My Very First DSLR

After trying recently my very first SLR camera (a Minolta SRT-100b year 1975), I checked this time my very first DSLR that I kept also among my photographic equipment since almost 20 years. I bought my Konica-Minolta Dynax 5D (an APS-C DSLR see details below) brand-new in the winter 2005-2006 after using intensively a Minolta Dimage 7 that was a futuristic early mirrorless digital camera. I got the camera as a bundle kit including a AF DT Zoom 18-70 mm / f3.5-5.6 (D) lens, a tele zoom lens AF 75-300 mm / f4.5-5.6 (D) lens, and a very nice macro lens Sigma 1:2.8 f=50mm DG that I used principally for documenting small horological objects.

 

After checking the two NP-400 Li-ion batteries (changed in 2017 for adapted Patona ones), the boot of the camera and its different functions, the CF memory cards, including two 16GB and a fascinating 1GB Hitachi Microdrive (a miniature hard disk), the lenses, I decided to go for a recreational photo-walk to the tropical green houses of the park as I did many times the last years with my film camera of my collection.

 

In order to get consistent /comparable results over the series, I blocked with a piece of gaffer the focal ring to 35mm (equivalent to about 50mm for a full-frame 24x36mm camera) of the AF DT Zoom 18-70 mm / f3.5-5.6 (D) lens to normal focal distance (Dynax 5D is an APS-C DLSR, see details below). I also used a fix 400 ISO sensor sensitivity. At this focal length, the widest aperture available is f/5.6. I used the Hitachi 1GB Microdrive giving memory space available for "only" 112 RAW image files (3000x2000 pixels) without camera converted JPEG images. I had in mind to limit the session to 36 images as a regular 35mm film cartridge, but I finally did about 45 … The lens was equipped with a generic Anti-UV protective 55mm filter and its original Konica-Minolta shade hood LB-1092.

 

Whenever necessarily in low-light conditions, I used the build-in small flashlight (NG 12 at 100 ISO) to complement the ambient light and to restore vivid colors. The camera was used either in the manual « M » mode or the aperture-priority « A » automated mode.

 

Costus osae (Costa Rica)

Petites Serres Tropicales Chaudes et Humides, December 10, 2024

Jardin Botanique de Lyon

Parc de la Tête d’Or

69006 Lyon

France

 

After the session, the RAW files were transferred to the computer using a USB multi-memory cards reader and processed in the latest version of Adode Lightroom Classic (LrC version 14) that uses the external module Adobe Camera Raw version 17.0.1 for RAW development. The files were then processed as usual using the regular functions of Lightroom. They are presented either as printed files with frame or the full-size JPEG's together with some documentary smartphone color pictures.

 

 

About the camera :

(Wiki) The Konica Minolta Dynax 5D is a Digital SLR camera announced by Konica Minolta on July 15, 2005. It is also known as Maxxum 5D in the USA and (Alpha) αSweet Digital in Japan. It became available from September 2005 and was bundled with the AF DT Zoom 18-70 mm / f4.5-5.6 (D) lens.

 

The camera features a 6 megapixel CCD sensor. Image files are created at a maximum resolution of 3008 x 2000 pixels and recorded in JPEG (STD, Fine, EX-fine), RAW and RAW+JPEG formats. It uses CompactFlash for storage. The back has a 115,000 2.5" TFT color display.

Main differences between the 7D and the 5D are:

* Less buttons and dials

* Fibre plastic body, as opposed to a magnesium alloy on the 7D, camera is almost 200 g lighter (970g in workin order with the AF DT Zoom 18-70 mm)

* White balance bracketing

* Newly added colour modes, including black and white

 

The Konica-Minolta was the last DSLR camera engineering before the cession to Sony of the whole photo camera activities of the company.

 

 

Done