Take Heart. The 7D is coming...

[George Riehm]

I caught a good one, it looked like it could run...

Marty Robbins, El Paso, 1960

[FirePix1075]

When oh when will the Maxxum 7D-SLR be "on the streets" already?

Enough hype... I can't believe they missed getting it into retail stores by "Black Friday"!

With two Minolta 35mm SLR bodies and several lenses, I've been longing to get my hands on one of these to "try" before buying, and I can't seem to find one in Maryland anywhere...

has anyone actually touched one yet?

[George Riehm]

When oh when will the Maxxum 7D-SLR be "on the streets" already?

Enough hype... I can't believe they missed getting it into retail stores by "Black Friday"!

With two Minolta 35mm SLR bodies and several lenses, I've been longing to get my hands on one of these to "try" before buying, and I can't seem to find one in Maryland anywhere...

has anyone actually touched one yet?

Patience. Figure by mid December. It may take a while to hit retailer shelves.

[FirePix1075]

Patience. Figure by mid December. It may take a while to hit retailer shelves.

Yeah.. just a bit frustrated is all... especially since there are various stories out there about some online retailers actually shipping the cameras already... but I couldn't bring myself to ordering a $1600+/- camera without holding/touching it first..

[bmw_m3r]

they've been in on sale in melbourne (australia) for over two weeks now. that must be the first time something has been released in australia before it has in the us.

[FirePix1075]

Long story short... here on the East Coast, Ritz had the 7D-SLR advertised in its sale flyer @ Thanksgiving.. calls made to 6 + stores.. none had it, half of them had no idea what I was even talking about.. couldn't search their inventory.. told me to keep calling back to check.

This week I called several of their 800#s till I found the "right one".. spoke to a Ritz rep, who told me the stores will NOT be stocking the camera.. "we only bought a few b/c we didn't think they would sell in our stores @ that price ($1,599) so they are only being sold mail order and over the Internet."

When asked about those photogs who might like to actually hold one in the store and "play" with it a bit b4 plunking down that amount of change, she said, "well, we're not selling it in our stores. They just won't sell @ that price."

THEN WHY DID THEY PUT IT IN THE FLYER???

[bmw_m3r]

here in australia, the maxuum/dynax 7D retails at about $AUS2300 body only, or $AUS3000 including a 256mb card and a digital specific 17-35mm lens. i saw the lens on www.dirtcheapcameras.com advertised for over $AUS4000 (!!!). i dont quite understand whats going on there...

perhaps the more desperate americans are better off buying it from australia. at least we have the damn thing. oh, and btw, it is one awesome camera. A review wouldn't hurt tho. Jeff?

[bmw_m3r]

Today we bought a Konica Minolta Dynax/ Maxxum 7D! Woo! For about $AUS3200 (about $US2410), we got the body, A Konica Minolta 17-35mm lens, a 75-300mm Konica Minolta lens, and a 256mb high speed CF card. we already had a 28-80mm lens from a previous Minolta. Its all from a pro shop, so there's no dealing with clueless wankers. The service was top notch. All up, it seems like a pretty good deal for what appears to be a brilliant camera, especially considering that no-one can get them, and they are in high demand over here. I will try to post some pics once i have some classy shots.

[John_Reed]

Today we bought a Konica Minolta Dynax/ Maxxum 7D! Woo! For about $AUS3200 (about $US2410), we got the body, A Konica Minolta 17-35mm lens, a 75-300mm Konica Minolta lens, and a 256mb high speed CF card. we already had a 28-80mm lens from a previous Minolta. Its all from a pro shop, so there's no dealing with clueless wankers. The service was top notch. All up, it seems like a pretty good deal for what appears to be a brilliant camera, especially considering that no-one can get them, and they are in high demand over here. I will try to post some pics once i have some classy shots.Sounds like a dream setup. With that long lens and the 1.5X camera factor thrown in, I don't even care what the aperture numbers are for your 75-300 zoom - at ISO 3200, you could shoot circles around any fixed-lens camera, even if it's f8.0! Be sure to show us some results, even "less than classy" ones.

[bmw_m3r]

yes, the camera is going awesome. i've taken some great pics, but i'm in central australia at the moment, and thus unable to post any pics. hopefully i'll be able to put the best ones up on around january the 12th. hope everyone had a top christmas, and that you are all enjoying the new year!

[George Riehm]

yes, the camera is going awesome. i've taken some great pics, but i'm in central australia at the moment, and thus unable to post any pics. hopefully i'll be able to put the best ones up on around january the 12th. hope everyone had a top christmas, and that you are all enjoying the new year!

Shooting Alice Springs? Not many DSL hookups out there. Not even many phonelines come to think of it. Surprised that Starbucks hasn't set up in the interior yet (their T-mobile connection is mighty handy).

We are looking forward to some shots from down-under. Sounds like your new year is starting out right. :)

Bon Foto