Minolta Dynax 7xi User manual

MINOLTA
INSTRUCTIONMANUAL

INTRODUCTION
TheMinoltaDYNAX7xiisoneofthemostinnovativeAFSLRsavailable
Forthisreason,youareholdinga largeandratherintimidatingowner's
manual.However,noteverythingwillpertaintoyouimmediately,soread
itinsections.
First,lookoverthepartsdiagramsandfamiliarizeyourselfwiththe
controls,theirnames,andtheirlocations.Thiswillbehelpfullaterwhen
theyareintroducedinthemanualandyoulearnabouttheirfunctions.
Next,readPreparations,beginningonp.8.Followalongandattachthe
strap,inserta battery,etc.Getusedtoholdingthecamera,workingthe
controls,andseeingthedisplays.
Then,beginwhereyoumustwithanythingnew— TheBasics.Readitwell,
andyoushouldthenbereadytoputthe7xitoworkforyouinthesimplest
waypossible.Asyouusethecamera,youwillbegintorealizethepower
offeaturessuchas:
•Expertsystemprogrammingwithfuzzylogiccontrol
•High-Speed,Multi-DimensionalPredictiveautofocus
•ExpertProgramSelection
•GraphicDisplayViewfinder
•CreativeProgramControl
OperationsinDetailandtheAppendixarethereforyoutoincreaseyour
masteryoverthisuniquecameraanditsinnovativetechnology,andtohelp
youexpandyourcontroloverthemediumofphotography.

IMPORTANTINFORMATION
TheMinoltaDYNAX7xiwasdesignedtoworkspecificallywithlenses,
flashunits,andotheraccessoriesmanufacturedanddistributedby
Minolta.Wethereforecautionusersofthiscamerathattheattachment
and/oruseofincompatibleproductswiththe7ximayresultin
unsatisfactoryperformanceordamagetothecameraoritsaccessories.
ToobtainoptimumperformancethroughoutthelifeofyourDYNAX7xi,
werecommendthatyouuseonlythoselenses,flashesandother
accessoriesdistributedbyMinoltaspecificallyforusewiththiscamera.
1

TABLEOFCONTENTS
INTRODUCTION1
NAMESOFPARTS4
2
Neckstrap......8
EyepieceCap9
Lens10
Attaching10
Removing11
Careofglasssurfaces11
Battery12
Inserting12
Battery-conditionindicators13
BatteryPerformance14
Cold-weatheroperation14
Film15
Loading15
Automatic/manualfilmspeedsetting18
Automatic/manualrewind20
HoldingtheCamera22
TakingPictures23
Camera-ShakeWarning25
Autofocus26
FocusSignals27
FocusLock28
ProgrammedAutoexposure29
CreativeProgramControl31
PA32
Ps35

OPERATIONSINDETAIL
MainSwitchandEye-start39
FocusingDetails40
Autofocusilluminator40
LocalAFareaselection41
Specialfocusingsituations43
Manualfocus44
ExposureDetails46
Changingexposuremode46
Aperturepriority48
Shutterpriority50
Manualexposure52
Meteringmodes54
Exposurecompensation56
AEIock58
Self-timer59
Bulb60
FlashSystem62
Flashmodes62
Pmodeflash64
A,S,andM modeflash65
Slow-shuttersyncflash68
Remoteoff-cameraTTLflash70
Filmdrive74
Autozoom76
Autostand-byzoom76
Image-sizelock78
Wide-viewmode80
APPENDIX
LensApertureandDepthofField84
ShutterSpeedandMovingSubjects87
Composition88
AccessoryInformation90
CareandStorage92
Troubleshooting94
TechnicalDescription95
QuickReferenceGuide98

NamesofParts/Body
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11
12
Gripsensor
AFilluminator/self-timerlight
Wide-viewmodebutton
Strapeyelet
Frontcontroldial
Shutter-releasebutton
Cardon/offbutton
Bodydatapanel
Accessoryshoe
Program-resetbutton
Mainswitch
Flashpop-upbutton
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
Back-coverrelease
Lensrelease
Focus-modeswitch
Mountingindex
Mirror*
Lenscontacts*
Filmchamber
Eyepiecesensor
Eyepiececup
AELockbutton
Rearcontroldial
Functionbutton
Filmwindow
4

CardDoor
*Donottouch 5
26.PressurePlate*
27.Accessory-backcontacts*
28.Carddoor
29.Remote-controlterminal
30.Battery-coverrelease
31.Film-leaderindex
32.Sprocket
33.Tripodsocket
34.DXcontacts*
35.Self-timer/Drivemodebutton
36.Flash-modebutton
37.Rewindbutton
38.ISObutton
39.Card-adjustbutton
40.Card-ejectslide

