Minolta Dynax 7000

I can completely understand why you’d think a Dynax 7000 is an irrational choice of camera. Even when it launched, photographers were wary of all the complex electronics that could cause problems. Whether that was a valid concern at the time is debatable, but it’s definitely something to think about 30 years later. A nice metal-bodied manual-focus SLR from the 1970s will be with you as long as you want it to be – if it breaks it can be repaired, and if you decide to sell, it will be worth more than you paid for it. This camera is none of those things.

I was recently looking for another 35mm camera and, browsing the web one lunchtime, I came across some reviews of the Minolta Maxxum 7000. A while later I found one at a local camera fair with the classic 50mm f1.7 lens. The vendor assured me that it was in working condition and although I had no batteries to test it with, I bought it. Once I’d cleaned out the battery compartment it seemed to work fine so last week I took it out with a roll of Ilford XP2 in it.