From: russell@Apple.COM (Russell Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Canon EOS A2 vs Minolta Maxxum 7xi
Date: 4 Jan 93 16:41:00 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA

In article <28995@oasys.dt.navy.mil> research@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Mike Leavitt) writes:
>First, I'm leaning to the A2 rather than the 7xi for a couple of reasons.  The
>A2 has built-in most of what I would have bought cards for the 7xi; the
>five-position "smart" focus gadget looks very neat; it has a better rep. for
>construction solidity; it has a better design for information exchange between
>camera and lens; it looks like it should be a better low-light performer given
>the wide diameter of the lens mount area (or whatever you call it!).  

The A2 doesn't have the eye-tracking focus; only the A2E (at greater cost)
has that. You can only use one card in the 7xi at a time, and changing them
is a pain, and most of the cards are useless. They can be useful if there
are one or two features (like autobracketing) that you'll use most of the
time. The size of the lens mount doesn't make any difference to you in
"low light ability". It makes a difference to lens designers, and a larger
diameter mount may be more durable -- all other things being equal (which
they're not). 
>
>On the other hand, the A2 does not have a power zoom/
>autozoom capability.  Question for autozoomers:  is it very important to have
>that gadget?  If the camera can do everything else, can't I zoom it myself?  
>Question for everyone else with experience with either, am I omitting any
>crucial differences that will be show stoppers?  (I intend to do mostly
>outdoors/nature work.)

Autozoom has two main effects: it adds certain features, and it changes
your zoom control from a position to a rate controller. The possibly
interesting features added are image size lock and wide view mode.
With image size lock, you could keep a moving animal the same size in the
frame as you track its movement toward or away from you. I've 
photographed a few moving animals and never had a problem zooming
manually (especially since you don't have anything else to do with that
hand like change focus or exposure). Wide view mode keeps the lens
zoomed out a bit until you release the shutter. The viewfinder thus
shows more than will be in the final picture, so you can see things that
are about to enter the frame. I've never missed it.

With a power zoom lens, the position of the zoom ring doesn't
determine the focal length, it determines the rate of change of focal
length. I can't stand rate control; all my lenses for my 7xi and 9xi are 
manual zoom lenses.

Other folks have found the power zoom features useful and like the
rate control zoom. Unfortunately, the only way to tell is to shoot
with them a bit, and neither A2Es or 7xis are easily rentable.

Canon has a slightly better selection of expensive glass which may be
easier to find for rental. Historically, equivalent lenses have been
more expensive in Canon mount (because they're mechanically more complex),
but some lens companies are eating the cost difference.

You might consider comparing the 9xi against the A2E. The 9xi is built
more ruggedly (more metal, moisture sealing, etc.); it has bracketing
built in (you need a card on the 7xi), and it has DOF preview. It lacks
the built-in flash. 

Finally, all this auto/power/electronic gadgetry is pretty useless if
you're shooting landscapes. If that's the case, keep your FTb unless
you just want a new toy.
-- 
Russell Williams
Not speaking for Apple Computer