Titanium Exterior Covering

The Maxxum 9Ti is crafted with an extremely durable titanium shell on the top, front, and back of the body, as well as the built-in flash housing. The titanium shell is lightweight, rigid, and corrosion resistant, and is finished with a protective clear coating that resists stains and fingerprints.

Rugged Body Design

To further enhance durability, a lightweight and rigid magnesium alloy die-casting with black matte finish is applied to the Maxxum 9Ti°s bottom, providing a low center of gravity for optimum stability when the camera is mounted on a tripod. All plastic parts are coated with a scratch-resistant UV-hardened polymer. Additionally, the bottom of the camera body is covered with a thick, shock-absorbing rubber pad. Internally, an aluminum die-cast frame lowers operating noise and improves reliability.

Dust and Moisture Resistance

The Maxxum 9Ti body is also designed for dust and moisture resistance, providing added security when shooting in severe climate conditions. The inside of the shutter-release button is sealed with a rubber gasket to keep out dust and moisture. The viewfinder is sealed with resin to protect from dust.

100% Field of View Viewfinder

For truly precise framing, the Maxxum 9Ti viewfinder provides a 100% field of view with a magnification of 0.73X. This full coverage lets the photographer see the complete picture, thereby eliminating the chance of photographing unintended subjects in the edges of the film frame.

Long Eye Relief

The Maxxum 9Ti°s entire viewfinder frame can be seen from 22.1mm away from the eyepiece glass, and 18.3mm from the eyepiece frame. This makes the camera very comfortable to use while wearing eyeglasses.

Continuous Film Advance to 5.5 fps

Recent improvements in the sequence of shutter charge, aperture/mirror charge, and film advance enable the Maxxum 9Ti to achieve an action-catching continuous film advance speed of 5.5 frames per second in single-shot AF and manual focus, and top 4.5 fps in continuous AF mode, without requiring a separate battery pack or motor drive.

World's Fastest Shutter Speed ° 1/12,000 sec.

The Maxxum 9Ti°s shutter blades are made from carbon fiber reinforced epoxy ° a material that is 30% lighter yet stronger and more durable than metallic shutters. As a result, the Maxxum 9Ti can achieve the world°s fastest shutter speed of 1/12,000 sec., and a flash sync speed of 1/300 sec. A speed of 1/12,000 sec. is capable of freezing almost any action, and enables the photographer to shoot with wider apertures in bright daylight. The 1/300 flash sync allows wider apertures for daylight sync shots of objects at a distance, and reduces ghosting and blurring.

Eye-Start Automation

Eye-Start Operation provides an instant response to any photographic situation, saving precious seconds and allowing the photographer to capture moments that might otherwise be missed. When the camera is brought to the eye, an infrared emitter/detector beneath the viewfinder eyepiece activates the autofocus and autoexposure systems automatically, without the need to touch the shutter-release button or any other control. Eye-Start Operation can be turned on or off as desired, or activated with or without the camera°s grip sensor.

Three-Point Crosscut Autofocusing

Minolta°s three-point AF sensor configuration is able to catch and track a subject quicker and more precisely than ever before. Three AF sensors cover the wide focusing area: a left, a right, and a crosshair-type sensor in the center that tracks subjects in both horizontal and vertical directions. LEDs are projected through the pentaprism into the viewfinder to indicate the selected local focus area. Accurate focusing is achieved regardless of subject brightness, and the system is able to track abrupt changes in speed and direction ° even U-turns ° perfectly. With a 300mm telephoto lens attached, for example, the Maxxum 9Ti can accurately follow an object moving as fast as 25 miles per hour to within 33 feet.

Three Autofocus Modes

The Maxxum 9Ti allows the photographer to select the AF mode that best suits the subject. Single-shot AF locks the focus when the shutter-release button is pressed partway down. Continuous AF maintains focus on a moving subject until the picture is taken. With Automatic AF Selection, the camera continues to focus when the subject is moving and locks focus when the subject is still.

