Rating: 
Summary: Maxxum HTSI Plus
Review: First, I will admit my bias. I love this camera. Period. It is chocked full of features, such as a multiple exposure option, that many more expensive cameras don't offer. My only complaint is that certain bits on the camera body feel cheap. I really wish Minolta had made the camera feel more susbstantial. Better quality materails and the like would have made this camera a 5-star in my book. I personally would have preferred a machined or stamped aluminium case. I have a Braun electric razor that has a stamped aluminium case, and it cost considerably less than this camera. My point? That little detail, the better quality materails, makes the razor feel like a top-quality item. Let's face it, the HTsi is not a $5,000 camera, but it is a rather good one. If I had it to do over, I would buy it again.
Rating: 
Summary: It's a Great Camera
Review: I am really a person that only needed a camera to just take photos, basicly family photos, then I bought this camera and I am very surprised and happy. In two weeks I've developed 12 rolls getting full satisfaction due to the high quality photos. It is easy to use and has very functions to become a pro. I know I have a great camera and I am enjoying it a lot. I recommend this camera....satisfaction guaranteed!
Rating: 
Summary: Exposure Problems
Review: I have a mixed review of this camera since i bought it about 8 months ago. Over all the technology for the price you get in this camera is great, with the exception of the Auto Focus (AF). When used in manual, you can get great pictures with this camera, but then you can get good pictures with any camera that works in manual, if you know what your doing. So the real issue is how good the AF works, which is how you end up taking 80% of your shots anyways. The AF on the Minolta HTsi Plus has some problems. One, it is a little slow to focus. I tried the Canon Rebel in the camera shop after I bought this camera and found the AF to be much faster. Two, this camera seems to have some serious exposure problems in AF. It never quite gets the exposure right. For example outside shots look bleached out more often then not, even when you try to light meter off the brightest spot first. Also, the contrast in color seems to always come out weak with this camera. I am not sure how much of this is the camera's fault or lens's fault as film also plays a role here, but pictures defiantly come out color poor. I have used a number of different films with this and they all come out color poor. Over all the technology in this Camera is good -AF so if you always use manual, this camera is good for that. But if you think you are going to do some percentage of point and shot with this camera, I would look elsewhere. If i had to do it over, I would have spent a little more and got the Canon Rebel.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful but not
Review: I have had this camera for a few weeks or so and it is great, but has down sides. This is my first "good" camera meaning an SLR, but have used them before. It is great when you use the AF (automatic) features because it shows you after the pictures are developed about lighting correctness, visual, etc. The down side is, unless you know about how lighting affects the exposure of the picture the manual features do not help much. But it is a decent camera for someome who wants to learn because it shows you the settings in the view finder in the AF mode.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Buy -- Excellent pictures
Review: I made my choice of the HTsi Plus after a comprehensive search of the various SLR bodies, weighing their features and their reviews in camera magazines. Within its price range, the HTsi principally competes with the Canon EOS Rebel 2000 and the Nikon N60, both of which are excellent cameras, but which lack the full panoply of features found on the HTsi Plus. For example, the HTsi plus combines Bulb exposure (the ability to hold the shutter open manually), remote shutter control, 1/4000 maximum shutter speed, a full shutter-priority mode, and a well-respected 14-segment light meter. As with the Canon and Nikon, the HTsi's body is plastic, an aspect about which some photographers express reservations, but the plastic seems extremely durable, and remember that a light camera is a joy to carry (and if you do not carry the camera, you are never going to get those perfect but fleeting shots). The only thing missing on the HTsi is a depth-of-field preview feature, which is available on the Canon. Were it not for that, I would find little future need to upgrade. Regardless, for an amateur just getting into photography again, the HTsi has been perfect. For adaptability, the HTsi has three essential levels of complexity. Use P mode for fully automatic snapshots -- great for when you need someone else to take your picture. Use the Creative Exposure Mode for a bit more customization and to adjust it to one of five situations (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, and night). Finally, use either the Aperture-Priority, Shutter-Priority, or fully manual modes to bring out the real photographer in you. After all, playing with f-stops and shutter speeds is where the fun of photography is anyway. I admittedly spend most of my time in this last mode, but the flexibility is highly appreciated (sometimes, one just does not have the time to fuss with dials). The results from the HTsi have been fabulous. The flash seems to respond well to the darkest of conditions, and the 28-80 zoom lens offers the flexibility needed for a budding photographer. My only criticism is that the autofocus can be slow to respond in some lighting conditions. So far, I have taken rolls of photos for my organization, and everyone seems impressed with the results. I also bought a set of Tiffen close-up filters for doing macro photography, and the results have been quite stunning. A final word. Amazon offers one of the best deals on the Net with service and peace-of-mind that you simply cannot beat. Believe me, I checked. I tried one of those mail order camera stores that advertise ultra low prices. By the time they "upgraded" me to what they viewed was an acceptable camera and charged me their exorbitant shipping fee, the price was higher than here. And guess what? Amazon's package already had all of those so-called "upgrades" -- without the hassle. Thanks Amazon!
Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Camera
Review: I purchased a Minolta HTsi Plus camera in October 2000 and have shot an average of two rolls of film per week with this camera since then. I have nothing but praise for this camera. The HTsi Plus has never failed me in any way. I suggest you buy the body only. Don't spend money on a 28-80 lens that may come in some camera kits; rather put that money into a lens that gives you much more flexibility, like a 28-200 lens. I use Sigma 28-200 and 70-300 auto focus lenses, and I can report nothing but satisfaction, reliability, and ease of use. I had considered purchasing a more expensive SLR camera, but today I am pleased I did not, for this camera is perfect for me, an experienced but amateur photographer. I have had loads of fun with this camera and taken hundreds of wonderful photos. I recommend the Minolta HTsi Plus without hesitation or qualification.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect for beginners who want to become experts.
Review: I went from a point and shoot camera to this one and I love it! In plain English, I can set the f-stop, set how long the shutter stays open, take two pictures in the same frame, take continuous shots, and exposure bracketing lets me set the meter then it takes three shots: the one I set, 1/2 stop under and 1/2 stop over. Plus, in the five program modes I just press a button to select which mode (macro, night, landscape, etc.) and it automatically knows where to focus for the kind of picture I want. Just about all the features of a full manual camera, yet I just press the P button and it goes right back to full-auto point and shoot mode. With 400 speed film I've taken excellent pictures in almost no light in the night mode. As far as I can tell it lacks only two features: it doesn't time-date stamp and there is no panoramic mode. Also, the infra-red sensor on the front of the camera is apparently for the auto-focus, not for a remote/remote shutter capability, as I was told when I bought it. A remote shutter release cord is available for this camera... (Minolta part # RC1000L for the 16ft and RC1000S for the 15in.) I bought my HTsi Plus in a camera shop and paid... more for it, so you can't go wrong getting it here.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: So happy we selected the Minolta Maxxum HTsi camera,the instructions make it very easy to use and it is much lighter in weight than we expected. Came on time for our first granddaughter Makenna.
Rating:
Summary: Misses the panorama mode
Review: The HTsi misses the panaroma capability, which is a differentiator with the XTsi. So, in case you are looking for the panorama mode, choose the XTSi. The other features are quite good. The camera handles well.
Rating:
Summary: excellent camera
Review: This camera for the few weeks and 4 rolls of film outside and inside both gave consistent great results. Indoor pics with flash come out well exposed, sharp and colors are very good at 400 speed fuji film. The lens is sufficient for start easy to handle and autofocus feature is great on it. Different picture modes do work and make difference. At best buy this one comes with a kit that includes a 1a filter which is quite nice also. If you do buy it there get the 4 yr protection plan its well workth it and its only 20 bucks. However i did end up returning it for one reason only - what I tought would be my drive for photography turned out not so so I figure for my purpose 100 bucks point and shoot will do =). I am going to buy a point and shoot minolta though this HTSI gave me faith in minolta products.
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