If you have the titanium version (Minolta Alpha-9 Ti), or you have the SSM update (and have done a special procedure to unlock these settings), there are two additional custom settings: Cust 22 - AF Illuminator: 1=normal, 2=disable AF illuminator (including illuminators on accessory flashs) Cust 23 - Front/Rear Control Dial Lock: 1=off (normal), 2=on (dials locked when camera not metering) The Ti version also has an extra option in Custom Function 18. Instead of option 3 disabling the front control dial in program mode and having the rear dial control exposure compensation, now the front dial controls either aperture override (option 3) or shutter override (option 4) while in program mode. Rear dial still controls exposure compensation. If your camera has the SSM update, there's a 4th option for Cust 20. Instead of 4-seg, average, spot it goes ADI, 4-seg, average, spot
@@DavidHancock I just acquired an Alpha 9 with the full Ti SSM firmware and both the data back and the grip. I also have an A7iii and the LA-EA5 adaptor, so I can use all those cheap A mount lenses on both cameras.
I'm normally not much of a fun of modern SLRs but the 9 looks really enticing, I'm actually thinking about getting one. Thanks for all the videos on it!
Hey David, your tutorials / Video Manuals have been a great source of reference for all my current cameras and a few potential purchases in the future, I loved the Minolta 9 Video Manual especially as I have had this camera from new (1920 I think) :-) once I discovered your Video manual I uncovered many items of interest of my 9 until I broke it last week :-( Moving on, I wonder if you could do a Tutorial or Manual about the Minolta 600si Classic as I intend to buy this camera today and know nothing about it except it looks like my 9?
Thank you! I don't think I'll be able to get to the 600si. I'm going to have camera manuals be a smaller part of my new videos going forward, focusing more on the film and lens reviews. I'll still try to do around 5-10 camera manuals a year, instead of around 40, but that's going up mean focusing on manuals that are for more common cameras, and more typical learner cameras.
Great video. I have a Minolta x700 (great camera) 3 Alpha 7, 2 are dead (not very reliable but more sophisticated than the 9) and an alpha 9 wich has a lovely viewfinder and super fast shutter speed and does not die sudenly like the 7 (but when i go out for a long hike i take the 7 as is lighter). When i get my new scaner will post some shots, just bought the 9 few months ago. Congratulations on the channel very complete explanation.
Hi David, thank yoiu for the thourough review. I have been struggeling with an itch for this camera for a long time... It is sort of like an analog Sony a-900/-850 that is to say in my book a super sympathetic camera. Do your or anybody for that matter have any concrete information on the compatibility lenswise with for instance the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM A-mount or the Sigma 150-500mm . I read somewhere that there are some lens compatability "buts" with the diigtal generation alpha mounts...
Thank you! I haven't ever had issues with an A-mount lens on my 9. That said, I haven't tried tons of them -- STF135mm, 50mm f/1.4 and 1.7, 28mm f/2.8, and a few Tamron and Sigma zooms. I would expect both of the Sigma lenses to work. I think there's an issue with SSM lenses, but I'm nto sure exactly how the issue manifests, nor am I certain if the two Sigmas have the SSM component.
David, Thank you for this very informative video series. I have a quick question for you if you don't mind. I recently acquired a Maxxum 9 is nearly perfect condition but the data bar in the bottom of the viewfinder is so dim it is almost impossible to see. Indoors you can barely see it but outside it completely disappears. The manual seems to say nothing about this. Is there anything you can tell me?
Mine is the exact same way. Insofar as I can tell, it's a faulty component. I've never found a way to boost the brightness. And while the data bar from the 7 should be a direct replacement, I've not found anyone willing to take one of these apart for that repair. I think it's just something we have to live with. Also, my 9 absolutely shuts down on temperatures below freezing, just a heads up.