Selectable AF Drive Speed

The Maxxum 9Ti offers selectable high and low AF drive speeds, for more effective focusing and easier AF control to match specific purposes. High-speed AF is useful when taking many shots in a short time span, such as for sports or fashion. Low-speed AF is ideally suited for shooting in dim light, for macro shots, or in quiet situations when silence is required.

Focus Priority & Release Priority

When using autofocus, shutter release is normally focus priority to ensure a high percentage of sharp results. However, the Maxxum 9Ti can also be set to release priority, to ensure the top frame-per-second rate of the selected drive mode.

14-Segment Honeycomb-Pattern Metering

The Maxxum 9Ti°s silicon photocell is divided into 14 segments - thirteen in a honeycomb array, plus the background. The metering system uses autofocus information to determine the subject°s location, and constructs an appropriate metering pattern around it. The uniform size, shape, and distribution of each segment results in precise control of the metering pattern and therefore, the exposure. Slight subject movement results in slight adjustments to the weighting of segments within the pattern. If subject movement becomes great enough to affect the exposure, the metering pattern shifts smoothly to compensate. As a result, the Maxxum 9 is able to set the correct exposure even in very tricky lighting.

Delayed Shutter Release Mirror Lock-Up

This feature prevents vibrations produced by pressing the shutter-release button or during mirror lifting from having a negative effect on the photograph, especially when long shutter speeds are used when shooting on a tripod.

Center-Weighted and Spot Metering

In addition to 14-segment metering, the Maxxum 9Ti also offers center-weighted and spot metering modes. Spot metering concentrates all of the meter°s sensitivity into the middle segment - approximately 2.7% of the image area. In spot mode, pressing the AE lock button holds the reading so the photographer can recompose the scene as desired.

Four-Segment Flash Metering

Direct four-segment TTL flash metering enables the camera to accurately adjust flash exposure to the subject position. Three of the metering segments cover the wide focus area, aligned with the three AF sensors, while the fourth segment covers a broader outer area. Based on the subject°s magnification, position, and distance from the background, the Maxxum 9Ti selects the segment that detects where the subject is most likely to be and bases the flash metering on that segment. As a result, correct flash exposure is ensured regardless of the subject°s position or distance from the background, even if the background reflects the flash light more than the subject does.

Rear-Flash Sync

With slow shutter speeds (below 1/90), rear-flash sync creates a natural and pleasing effect with moving subjects by producing traces behind the subject (exposed by the ambient light), and sharply exposing the subject itself. When the shutter speed is over 1/90, the flash fires at the front-flash sync even if rear-flash sync is selected. Rear-flash sync is not available with red-eye reduction or wireless flash operation.

Durable Built-In Flash

For optimum versatility, the Maxxum 9Ti includes a built-in flash with a rugged stainless steel housing for durability. The flash is a manual switchover type with lift-up and pushdown operation, and covers 24mm with a guide number of 39 feet (12 meters) at ISO 100.

Wireless Remote Off-Camera Flash Control

The Maxxum 9Ti can control off-camera 5400HS, 5200xi, or 3500xi Maxxum flash units without accessory cords or connectors. Flash control signals are sent from the camera°s built-in flash or an attached 5400HS, 5400xi, 3500xi, or Wireless Remote Flash Controller. Accessory flashes may be placed as far from the camera as 16.4 feet. For optimum convenience and placement versatility, Maxxum 5400HS, 5400xi, and 3500xi flash units include Maxxum°s accessory Mini Stand MS-2 with 1/4-20 tripod socket.

Metering Index

A sophisticated metering index displayed in the right edge of the viewfinder makes checking exposure quick and easy, even in the dark. The index reads from -3EV to +3EV, in ° or 1/3 EV increments, and shows the exposure compensation setting in P, A, and S modes. In M mode, it indicates the difference between the metered value and the value that has been set. In AE lock, the metering index shows the difference between the locked value and the value of the currently centered area.

