!

cute video. thank you

A friend gave me a Minolta 7000 with the kit zoom and a 35mm prime. It works fine, but the LCD display is starting to fade at the edges.

Gonna have to rename this channel now. ALWAYS STAY AMATEUR is the best motto.

Great video as always Alex. I can't wait to see the next video, hype! I want a t-shirt with that great advice: "Always stay amateur"

It’s a shame the new sony cameras didn’t continue the minolta color science since the a77 era

Always stay amateur = "ASA". Double meaning, acts as a reminder to check that your film speed is set properly. Got one of these in the last week with a Minolta flash.

I want to buy this as my first camera. How do you develop the photos ? Does it us a card or film?

Do you know how to see how many shots you have left in the screen it says 29 I’m guessing that’s what it’s on or is that how many are left

I may be way off the mark here, but did Minolta around this period take a nosedive with the general build quality of their lenses and cameras? I used to own three MD prime lenses from, I think, the late 1970s and they were physically at least on a par with the like of Pentax from that era. I should add that I used these lenses exclusively on mirrorless digital cameras (with mostly disappointing results) But this equipment, to be honest, isn't the kind of stuff I'd treasure myself, unless I had an emotional attachment to it, as you understandably do. It doesn't look like it was built for the long-term, although if you love something of course you want to take extra care of it. Don't let happy memories get in the way of a good cull would be my advice, because those memories will still be there for you anyway. Best wishes, Michael.

hi!! how do you unload the film? i’m super nervous about messing it up since it’s my first time

I just got one of these and it doesn't turn on. It's otherwise very clean- should I try and fix it, or should I just get another camera and use this as a parts body? I really like what I see here, and this camera has a nice weight to it..

Don't feel anxious about having so many cameras. They're your "babies" and they're worth keeping :) I've got about as many, myself. You hear people talking about GAS but that's just crap. The term was invented by people who are just skin flints that are jealous of others who like gear and don't mind spending some money to get it. If you like something and can afford it, then why not!!. I already have two Minolta SRT Super's ( a black and a silver one) and I've just acquired a Minolta Dynax 5xi as part of another purchase of some Super 8 equipment. It's in great condition!!. I'll be testing it out soon. The good thing with having as many cameras as I do is I'd like to introduce my grand-nieces and nephews to photography and film in particular. It'll keep their mothers out of pocket :) :P That'll be my revenge for my nieces annoying me when they were kids themselves :P

If only i could lay my camera collection out on the bed, damn i need a clear out too, so hard i like them all,

Sony A mounts work on this too?

🙏😍🙏

Always stay amateur.