NamesofParts/BodyLCD
1.Exposure-modeindicators
2.Wide/Localfocusindicator
3.Flash-modeindicators
4.Self-timerindicator
5.Drive-modeindicators
6.Framecounter
7.Film-transportsignals
8.Film-cartridgemark
9.Aperture/ExposureAdjustment/Cardsettingdisplays
10.Cardindicator
11.Exposure-adjustmentindicator
12.Metering-modeindicators
13.Shutter-speed/film-speed/cardnamedisplays/
local-AF-areaindicators
14.Exposure-adjustmentreminder
15.SelectableSettingPointers
16.Battery-conditionindicator
17.Film-speedmark
6

NamesofParts/ViewfinderScreen
1.Image-size-lockindicator
2.Dial-functionindicators
3.Wide-viewindicator
4.Film-frameindicator
5.AF-areaindicator
6.Local-AF-areaindicator
7.Spot-meteringarea
8.Manual-focusindicator
9.Depthindex
10.Actionindex
11.Panoramaindicator
12.Imagecontrolindex
NamesofParts/ViewfinderDataPanel
1.Flash-onindicator
2.Flash-modeindicator
3.Camera-shakewarning
4.Focussignals
5.Exposure-modeindicators
6.Shutter-speed/Film-speeddisplay
7.ExposureSignals/ExposureAdjustmentindicator
8.Aperture/ExposureAdjustmentdisplay
9.AELindicator
7

NECKSTRAP
Aneckstrapissuppliedwithyourcamera.Attachitasshownbelow.
a

Aneyepiececapisalsoincludedonthestrap.Itfitsovertheeyepieceto
preventstraylightfromenteringthecameraandaffectingtheexposure
duringsituationsinwhichyouarenotlookingthroughtheviewfinder
whentheshutterreleases(ie,self-timerphotographsorbulbexposures).
Anaccessoryshoecapprotectsthecontactsonthecamera'saccessory
contactsfromdustanddirt.Whenyouareusinga flashorotheraccessory,
slidetheaccessoryshoecapintotheeyepiececapforsafekeeping.
9
EYEPIECECAP

1.Removebodycapandrearlenscapasshown.
2.Aligntheredbeadonthelensbarrelwiththereddotonthecamera's
lensmount.Gentlyinsertthelensintothemountandturnthelens
clockwiseuntilitlocksinplacewitha click.
•Ifnolensisattachedtothecamera,ifthelensisnotattachedproperly,
oriftheAZ/MZswitchonanxi-SerieslensissettoMZ,"--"willappearin
thebodydatapanelandintheaperturedisplayoftheviewfinderdatapanel
whenEye-Startactivatesthecamera(below).
10
Toattach:

Toremove:
1.Whilepressingthelensrelease,turnthelenscounterclockwiseuntilit
stops.Liftthelensoutofthemount.
2.Immediatelyattachtherearcaptothelensandthebodycaporanother
lenstothecamera.Thiswillprotectthecamerainterior,lenscontacts,and
lenselements.
-Becarefu!
•Donottoforcethelensontothebodyifitdoesnotturnsmoothly.
•Nevertouchanythinginsidethecamera,especiallythelenscontacts
andmirror.
CareofGlassSurfaces
•Nevertouchanylenssurfaces(includingtheeyepiece)withyour
fingers.Ifa lensbecomesdirty,firstgentlycleanitwitha lensbrush.Then,
ifnecessary,moistena sheetoflenstissuewithonedropoflens-cleaning
fluidand,startingfromthecenterofthelens,wipetheglassina circular
motion.
•Neverliftthemirrorortouchitssurface,asthismayimpairitsalignment
orscratchitsface.Dustonthemirror'ssurfacewillnotaffectmeter
readingsorpicturequality.Ifitisdistracting,havethecameracleanedat
anauthorizedMinoltaservicefacility.
11

Thecamerausesa 6-volt2CR5lithiumbatterywhichsuppliespowerfor
allcameraoperations.Ifyouareusinganxi-Serieslens,thecamerabattery
alsosuppliespowertothelenszoommotor.
Installation
1.WiththemainswitchintheLOCKposition,slidethebatterycover
releaseinthedirectionindicatedtoopenthebatterycover.
2.Insertthebatteryaccordingtothemarksontheinsideofthechamber
cover.
3.Snapthecoverclosed.
•Sometimesithelpstowipethebatteryterminalswitha clean,drycloth
inordertoensurepropercontact.
CAUTION
•Readandfollowallwarningsandinstructionssuppliedbythebattery
manufacturer.
•Donotattempttodisassemble,recharge,orshort-circuitthebattery.
Donotsubjectittohightemperaturesorfire.Thebatterymayexplode
andcausesevereburns.
•Keepbatteriesawayfromchildren.
12