Creative Exposure Control

In addition to fully automatic Program mode with automatic Expert Program Selection, the Maxxum 9Ti also provides PA, PS, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, and Manual Shift exposure-control modes.

Manual Shift

In Manual mode, this timesaving feature allows the photographer to quickly change aperture and shutter settings without affecting the original exposure.

Mid-Roll Reload

This innovative function automatically advances a partially exposed roll of film to the frame selected by the photographer, thereby minimizing time and the risk of accidental double exposure.

Four Interchangeable Focusing Screens

Four user-interchangeable, Spherical Matte focusing screens are available for the Maxxum 9Ti. These include the standard type G (all matte), type L (matte field with grid), type S (matte field with vertical/horizontal scales), and the super spherical type M (for users who frequently use fast other_features with maximum apertures of f/1.4 - 2.8 in manual focus mode; type M makes it easier to find the focus point when using fast other features). The application of the Spherical Matte produces less shade in the center of the screen even when using a slow telephoto lens.

Data Memory

The Maxxum 9Ti°s data memory function can store aperture value, shutter speed, exposure, and flash compensation increments from as many as 7 rolls of 36-exposure film. The photographer can then access the photographic data when referring to the image.

Illuminated LCD Data Panel

The Maxxum 9Ti°s LCD data panel is always easy to see. The backlit, on-body panel lets the user quickly recognize the camera settings, which may prevent mistakes while photographing in low-light situations

23 Custom Settings

The Maxxum 9Ti provides a wide selection of custom settings to enable you to truly personalize the camera for your particular style.

1. AF priority/release priority

2. Film rewind: auto or manual

3. Film leader: rewound into cartridge/left out/left out with mid reload

4. DX memory: off/on

5. Shutter-release lock (with no film in chamber): off/on

6. Lens focus-hold button: Focus hold/select spot focus area/continuous AF

7. Eyepiece sensor activation: with grip sensor on/without grip sensor on

8. Frame counter: normal/count down

9. AF area selection: wide or local/center only

10. AE lock activation: while button is pressed/after button is pressed

11. Bracketing sequence: metered exposure, -,+/-, metered exposure, +

12. Film rewind speed: fast/slow

13. Exposure setting display duration: 5/10/30 sec.

14. Local focus area display: 0.1 sec. on at focus lock/0.6 sec. on at focus lock/on only when AF button is pressed

15. Eye-start switch function: eye-start on/off, dial-lock on-off with eye-start on/dial-lock on-off with eye start off

16. Shutter-release lock when lens is not attached: locked/released

17. AF drive speed: fast/low

18. Front & rear dial operation in P/A/S modes (4 options): 1) P mode F/R: No function; A mode F/R: Aperture; S mode F/R: Shutter speed. 2) P mode F: PS, R: PA; A mode F/R: Aperture; S mode F/R: Shutter speed. 3) P mode F: PA, R: Exposure comp.; A mode F: Aperture, R: Exposure comp.; S mode F: Shutter speed, R: Exposure comp. 4) P mode F: PS, R: Exposure comp.; A mode F: Aperture, R: Exposure comp.; S mode F: Shutter speed, R: Exposure comp.

19. Front & rear dial operation: as set by #18/reversed

20. Flash metering: 4-segment/average/spot

21. Exposure compensation display: no/yes

22. AF Illuminator: Fires if necessary/canceled

23. Front/Rear control dial lock when exposure not being metered: Off/On (dial disengaged)

Type:

35mm SLR with built-in flash, autofocus, and autoexposure

Body Material:

Titanium top, front, and back exterior covering; magnesium alloy die-cast bottom

Lens:

Minolta Maxxum and Minolta AF lenses; Minolta A-type stainless steel bayonet mount

Film Type:

35mm film

Eye-Start Automation:

AF and AE automatically activated/deactivated by combination of eyepiece and grip sensors. Eye-start is turned on/off by eye-start switch

AF SYSTEM:

Type:

Minolta°s through-the-lens (TTL) phase-detection system with 3-point Cross Hair type CCD line sensor. Activated by eye start or by pressing the AF button or shutter-release button partway down; auto/manual focus switchable manually; multi-dimensional predictive focus control for moving subjects.

