Pros: Inexpensive for its class; lightweight; fast, accurate autofocus; fully automatic or fully manual operation
Cons: Plastic body - some people like a "heftier" camera; no depth-of-field preview
The Bottom Line: It's a nicely priced, attractive, lightweight, full-featured camera that puts you in control. Fully automatic, fully manual or anything in between - it's all up to you.
scooterbos's Full Review: Konica Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus Film Camera
I bought the Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus a few months ago because I wanted to step up to an autofocus SLR, and this camera hasn't disappointed me yet. The "Plus" designation means that the camera body is a sleek silver color, unlike the plain black "HTsi." That's about the only major difference between the two models; the Plus also has a remote shutter release terminal that the plain HTsi lacks. The body plus a cool matching silver 28-80mm zoom lens retails for about $350, so it's an excellent value.
The HTsi Plus works like a point-and-shoot camera for the amateur who just wants to take pictures, but photo enthusiasts and semi-pros can override the automatic features. It lacks some capabilities that true professionals require, like depth-of-field preview and ultra-fast frame advance, but for everyone else, it's a great little camera.
For people who don't like having to mess with shutter speed, aperture settings, light metering, etc., the HTSi plus has a fully automatic "program" mode that is switched on by hitting the big "P" button on top. Couldn't be any simpler, huh?
If you just want to snap a fast shot, the fully automatic settings, built-in flash and fast film winder (2 frames/sec) ensure quality photos. When you want to exert more creative control, you can selectively turn off some or all of the automatic features: shutter priority, aperture priority, no flash or forced fill flash, multiple exposures, bracketed exposures, time exposures are all available with just a few button presses and turns of the big programming dial.
The automatic functions are switched off by turning a big thumbwheel on the top left; there's a generously sized LCD display on the top right that shows all pertinent settings. I had to read the manual for a few minutes to figure out what the various icons meant, but once the initial learning curve is over it's extremely easy to use.
For a camera in this price range, it has some nice high-end features. For example, the shutter operates at speeds up to 1/4000 second, for incredible stop motion and frozen action effects.
The autofocus system does a great job of rapidly focusing on the subject in the center of the viewfinder, in many different lighting environments. You also have the option to turn off autofocus, but I haven't found it necessary so far. The 28-80mm zoom lens is a versatile and inexpensive solution for people who want to take a variety of shots. I've had excellent results with macros (the minimum focus distance with this lens is 1.3 feet), portraits, landscapes, architecture, you name it. Of course, you can also add new lenses if you want to specialize in different kinds of photography; the HTsi Plus works with any Minolta or Maxxum AF lens.
I really appreciate the HTsi Plus's light weight. Because the body and lens are plastic (not the optical lens elements themselves, of course), it's much easier to carry around than traditional metal cameras. It seems pretty durably constructed, too, but I'm not sure that it's designed for abusive environments. Don't plan on taking it into a war zone.
Overall, the Minolta Maxxum HTsi Plus is an excellent camera for people who don't care about the mechanics of photography, and also for those who do.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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