Battery-conditionIndicators
Atvarioustimesduringoperation,oneofthefollowingindicatorswill
appearinthebodydatapanel.
Display Indication
1.Full-batterysymbol
appearsfor4 sec.
afteryouturncamera
on.
2.Low-batterysymbol
appearsfor4 seconds
afteryouturncamera
on.
3.Low-batterysymbol
blinkswhileit
appearswithother
operatingindicators
atanytimeduringuse.
4.Blinking
low-batterysymboland
appears,orno
displayappearsat
all,andshutterlocks
Meaning
Powerissufficient.
Powerissufficient,but
gettinglow.Keepa
freshbatteryhandy.
Cameracanbe
operated,butpoweris
extremelylow.The
batterywillneedto
bechangedsoon.
Powerisinsufficient
foroperation.
Replacethebatteryor
checkthatthebattery
isinsertedcorrectly.
•IfnodisplayappearswhenthemainswitchissettoON,double-check
thatthebatteryisinsertedcorrectlybeforeinsertinga freshone.
13

BatteryPerformance
The6-volt2CR5lithiumbatteryshouldprovidesufficientpowerfor
shootingapproximately50rollsof24-exposurefilmwithoutflash.These
figuresarebasedonMinolta'sstandardtestmethodusinga freshbattery
at68°F(20°C).Actualbatteryperformancewilldependonhowyouusethe
camera.Ifyouinstalla newbatterythathasbeeninprolongedstorage,
batteryperformancemayvary.
Cold-WeatherOperation
Lithiumbatteriesprovideexcellentperformanceincoldweather.
However,ifyouplantoshootmanyrollsoffilmoutdoorsattemperatures
nearorbelow32°F (0°C),werecommendthatyoucarrythecamerainside
yourcoatwhileyouarenotshooting,tokeepitwarm.Youmayalsowant
tocarrya sparebatteryinyourpocketsothatyoucanchangethecamera
batteryifnecessary.Donotdiscarda coldbattery.Afteritwarmsup,itwill
regainsomeofitscharge.
14

LoadingFilm
Beforeyouloadfilm,alwayscheckthebodydatapanel.Ifthefilmcartridge
isdisplayed,donotopenthebackcover.Checkthefilmwindowandframe
countertoverifythetypeoffilminthecameraandthenumberofframes
remaining.(Seep.20forinstructionsonrewindinga partiallyexposedrollof
film.)
•Beforeyouloadfilmforthefirsttime,removeanddiscardtheprotective
plasticcoverovertheshutter.
•Alwaysloadfilminsubduedorshadedlight.
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15

1.Openthebackcoverbyslidingtheback-coverreleasedownward.
2.Placethefilmcartridgeintothefilmchamberasshownaboveandextend
theleaderbetweentheguiderailsuntilthetipisjustpastthefilm-leader
index.Makesuretheholesin thefilm'sloweredgeareengagedby the
sprocketteeth.
RIGHT
WRONG
RIGHT
WRONG
•Makesurethefilmleaderisshapedcorrectly,otherwisethefilmmay
notwindproperly.Trima tornorcrimpedfilmtipsothatitlookslikethe
correctonepicturedaboveleft.
•Ifthefilmextendstoofar,gentlypushtheexcessbackintothecartridge.
•NEVERTOUCHTHESHUTTERCURTAINWITHYOURFINGERSOR
WITHTHEFILMTIP.Itsprecisiondesignmakesitextremelysensitiveto
pressure. -NEXTPAGE-
16

3.ClosethebackcoverandmovethemainswitchtoON.Thecamerawill
automaticallyadvancethefilmtothefirstframeand1 willappearinthefilm
counter.
•Ifthefilmisloadedincorrectly,0 willblinkin
theframecounterandtheshutterwillremain
locked.Openthebackcoverandrepeatsteps2
and3.
•IfyouturnthemainswitchtoONbeforeyouloadfilm,tonottouchthe
gripsensorduringtheaboveprocedures.
17

ManualFilmSpeedSetting
Ifyouareusinga non-DX-codedfilmorifyouwishtooverridethe
automaticsetting,youmustmanuallysetthefilmspeed.Thecamerawill
initiallysetnon-DX-codedfilmtotheISOofthepreviousroll;initiallythis
valueissetto100.
1.Loadthefilmandclosethebackcover.
2.OpenthecarddoorandpresstheISObutton.
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18
IfyouuseDX-coded filmbetweenISO25and
5000,thecamerawillautomaticallysetthe
correctfilmspeed.Thefilmspeedsettingwillbe
displayedinthebodydatapanelfor4 sec.after
youloadthefilm.
AutomaticFilmSpeedSetting