The Minolta Alpha 807si, manufactured by Minolta, is an SLR camera suitable for use with 35mm film. In the US, a similar model is marketed as the Minolta Maxxum 800si, while the designation in Europe was Dynax 800si.
The Alpha 807si offers an improvement with its built-in scene modes. With options such as Portrait, Landscape, Close-up, Sports and Night Portrait, users can be more creative and enjoy more flexibility in different shooting situations.
Lenses
The 35mm camera enables lens interchangeability and is compatible with Minolta A-bayonet lenses. Minolta AF lenses offer a wide range of focal lengths, from wide-angle to telephoto, as well as various aperture settings that open up versatile photographic possibilities.
Autofocus
The Alpha 807si's autofocus system offers various modes such as AF-A, AF-S and AF-C, allowing for different autofocus strategies depending on the shooting situation. The built-in AF light with a range of 0.7 to 7 meters ensures precise autofocus even in low-light conditions.
Exposure meter
Naturally, an exposure meter is integrated into the photo camera. The film speed setting ranges from 6 to 6400 ISO/ASA. If one uses the automatic detection, DX-encoded films from ISO 25 to 6400 can be used.
Exposure Modes
The camera offers a variety of exposure modes in addition to scene modes, including aperture priority, shutter priority, program auto, manual exposure, and bulb exposure. For shutter speeds, you can choose between values from 1/8000 second to 30 seconds, while the available aperture values depend on the lens. Exposure compensation is available in the automatic modes and can be adjusted in ±3 EV increments in 1/2 EV steps.
Automatic exposure bracketing
One feature of the Alpha 807si is the auto bracketing function, which allows exposure bracketing of ±1/3, 1/2, or 1 EV and options for 3, 5, or 7 exposures. This feature is especially helpful for photographers who want to ensure they get the perfect exposure in challenging lighting conditions, or for those who want to experiment with different exposure settings for creative reasons.
Flash
The Alpha 807si has a built-in flash with a guide number (GN) of 14 to 20, depending on the sensitivity of the film stock. Additionally, it offers a zoom function with focal length values from 24 to 80 mm.
Furthermore, the camera is equipped with a flash PC port and a wireless High Speed Sync (HSS) flash, which allows more flexibility for off-camera flash shooting.
Additional features
It is possible to mount the Alpha 807si 35mm photo camera on a tripod for group shots or selfies, as it has a thread on the bottom of the body. There is also a built-in self-timer.
An advanced feature of the Alpha 807si is the recording and storing of exposure values for up to 9 rolls of film with up to 40 shots per roll. This feature proves especially useful for photographers who need to store exposure settings for multiple rolls of film for easy review and analysis of their results.
The Alpha 807si offers additional features such as multiple exposure capability with up to 9 shots per frame, automatic film advance with selectable single-frame or continuous shooting modes, and a maximum shooting speed of 3 frames per second.
Weighing 628 grams without battery and lens and measuring 15.35 x 10.7 x 7.15 cm.
Battery
The camera is powered by a 2CR5 battery (eBay / Amazon*), conveniently available online. This type of battery provides reliable power to the camera, allowing you to shoot without worry or interruption.
Films for the Minolta Alpha 807si
Films for the Minolta Alpha 807si, which is designed for 35mm format, are still readily available and can be developed.
Recommended options for this Japanese SLR include the Kodak Gold 200* and the Kodak T-Max 100*, which have won reviews and are well suited for everyday use. There are also a variety of other suitable films for this camera.
C-41 development is a common process for developing color film and is offered by many photo labs with experience in this area. Many drug stores also dispense color film for development.
Black and white films can either be developed in a photo lab or developed by yourself with the appropriate equipment, depending on your preferences and possibilities.
