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Minolta Maxxum
9 combines the computing power and speed of
today’s most sophisticated built-in
microprocessors with the traditional optical
and mechanical expertise that has long been
associated with Minolta camera products.
The
ergonomic design of the Maxxum 9 makes it
surprisingly simple to operate. Yet, beneath
the camera’s functional layout and handsome
black-satin finish, there is plenty of
computing power and built-in intelligence to
handle even the most complicated
photographic assignments. At the heart of
this rugged camera is a dimensionally
stable, corrosion and shock resistant body
formed of stainless steel and zinc die-cast
metal. For added durability, the Maxxum 9’s
dials, buttons, and all camera body seams,
including the viewfinder and the
shutter-release button, are designed to
protect against unwanted dust and moisture.
The Maxxum
9 camera features a 100% field-of-view
viewfinder with a choice of four specialized
focusing screens, including three different
screens that use Minolta’s Spherical Acute
Matte surfaces and one new high dispersion,
Super Spherical Acute screen (Type M)
designed specifically for use with "fast"
single focal length lenses. The camera’s
viewfinder also features a built-in diopter
adjustment assuring photographers that they
will preview every detail in their pictures
and that they will see it with the clearest,
sharpest viewing available.
For easy
focus tracking even in low lighting
situations, LED indicators are projected
through the Maxxum 9’s pentaprism into the
viewfinder to indicate the selected local
focus area in use. The intensity of the LED
signal changes, in multiple steps, to remain
visible regardless of the scene brightness
observed in the viewfinder.
"The
introduction of the Maxxum 9 camera has
already generated an overwhelmingly positive
response from both dealers and consumers
alike," said Yoshi Suzuki, Senior Vice
President and General Manager of Minolta
Corporation’s Consumer Products Group. "The
Maxxum 9 system is already becoming the
benchmark pro camera system for the 21st century,
by which all other cameras will be
measured."
Rugged, Reliable Body
The Maxxum
9 is constructed to withstand years of hard,
continuous use in the hands of professional
photographers. From the Maxxum 9’s durable,
corrosion-resistant SUS 304 stainless steel
shell, and scratch-resistant UV-coating, to
its zinc and aluminum die-cast construction,
every aspect of the Maxxum 9’s body is
engineered to withstand the rigors of
professional assignments, both in the studio
and on location.
SUS
304 Stainless Steel
The Maxxum
9 is constructed to withstand sudden shocks
and repeated use. The outer shell (top and
front shell, back cover, and flash housing)
is made of high-rigidity,
corrosion-resistant SUS 304 stainless steel.
Zinc Die-Casting
The zinc
die-cast bottom and side cover not only
protects the Maxxum 9 from shocks, but also
provides stability when the camera is
mounted on a tripod. In addition, a thick
rubber pad is attached to the camera bottom
to help absorb shocks.
Handsome Rugged Finish
The Maxxum
9’s stainless steel and zinc die cast
sections are painted with a black satin
finish to enhance the camera’s stylish
appearance. Likewise, all plastic knobs and
trim pieces are coated with a UV-hardened
polymer to further protect against damage in
even the harshest environments.
"Serious
photographers everywhere are appreciating
the capabilities and the enormous control
offered by the Maxxum 9 camera system," said
Jon Sienkiewicz, Vice President of Marketing
for Minolta Corporation’s Consumer Products
Group. "I’m equally delighted that this
top-of-the line Maxxum SLR camera joins
Minolta’s other popular cameras series
including the Freedom (35mm) and Vectis
(Advanced Photo System) models to provide
more features and more choices to more
photographers at all skill levels, than any
other camera brand."
Top
Quality System Performance
To easily
capture even the fastest action, the Maxxum
9 features a class-leading motor drive that
advances film at 5.5 frames per second (fps)
in manual-focus and single-shot AF mode, and
4.5 fps in continuous AF mode, without
requiring a separate battery pack or motor
drive.
The Maxxum
9 incorporates an electronically controlled
shutter that features accurate exposure
times from 30 seconds up to an
action-stopping 1/12,000 of a second, making
it the world’s fastest top shutter speed.*
Other key features of this camera include a
versatile flash synchronization speed of
1/300 second.
Autofocusing is accomplished with a 3-point
Cross Hair Type Autofocusing sensor using a
built-in 3-target AF illuminator to assure
accurate automatic focusing even in
low-light or low-contrast scenes. When the
Maxxum 9 is picked up, a touch-sensor
located in the camera grip automatically
activates the Eye-Start System which speeds
up the autofocusing operation.
Accurate
autoexposure is accomplished via the
acclaimed Minolta Maxxum 14-segment
honeycomb-pattern metering system for
precise exposure control. The Maxxum 9 also
features 4-segment flash metering for
precise flash exposure control. And, with
shutter speeds faster than 1/300 second, the
Maxxum 9 will automatically switch to HSS
(requires Minolta Program Flash 5400HS).
Clear
Cut, Flexible Controls
The Maxxum
9’s straightforward, flexible controls lets
the photographer make fine adjustments to
the camera’s automatic settings, or quick
sweeping changes to any of the camera’s
major operating systems. Every dial is
logically placed for comfortable handling,
easy recognition and superb control.
Simple, Straightforward Controls and
Phosphorescent Dials
The Maxxum
9’s controls are large, well placed,
uncomplicated and intuitive in their
operation. Dials and levers provide quick,
direct access to major camera functions such
as exposure, film drive, and focus.
Important dials are rubber-coated and
oversized for a positive grip. Extensive use
of metal for the camera controls adds
durability and stylish charm. And, an inert
phosphorescent material is applied to the
exposure-related dials so their glow is easy
to see in the dark.
