Scoring a Minolta Film Camera for Just $5: Our Exciting Test Adventure!

Having gained experience with entirely manual mechanical 35mm SLR cameras, I was not acquainted with the final, entirely automatic version of this camera style – the Minolta Dynax 5. Perhaps somewhat pretentiously, I had never truly felt the desire to utilize one of these, but upon discovering one in a charity shop for a fiver, I resolved to try it out.

Minolta’s autofocus SLRs made their debut in 1985; in Europe, they were branded as Dynax, while elsewhere they were known by the names Maxxum and Alpha. The initial model in the series was the 7000AF, and over 30 versions eventually emerged, featuring minor incremental enhancements in specifications over time. The concluding model, the Dynax 60, was introduced in 2004, at which point Minolta, like numerous other manufacturers, ceased production of film cameras and fully embraced digital technology.

Even though the Minolta Dynax 5 is constructed from plastic and is remarkably lightweight, it still manages to feel sturdy and well-crafted. It highlighted to me that the distinction between a professional camera and an amateur one lies not merely in the specifications, but in the durability of the construction. I doubt the Minolta would adequately withstand the knocks and jolts that a typical professional might impart on their main camera, but apart from that, the image quality output should be indistinguishable.

The convenience of having the camera advance the film was a refreshing change. When I was a young photographer, motor drives were bulky attachments that needed to be connected to an SLR body, definitely reserved for the pros, yet here, in a body smaller and lighter than anything from the 1970s, the motor drive is discreetly integrated within the take-up spool.

I had become so accustomed to manually winding the film, taking exposure readings, composing, focusing, and shooting, that it was somewhat startling to recognize how pleased I was to allow the camera to perform all the tedious tasks after all. I liken it to getting our first dishwasher shortly after we got married; I had been content with doing the washing and drying, but suddenly everything became much simpler, and I never regretted it. The ability to create double or even multiple exposures on an SLR was also a feature I relished exploring.

I develop all of my films, and one task I find challenging and fiddly is extracting the film end from the cassette if it has been completely rewound inside. With a manual camera, I can typically gauge when to stop rewinding while the film leader is still visible, but motorized point-and-shoot cameras show no mercy and whisk the elusive tail out of reach. Imagine my pleasure when I discovered that hidden within the menus, there’s an option to leave the leader sticking out during rewind.

Though the Minolta Dynax 5 may not entirely fit in a pocket, it’s compact and light enough to carry around without straining your neck; this photo was captured during a wet rush hour in Manchester.

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