Minolta DYNAX 5 35mm SLR Camera with 28-80(D) Lens

I spent some time looking into digital cameras but concluded that good ones are still expensive and that the hassle of a digital camera (downloading the files, backing up, editing, buying special paper, buying coloured ink cartridges, etc.) makes them the wrong choice for me. Call me old fashioned, but I quite enjoy opening up an envelope of prints freshly back from the processors and looking through them with the family.

Having settled on a conventional 35mm camera I started looking into compact cameras with zoom, and also into SLRs (single lens reflexes), and was surprised to find that modern SLRs like the Minolta Dynax 5 are very light weight and good value. My previous experiences and research on the web led me to conclude that none of the compacts on the market really stand up in competition with SLRs in terms of picture quality, so I took the plunge and ordered the Dynax 5 via Amazon.

The Minolta Dynax 5 is a small single lens reflex camera (which means you look through the lens and so get exactly the same image on film as you get on the film). It uses the standard 35mm film that you can buy everywhere.

Having had the camera for a couple of months the Minolta Dynax 5 is proving excellent. The first two films have given great pictures, with the zoom lens and pop-up flash allowing pictures to be taken in most "everyday" conditions. I especially enjoy being able to focus in closely onto people's faces to catch their expressions.

The camera offers pretty much idiot-proof automatic operation with fast and accurate automatic focusing, automatic exposure control and easy to use zoom operation. However, it also has a huge range of options for the keen photographer, offering every conceivable operational mode (aperture priority, shutter priority, manual focus, multiple exposure bracketing, selectable focus zones, etc.). I rather like the idea that I can use these things if I want, but can also just put it on automatic and press the button to take snaps.

The camera seems well designed and the pictures are sharp with good colour balance and accurate exposures. The construction quality seems good but it does feel a little flimsy with its plastic body - however if that is the price I have to pay for it weighing so little - 1.5lbs according to my kitchen scales (which for those who want a comparison is the same as 4 small bananas and an apple!). Some of the controls are quite small and fiddly, especially if you have large hands, and it has taken me a while to get used to them. But to be honest, in everyday use, you can leave most of them alone and let the camera sort out the pictures itself.

For anyone buying this camera I would recommend purchasing a "daylight filter" to put on the lens as a means of protecting the front surface. This is a tip I picked up from another website, the filter doesn't really alter the picture taking, but acts to protect the front surface of the lens from dirt (and the greasy fingers of small curious children).

Overall I would recommend this camera, I don't have experience with the competitor SLR products, but I can't believe anything else is significantly better for the money. I'm certainly happy with the Minolta Dynax 5 and for the moment, at least, I am glad that I went with this over a digital.