Minolta Maxxum Dynax 3xi User manual

MINOLTA
MAXXUM
■ 3YNAX
IE INSTRUCTION MANUAL

READ ME FIRST!
First of all, thank you for purchasing this Maxxum/Dynax 3xi. Also, if this is
your first Minolta camera, welcome to the Minolta family.
This instruction manual has been designed to help you get the most enjoy¬
ment and use out of your new camera. It is not necessary for you to read the
contents of this manual from cover-to-cover before you begin photographing.
Instead, it is better that you read it in sections.
Begin by learning a little about the manual itself by reading the TABLE OF
CONTENTS on p.2. This will give you an idea of kinds of information included
in the manual and the way in which it is organized. Next, pick up your camera
and, using NAMES OF PARTS AND DISPLAYS, become familiarize yourself
with the layout of its controls and indications. Continue to the next section,
PREPARATIONS, and follow along with your own camera by attaching the
neckstrap and a lens, inserting a battery, etc. When you are finished, read
SIMPLE OPERATION—THE BASICS thoroughly and you should be ready to
begin using your new camera in its most basic operating mode. When you
want to take more creative control over the image-making process,
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL will help you do so. Finally, APPENDIX contains
information about the camera and general photography, as well as a Quick
Reference Guide, which may be helpful to you in the near future. Refer to it as
you need.
You are probably anxious to begin, so good luck and we hope that this camera
will help you to discover and enjoy the many pleasures of the world of photo¬
graphy.

WPORTANT INFORMATION
he Minolta Maxxum/Dynax 3xi was designed to work specifically with
snses, flash units, and other accessories manufactured and distributed by
Minolta. We therefore caution users of this camera that the attachment and/
r use of incompatible products with the 3xi may result in unsatisfactory
erformance or damage to the camera or its accessories. To obtain optimum
erformance throughout the life of your Maxxum/Dynax 3xi, we recommend
tat you use only those lenses, flashes and other accessories distributed by
linolta specifically for use with this camera.
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Names of Parts and Displays.Body .. 4
Data Panel... 6
Viewfinder. 7
PREPARATIONS ---—------
Preliminary —.— Neckstrap... 9
Eyepiece and Accessory Shoe Cap.9
Lens ...........—.Attaching. 10
Removing. 11
Care of glass surfaces. 11
Battery Inserting. 12
Battery-condition indicators. 13
Battery performance . 14
Cold-weather operation. 14
Film Automatic film-speed setting. 15
Loading film . 15
Automatic rewind. 18
Manual start of rewind. 18
OPERATIONS IN DETAIL-
Auto Stand-by Zoom (ASZ).29
Focusing Details AF illuminator .30
Special focusing situations.31
Manual focus. 32
Exposure Details - Exposure modes.33
Changing exposure modes.33
A: Aperture priority. 3 4
S: Shutter priority.36
M: Manual exposure... 38
Bulb: Long exposures.40
Flash Details - Manual fill-flash (P mode).42
Flash cancel (P mode).42
Flash in A, S, and M modes... 43
Flash range. 4 3
Wireless/remote off-camera flash control_44
2

SIMPLE OPERATION
Holding the Camera.. ..
Main Switch/Eye- Start
Taking Pictures.
Focus Signals.
Focus Lock.
Flash Basics-
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
SeH-Timer
- Flash signals
Pre-flash_

NAMES OF PARTS AND DISPLAYS
1. Grip sensor
Activates eyepiece sensor
2. Shutter-setting control
Used to control shutter speed
is S and M modes and select
exposure mode
3. Shutter-release button
4. Strap eyelet
5. Pre-flash button
Selects/cancels pre-flash
6. Data panel
7. Program re-set button
Re-sets camera to
programmed operation
8, Flash
9. Accessory shoe
10. Main switch
11. Self-timer button
12. Aperture-setting control
Selects aperture in A and M
modes
13. Back-cover release
14. Lens release
15. Focus-mode switch
Selects auto/manual focus
16. Mirror*
17. Lens contacts*
4

20
21
22
23
8. Film chamber
9. Eyepiece sensor
IR sensor activates camera
when it detects an object
nearby
!0. Viewfinder eyepiece*
1,1. Flash-control button
Used to pop-up built-in flash,
manually fire fill flash, and
cancel flash in P mode
!2. Film window
23. Pressure plate*
24. Battery cover
25. Battery-cover release
26. Guide rails
27. Tripod socket
28. Shutter*
29. Rewind button
Used to manually begin film
rewind
30. DX contacts*
• Do not touch
5

{ISliiiiKt.s of parts and displays!
Data Panel
2 3
1. Selectable setting pointers
Indicates which settings are under manual control
2. Shutter-speed display
3. Aperture display
4. Battery-condition indicator
Displays level of battery charge
5. Frame counter
6 . Film-transport signals
7. Film cartridge mark
Indicates film loaded, film rewound, film improperly loaded
8. Exposure-mode indicators
Indicates current exposure mode
9. Flash-mode indicators
Indicates current flash mode
10. Self-timer indicator
11. Manual-focus indicator
6

■ li-i U-(
tt'
i. Focus signals
(•) Continuous AF mode, appears after Eye-Start when subject is in
focus and after shutter-release button is pressed partway down if
subject is moving
• Focus locked: appears a short time after shutter-release button is
pressed part way down if subject is stationary
• ^(blinking) Focus cannot be confirmed
1. Exposure signals
In W mode:
A overexposure; ▼ underexpiosure; ▼ correct exposure
In P and A mode when flash is canceled:
■ ^ ▼ - iblinking) Camera-shake warning: current shutter speed may result in
blurry pictures
In all modes:
s, . ^
- ▼ ^blinking) Correct exposure not possible
7 ▼ - {blinking) Flash charging
5. Flash signals
^ % -/-h ^^(bltnking slowly) Flash charged
_ ^ ^ ^-(blinking rapidly) Flash output sufficient
I. Focus frame
7

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