@@DavidHancock Hey again, this has been such a huge help, one more question. When taking long exposures with my older film slr's I always set the mirror lock up switch before taking my exposure. with this camera, should I be doing the same? And is there a custom way of changing the self timer to 2 seconds rather that 10 (mine is counting down from 10)
Thanks to your help i decided to buy a Minolta Alpha 9 and I love it! I was just wondering what you thought that best flash would be for this camera. Im currently deciding between the Minolta 5400hs or the 5600hs
Good choice. Thee are awesome cameras. I don't know anything about the Minolta flashes, especially for the Alpha line. So my general take on flashes is this: get one that's really powerful. You can always turn the power down, but there's no way to overclock a flash. Other than that, having one that works fully with a camera is nice but not mandatory. Manual flash settings can be harder to learn, but learning how to control a flash manually is more useful in the long run than relying on PTTL or other other auto flash modes.
@@DavidHancock Hi thanks for the response! Ill continue to hunt around and do some more research. I haven't used too many flashes in the past so Ill have to brush up on some of the manual controls
The 5600HS(D) is the newer model that you could also use with later Sony Digital A-Mount bodies which the 5400HS will not be able to. WL flash with this is a pleasure and was the reason this body has a built-in flash that few people understood since the built-in flash is the WL controller here. Unless your body has the SSM upgrade, the D (distance) function of the flash will not be usable since this feature was added as part of the SSM upgrade
@@stefannantz got it. I took my Alpha 9 out today to see if it does the same thing and it does. I thought I used to get more than 36 when I overspooled my own cassettes so they'd hold 40 frames. It might be with factory cassettes it knows exactly where frame 1 is and starts the roll specifically to end at 36.
@@DavidHancock I figured it out, the DX code discribes , ISO in the first row, frames 4fields + 2 fields exposure latetude . If you cover the first 4 fields of the 2nd row the camera rewinds on end of the physical film.
I can't believe it took me so long to discover this remarkable camera. I have to get one now. A couple questions: can this camera take long exposures, like a couple of minutes? Is there a cable release function, or do you simply use the self-timer for this? Also, I understand only certain sessions will work with the a-9. How do you know which ones are compatible? Thanks for a great video.
It's an amazing camera, so to answer your questions, yes, yes, and no. :D Yes, it can take long exposures. Up to 30 seconds with the camera's controls and longer using bulb. Yes, there is an electronic cable release. That release is either button for bulb mode or you can slide a lock over the button for time mode. Then you can take exposures that are hours long, which I've done. It's great. This will take any Alpha mount lens, Minolta or Sony. The SSD (I think that's the acronym) distance confirmation will not be used with this camera, but all the other functions will work a-okay.
I'm a bit confused, Can the camera remember which frame each film was on? If I want to switch back and forth between BW and color for instance, should I set it to custom 3,2 and note down which frame I left it at, or can I set it to remember automatically?
Not exactly. I forget the exact order of operations, but what you would do is use some of the roll, rewind it to leave out a bit of leader, write on the leader which frame you were on, put in the other roll, and if it had been partly used direct the camera which frame to advance to.
I think the second video covers the self timer, but in short simply rotate the shooting mode dial to the self-timer icon and then the self-timer will delay the shutter.
ATG Gold Minolta A9Ti (modified/updated for SSM) is very rare which I have one. The Minolta A9Ti (not compatible with SSM). It must be mod by ATG, which is not cheap. You don't see much or any review on this model.
David Hancock, so true. Today, I don't see many real photographers. Just a lot of cheaters that rely on RAW, then look on a 3" screen and cheater/correct mistakes with pc. Film cameras make you think, while today shooters like to add on a battery grip to mimic a pro camera. Did you know ATG/Yoshihisa Maitani (Olympus) invented TTL in exposure & TTL film. Then they allowed the rest of the world to join in. Hasselblad didn't have TTL, you they asked ATG/Maitani/Minolta for help. At that time Leica needed ATG/Minolta assistance for their Leica's SLR cameras. Moving forward Leica & Zeiss lenses are now not Germany but Japan. The ATG Canon New F1 High Speed and ATG Canon EOS-1V HSr are by ATG/Canon. But these are stories at another time.
