Minolta Dynax 3xi

The Minolta Dynax 3xi is a 35mm camera and part of the xi series. It belongs to the group of SLR cameras and was introduced in the early 1990s. In the US, it was marketed as the Minolta Maxxum 3xi. In Japan, the camera was available as Minolta Alpha 3xi. In addition, there was a Quartz Date variant with the ability to imprint the time of capture in the photos.

The lenses of the 35mm camera are interchangeable. Lenses with a Minolta A bayonet are used. For focusing the lens, an autofocus system was built into the 35mm photo camera. However, there is also the possibility to adjust the focus manually.

When it comes to exposure, there are also automatics. For example, the light meter can automatically select aperture and shutter speed. There is also one mode each where aperture or shutter speed are selected by the photographer and the camera automatically sets the other value. A manual mode is also available. In this, the aperture can be set freely, depending on the lens. For the shutter speed, there is a choice between values of 1/2000 second and 30 seconds. Additionally, there is a bulb mode for long exposures.

The exposure meter is designed for an ISO range of 25 to 5000. The film speed is determined by the DX code on the film cartridge. If this code is not present, the automatic system automatically sets ISO 100.

In low light conditions, the camera’s built-in flash can be used. According to the manual, the power of the flash reaches up to 12 meters at ISO 100, but an external flash can also be connected. There is a self-timer for group pictures. The camera can also be mounted on a tripod for this purpose.

The housing without lens and battery weighs 420 grams and measures 14.6 x 9.2 x 6.4 cm. Power is supplied by a 2CR5 battery (eBay / Amazon*). This battery can be purchased online. One battery charge is enough for a little more than 1400 pictures.

Films for the Minolta Dynax 3xi

The Minolta Dynax 3xi requires 35mm film. The camera comes with an automatic film transport. Suitable film material can be conveniently ordered online. Depending on the film, 36 images usually fit on one roll of film.

Available photo films for the Minolta Dynax 3xi that are easy to get are the Kodak Ultramax 400* for color shots and the Ilford FP4 Plus* for B&W shots. A good number of other manufacturers also produce film for this format. So there is great film material from Foma, Fujifilm, Lomography or even Rollei.