The long-awaited Konica Minolta Dynax 7D gives the Minolta faithful the modern, Dynax system-compatible digital SLR (dSLR) they've been craving. Its 6-megapixel CCD and midlevel feature set look somewhat old hat these days, but the camera's Anti-Shake mechanism, which continuously repositions the CCD to counteract blur caused by camera movement, is unique among dSLRs. Strong performance and thoughtful design round out this decent-shooting camera, which deserves a look from any entry- to midlevel dSLR buyer but especially from those who already own a Dynax lens or two.
Design
Like most dSLRs, the Konica Minolta Dynax 7D is finished in a businesslike matte black, and its angular styling, although conventional, looks good. The body, a hybrid of magnesium-alloy and plastic, is sturdy and well crafted. The grip is nicely contoured and feels secure, and without a lens, the camera weighs about 850g, which is slightly heavier than average for this class.
Similar to the Olympus Evolt E-300, the Dynax 7D dispenses with a separate status LCD and uses the camera's main LCD to display shooting settings, a design convention we've decided we like. On this Dynax, the large 64mm (2.5-inch) LCD has room to display more settings than a typical status LCD -- including ISO, colour mode and image parameters, among others -- and to display them at large, easily readable sizes. The camera also senses when it's been tilted to vertical and rotates the display orientation accordingly -- very handy.
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