The Minolta Maxxum 5

For film photography many people try to get a fully manual camera. This makes sense the less the camera uses electronic parts the more likely the camera will work longer and be easier to repair. This creates a large opportunity in the market for electronic type film cameras sold from about 1995 on. Those camera models have many modern features, great light meters, light weight, good quality glass, and larger range of shutter speeds. In that group is a camera will look at in this blog: The Minolta Maxxum 5.

When I talk about opportunity, I mean price. At 335 grams this camera in 2024 ranges in cost from $25 for the body to $125 depending on the lens. Released in the U.S. market in 2001 the Minolta Maxxum 5, also named the Dynax 5 or A-Sweet II outside the U.S., was a light-weight beginners camera offering full automatic program point and shoot mode, aperture priority mode, shutter Priority mode, and full manual mode including the option to turning off autofocus. Photography can be an expensive pursuit. This combination of price and features is a rare find.

The Layout

In the image above you will see from left to right in about the middle of the camera:

The focus-mode switch between autofocus and manual.
The lens release button.
The exposure compensation button.
The flash-mode button.

In the back of the camera starting from the top middle and going around clockwise are:

The eyepiece sensor attached to the left of the viewfinder.
The viewfinder.
The off / on switch.
The spot-af button.
The spot-AE lock button.
Down on the bottom right is the back cover release and the film chamber lock indicator.

One some models next to the back-cover release are small buttons for setting the date on quartz-data model only. I’ll explain the impact of that option to this camera later in this blog.

Then on top from the left are:

The function dial. Move this to access the settings for various each function.
In the middle of the function dial is the function button. Pressing this button activatates the function options for changes by the control dial selector.
The hotshoe and pop-up flash.
The P button (program reset) which when pressed brings you back to full automatic mode.
The control dial selector. The dial changes the values when holding down the function button for whatever function is selected.
The shutter button.
The subject button (portrait button / drive mode). In the camera’s program modes it selects between Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports, or Night Mode with flash / Night Mode without flash.
The LCD display which will provide different status information depending on the mode selected.

Notice the lens is providing a depth of field display.

On the bottom-left is the battery chamber. The camera requires two 3V CR2 batteries to operate. Then in the bottom-center is tripod mount.

Set-up for Manual Operation

To get the camera into a fully manual mode is a fairly simple operation.

Move the function dial until PASM is selected.
Press and hold the middle function button.
Move the control dial selector until in the LCD it displays ‘M’ for manual mode in the display.
To shut off auto focus then move to the side of the camera and push down on the focus-mode switch. Then release. The lens will now be in manual mode.

From this point you can use the control dial selector to change the shutter speed. Shutter speeds range from 30 seconds to 1/4000th of a second with an optional bulb mode. To change the aperture press and hold the exposure compensation button on the side of the camera. Then change the to the aperture through moving the control dial selector. Both the shutter speed and aperture value will be displayed in the LCD.

ISO Selection

The Minolta Maxxum 5 uses DX encoding to read and automatically set the ISO for the particular film loaded in the camera. The DX encoding automatically can set ISO values from 50 to 5000 ISO. You can set ISO manually to override DX-coded film. Move the function dial to ISO. Press and hold the function button. Then use the control dial selector to set the desired ISO between 6 to 6400 ISO.

The Light Meter

The light meter has a sensitivity range from -1 EV to 18 EV at ISO 100. It reads in the bottom right of the viewfinder and displays from -2 to +2.

When pushing outside of the -2 to +2 range an arrow appears and may flash if you are far outside the range.

Eye-Start

I would recommend turning on the Eye-Start feature if you are using manual mode. This is accessed on the function dial. Move to Eye-Start, hold down the middle function button, and use the control select dial to turn on the feature. When using the feature hold the grip to the point you touch the inside grip sensor. Basically most normal grip holding will touch this sensor and activate it. Then bring the camera viewfinder up to your eye. The light meter will be active without having to half press the shutter button.

In Use - The Positives

This camera is light and easy to carry. The grip provides just enough space for the hand to brag comfortably without feeling like your are going to push against the lens. Automatic film loading is simple once the film is pulled just beyond the red index marking. Just shut the film door at that point and the camera does the rest. The light meter is easy to read and is highly accurate. In manual mode just adjust your settings to give a proper meter reading. The exposure will be right on.

In Use - The Negatives

This camera has another model based with a that has a date stamp option. Unfortunately this means both models run a clock when the battery is inserted even when off. Because of this feature the battery will drain when left in the camera even when off. If you are storing the camera more than a week, make sure to pull the batteries out.

Example Photos

The following example photos were taken with Kodak Tri-X 400 in the Tokyo Bay Area. I should have bought some slower speed film when I was at Yodobashi Camera a few days before, but even in the bright sun these still turned out with the higher shutter speeds that are available with the Minolta Maxxum 5.

Conclusion

For people just starting out in film photography, I can’t see going wrong with the Minolta Maxxum 5. It offers a decent selection of lenses with the Minolta “A” mount, the option for various shooting modes, the ability to go from full manual to let the camera make every decision. and a price that will leave you some money left over for film.