Minolta Dynax 505si (1998)
The Minolta Dynax 505si is a 35mm autofocus SLR introduced in 1998, near the tail end of Minolta's film era. It was sold under several names depending on the market. North America got the Maxxum HTsi, and the upgraded variant was the 505si Super / Maxxum HTSi Plus. A Date version (the 505si Super Date) also appeared, printing data onto the film frame. The camera was produced in Malaysia and came in a plastic silver body.
The 505si stands out in Minolta's lineup for its autofocus system. It was the first Minolta SLR body to pair a central cross-type AF sensor with two vertically placed sensors. It was also noticeably lighter than its predecessor, the 500si, while carrying more features. The body uses the Minolta A-mount (shared with Sony's later Alpha DSLRs), and most examples surface with the kit AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom. The 505si Super variant added a remote release terminal and returned to a metal lens mount, per ePhotozine. That source describes the Super as an upgrade of the Dynax 505, though its naming is inconsistent.
Known specifications are modest but serviceable. The shutter is a vertical metal focal-plane type running from 30s to 1/4000s plus bulb. ISO 25-5000 is set via DX coding, with manual override to 6400. Dimensions are roughly 135 × 90 × 61 mm. Weight is around 350g, which is light for an SLR. Exposure modes include five programmed modes, full auto, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, and manual with viewfinder support.
The record thins out beyond that. No original launch price, battery type, viewfinder coverage, flash guide number, or drive speed are documented in the sources reviewed. Seller descriptions consistently call it lightweight, easy to use, and reliable in autofocus, and many listings note working condition with a lens included. It's a late-90s entry-level camera that today sells for modest sums, typically under €120 for the Super body with kit lens.
- Type: 35mm autofocus SLR, Minolta A-mount
- Shutter: 30s – 1/4000s + B, vertical metal focal plane
- ISO: 25–5000 DX-coded (manual 6–6400)
- Dimensions: 135 × 90 × 61 mm
- Weight: 350g
- Introduced: 1998
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