Konica Minolta
Maxxum 7D

It's nice to know that every once in a while a camera will be released on the market that feels like it was designed by actual photographers.

Konica Minolta does an excellent job in this respect when they designed the Maxxum 7D, a six mega-pixel digital SLR. Unlike most cameras on the digital market that have their control buried deeply under internal menus, the 7D hosts the majority of its controls through various knobs and levers on the outside of the camera body. For photographers who shoot in the field, this of course provides an excellent advantage in both speed and convenience, not to mention a certain masculine appeal.

The Maxxum 7D also hosts the world's first internal anti-shake device in a digital SLR, making hand held operation of the SLR in low light situations more effective. Unlike manufacturers like Canon and Nikon who integrate their anti-shake technology (IR and VR respectively) directly into more expensive and harder- to-find lenses, Konica Minolta's device works directly from the camera body. If you have been a faithful Minolta user since the days of film and have amassed a wide range of Maxxum lenses, this becomes a huge selling point. Every Maxxum lens now has at least a stop or two additional effective range without adding bulk or cost.

Any photographer will tell you that the most important aspect of a good camera is not the amount of flashy gizmos and features it offers, but how the camera feels in your hand. In this respect the Maxxum 7D absolutely excels, at least for me. The camera body has a heavy weight to it which inspires both confidence in its build quality and the user's ability to hold the camera steady. The grip is the perfect shape for someone with medium sized hands, and the soft rubber molding feels both comfortable and professional. One downside is the fact that I can picture the camera becoming a bit on the heavy side during a long photo shoot on location, particularly if there was any hiking involved, though for me this would be a small price to pay.

Add on to this a very bright and readable 2.5' LCD screen and you have a very attractive D-SLR that will serve as an effective image making tool. Perhaps it is not the best looking camera in the world with its multiple knobs and buttons on the outside of the body, but that isn't what a camera like this is really about.