page_title: Minolta A-mount system
section_title: 7
hierarchical_section_title: Minolta A-mount system / Film SLR bodies / Fifth generation / 7
caption_attribution_description: English: Maxxum 7
context_page_description: The Minolta A-mount camera system was a line of photographic equipment from Minolta introduced in 1985 with the world's first integrated autofocus system in the camera body with interchangeable lenses. The system used a lens mount called A-mount, with a flange focal distance 44.50 mm, one millimeter longer, 43.5 mm, than the previous SR mount from 1958. The new mount was wider, 49.7 mm vs 44.97 mm, than the older SR-mount and had a longer flange focal distance making old manual lenses incompatible with the new system. The mount is now used by Sony, who bought the SLR camera division from Konica Minolta, Konica and Minolta having merged a few years before.
  The Minolta A-mount system was at first marketed as Maxxum in North America and α in Japan and the rest of Asia. In Europe, early Minolta A-mount cameras were initially identified by a 4 digit number followed by AF. The name Dynax was introduced later with the "i" cameras, the second generation of Minolta A-mount camera.
  It was originally based around a selection of three 35 mm single-lens reflex bodies, the 5000, 7000 and 9000.
context_section_description: The 7 is generally considered even more advanced in many respects than the Dynax/Maxxum/α-9, making it the most advanced Dynax/Maxxum/α. Amongst its many unusual features, it had an STF function which could emulate the Smooth Trans Focus effect by doing multiple exposures while varying the aperture — something done neither before nor since. The 7 was the first camera to support SSM lenses. Perhaps most noteworthy and radical was a huge LCD navigation display on the rear of the camera's film door. This offered a full operational view without the need of constant referral to the operating manual. It also eased operation of the 35 custom functions to change camera settings. Also, the 7 featured a plethora of dials and buttons as opposed to the "hold button while turning wheel" interface many of its other contemporaries offered. This interface was a direct evolution from the 9 and 600si Classic and later continued in other pro- and semi-pro models.
  This Maxxum offered the maximum shutter speed of 1/8000, a maximum frame rate of 4 frames/second, autofocus control with a 16-bit CPU coupled with a 14-segment honeycomb-pattern metering and the support of Minolta's ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) with its "D" series lenses. Also for the professional–enthusiast was the vertical control grip (VC-7) that replicated some basic controls for vertical shooting and extending shooting time with extra batteries. There was also a film chamber lock to avoid accidental exposure of film that is still loaded. The Dynax/Maxxum/α-7 was noted to be a good camera among many photographers and rave reviews on the Internet and magazines alike.
  In some markets a limited edition of the camera became available in 2001 as Dynax 7 Limited and α-7 Limited (there was no Maxxum variant of this model). It featured a larger internal film data memory, a slightly more refined finish of the exterior and golden-colored labels. Like the 9Ti it had 4-digit serial numbers, except for the Chinese α-7 Limited II model, which had 8-digit serial numbers. Also featuring a larger internal memory, there was a variant of the normal α-7 named α-7 CNM (Chinese navigation model) specifically for the Chinese market.
caption: Dynax 7 w/ 28-100 mm lens, VC-7 vertical grip and 5600HS flash
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