Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9564 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Konica-Minolta
• Dimensions: 3.50" h x 2.40" w x 5.30" l, 1.40 pounds

Features

• ARRAY(0x82c74fc)
• Full-featured 35mm SLR
• 28-80mm zoom lens
• Fully automatic operation with manual option
• Built-in flash; includes batteries and wide strap

Amazon.com Review
The Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus provides the superior picture quality of a single-lens-reflex camera (SLR) with the easy-to-use automatic controls of a point-and-shoot camera. It's a good choice for both advanced photographers and beginners who want better-quality pictures.

The picture quality of point-and-shoot cameras pales in comparison to those produced with an SLR camera, which gives you better optics, a through-the-lens view that lets you accurately frame your photos, and manual options for full control of your exposure and focus. If you are used to point-and-shoots, this camera makes the transition to SLRs easy; however, you'll have to refer to the manual to get the hang of using the extensive menu of advanced settings. In our tests, the HTsi Plus offered the full range of advanced controls--it let us set the aperture, exposure, and focus manually. The HTsi Plus also made it easy to switch into full automatic mode, in which we just pressed the shutter button, and the camera performed the focusing and exposure for us.

The Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus is quite lightweight for an SLR and includes both a pop-up flash and an external flash shoe. It includes five preset exposure modes including portrait, landscape, and macro; burst mode; aperture and shutter priority modes; and a self-timer. For serious amateurs or professionals, the HTsi Plus offers all the standard SLR functions, although we found its aperture setting method (you have to push the aperture preview button and turn the camera's selection wheel) a bit disorienting at first. The HTsi Plus's 28-80 zoom lens gave us a good range for everything from portraits to landscapes. We especially liked the automatic exposure bracketing and multiple exposure functions; these features are useful in getting the right shot and exercising your creativity.

Pros:

• Lightweight
• Built-in flash
• Easy to use
• High-quality optics

Cons:

• Menu selection somewhat hard to figure out
• Unconventional aperture-selection method

Customer Reviews

Fantastic Buy -- Excellent pictures
I made my choice of the HTsi Plus after a comprehensive search of the various SLR bodies, weighing their features and their reviews in camera magazines. Within its price range, the HTsi principally competes with the Canon EOS Rebel 2000 and the Nikon N60, both of which are excellent cameras, but which lack the full panoply of features found on the HTsi Plus. For example, the HTsi plus combines Bulb exposure (the ability to hold the shutter open manually), remote shutter control, 1/4000 maximum shutter speed, a full shutter-priority mode, and a well-respected 14-segment light meter. As with the Canon and Nikon, the HTsi's body is plastic, an aspect about which some photographers express reservations, but the plastic seems extremely durable, and remember that a light camera is a joy to carry (and if you do not carry the camera, you are never going to get those perfect but fleeting shots). The only thing missing on the HTsi is a depth-of-field preview feature, which is available on the Canon. Were it not for that, I would find little future need to upgrade. Regardless, for an amateur just getting into photography again, the HTsi has been perfect.

For adaptability, the HTsi has three essential levels of complexity. Use P mode for fully automatic snapshots -- great for when you need someone else to take your picture. Use the Creative Exposure Mode for a bit more customization and to adjust it to one of five situations (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, and night). Finally, use either the Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, or fully manual modes to bring out the real photographer in you. After all, playing with f-stops and shutter speeds is where the fun of photography is anyway. I admittedly spend most of my time in this last mode, but the flexibility is highly appreciated (sometimes, one just does not have the time to fuss with dials).

The results from the HTsi have been fabulous. The flash seems to respond well to the darkest of conditions, and the 28-80 zoom lens offers the flexibility needed for a budding photographer. My only criticism is that the autofocus can be slow to respond in some lighting conditions. So far, I have taken rolls of photos for my organization, and everyone seems impressed with the results. I also bought a set of Tiffen close-up filters for doing macro photography, and the results have been quite stunning.

A final word. Amazon offers one of the best deals on the Net with service and peace-of-mind that you simply cannot beat. Believe me, I checked. I tried one of those mail order camera stores that advertise ultra low prices. By the time they "upgraded" me to what they viewed was an acceptable camera and charged me their exorbitant shipping fee, the price was higher than here. And guess what? Amazon's package already had all of those so-called "upgrades" -- without the hassle. Thanks Amazon!

A Great Basic SLR for the amateur, or hobbyist
This camera takes wonderful pictures, and is extremely flexible and upgradable. The camera is extremely easy to use which will help those of you just getting started. You can hit the "P" button and it's ready to be used just like a point-and-shoot. However, the camera has the power for full manual focus, aperature, and shutter speed. The camera also has some neat semi-automatic modes to help you trasition into manual exposure settings as a beginer. This camera has everything you could want in this price range and can be upgrade with shutter releases, High Speed Sync Flashes, and many types of manual and automatic lenses. The only problem I have had with this camera is I feel it tends to over-expose things; however, I have experienced this on a number of modern SLR cameras, and it may just take some getting used to on my part as photography is a relatively small hobby of mine. I highly recomend this camera.

An Excellent Camera
I purchased a Minolta HTsi Plus camera in October 2000 and have shot an average of two rolls of film per week with this camera since then. I have nothing but praise for this camera. The HTsi Plus has never failed me in any way. I suggest you buy the body only. Don't spend money on a 28-80 lens that may come in some camera kits; rather put that money into a lens that gives you much more flexibility, like a 28-200 lens. I use Sigma 28-200 and 70-300 auto focus lenses, and I can report nothing but satisfaction, reliability, and ease of use. I had considered purchasing a more expensive SLR camera, but today I am pleased I did not, for this camera is perfect for me, an experienced but amateur photographer. I have had loads of fun with this camera and taken hundreds of wonderful photos. I recommend the Minolta HTsi Plus without hesitation or qualification.