Hey! Thanks for the videos. I currently own an alpha 9 as well but it seems like it has some issues when rewinding the film. Could this be related to rewind motor or the batteries?
@@DavidHancock Once I finish shooting a roll, the rewind motor starts making a sound like it doesn't have any power and the LCD screen turns off. Because of this, I have to turn off/on the camera, open the back door (expose the film) and then press the manual rewind button. I have to perform these steps multiple times to bring the film back to the canister. Everytime the camera tries to rewind the film it will stop this process and die.
Either the batteries are dead or there's a problem with the electronics. These are really hard to have repaired because there are very few of them to use as parts. But it's worth reaching out to some of the repair shops if you want to have it fixed. The larger ones may have the ability to fix it.
If you have the titanium version (Minolta Alpha-9 Ti), or you have the SSM update (and have done a special procedure to unlock these settings), there are two additional custom settings:
Cust 22 - AF Illuminator: 1=normal, 2=disable AF illuminator (including illuminators on accessory flashs)
Cust 23 - Front/Rear Control Dial Lock: 1=off (normal), 2=on (dials locked when camera not metering)
The Ti version also has an extra option in Custom Function 18. Instead of option 3 disabling the front control dial in program mode and having the rear dial control exposure compensation, now the front dial controls either aperture override (option 3) or shutter override (option 4) while in program mode. Rear dial still controls exposure compensation.
If your camera has the SSM update, there's a 4th option for Cust 20. Instead of
4-seg, average, spot
it goes
ADI, 4-seg, average, spot
@@Falcrist thank you!
@@DavidHancock I just acquired an Alpha 9 with the full Ti SSM firmware and both the data back and the grip.
I also have an A7iii and the LA-EA5 adaptor, so I can use all those cheap A mount lenses on both cameras.
@@Falcrist nice!
I'm normally not much of a fun of modern SLRs but the 9 looks really enticing, I'm actually thinking about getting one. Thanks for all the videos on it!
Thank you! It's an amazing camera. Definitely my favorite film camera.
It’s still my top of the line SLR camera in this era.
Definitely yes.
Very good information! Thank you!
Hey David, your tutorials / Video Manuals have been a great source of reference for all my current cameras and a few potential purchases in the future, I loved the Minolta 9 Video Manual especially as I have had this camera from new (1920 I think) :-) once I discovered your Video manual I uncovered many items of interest of my 9 until I broke it last week :-( Moving on, I wonder if you could do a Tutorial or Manual about the Minolta 600si Classic as I intend to buy this camera today and know nothing about it except it looks like my 9?
Thank you! I don't think I'll be able to get to the 600si. I'm going to have camera manuals be a smaller part of my new videos going forward, focusing more on the film and lens reviews. I'll still try to do around 5-10 camera manuals a year, instead of around 40, but that's going up mean focusing on manuals that are for more common cameras, and more typical learner cameras.
Great video. I have a Minolta x700 (great camera) 3 Alpha 7, 2 are dead (not very reliable but more sophisticated than the 9) and an alpha 9 wich has a lovely viewfinder and super fast shutter speed and does not die sudenly like the 7 (but when i go out for a long hike i take the 7 as is lighter). When i get my new scaner will post some shots, just bought the 9 few months ago. Congratulations on the channel very complete explanation.
Thank you! The 7 is a good camera, but yeah, not as reliable as the 9. MY 7 works but the EV dial broke off of it.
Excellent walk through. Thank you.
Thank you!
This video helped me a lot thanks! I was looking for a way to be able to release the shutter when the camera has an m42 lens on it.
Thank you!
Hi David,
thank yoiu for the thourough review. I have been struggeling with an itch for this camera for a long time... It is sort of like an analog Sony a-900/-850 that is to say in my book a super sympathetic camera.
