Vol 4 No 34 SPRING 2003 Photo by John Gilkerson 10% off repairs and servicing for MI MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION readers he Minolta Club Camera an warranty on a camera which TCheck Scheme now runs Information on this page is printed in each has just been repaired, or all year round, taking the overhauled. The warranty is an seasonal load off the serviceClub issue for yourChecks benefit – please use it. &optional extension of the usual department. We are now told six-month repair guarantee to a that Service will give Club Call 01908 200400 for service! full two years. This offer is ad- Checks ‘absolute priority’ ministered and underwritten by and these will normally be curacy,Warranties and focusing accuracy. Overhaul is important. The Domestic & General Insurance accomplished within 3-4 They also include checks for check may show that your shut- Company. Some parts for older days of receipt. This is great correct electronic operation, ter speeds and so on fall within models are now no longer news but please be sure film transport, AF operation, ISO tolerances, but an overhaul available, and Minolta have to to allow a little more time self timer, flash synchronis- may allow adjustment to bet- restrict these warranties to the – and please do not send ation and all other key opera- ter than ISO standards. It also list below. If your equipment equipment to the Club’s tional aspects of the camera. allows lubrication, tightening is more recent, but now out of Kelso address. External cleaning of camera of screws, internal cleaning and warranty, call the Service Dept As a Minolta Club member and lens is undertaken, along adjustments. for advice on 01908 200400. you have a permanent 10% with loose dust removal. If you wish to find out more discount off all repairs and Equipment which passes the Extended Warranty about the warranty terms, ring servicing if you deal directly tests will receive a Test Cer- Domestic & General’s Helpline with Minolta (UK) Limited. tificate and may qualify for the The Minolta Extended War- on 0181 944 4944. The Service Address is: Extended Warranty (right). If ranty Scheme is available Please note this is NOT the same Unit 7 Tanners Drive problems needing repair are on new equipment. However, number as for our Camera Equip- Blakelands found, you will be contacted you may be able to take out ment Insurance facility – see p35. Milton Keynes MK14 5BU. with an estimate – the Club Tel 01908 200400 Check cost is deducted from MINOLTA EXTENDED WARRANTY SCHEME – PRODUCT LIST If you ask for the discount, the cost of the repair if you SLR BODY MD LENSES Scan Speed your membership status will decide to go ahead. You also Dynax 9, 7 and 5 MD 100/4 macro Scan Dual, II be checked and validated. get your 10% discount. See also 800si, 700si, 600si MD 50/3.5 macro Quick Scan, Plus If this is disputed, you may new information about direct 500si & Super MD 135/2.8 tele ask the Service Department repairs, below. 505si Super MD 28/2.8 PHOTOMETERS to check with us, and we will 300si, 303si MS 100-300/5.6-6.7 Flash Meter V confirm your paid-up status Direct Repairs 404si MD 35-70 Colour Meter II or enable you to renew your X-700, X-370S MD 70-210 Colour Meter IIIF subscription if has lapsed not If you know your gear needs to MD 50/1.7 Flash Meter III, IV also 220X flash Spotmeter F more than six months ago. be repaired, remember that COMPACT Zoom 70, 70EX Spotmeter M Equipment under a repair may only tackle the 1st year Zoom 90, 90EX VECTIS Autometer IV-F warranty can be sent in di- fault that needs repairing, Zoom 105, 105EX Vectis 40, 300, 300L, Autometer III, IIIN rectly, accompanied by any just like a car repair. If you Zoom 115 3000, 2000, 30, 25, Autometer III Flash document showing the date have equipment which needs Zoom 125 260, 200, 20, 100BF, of purchase, including credit repair, you can still send it in Zoom 150 Weathermatic, GX-1, BINOCULARS card statements etc, even if for a Club Check service, en- Zoom Pico GX-2, GX-3, GX-4. Activa: 8x42DWP, you have not returned your closing your payment. AF-25, AF-35 Vectis S1, S-100, V 10x42WP, 7x35W, guarantee card. But you You can also send items F-25, F-35BF lenses 400RF, 22-80, 7x50, 8x40W, 50 macro, 28-56, 25- 10x50W, 12x50W, should always complete and directly to the service de- F 35ST Super 150, 56-170, 80-240, 7-15x35, 8-20x50, return warranty documents partment for repair estimates AF FLASH SF-1 flash 8-22x27, 10- after buying equipment. outside this scheme. Minolta 5600HS 30x27, Pocket (UK) Limited will accept equip- 