When the Maxxum 7000 was released in February of 1985, it became the world's first 35mm SLR camera to fully integrate autofocus in the body of the camera - kicking off the autofocus era of photography. The camera was the flagship of Minolta's new line of Maxxum cameras and, likewise, a new line of A-mount lenses that were fully autofocus compatible, released simultaneously with this camera.
The Maxxum 7000 does a lot more than just autofocus. It has an advanced internal computer that controls the camera's function, with exposure modes ranging from full manual to full program, including shutter and aperture priority in between. The camera's advanced computer allowed other forms of sophisticated functions, such as metering and flash that detected and responded to the focal length of the lens on the camera. The camera has a bright viewfinder that is a joy to use, whether you are manually focusing or using autofocus. The camera's other controls are accessed via push buttons, instead of dials, and an LCD screen on the top of the body.
Maxxum 7000s have proven to be very durable for their generation and, as long as the batteries have not been left unattended in the holder, these cameras hold up very well over the years.
za/sd
Maxxum 7000 with 50mm f/1.7
We don't give enough love to the Minolta Maxxum cameras. We have a pretty varied staff that loves and uses a lot of different cameras but even we have our blind spots - one of those is Maxxum.
The Maxxum 7000 has a major place in camera history. When it was introduced, in February of 1985, it was the world's first "real" autofocus SLR. There had been a couple cameras prior to the Maxxum 7000 that allowed autofocus, but they did so via specialized lenses with AF motors and/or sensors in them. The 7000 was the first SLR to incorporate all the AF mechanisms inside the camera. Minolta launched a new line of AF lenses to accompany the Maxxum 7000. These A-series lenses are still in use today on Sony cameras and, for the most part, you can pick up modern Sony A-mount lenses and still use them on your Maxxum 7000.
Perhaps not a major innovation, but one of the other nifty features of the Maxxum 7000 is the sensor on the shutter button that knew when you placed your finger on it, turning the meter on for you, without having to press down. No more accidental exposures while learning how much pressure was needed to trigger the meter! It's a little detail, but still kind of nice, in our opinion.
Also, if you find yourself in possession of a Maxxum 7000, bear in mind that you can get different battery holders for it. The standard holder uses four AAA batteries. The common alternative is the BH-70L, that uses four AA batteries and gives you about 2.5x times the battery life. There is also a BH-70T that uses a 6v 2CR5 battery, adding an additional 25% battery life.