Do your or anybody for that matter have any concrete information on the compatibility lenswise with for instance the Sigma 50mm F1.4 EX DG HSM A-mount or the Sigma 150-500mm . I read somewhere that there are some lens compatability "buts" with the diigtal generation alpha mounts...
Thank you!
I haven't ever had issues with an A-mount lens on my 9. That said, I haven't tried tons of them -- STF135mm, 50mm f/1.4 and 1.7, 28mm f/2.8, and a few Tamron and Sigma zooms. I would expect both of the Sigma lenses to work. I think there's an issue with SSM lenses, but I'm nto sure exactly how the issue manifests, nor am I certain if the two Sigmas have the SSM component.
ATG Gold Minolta A9Ti and Minolta 7
David, Thank you for this very informative video series. I have a quick question for you if you don't mind. I recently acquired a Maxxum 9 is nearly perfect condition but the data bar in the bottom of the viewfinder is so dim it is almost impossible to see. Indoors you can barely see it but outside it completely disappears. The manual seems to say nothing about this. Is there anything you can tell me?
Mine is the exact same way. Insofar as I can tell, it's a faulty component. I've never found a way to boost the brightness. And while the data bar from the 7 should be a direct replacement, I've not found anyone willing to take one of these apart for that repair. I think it's just something we have to live with. Also, my 9 absolutely shuts down on temperatures below freezing, just a heads up.
Thank you, I really appreciate the reply. It's an otherwise great camera so I guess I'll just deal with it. Thanks again. @@DavidHancock
hi david, do you have to tell the camera at the start of every roll if you want to keep the leader out after rewinding?
Nope. Just set that once.
@@DavidHancock Hey again, this has been such a huge help, one more question. When taking long exposures with my older film slr's I always set the mirror lock up switch before taking my exposure. with this camera, should I be doing the same? And is there a custom way of changing the self timer to 2 seconds rather that 10 (mine is counting down from 10)
Good question and I had to go back and look it up. There's no MLU on the 9.
Also, I think that the timer may be limited to 10 seconds.
Thanks to your help i decided to buy a Minolta Alpha 9 and I love it!
I was just wondering what you thought that best flash would be for this camera.
Im currently deciding between the Minolta 5400hs or the 5600hs
Good choice. Thee are awesome cameras.
I don't know anything about the Minolta flashes, especially for the Alpha line. So my general take on flashes is this: get one that's really powerful. You can always turn the power down, but there's no way to overclock a flash. Other than that, having one that works fully with a camera is nice but not mandatory. Manual flash settings can be harder to learn, but learning how to control a flash manually is more useful in the long run than relying on PTTL or other other auto flash modes.
@@DavidHancock Hi thanks for the response! Ill continue to hunt around and do some more research.
I haven't used too many flashes in the past so Ill have to brush up on some of the manual controls
The 5600HS(D) is the newer model that you could also use with later Sony Digital A-Mount bodies which the 5400HS will not be able to. WL flash with this is a pleasure and was the reason this body has a built-in flash that few people understood since the built-in flash is the WL controller here. Unless your body has the SSM upgrade, the D (distance) function of the flash will not be usable since this feature was added as part of the SSM upgrade
Hi there, is there a way to take pictures to the end of film rather than a hart stop at 36 exposures on the minolta a9?
36 is the end of the film.
@@DavidHancock not really , my dynax 800 revinds on resistance, end of physical film, which can be 38 frames.
@@stefannantz got it. I took my Alpha 9 out today to see if it does the same thing and it does. I thought I used to get more than 36 when I overspooled my own cassettes so they'd hold 40 frames. It might be with factory cassettes it knows exactly where frame 1 is and starts the roll specifically to end at 36.
@@DavidHancock I figured it out, the DX code discribes , ISO in the first row, frames 4fields + 2 fields exposure latetude . If you cover the first 4 fields of the 2nd row the camera rewinds on end of the physical film.
@@stefannantz oh fantastic! Thank you! That explains my recollection, too, as my reusable cassettes largely aren't DX coded.
