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[Update: apparently the 600si has recently been discontinued by Minolta,
leaving a gap in their line between the XTsi and 800si. The XTsi is easier to
use, but the 800si is better suited to the advanced amateur (at nearly twice the
price). With luck this gap will be filled soon.]
After I discovered the limitations of my first Maxxum, the 450si, I carefully
compared the features of the more advanced models, which at that time included
the 600si, 700si, and 9xi. There was nothing especially compelling about the 9xi,
and there's really not much functional difference between the other two. I chose
the 600si for exactly two reasons: the user interface to the controls, and the
adjustable diopter.
Big dials and switches
The 600si does not have a reset button, to return it to a known state. This is
because it doesn't need one. Want to know if you're in shutter priority mode with
auto-bracketing, continuous narrow autofocus, spot metering, and +1 stop exposure
compensation? Look at the camera. Want to reset it to the defaults? Turn the
dials and switches until the white mark on them is either horizontal or vertical.
Want to know what mode the camera is in when it's not turned on? Look at it.
This is not quite the same as an old manual SLR, where the shutter
speed and aperture are on direct, physical controls. In fact, those are almost
the only settings that aren't visible when a 600si is turned off, being
controlled by a fairly standard pair of wheels conveniently placed under the
thumb and forefinger of the right hand.
The only control I actively dislike is the ISO override switch, which is a
tiny little pushbutton on the back of the camera, designed to be pressed with a
fingernail or ballpoint pen. This is especially annoying since the camera insists
on using the DX-coding on your film, requiring you to override for every roll if
you aren't shooting straight.
You can have any flavor, as long as you want vanilla
You get all of the features to be expected from an advanced-amateur camera,
with the exception of mirror lock-up, something Minolta simply doesn't do. What
you don't get is the variety of customizations possible with competing cameras.
No leader-out on rewind, no creative expansion cards, no release-priority
autofocus, etc. Well, actually, there are a few custom features, such as
the ability to change the exposure-lock button into a toggle, but nothing like
the variety present on many other cameras.
There is no program shift mode. There are no cute-and-fluffy special program
modes ("sports", "portrait", "landscape"). However, you do get
2-frames-per-second continuous drive, 3-shot auto-bracketing (at a fixed +/- 0.5
stop), and simple, flexible multiple exposures (up to nine per frame without any
trouble, infinite if you really want to). If you're feeling really adventurous,
you can even combine multiple exposures with either the auto-bracketing or the
continuous drive, although I can't think of a reason why.
I can see clearly now
The viewfinder data display is clean and sensible, and easily visible while
wearing glasses. Much of the display is reserved for the exposure scale that
shows you how close the current manual settings are to the metered exposure (plus
or minus three stops, in half-stop increments). In Program, Aperture-priority,
and Shutter-priority modes, it only comes on if you activate exposure lock, in
which case it shows you how far off the current meter reading is from the locked
one. Combining the exposure lock button with spot metering gives you a quick way
to evaluate the contrast of a scene.
Metering
Ambient metering is one of Minolta's real strengths. The 14-segment matrix
meter is extremely clever, and comes up with reasonable solutions under almost
all conditions. TTL/OTF flash metering, on the other hand, is a pretty basic
single centerweighted sensor, and lacks the bells and whistles of some other
brands; still, it does a pretty good job, apparently due to incorporating some
information from the ambient meter reading.
Centerweighted and spot metering are available, and convenient exposure
compensation dials are available for both the ambient and flash exposures. The
key to the relationship between these two dials is that the camera will by
default always try to balance the ambient and flash exposures in a 1:1 ratio,
for the primary subject. Adjusting the ambient exposure dial affects the
flash exposure as well; adjusting the flash exposure dial just changes the ratio
between the two. There's some hidden complexity here that I plan to write up
soon, but the bottom line is that no matter what you do with the flash
compensation dial, the primary subject should end up receiving a correct
exposure.
There are two things that Minolta really does right when it comes to flash:
wireless sync and high-speed sync. Want to take the flash off the camera for
higher quality light? Flip the switch on the body to "wireless", remove the flash
(3500xi, 5200xi, or 5400HS) from the hot shoe, and raise the built-in flash. As
long as the sensor on the external flash can see the light from the built-in, it
will fire in TTL mode, with a maximum sync speed of 1/60.
