Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm Film Camera Body

NOTE: Hazy viewfinder.

The Minolta Maxxum 5 35mm Film Camera Body (also known internationally as the Dynax 5 or Alpha 5) is a compact, lightweight autofocus 35mm SLR introduced in 2001, billed at launch as the smallest and lightest autofocus SLR ever built in its class. It’s well suited to photographers who want simple automatic operation paired with advanced manual controls for everyday photography, portraits, travel, and landscapes.

At its core, the Maxxum 5 is a 35mm SLR with built-in flash, autoexposure (AE), and action-predictive autofocus (AF), using a TTL phase-detection 7-point autofocus system with a cross-hair-type CCD line sensor, sensitive from EV -1 to 18 (ISO 100), along with both automatic and manual focus modes. Metering is handled by a 14-segment honeycomb-cell TTL system, supporting Program, Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, and full Manual exposure modes.

The electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane shutter offers speeds from 30 seconds to 1/4000 second plus Bulb mode, with a flash sync speed of 1/125 second or slower (synchronizing at all speeds in high-speed sync mode with compatible flashes). Film speed is read automatically via DX coding across an ISO range of 25-5000, with manual override extending from ISO 6-6400 in 1/3 EV increments. The camera includes a built-in pop-up flash, continuous shooting up to approximately 3fps, multiple-exposure and self-timer functions (10-second lead time), exposure compensation, and automatic exposure bracketing.

Handling centers on an SLR roof-mirror-type viewfinder offering approximately 90% field of view and 0.75x magnification, along with a large top-mounted LCD information display and a depth-of-field preview control on the front of the camera. Film transport is fully automatic, with a built-in motor handling auto loading, auto threading, single-frame or continuous advance, and auto rewind (approximately 8 seconds for a 24-exposure roll).

Build quality is compact and lightweight for a 35mm SLR with interchangeable lenses, weighing approximately 335g (without battery), and the camera runs on two CR2 lithium batteries. The Maxxum 5 uses Minolta’s A-type bayonet mount, giving it access to the broad range of Minolta A-mount lenses, including later Sony A-mount glass still used on compatible Sony digital bodies today.

Key Features
– Minolta A-mount 35mm autofocus SLR film camera (2001; also known as Dynax 5/Alpha 5)
– 7-point TTL phase-detection autofocus system (AF sensitivity EV -1 to 18)
– 14-segment honeycomb-cell TTL metering
– Program, Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, and full Manual exposure modes
– Electronically controlled shutter, 30 sec to 1/4000 sec plus Bulb
– Flash sync at 1/125 sec (or faster in HSS mode with compatible flash)
– Auto DX ISO reading (25-5000); manual override (ISO 6-6400, 1/3 EV increments)
– Built-in pop-up flash
– Continuous shooting up to approximately 3fps
– Multiple-exposure, self-timer, exposure compensation, and auto exposure bracketing
– SLR roof-mirror viewfinder (~90% coverage, 0.75x magnification)
– Top-mounted LCD information display
– Automatic film loading, advance, and rewind
– Runs on 2 CR2 lithium batteries
– Compact, lightweight body (approximately 335g without battery)
– Compatible with Minolta and Sony A-mount lenses