I actually got this Minolta Dynax 300si for free. It had a faulty battery door when it came to me, which initially made me think it might need a little work, but it turned out to be surprisingly easy to fix. Once that was sorted, the camera came straight back to life and has been working perfectly ever since.
Released in 1995, the Dynax 300si is a fully automatic 35mm autofocus SLR designed to make shooting film as straightforward as possible. It has motorised film advance and rewind, several automatic shooting programmes and a built-in flash. It is actually the first film SLR I have owned with an integrated flash, as well as the first in my collection to have been released after 1990.
What I like most about it is just how quick and easy it is to use. There is very little to think about, and despite being more than thirty years old, everything about it feels familiar enough that someone who has never used one before could probably pick it up and start shooting almost immediately.
It might not offer the level of control found on some of my older SLRs, but that is not really the point. The 300si is small, uncomplicated and does the job well. Considering how inexpensive these cameras can still be, I think it would make a great choice for someone wanting to start shooting film without spending too much money.
No photos from this camera have been published yet – a roll is probably still being developed.