Minolta Dynax 5000i (1989)

The Minolta Dynax 5000i was a 35mm autofocus SLR introduced in 1989. It was sold as the Maxxum 5000i in North America and the Alpha 5700i in Japan. It belonged to Minolta's second generation of autofocus SLR bodies, sat between the entry-level 3000i and the more advanced 7000i, and replaced the earlier 5000. At release it was reportedly the smallest SLR body with a built-in flash. The price was around $450.

The camera uses the Minolta A-type bayonet mount and accepts all Maxxum AF lenses. That's the same A-mount glass that would later carry over to Sony's digital bodies. It has a slot for Minolta's creative control cards, the optional feature-software cards that expand what the camera can do. Period descriptions call it technologically sophisticated yet simple enough for beginners, with the built-in flash and automatic film transport handling much of the work.

Past that, the documented record is thin. No detailed specifications appear in the surviving sources gathered here - no shutter speeds, ISO range, weight, dimensions or battery type. The camera was sold as a kit with lenses like the 35-80mm f/4-5.6 AF Zoom or a 28-85mm. It remains readily available on the secondhand market, often listed alongside its 3000i and 7000i siblings. The initial fact sheet mislabeled it as a digital camera. It is a 35mm film SLR.

Type: 35mm autofocus SLR with built-in flash
Lens mount: Minolta A-type (Maxxum AF / Sony A)
Released: 1989
Original price: approximately $450
Notable: smallest SLR body with built-in flash at release; accepts creative control cards