AF Modes:

Single-shot, continuous, automatic switchover mode

Focus Area:

Wide focus area (LED illumination time of selected local focus areas can be extended)

AF Sensitivity:

EV -1 ° +18 (at ISO 100)

AF Illuminator:

Built-in LED 3-target AF illuminator; activated in low-light/low-contrast situations: range: 2.3 - 23 ft. (based on Minolta°s standard test methods with 50mm lens)

Manual Focusing:

By monitoring focus signals in viewfinder data panel and/or visually on the spherical acute-matte viewfinder screen.

METERING SYSTEM:

Ambient:

14-segment honeycomb-pattern metering, center-weighted average metering, spot metering

Flash:

4-segment flash metering, average metering, or local-focus-area-aligned spot metering selectable in Custom Function; automatically activated by pressing the AE-lock button or the shutter-release button partway down.

Metering Cell:

14-segment honeycomb-pattern SPC (silicon photo cell), 4-segment flash-metering SPC

Metering Range:

14-segment honeycomb-pattern metering: EV 0-20; center-weighted average metering: EV 0-20; spot metering: EV 3-20 (based on Minolta°s standard test method at ISO 100 with f/1.4 lens)

EXPOSURE MODES:

Programmed AE (P mode):

Programmed control of aperture and shutter speed based on lens specifications and scene characteristics; PA and PS modes selectable in Custom Function.

Aperture Priority (A mode):

Aperture selectable in ° EV or 1/3 EV increments; shutter speed from 1/12,000 to 30 sec. set by autoexposure program.

Shutter Priority (S mode):

Shutter speed from 1/12,000 to 30 sec. manually selectable in ° EV or 1/3 EV increments; aperture set by autoexposure program.

Manual Exposure (M mode):

Any available shutter speed/aperture selectable in ° EV or 1/3 EV increments; correct, over-/under-exposure indicated in viewfinder; BULB also selectable

EXPOSURE COMPENSATION:

Exposure compensation dial control:

-/+ 3 EV in ° EV increments; -/+ 2 EV in 1/3 EV increments

Rear dial control:

-/+ 3 EV in ° EV increments; -/+ 3 EV in 1/3 EV increments

Flash Compensation:

-/+ 3 EV in ° EV increments

Exposure Lock:

Exposure locked automatically with AF lock (available only in 14-segment honeycomb-pattern metering), or with AE-lock button.

Shutter:

Electronically-controlled, vertical-traverse, focal-plane type; range: 1/12,000 - 30 sec., plus BULB; Flash sync: 1/300 sec. or slower. With shutter speeds faster than 1/300 sec., camera will automatically switch to HSS mode (only with Program Flash 5400HS).

BUILT-IN FLASH:

Guide Number:

39 (in feet at ISO 100); flash coverage for 24mm lens

Recycling Time:

Approx. 2.5 seconds

Control:

Manual switchover; lift-up for fill flash, push down for flash cancel

Flash Modes:

Fill Flash, Fill Flash with Red-Eye Reduction (pre flash), Flash Cancel, Wireless/Remote Off-Camera Flash (with or without 2:1 ratio), Rear-Flash Sync., High-Speed Sync (HSS) flash available with Program Flash 5400HS.

ISO Setting:

Automatic setting for DX-coded ISO 25-5000 films (in 1/3 EV increments)

DX-coded ISO Range with Flash:

ISO 25-1000; non DX-coded film is set to the previous ISO

Manual ISO Setting:

ISO 6-6400 (in 1/3 EV increments)