Back-Lit Data Panel
In low
light, the Maxxum 9’s data panel can be lit
by activating the data panel illuminator.
This permits easy confirmation of camera
settings. The duration of this display can
be selected in the Custom Function No. 13
and is further extended automatically by any
successive operation.
Manual Shift
In most
autofocusing single-lens reflex cameras,
changing the exposure settings while in
manual-mode (M) without changing the overall
exposure can be time consuming. With the
Maxxum 9, once the photographer sets an
exposure, pressing the AE lock button while
turning the front dial changes the aperture
and shutter speed settings as necessary,
without changing the original exposure.
Ease
of Operation
Serious
amateurs and professional photographers will
especially appreciate the enormous degree of
user control offered by the Maxxum 9. The
camera features built-in control of 21
customizable functions allowing the
photographer to set many camera operations
to suit their individual preferences.
For
pinpoint exposure accuracy and fine control,
users can select shutter speed and apertures
in increments of 1/2 or 1/3 stops. Likewise,
the user can set exposure compensation for
1/2 or 1/3 stop increments. Furthermore, the
camera’s built-in Data Memory function
remembers large amounts of photographic data
on up to 7 rolls of 36 exposure film as an
aid to helping photographers duplicate
desired visual effects.
The Maxxum
9 is the first high-end SLR camera with a
built-in flash. This flash has a guide
number of 39(ft.) (based on ISO 100) and it
provides flash coverage for lenses as wide
as 24mm. In addition however, the flash
provides a second function by sending coded
signals to wireless flash units when they
are used with the camera.
Two other
innovative functions are built into the
Maxxum 9 camera for the convenience of
working professionals and serious amateur
photographers. The first, Mid Reload, is a
camera feature that automatically advances a
partially exposed roll of film to a frame
selected by the photographer, substantially
reducing the manual work required for a more
conventional reloading operation. Delayed
Shutter Mirror Lock-Up provides a 2 second
delayed automatic shutter-release to allow
for mirror lock-up when using the camera’s
self-timer mechanism. This delay helps
reduce unwanted vibrations when taking
long-exposure photographs on a tripod.
System
Accessories
In addition
to the Maxxum 9 camera, the professional
system includes a wide array of Maxxum
system components including more than forty
interchangeable lenses, dedicated electronic
flash units and related accessories. New
system accessories announced with the Maxxum
9 include a large capacity Data Memory Back
DM-9, multi-power-source Vertical Control
Grip VC-9, Quartz Date Back QD-9 and a newly
designed Super Spherical Acute Matte
Focusing screen.
High-Quality Lenses
Two lenses
are being featured with the Maxxum 9.
Minolta will showcase the AF Macro 200mm f/4
APO TELE G, an important addition to its
highest quality line-up. Minolta lens
line-up will be further strengthened with
the STF 135mm f/2.8[T4.5], providing natural
defocusing effects. Each lens promises the
distinguished features and performance
required by creative professionals.
The
Accessory Data Memory Back DM-9 provides
even greater functionality than the Maxxum
9’s built-in Data Memory function. It is
capable of storing up to 18 items of
photographic memory from each of 400 rolls
of 36 exposures on 2 MB SmartMedia.
Photographers can also access all the
information including AF mode, focus area,
film-drive mode, etc., on a personal
computer, and further process it for
organized review. The DM-9 also offers data
imprinting capability for shutter speed,
aperture, date or numeric information. On
each frame one item can be selected for
imprinting the data between film frames.
The
Vertical Control Grip VC-9 is a sturdy, zinc
die-cast external grip, a handy accessory
for long photographic sessions or to improve
grip when holding the camera vertically.
This Vertical Control grip accommodates a
variety of usable battery types (lithium,
alkaline, and Ni-Cd) for instantly
switchable operation. By loading two lithium
batteries into the VC-9 and the standard
lithium batteries into the Maxxum 9,
photographers can engage in sessions
approximately three times longer than would
be possible with the camera’s single battery
source. Numerous key controls have been
duplicated on the VC-9 to provide superb
vertical operation. And, the reconfigured
lower shutter-release button improves camera
balance and grip.
The Maxxum
9 offers four types of focusing screens with
newly developed matte surfaces: Type G
(supplied with the camera), Type S (matte
field with vertical and horizontal scales),
Type L (matte field with grid), and Type M
(same markings as the Type G). The Type G,
Type S, and Type L incorporate Minolta’s new
Spherical Acute Matte viewing surface while
the Type M provides Minolta’s more
specialized, Super Spherical Acute Matte
screen. Each screen helps photographers to
examine the viewfinder images and compose
pictures with ease and comfort.
For those
photographers who want to imprint the date
or time on their pictures, the QD-9 gives
them the choice of printing the data in
various time and date configurations. Data
imprinting may also be turned off if
desired. The handsome and rugged Minolta
QD-9 Data Back is made of stainless steel.
Minolta
Corporation, headquartered in Ramsey, New
Jersey, is the largest subsidiary of Minolta
Co. Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, a leading
manufacturer of cameras, business equipment,
radiometric instruments and planetariums.
Minolta
Corporation's Consumer Products Group (CPG)
markets film cameras, digital cameras,
binoculars, accessory lenses, photographic
meters, 35mm and Advanced Photo System film
scanners and other consumer products.
The
corporation's Business Products Group (BPG)
markets digital and analog office equipment.
Products include digital and analog
black-and-white copiers, plain-paper laser
facsimile machines, digital color
copier/printers, micrographic systems,
electronic image and information management
systems and related office equipment.
The
Peripheral Products Division (PPD) is part
of Minolta Corporation’s Business Products
Group. PPD leverages the company’s imaging
and document management expertise by
offering a line of Minolta-branded computer
peripheral products. |
