The Konica Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 7D's large LCD screen shows a variety of status displays and menus. Please not that we would normally have video-digitised the screen images below but no video cables were available. The screens were photographed instead - and using a hand-held camera too, so please excuse the slightly inconsistent quality.
Our cameras showed firmware version 1.00e was installed
This is what you see when the power eventually runs out
When the camera is switched on, you see a blue-toned settings displayed. If you change a setting using one of the exterior controls, the display re-appears either showing basic settings or a specialist display relating to the specific configuration. There are also two legend resolutions to choose from.
Multiple custom white balance settings (left), auto white balance (AWB) set (right)
Custom white balance set on the left and daylight white balance on the right
Program mode with AE meter off (left) and on (right)
Note the red battery low warning symbol
Above are the three top-level menu groups for shooting mode adjustments and below are some of the sub-menus displayed
Image setting menus
Flash and exposure menus
Menu group 3 contains miscellaneous settings, including interval shooting times
Above are the two playback/review menu groups
File management options
Slide show and printing options
Above shows the camera settings information and histogram review mode. It's not that clear, but the three views of the same frame show highlight and shadow area warnings that flash on the camera
Playback zoom and pan examples
Nine thumbnails at a time can be viewed
You can rotate the frame in review mode or clear the view of any annotations.
That's all for now in this hands-on preview of the Konica Minolta Dynax or Maxxum 7D. Look out soon for our full bench test of a production camera, including a comprehensive DXO Analyzer report, plus sample photos.
So what do you think? Does the 7D meet your expectations? Give us your views and we'll publish selected responses soon.
