Konica Minolta Dynax Maxxum 7DAt long last, Minolta SLR owners have a *very* worthy body to use with their lens collections!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 11/27/2004, Updated: 02/01/2005 |
Operation & User Interface
The 7D's user interface appears complex at first glance, as the camera provides a great deal of external control. However, once you work with the camera and spend a little time getting comfortable, you'll find the controls very intuitive and well-placed. Unlike most of its competitors, the Maxxum 7D's external dials and buttons access essentially all of the main camera settings, reserving the LCD menu system for less commonly-used functions. Front and Rear Control dials quickly access shutter speed and aperture settings, in addition to a wide range of functions when used with other control buttons. Most of the camera adjustments are made by rotating a dial, pressing a button, and turning one of the control dials. This may sound like a lot of steps, but in practice I've always found external mechanical controls like these much faster to navigate than LCD menu options. With a little practice, the experienced photographer can develop a muscle-memory map of the camera and actuate some controls by feel alone.
The LCD monitor doesn't act as a viewfinder, but does offer a control panel of sorts, showing you the main camera settings and presenting adjustment screens for some of the control buttons. (You can disable the LCD display entirely using the Display button, or activate the full or basic information readouts.) You can also see the main exposure settings through the viewfinder.
Getting to know the camera will probably take a little time, given the large number of custom settings and setup options, and the interface itself will take a little getting used to if you hadn't previously used a Maxxum film SLR. However, once you get the hang of it, the control layout and overall feel of the camera are quite natural. Right out of the box, you could probably snap a few images with just a cursory look at the manual, but plan on investing more time to get better acquainted with all of the camera's controls and settings. The manual is extensive and goes in greater depth than most manuals we've seen.
Control Enumeration
Depth of Field Preview Button: Tucked away on the right side
of the lens mount, this button stops down the lens to the selected aperture,
so you can get an idea of the depth of field when looking through the viewfinder.
Lens Release Button: On the left side of the lens mount, this button
unlocks the lens so that it can be removed from the camera.
Focus Mode Dial: In the bottom right corner of the front panel, this
dial controls the main focus mode:
- Single-shot AF: The AF system operates only when the Shutter button
is halfway pressed.
- Automatic AF: Automatically switches between Single-shot and Continuous AF modes, depending on the amount of subject movement.
- Continuous AF: In this mode, the camera is continuously adjusting the autofocus, regardless of whether the Shutter button is halfway pressed or not.
- Manual Focus: Disables the autofocus system, so that you can manually adjust focus via the lens ring.
Front Control Dial: This ridged wheel sits in front of the Shutter button
on top of the handgrip, conveniently under your index finger. All of the most
commonly used camera settings are adjusted by using this wheel in conjunction
with one of the function dials or control buttons on the camera. It also controls
aperture and shutter speed in Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority exposure
modes and shutter speed in Manual mode.
Shutter Button: Just behind the Front Control dial, this button sets exposure
and focus (in autofocus mode) when half-pressed, and trips the shutter when
fully pressed.
White Balance Dial and Button: This control combination is located
on the far right side of the camera's top panel, and controls the white balance
settings. The dial offers four main positions:
- AWB: Accesses the Auto white balance setting.
- PWB: Accesses the Preset white balance offerings, which include a range of preset settings for specific light sources (Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, and Flash). Turning the Front Control dial or pressing the right and left arrow keys selects the mode. You can also fine-tune the white balance with the up and down arrow keys.
- Custom White Balance: Lets you set the white balance using a white or gray card. You can save as many as three custom settings. The user need only fill the spot metering area with a white or gray card and press the WB button to register the setting.
- K: Accesses a range of Kelvin temperature settings, using either the Front Control dial or left and right arrow keys.
The central WB button selects white balance settings, and registers the white balance in Custom mode.
Drive Mode Dial: This mode dial is directly beneath the Exposure Mode
dial on the right side of the top panel, and accesses the camera's drive settings,
which include Single and Continuous Advance Bracketing modes, Single Frame Advance,
Continuous Advance, and the 10 and Two-second Self-timer modes.
Exposure Mode Dial and Release Button (see image above): Stacked
right on top of the Drive Mode dial, this dial selects the camera's exposure
mode. A Release button in the center of the dial unlocks it so that it can be
turned, preventing you from accidentally switching camera modes while performing
other operations (such as turning the Drive Mode dial). Options are Manual,
Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Program AE, Auto, and three Memory Recall
modes.
Flash Compensation Dial: Almost hidden beneath the Exposure Compensation
dial on the left side of the camera's top panel, this dial controls the flash
compensation, from -2 to +2 EV in half-step increments.