I can't believe it took me so long to discover this remarkable camera. I have to get one now. A couple questions: can this camera take long exposures, like a couple of minutes? Is there a cable release function, or do you simply use the self-timer for this? Also, I understand only certain sessions will work with the a-9. How do you know which ones are compatible? Thanks for a great video.
It's an amazing camera, so to answer your questions, yes, yes, and no. :D
Yes, it can take long exposures. Up to 30 seconds with the camera's controls and longer using bulb.
Yes, there is an electronic cable release. That release is either button for bulb mode or you can slide a lock over the button for time mode. Then you can take exposures that are hours long, which I've done. It's great.
This will take any Alpha mount lens, Minolta or Sony. The SSD (I think that's the acronym) distance confirmation will not be used with this camera, but all the other functions will work a-okay.
@@DavidHancock thanks a million. So all Alpha mount lenses will work fine, with AF. Even SSD will work (but without the extra function)?
@@andrewrothman7805 Correct
@@DavidHancock excellent, thanks so much!
I'm a bit confused, Can the camera remember which frame each film was on? If I want to switch back and forth between BW and color for instance, should I set it to custom 3,2 and note down which frame I left it at, or can I set it to remember automatically?
Not exactly. I forget the exact order of operations, but what you would do is use some of the roll, rewind it to leave out a bit of leader, write on the leader which frame you were on, put in the other roll, and if it had been partly used direct the camera which frame to advance to.
@@DavidHancock OK thanks!
Hi! May i know how to control the timer?
I think the second video covers the self timer, but in short simply rotate the shooting mode dial to the self-timer icon and then the self-timer will delay the shutter.
ATG Gold Minolta A9Ti (modified/updated for SSM) is very rare which I have one.
The Minolta A9Ti (not compatible with SSM). It must be mod by ATG, which is not cheap.
You don't see much or any review on this model.
That's probably too expensive for any of the YT film camera reviewers.
David Hancock, so true.
Today, I don't see many real photographers. Just a lot of cheaters that rely on RAW, then look on a 3" screen and cheater/correct mistakes with pc.
Film cameras make you think, while today shooters like to add on a battery grip to mimic a pro camera.
Did you know ATG/Yoshihisa Maitani (Olympus) invented TTL in exposure & TTL film.
Then they allowed the rest of the world to join in.
Hasselblad didn't have TTL, you they asked ATG/Maitani/Minolta for help. At that time Leica needed ATG/Minolta assistance for their Leica's SLR cameras.
Moving forward Leica & Zeiss lenses are now not Germany but Japan.
The ATG Canon New F1 High Speed and ATG Canon EOS-1V HSr are by ATG/Canon. But these are stories at another time.
Hey! Thanks for the videos. I currently own an alpha 9 as well but it seems like it has some issues when rewinding the film. Could this be related to rewind motor or the batteries?
Is it rewinding it and leaving a short tab of film, or is it not rewinding at all?
@@DavidHancock Once I finish shooting a roll, the rewind motor starts making a sound like it doesn't have any power and the LCD screen turns off. Because of this, I have to turn off/on the camera, open the back door (expose the film) and then press the manual rewind button. I have to perform these steps multiple times to bring the film back to the canister. Everytime the camera tries to rewind the film it will stop this process and die.
Either the batteries are dead or there's a problem with the electronics. These are really hard to have repaired because there are very few of them to use as parts. But it's worth reaching out to some of the repair shops if you want to have it fixed. The larger ones may have the ability to fix it.
@@DavidHancock It is kind of odd because I'm using brand new batteries. It could be related to some internal electronics etc.
It definitely sounds that way, yes.
Here was me thinking my F4 was top class tech haha.
You maybe answered tthis already, but was this being sold at the same time as the F5?
This should have had some overlap with the F5. I forget if it had overlap with the F6.
The Nikon F100 was the response from Nikon to the Maxxum 9.