3600HS DIGITAL 8x25WP, Pocket Club Checks ment directly from readers and 5400HS Dimage 7, 5 10x12WP, 8x25FM, provide estimates, it is not nec- 1200AF Macro Dimage S304 10x25FM,12x25FM. The cost of a Club Check, essary to go through a dealer. Dimage E203 Standard: 7- inclusive of VAT and return If the estimate is not accepted AF LENSES Dimage E201 15x35EZ, 8- insured carriage, is: then a charge of £5.88 is pay- AF 100-300 (D) Dimage RD-3000 20x50EZ £18.68 for camera + lens able for return. AF 24-105 (D) Dimage RD-175 Classic II: 7 x 35W, Dimage 2330 7 x 50, 8 x 40W, 10 £25.85 for all video and AF 75-300 (D) AF 28-80 (D) Dimage 2300 x 50W. digital products Overhauls AF 35-70/3.5-4.5 Dimage V Compact II: 8x25, Club Check tests include ACCESSORIES Dimage 1500EX 10x25. shutter speed accuracy, ap- The difference between the VC-600, VC-700, Scan Multi, II, Pro Pocket II: 8x22, erture accuracy, metering ac- Club Check, a Repair and an VC-7, VC-6, VC-9 Scan Elite, II 10x25. Î Minolta Image Spring 2003 • 2 no34 spring 2003 CONTENTS ����������� ����������� ��������� 2 Camera Check, Servicing & Repair Info �������������� 4 Who’s Who + Editorial 5 News David Kilpatrick describes a large 2003 launch of new products from Minolta, starting with the long-awaited sonic motor G(D)SSM lenses and converters. 8 The Image Space More of your excellent picture submissions for our completely open gallery of Minolta Club work, all of which will receive prizes of Fuji films. 13 Climate Change! How long should you leave your camera to warm up when you move from cold weather into a butterfly farm? MI #34. Urban reflections, by John Gilkerson. See feature article, page 14 Urban Reflections 14. Photo taken at Salford Quays, Minolta Dynax 700si with 135mm John Gilkerson hunts for landscapes in the windows of city ƒ2.8 AF lens, 1/90th at ƒ8, Kodak buildings instead of out in the countryside. Elitechrome EBX 100 film. 18 Bloomin’ Marvellous! Bill Shaw provides an inspiring portfolio and the basis for a project you can try yourself – macro photo coverage of the life history of a garden flower. All shot on colour negative film and printed by his local minilab, too. 22 Enchanted Islands Peter Karry makes a plea for tourism to the remote – and rather expenseive to reach – Galapagos Islands. There is more to them than wildlife, with landscape and architectural opportunities as well. 26 Ray’s Way: Catching Your Neighbours Ray Lea thinks that we need to photoraph people differently – with candid photography out of fashion, a snapshot approach to portraiture may leave behind a more human record of who we are. 28 Digital Camera Reader Test: Dimage F300 Emmanuel Agbaraojo finds that the new sleek 5 megapixel from Minolta may be a fair match for the Dimage 7 range in image quality as well as size. He has been testing his new acquisition in Singapore, and sent us these images by email. 32 Quest Workshops Continuing the new 2002-2003 programme from Minolta expert Colin Westgate. Minolta Image is a major sponsor of the Quest Workshop programme, and our readers are made especially welcome on these acclaimed photo and digital courses – look out for the Quest Open Day early in the year. 34 Club Events Some late reminders and updates on events and activities. 35 Membership, Subscriptions & Website Information Don’t forget that your Photostore, Club Lens Hire, battery compatibility, special logo branded Minolta goods and similar ‘cut out and send’ type offers are all contained in your Offers Supplement. We do this so you never need to cut up your Minolta Image issue. Minolta Image Spring 2003 • 3 INTRO who’s Update FROM THE EDITORIAL TEAM ne of the surprises at Focus on who? Imaging 2003 was the low price A GOOD SUMMER seems to be in store if the early Spring has been anything Oof the Minolta QMS colour laser to judge from. I am all too aware that having enjoyed a superb March, which printers. has persuaded us to even try clearing a flowerbed or two BEFORE the weeds These are really office printers and take over, we may yet be under six feet of snow in April. Hopefully it will be a produce a kind of print which is intended good year, we are due for one, and it always gives photography (the business, for things like estate agents’ sale sheets, and all camera users) a big boost. Just don’t forget to take your camera with but the photo quality is well ahead of you if you find yourself out and about more in fine weather! colour copiers of past years, including our £10,000-ish proofing copier in the Help with subscriptions, missing magazines etc office here.