Want to shoot at f2.8 at high noon with fill flash? Put a 5400HS in the hot
shoe, switch to aperture priority mode, and fire away. The 600si will sync at up
to 1/4000 with this flash, although the range gets really, really short (with ISO
100 film, the guide number at 1/4000 drops from 177 feet to 15.7 feet).
Construction
Mostly plastic, with metal in all the obvious places (tripod mount, lens
mount, film guides). It feels nice and solid in the hand, though, especially with
the optional vertical grip that adds a second set of controls, a studio sync
socket, and the option of using 4 AA batteries instead of a single 2CR5. A nice
touch is that the vertical grip has its own on/off switch, to keep you from
bumping the extra buttons when you're shooting horizontally.
The viewfinder is definitely friendly to those of us with less than perfect
vision; a removable rubber eyepiece cup protects your glasses from scratches, and
an adjustable diopter allows you to do without them completely if you prefer.
Bottom line
I have a dislike for push-this-twist-that user interfaces. Some are better
than others (in the Maxxum world, the new XTsi is far more sensible than the
500si it replaces, and don't even get me started on Nikons), but best of all is a
control that has direct visual feedback, so you know at a glance what it's set to
and what changing it will do.
Neglecting the vertical grip and the battery compartment door, the 600si has
twenty separate buttons, switches, and dials, and all but one of them either has
an obvious function or is labeled in a way that makes its correct use clear. The
exception is the depth-of-field preview button, which some people might overlook
completely if they don't happen to trip it with the tip of their ring finger and
wonder why the viewfinder went dark and they heard a funny noise.
This is a no-nonsense, hands-on camera, one of the few on the market that
gives easy access to all its functionality. There are features it lacks, but
nothing crippling. There's a Nikon N90S sitting about ten feet away from me as I
write this, with a nice trio of pro lenses and an SB-26, but I haven't found any
reason to switch.
I agree with the comments posted. I have both the
800SI and the 600SI. As to be expected, the 800 is
faster, smoother and quieter, but parts of the
user interface can be maddening. Luckily, the
3-setting quick recall memory function helps in
this regard.
The 600SI is really a no-nonsense, functionally
complete mid range with what is in my opinion, the
best user interface around town, bar-none. Except
for a lack of program shift, one could not ask for
anything more.
Performance wise, there is little to choose
between the 2 in practical terms. But what I find
myself doing is picking up the 600SI for functions
where I really need to manipulate the camera
actively. The 800SI, though I use the 3 recall
settings judiciously, sometimes would not let me
set up a shot quickly enuff.
So if one does not really need all the top end
bells and whistles, the 600SI is about as close to
a camera mecca for those who really use the
camera. With the new 505SI/XTSI/HTSI, Minolta has
moved more towards the Canon approach. I guess
this is a sign of things to come. IMHO, for
their future models, including the top of the
range ones,if they stick with the 600SI user
interface, and maybe placed some strategic rocker
switchers like the Fuji DL mini-zoom for the other
functions, then we would have an interesting
proposition.
Except for family occasions and when on vacation, I do nothing but girls, and I do so as a business. My main camera is the 600si, to which I graduated from the 7000i I had previously used (and still own and use). I think the 600si comes pretty close to being "the perfect camera." I haven't seen the Nikon I would switch to.
The discontinuing of the 600si is puzzling to me because of the gap it leaves in the Minolta line. The 9 is way overkill. I don't do sports or combat photography, so the ruggedness of the body isn't that important. My 600si is rugged enough and has even survived a 3-foot fall onto a carpeted floor with no obvious ill effects.
As stated, the controls are very obvious, although I do have a complaint about them: the dials are a bit too easy to move and I sometimes find them in in-between positions, though this has never resulted in a bad shot, so perhaps even this complaint is nit-picky.
I don't miss the control cards since I never used them even when I relied mainly on the 7000i.
