Minolta Maxxum 3

The Minolta Maxxum 3 is an SLR camera from the 2000s. It was produced by Minolta at the beginning of the millennium. The model was aimed at beginners and is therefore very easy to use and comes with many automatics.

The Maxxum 3 was largely sold in the USA. There, a variant was also sold under the name “Minolta Maxxum GT”. In Europe, photographers could buy it as Minolta Dynax 3L.

This camera offers the possibility to use different lenses, as it has an interchangeable lens mount. With the Minolta A-bayonet mount, exciting lenses can be used.

The camera is equipped with an automatic focusing system that helps with focusing, especially in dark situations, thanks to the focusing light. If desired, manual focusing can also be used.

Exposure meter

A light meter is an essential feature of this camera. It is designed to use film with a sensitivity of ISO 25 to ISO 5000. When the flash is used, ISO 25 and ISO 1000 are supported. The DX code on the film cartridge allows the film speed of the inserted film to be read.

Exposure settings

The camera offers an automatic exposure mode that sets the aperture and shutter speed automatically. Values from 1/2000 second to 30 seconds are available for the shutter speed, while the aperture depends on the lens used.

In addition to programme automatic, the camera offers various scene modes, including portraits, night portraits, close-ups, landscapes and sports photos.

This model does not have a manual setting option.

Flash

The camera has a built-in flash with a guide number of 12. At ISO 100, the maximum range of the flash is 4 metres. There are several flash modes to choose from, including auto flash, auto flash with red-eye reduction, fill-in flash, fill-in flash with red-eye reduction and flash cancel. It is also possible to connect an external flash. The sync speed is 1/90 second.

The Minolta Maxxum 3 is equipped with a self-timer that has a lead time of ten seconds. On the bottom of the housing there is a thread for mounting on a tripod.

Measuring 12.7 x 8.7 x 6.05 cm, the Minolta Maxxum 3 weighs 310 grams without lens and film. The housing is one of the smallest SLR cameras from Minolta.

Batteries for the camera

Two CR2 batteries (eBay / Amazon*), which are still readily available today, are used to power the camera. The battery capacity depends on the usage. If the flash is used for 50 per cent of the shots, one set of batteries can be used for about 14 rolls of film with 24 frames each.

Films for the Minolta Maxxum 3

The Minolta Maxxum 3 is designed for 35mm format, so it uses 35mm format film. There are still a variety of 35mm films on the market, so using the camera is not a problem.

Various photo films for this Japanese SLR camera are available in online shops. For example, the Ilford HP5*, which allows beautiful black and white shots, or the Kodak Portra 400*, which delivers brilliant colour images. Both films are suitable for a wide range of applications and have received positive reviews in test reports.

For the development of colour films, the C-41 process is used, which is carried out by most professional photo labs. In Germany, well-known drugstores also offer the development of colour films. Black-and-white films, on the other hand, must be processed with a special black-and-white developer.

Film transport

The exposure range of the Minolta Maxxum 3 is 24 mm x 36 mm in 35 mm format. Thanks to the motorised film transport function, the film is automatically moved on after each exposure. This camera can take approximately 1.7 pictures per second. As soon as the film is full, it is automatically wound back into the cartridge. This process takes about 8 seconds for a 24-frame film.

Value of the camera

How much is the camera worth today? Since the camera has not been manufactured for many years, you can only find it used. The price for one is around 91,72 Euro. The exact buying or selling price depends, of course, on the condition, functionality and accessories included.