Konica Minolta Maxxum 800si 35mm Film Camera

Among the three brands, Nikon and Canon are clearly selling at the premium to Minolta. For pros, it might make sense for them to choose Nikon or Canon for the better choice of lens. But there is absolutely no difference in optical result between the three, so why pay more if you just shoot for fun. That's why I choose Minolta initially 10 years ago and have never regretted about the decision.

Among the Minolta line of cameras, 9 is nice, but expensive(still cheaper vs equivalent Nikon or Canon), too boxy and heavy for daily use. Xtsi or 600si are nice cameras too, but they don't feel that solid at hand. Also the focus on these two are not fast enough to catch my 2 years old making the random walk. So the 800si became the logical choice.

For $529, I got the body with date back. It has every features you can possibly want on a camera. It is a bit complicate, but once you get used to it, you can capture many memorable moments in the life. The meter is very accurate and the flash is the best. Anyway, I am a happy owner.