Minolta Dynax 9xi (1992)
The Dynax 9xi was Minolta's second attempt at a professional autofocus SLR. It finally replaced the aging Minolta 9000 in 1992. It was the flagship of Minolta's third-generation AF system, and it doesn't look like a conventional SLR at all. The xi series took the first steps toward modern DSLR design, but with film instead of a sensor.
The 9xi had headline numbers no other camera of its day could match: a top shutter speed of 1/12,000 second and a flash sync speed of 1/300 second. It packed a built-in motor drive good for 4.5 fps, a four-sensor autofocus system with continuous focusing, and a focus illuminator for low-light work. The body used control wheels instead of the jog-switches found on earlier xi models. The lens mount carried extra electrical contacts to power motors inside certain lenses. It was designed to work specifically with Minolta's A-mount lenses, flashes, and accessories.
The camera was built around ergonomics. Photozone praised the body as highly ergonomic with excellent build quality and handling, and one owner's write-up called it "one hell of a camera." It weighs 765g, a full 125g more than the 9000 with the same small prime attached, and runs on a single 2CR5 6V battery. The body is plastic, available in black, and measures 163 x 99 x 64 mm.
Surviving information on the 9xi is thin. No original 1992 retail price is documented, and the production end date isn't recorded either. Used examples are modestly priced today. A European dealer lists a body at €85, and recent UK auction results for the related Dynax 9 have hovered around £150 for working bodies. One known failure mode appears in a Russian seller's listing: an aperture adjustment problem that triggers a "HELP" error on the display when shooting.
Known specs:
- Type: 35mm AF SLR, professional
- Lens mount: Minolta A-mount
- Top shutter speed: 1/12,000 sec
- Flash sync: 1/300 sec
- Motor drive: 4.5 fps
- Autofocus: four-sensor, continuous
- Weight: 765g
- Dimensions: 163 x 99 x 64 mm
- Battery: 2CR5 6V
- Body: black plastic
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