Exposure Compensation Dial and Release Button (see image above): Sitting on top of the Flash Compensation dial, this notched dial features a release button just like the Exposure Mode dial. You can adjust the exposure compensation either from -3 to +3 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third-step increments (lettered in gray), or from -2 to +2 EV in half-step increments (lettered in orange). You choose what exposure increment you want to use by rotating the dial around to one side or the other. (The orange side of the dial gives you 1/3 EV increments, the silver side gives 1/2 EV steps.)
Power Switch: Located in the top left corner of the rear panel, this
sliding switch turns the camera on or off.
Menu Button: The top button in a series lining the left side of the LCD
monitor, this button calls up the menu system. Pressing it a second time returns
to the LCD's information screen.
Display Button: Directly below the Menu button, this button controls
the LCD information display in Record and Playback modes. Though the LCD monitor
does not provide any image preview, it does report the camera's exposure settings.
Pressing this button cycles between the full information display, basic display,
and no display (disables the LCD entirely). In Playback mode, this button cycles
between an information overlay, no information, and the index display.
Magnify Button: Next in line below the Display button, this button controls
the amount of digital enlargement applied to captured images in Playback mode.
The amount of magnification available depends on the image resolution, and RAW
images cannot be enlarged. (Once an image has been enlarged, the arrow keys
pan the view.)
Delete Button: Right below the Magnify button, the Delete button prompts
the camera to ask if you want to delete a displayed image.
Playback Button: The final button in the series on the left side of
the LCD monitor, this button accesses the camera's Playback mode, so that you
can review any captured images. Once in Playback mode, a second press of the
Playback button returns to Record mode. (You can also press the Shutter button.)
Diopter Control Dial: Practically hidden on the right side of the optical
viewfinder, this tiny dial adjusts the viewfinder display to accommodate eyeglass
wearers.
Metering Mode Dial: To the right of the viewfinder eyepiece, this dial
sets the camera's metering mode to Spot, 14-segment Honeycomb-pattern, or Center-weighted
modes.
AE Lock Button (see image above): Tucked in the center of the Metering Mode dial, this button locks the exposure. When using the flash in Program, Aperture Priority, or Full Auto exposure modes, this button accesses the Slow-Sync flash function. Pressing and holding the button locks the exposure, and the flash output is based on the locked reading.
AF/MF Button: To the right of the Metering Mode dial, this button lets
you quickly switch between auto and manual focus modes. The autofocus mode used
will depend on the setting of the Focus Mode dial. If the dial is set to Manual
Focus, this button will access the Single-shot AF mode.
Rear Control Dial: Positioned in the top right corner of the camera's
rear panel, this dial controls a variety of exposure settings when turned
while pressing a control button. (-3.0 to +1.0 diopter range.)
Multi-controller and Spot AF / OK Button: Adjacent to the top right corner
of the LCD monitor, this rocker control steps through selections within the
LCD menu system and interacts with various status messages or requests for
confirmation that appear on the LCD screen. You navigate the menus by pressing
one of the four arrows around the control's periphery, and confirm selections
by pressing the Spot AF / OK button in the center of the control. When selecting
an AF area, the rocker actually moves in eight directions, giving you more
flexibility in moving the AF point. In Playback mode, the right and left arrows
scroll through captured images on the memory card, while the up arrow activates
a histogram display. In Record mode, when the AF Area mode is set to Wide,
pressing and holding the center of the control switches the camera to Spot
autofocus mode. Once in Spot AF, rocking the control moves the Spot indicator
around the frame to the nine available focus points.
Focus Area Switch (see image above): Surrounding the Multi-controller, this low-profile switch sets the AF area to one of the following:
- Wide Focus Area: Uses the wide focus frames in the center of the
viewfinder to judge focus. You can access Spot AF mode in this setting by
pressing and holding the Spot AF / OK button in the center of the Multi-controller.
- Focus Area Lock: Locks the AF area (once selected manually), so
that the Multi-controller cannot select an AF point.
- Focus Area Selection: Lets you select a specific AF point using the Multi-controller. Lock the position by sliding back to the Focus Area Lock setting.
Memory Set Button: Located beneath the Multi-controller and next to
the lower right corner of the LCD monitor, this button lets you store as many
as three sets of camera settings, accessed through the 1, 2, and 3 positions
of the Exposure Mode dial.
ISO Button: Directly beneath the Memory Set button, this button accesses
the camera's sensitivity menu. Using the left and right arrow keys or the Front
or Rear Control dials, you can set the ISO equivalent to Auto, 100, 200, 400,
800, 1,600, or 3,200. (The 3,200 option is only available if enabled through
the setup menu.)
Anti-Shake Switch: In the lower right corner of the rear panel, this
switch turns the camera's Anti-Shake System on and off.
Battery Compartment Latch: Located in the center of the battery compartment
door on the bottom of the camera, this latch unlocks and opens the battery compartment
cover.
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