carriezohn's Full Review: Konica Minolta Maxxum Qtsi 35mm Film Camera
My husband decided that we needed a new camera for the birth of our first child. We already had two but they were rather cheap. Not knowing any better, I thought they would be fine but he likes his toys so I gave in and we purchased this camera. WOW! I am AMAZED at the difference in the quality of pictures between this and our old cameras (We had two Pentax point-and-shoot models). I easily go through a roll of film every week taking pictures of our daughter because I know those pictures will come out beautifully every time .... even under the most trying of circumstances. (feel free to check out our website and you'll see what I mean :)
The camera is very easy to use and compact enough to take with us everywhere (and you bet I do!) :) This camera is ideal for families and parents who are having their first child. It's also perfect for people who have some experience with photography and want a somewhat professional look to their pictures but don't have the professional experience. I've taken pictures inside and out, with and without the flash .... and even taken pictures of her in the shower with Daddy. Every picture came out perfect.
The AF lens is a 35 - 80 zoom and can accept any Minolta or Maxxum AF lens up to a 600mm telephoto lens. While a flash is included, you can also add any of the Maxxum's high-powered flashes for added flexibility (something you can't add with the typical point-and-shoot cameras).
Also, when you look through the viewfinder, you see exactly what the lens sees which assures that you get exactly what you want in your picture. You'll also witness the autofocusing as it happens. A red lightning bolt appears in the corner of the viewfinder telling you that you can't shoot the photo. Once the green light above it is light, snap away.
It also has 5 different modes for different: portrait mode for people shots, landscape mode for scenery, close-up mode for small subjects, sports action for fast moving subjects and night portrait mode for sunsets and night-time shots. I've taken several pictures of my daughter in a room that is almost pitch black, lit only by the glow of the television and the picture was perfect. You'd have never known that the room wasn't fully lit.
The pop-up flash has five modes also: auto, off, fill-in (manual), red-eye reduction (thank goodness!) and wireless/remote. In auto mode, the flash pops up and fires when necessary. When red-eye reduction is on, the flash will execute several times in order to close the subject's pupils before the picture is taken at the final flash.
For sports fans, there is the continuous film advance. When this is selected, the frame will advance approximately 1 frame per second as long as the button is held down. Autofocus still remains sharp through this process as well.
There is also a timing feature which will allow you to get in the picture, too. It's a 10-second shutter release and the blinking LED on the front of the camera indicates the count-down time.
I'm sure there are a few specifications that I've missed because I don't use all the different little nuances of this camera (and no, I haven't completely read the manual either ;) But the quality continues to astound me. We decided that the quality of the pictures would be well worth the money spent and we were right. I have a scanner and while we have a color printer, it's not of photo quality. So we felt that a digital camera would rob us of having hard-copy photos for distribution or simply for regular old photo albums.
Surprisingly enough, we went to Best Buy simply to LOOK at 35mm cameras and video cameras and wound up walking away with both! We didn't do a whole lot of research before our purchase but we did a GREAT deal of comparing in the store. This particular model definitely gave us everything we needed and then some. We're VERY pleased with our purchase and would highly recommend this camera.
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