Primavera de Muertos
A photographer friend, who knows that I like to play around with old cameras, lent me her Minolta Maxxum 7xi (also known as the Dynax 7xi) to try out. Released in 1991, it was an advanced 35mm SLR camera for its time, with many innovative features. One of the coolest things about this camera are the expansion cards that it has for different creative program modes. They are intended to make the camera easy to use - just load the card and set the camera to P (program). I guess in 1991 it was not feasible to build all of the programs where to buy ambien into the camera like modern cameras.
I tried out the camera during a studio shoot using manual exposure, without the expansion cards. I attached a CyberSync to the hotshoe using a Minolta/Sony hotshoe adapter because the Minolta uses a proprietary hotshoe system (same as the Sony Alpha system). I set the shutter speed to 1/60th sec because I wasn't sure about the camera's sync speed. I looked it up later and found it is 1/200th sec, which is pretty good. I loaded the camera with Kodak Ektar ISO 100 colour negative film.
Strengths - excellent TTL metering system
Fast and accurate autofocus
Large bright viewfinder
Mid-roll film exchange
Manual film speed override
Weaknesses
Although the body is heavy and rugged, it is not weatherproof
The battery is expensive and not rechargeable (I paid $14.99 for a new 2CR5 lithium battery). It is supposed to be good for 50 rolls of 24 exposure film, without the use of the flash
Heavy, especially for traveling or hiking.
Program
Automatic rewind
Built-in motordrive
Lenses - Minolta A-Type bayonet mount - accepts all Minolta AF lenses
Related Links
Detailed specification of the Minolta Maxxum 7xi
A photographer friend, who knows that I like to play around with old cameras, lent me her Minolta Maxxum 7xi (also known as the Dynax 7xi) to try out. Released in 1991, it was an advanced 35mm SLR camera for its time, with many innovative features. One of the coolest things about this camera are the expansion cards that it has for different creative program modes. They are intended to make the camera easy to use - just load the card and set the camera to P (program). I guess in 1991 it was not feasible to build all of the programs into the camera like modern cameras.
I tried out the camera during a studio shoot using manual exposure, without the expansion cards. I attached a CyberSync to the hotshoe using a Minolta/Sony hotshoe adapter because the Minolta uses a proprietary hotshoe system (same as the Sony Alpha system). I set the shutter speed to 1/60th sec because I wasn't sure about the camera's sync speed. I looked it up later and found it is 1/200th sec, which is pretty good. I loaded the camera with Kodak Ektar ISO 100 colour negative film.
Strengths - excellent TTL metering system
Fast and accurate autofocus
Large bright viewfinder
Mid-roll film exchange
Manual film speed override
Weaknesses
Although the body is heavy and rugged, it is not weatherproof
The battery is expensive and not rechargeable (I paid $14.99 for a new 2CR5 lithium battery). It is supposed to be good for 50 rolls of 24 exposure film, without the use of the flash
Heavy, especially for traveling or hiking.
Program
Automatic rewind
Built-in motordrive
Lenses - Minolta A-Type bayonet mount - accepts all Minolta AF lenses
Related Links
Detailed specification of the Minolta Maxxum 7xi
Credits
Model: Tia Guzzo
Makeup: Jennifer Ruth
Hair: Hair Styling: Rhi Yee
Fashion stylist: Jihan Amer
Set decorator: Guen Gianfranchi
Photography: Lloyd K. Barnes
Music: Nanten
This shoot was based on the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), treatment but with a Spring blossom twist. The makeup was inspired by calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls) that are given as offerings to the dead on November 1, and by the work of 666 Photography and the art of Sylvia Ji.
The Day of the Dead festival originated with the ancient Aztecs and was dedicated to the goddess Mictecacihuatl, the queen of Mictlan, the Aztec underworld who keeps watch over the bones of the dead. Her husband is Mictlantecuhtli, was the Aztec god of the dead, Lord of Mictlan. The celebration continues today in Mexico and parts of the United States.
Mictlantecuhtli - Aztec God of the Dead
This is the second Dia de los Muertos shoot in a series. The first was In the Darkenss of Winter and the next two are in planning stages.
Do you have some favourite Day of the Dead images or makeup? Share the links in the comments section below!
