Minolta 9xi

Minolta 9xi
Type 35mm SLR
Lens mount Minolta A-Mount
Focus TTL Phase Detection Autofocus (4 sensors)
Exposure 14-segment honeycomb evaluative metering
Flash External flash
Frame rate 4.5 frame/s

The Minolta 9xi was, when new in 1992, an advanced 35mm Single-lens reflex camera design. It incorporated the world's fastest autofocus system (according to the company and when coupled to a xi series lens), had a maximum shutter speed of 1/12000th of a second and a 14-zone metering system.

The 9xi had been improved in many areas over the previous flagships, the 9000 and 8000i, including:

Design

The Minolta 9xi was a bold design compared to its rivals and predecessors. It had smoothed contours completely unlike the previous 9-class camera the Minolta 9000, and unlike many competing cameras. Buttons were largely hidden, or placed directly by the fingers controlling them. This led to unusually clean aesthetics and an uncluttered appearance.

Technology

The Minolta 9xi is, to this day, still impressive in terms of technological ability. Nearly 5 frames per second without an external motor or battery pack was uncommon for its day, coupled with the 4 sensor autofocus system that could continuously track not only horizontally but vertically and diagonally—even when an object came towards the camera. The autofocus system could focus at light levels of -1 ev and up to 19 ev (at ISO 100). It also used a 14 segment light metering system, variations of it being used for many years in most Minolta cameras. It featured a 1/300th of a second x-sync flash synchronization with stepless shutter speeds from 1/12000th of a second to 30sec in Program and Aperture Priority mode.[1] A mechanical shutter this fast is still to this day uncommon.

The 9xi had many other abilities, many perhaps hidden at first sight. The camera could, without any external backs like the Minolta 9000 or cards like the Minolta 8000i, bracket 3 exposures each one 1/2 a stop different (each way). It could control a wireless flash system, if Minolta's 5400xi flash or the special "wireless flash controller" was used, at speeds of 1/60th of a second (1/30th in ratio); this was remarkable technology at the time. The 9xi was also capable of detecting if the photographer had their eye placed against the viewfinder; it was named "eye-start", and in essence, enabled the camera to start checking exposure and focus when the user either had their hand on the grip and/or when they looked through the viewfinder. This, in theory, allowed users to take a photo more quickly.

Criticism

The 9xi was and is criticized for many design choices. One was that it used the "creative cards" system, cards adding cost and being impractical for the camera's intended market. These cards worked in the same way as the 8000i's had and gave the photographer more "creative techniques" when inserted into the camera. However, some functions (the "custom functions" card being the main offender) were clearly already present in the camera, and only accessible by buying the card—this was seen as an attempt to "milk" the market. Another problem was the cameras' lack of built in flash. This was an attempt by Minolta to appeal to more professionally inclined photographers, but it also negated the camera's built-in support for the wireless flash system (a main selling point) as an additional accessory was needed—unlike on the "less professional" 7xi.

The camera was also criticized for its heavily "computerized" interface, with few buttons and many vital functions only accessible behind the card door. It featured an interface with a few single buttons toggling between several crucial functions, and then using the front and back wheels to set options. While theoretically very fast to operate if properly learnt, it was completely different from interfaces used on cameras before, and it has never been used since. Also, the physical interface included some arguably strange design choices, like having a large "Program reset" button as one of the few actual buttons (the target market hardly interested in that specific feature) as well as one small button deeply sunk into the body, hard to access for many users and of dubious utility.

The 9xi used both the older Minolta AF lenses and the xi-series lenses. Many of the new xi lenses had a new "powerzoom" function where the zoom ring electronically zoomed the lens via a motor. This allowed for a few extra functions, such as auto-zoom and zooming effects while exposing; in practice however, it was slower to use, drained camera batteries and prevented pre-xi camera bodies from accepting the lenses because they did not have the ability to power the zoom. The xi-series lenses are generally seen as a failure, and no SLR manufacturer offer power-zooming lenses today.

The display system, while innovative with its projected information directly in the image, unfortunately made the viewfinder darker due to the LCD overlay. The LCD elements were not lit, so it was impossible to see the LCD overlay—including focus areas—in the dark.

Lastly, the 9xi lacked a real vertical grip, only having a "battery grip" extending the handgrip slightly while adding support for AA batteries. This grip completely lacked controls of any kind, even a shutter release button.

The xi series is largely seen as a bold but failed attempt to take SLR photography in a different direction. For the following cameras, the si series, Minolta went for a much more traditional approach, culminating in their last "single digit series" film cameras where most everything was controlled by an unusual amount of separate buttons—the antithesis of the xi series. This later design was continued in the Konica Minolta and Sony era.

Specification

The Minolta Dynax/Maxxum specifications are as follows:[1]

AF system: Minolta's through the lens (TTL) phase-detection system with four CCD sensors; activated by Eye-start; Multi-dimensional predictive focus control; built in AF illuminator automatically activated in low light/low contrast conditions; AF sensitivity range: EV -1 to 19 (at ISO100); AF illuminator range: 0.7 to 9m (Based on Minolta's standard test methods)

Metering: TTL-type; 14-segment honeycomb-pattern silicon photocell (SPC) automatically activated by Eye-start; second SPC for TTL flash metering of dedicated flash unit; range: honeycomb-pattern EV 0-20, center-weighted average EV 0-20, spot EV 3-20 (ISO100, 50mm f1.4 lens)

Shutter Electronically controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type; automatic speeds: in P and A modes, stepless 1/12000 to 30 sec. with nearest half-stop displayed; manual speeds: in S and M modes, 1/12000 to 30sec in nearest 1/2-stop increments plus BULB in M modes; x-sync shutter speed: 1/300sec.; x-sync shutter speed in wireless/remote flash mode: 1/60.(1/30sec. in ratio)

Viewfinder: Eye-level fixed pentaprism showing 92% of vertical and 94% of horizontal field of view; magnification: 0.75X with 50mm lens at infinity; transparent LCD screen and Acute-Matte screen; diopter: -2.5 to +0.5 adjustable; long eye-relief.

Focusing Screen Changeable at an authorized Minolta Service facility; type L (matte field with grid) or type S (matte field with vertical/horizontal scales)

Film-speed range Automatic range: ISO 25-5000 in 1/3-stop increments; manual range: ISO 6-6400 in 1/3-stop increments

Power 6-volt 2CR5 lithium battery

Battery performance Approximately 50 rolls (based on Minolta's standard test method, using 24-exposure rolls)

Dimensions 6-7/16x3-7/8 x 2-1/2 in. (163 x 98.5 x 64mm)

Weight 1 lb. 10-1/8oz. (740g) without lens and battery; Quartz Data Back model: 1 lb.10-5/8 (755g) without lens and battery

Specifications and accessories are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Minolta Maxxum Dynax Instruction Manual

Useful Links

Dyxum - Home of the Minolta / Alpha-mount dSLR photographer