As hinted elsewhere, the flash system is a real advantage. Anyone who does photography halfway seriously soon realizes that photos taken primarily with on-camera flash have an amateurish snapshot look. One can buy slaves which will operate off camera, triggered by your onboard flash, of course, but Minolta took things much further with its proprietary flash system.
The 3500xi and 5400HS flash units operate both on and off the camera, and whether on or off are controlled by the camera's TTL metering system. These flashes also have zoom capabilities (based on the focal length of your lens) which operate off camera as well as on.
But wait: it gets better! If you're picturing these off-camera flash units being controlled by my on-camera flash, they can also be controlled through an infrared controller that I can affix on top of my camera. The camera can control any number of flash units, so the lighting possibilities are basically endless.
I'm not done, either. Two more interesting features need to be revealed: (1) both flash models are capable of working in 2:1 and 1:2 ratio as long as at least one of them is a 5400HS. If there is a mix of 3500xi's and 5400HS's, the 3500xi will always be the dominant, stronger unit (I'm not a Minolta engineer, so I can't say why).
(2) This is such a seemingly minor and feature that it's possible to overlook its utility. Every one of these flash units comes with a molded plastic base with a top that's shaped just like the top of the camera, so the flash slides right onto it and locks in place. Once this is done, the flash units can be set on any reasonably flat and firm surface. Doing a recent shoot in a kitchen, I opened up one of the cupboard doors and put a flash on the top shelf, a place which would have been unreachable almost any other way.
I guess this has turned into a review of the flash system almost more than the 600si, but I would even recommend buying a used 600si in order to obtain the advantages of the Minolta flash system. I don't think any other Minolta camera is better suited to partner up with it.
Although the 600si is dicontinued, there is another body just released in the 3rd quarter of 99. The STsi. This camera basicaly is the same as the XTsi but adds WL Flash, metal tripod mount, all the programmed exposure and manual over ride. It is a good camera for the advanced beginner as well as being very light. Other features include 1fps frame advance, bracketed and multi exposure(2 default, more possible). I have one that I took to the Caribeans and ended up buying a flash unit in St. Marteen. The 28-80 lens that I picked up to qualify for the package discount is not very good. I also bought a 50mm f1.4 before leaving. The pictures with the 50 are excellent w/ or w/o flash. The results with the zoom are only good during bright daylight or more flash hence my purchase of the flash. Again, I like the camera, I also too an olympus epic zoom 80QD as a p/s but ended up taking 20 rools with the Minolta and only rolls with the Epic.
I also have a Minolta 600si. In fact I have two. I love the camea and use it professionally. I just wish the CPU would stop failing. It has been replaced 3 times in 4 years. The second 600si has never had anything fail.
First, My english is very, very Bad, Hope reader can understand my English.
I am not own Minolta Dynax 600si, but I own my Minolta Dynax 700si, i am here not insult other model advantages. Just wish to tell all of Minolta fans. All model have their own advancetages.
I had used Minolta Dynax 700si since 1993 until today 2002. This Camera is great and wonderful.
I had get 16 gold & silver for the Photopgraphy competition. It not because of the Camera by Minolta. it come with skills.
Any where Minolta dynax 700si, for me is perfect & fexible. Easy using. full of multi function.
Below is my camera info:
* Minolta Dynax 700si (body)
* Zenith MF 58mm f2
* Tokina AF 28-70mm f2.8
* Tokina AF 28-200mm f3.5-5.6
* Jupiter-9 85mm f2
* Reflex 1000mm f10
* 2X Tele Converter II APO
* Program Flash 5400HS
* Vertical Control Grip VC-700
* Multiple Exposure Card
* Highlight/Shadow Control Card
* Multi-Spot Memory Card
P/s: If someone have Minolta Creative expansion card, Minolta lens or Minolta Dynax 700si parts to sell, please kindly contact me by my email andersen@myself.com
I must thank you for the review since it convinced me of buying a second hand 600si. I love the interface, in fact I would strongly recommend this camera to anyone moving from a Manual Focus camera since its interface is very easy to understand. ALl the other cameras have menus and hidden custom functions. I actually think that this is the camera I was looking for. If it had program-shift it would be the best camera ever built by Minolta, IMHO. I'd rate this camera at 10/10 in value for money.
