Outstanding Image Quality
The Maxxum 70 DATE has all you need to take beautiful photographs. High-performance autofocusing, state-of-the-art exposure metering, top-quality Maxxum lenses, and a wide range of exposure control modes ensure that you?ll be able to capture the kind of images you?ll be proud to display.

High-Performance 9-Point Autofocusing
A fast and precise 9-Point AF System makes up the Maxxum 70 DATE?s wide focus area. The nine sensors are laid out to the ?rule of thirds? and work in unison, giving you the creative flexibility of positioning your main subject anywhere within the wide focus frame. The center crosshair sensor ensures precise focus regardless of vertical or horizontal subject contrast. In continuous AF mode, the 9-point system takes control so you can concentrate completely on viewfinder image.

Predictive Focus Control
All AF SLR cameras experience a minute delay when taking pictures because the mirror must be lifted out of the optical path. Especially with telephoto lenses, this slight delay can be significant with fast moving subjects moving toward the camera. To ensure the most precise subject focus, the Maxxum 70 DATE uses Predictive Focus Control which calculates subject movement and continues to adjust the focus after shutter-release until the exposure is made.

14-Segment Honeycomb-Pattern Metering
The Maxxum 70 DATE?s state-of-the-art metering system delivers accurate exposures under a wide range of photographic conditions. 14-segment metering measures light levels from 13 segments in a honeycomb pattern across the viewfinder frame, plus the background area, with emphasis on the segments surrounding the active AF sensor.

Focus Area Illumination
While following moving subjects in the viewfinder you?ll know exactly what the Maxxum 70 DATE is autofocusing on. A local focus area or spot focus area on the viewfinder screen blinks to show that it is being used to focus the moving subject.

Direct Manual Focusing
The Maxxum 70 gives you the high performance of autofocus plus the creative control of manual focus without the need to change focusing modes. With D-Series lenses, Direct Manual Focus (DMF) lets you fine-tune the focus quickly and easily using the lens? focus ring after the focus is locked by the AF system.

Spot Metering
Spot metering mode concentrates the meter?s sensitivity into the center segment for precise metering of a small portion of the subject or scene. By using a specific area of the scene to set the exposure, the effect of dramatic lighting can be preserved or accentuated in a photograph.

Built-In Flash
The Maxxum 70 DATE?s built-in flash provides coverage for lenses as wide as 28mm. Auto, flash cancel, fill-flash, red-eye reduction, and wireless remote flash control modes give you creative flash control at your fingertips. For greater flash output and versatility, high-powered Maxxum flash units are available as optional accessories.

Advanced Distance Integration (ADI) Flash Metering
When used with Minolta D lenses, the Maxxum 70 DATE?s ADI flash metering combines subject distance data with the light intensity measurement data from the pre-flash to determine and control flash output. ADI technology uses the AF CCD sensor (with the built-in flash), or 14-segment metering of the reflected pre-flash (with external flash units). ADI?s ability to utilize subject distance data achieves more accurate flash metering than conventional TTL flash metering. With non-D lenses, pre-flash TTL metering is used.

High-Speed Synch (HSS) ? 1/2000 sec.
When using Maxxum HS flash units, the Maxxum 70 DATE is able to use flash sync shutter speeds up to 1/2000 second. High-Speed Sync allows much more control over a flash exposure, particularly under bright light conditions. HSS is a valuable asset when taking portraits outdoors because it lets you select large apertures to create a shallow depth-of-field, which separates your subject from the background.

Wireless/Remote Flash Control
This exclusive Maxxum feature lets you use multiple Maxxum HS program flash units off-camera without cords or connectors. Models 5600HS(D) and 3600HS(D) may be used. Flash control signals are sent from the camera?s built-in flash.

Fully Automatic Program Mode
In the fully automatic Program (P) mode, the Maxxum 70 DATE operates just like a point & shoot camera. The camera does all the work, leaving you completely free to concentrate on the subject and scene.

PA/PS Program Shift
This very useful feature lets you enjoy the creative benefits of aperture- or shutter-priority photography without having to change exposure modes. While in P mode you can quickly shift the programmed autoexposure setting to a desired aperture or shutter speed without affecting the original exposure value. All without taking your eye off the viewfinder.

Subject Program Selection
Subject Program Selection gives beginner photographers the ability to control the camera based on the subject, without a working knowledge of apertures and shutter speeds. Five modes are available:

• Portrait ? controls the aperture to produce a shallow depth-of-field to isolate the subject from the background.
• Landscape ? controls the aperture to produce a deep depth-of-field so that the foreground and background are sharp. Ideal for travel photos.
• Close-Up ? optimizes the depth-of-field to the image magnification to produce a sharp subject with a defocused background.
• Sports Action ? the AF system continually adjusts focus to follow the subject, and the AE system optimizes the shutter speed to freeze action.
• Night Portrait ? balances the flash exposure on the subject with the ambient background light so that both the subject and scene are accurately reproduced in the image. When the flash is turned off, beautiful pictures of night scenes can be taken.

Unlimited Creative Control
For beginners and amateurs alike, the Maxxum 70 DATE can either take over control or hand over control with a full selection of exposure modes. In Programmed AE the camera does all the work -- it analyzes subject movement and distance, lens focal length, plus subject and background brightness, then sets the optimum combination of aperture and shutter speed automatically. In Aperture-priority you select the lens aperture and the camera sets the shutter speed. In Shutter-priority you select the shutter speed and the camera sets the aperture. In Manual mode you select both the aperture and shutter speed in any combination.

Exposure Compensation and Bracketing
Exposure can be compensated up to +/-3 Ev in 0.5 increments. And to ensure you get the optimum exposure for tricky high-contrast scenes, a three bracket series can be made in 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, or 1.0 Ev increments.

3 fps Continuous Film Advance
For capturing action as it unfolds, select continuous film advance. The film advances at 3 frames per second as long as you hold the shutter-release button down.

Depth-of-Field Preview
This highly sought after feature gives you the ability to evaluate the zone of sharp focus within your image at a given aperture; making it easy to check subject and background focus or see the extent of sharp detail in macro photography.

Fully Automatic Film Operation
Loading film is simple and quick. All you do is insert the film cartridge, position the film leader, and close the camera back. The camera sets the film speed, threads the film, advances to each frame, then rewinds the film when the roll is finished. Additionally, you can activate the rewind function anytime.

Film Chamber Lock
This valuable security feature prevents the back cover from being inadvertently opened while there is usable film in the camera. The film chamber unlocks automatically once film rewind occurs.

Diopter Adjustment
This feature lets eyeglass wearers use the Maxxum 70 without wearing glasses, so they?ll always see a full and crisp viewfinder image. A click-stop slide switch hidden behind the eyepiece cup adjusts the viewfinder from -2 to +1 diopters..

Date/Time Imprinting
The Maxxum 70 DATE imprints the date and time onto the photo, when desired. Data imprinting is very useful for cataloging photographs or keeping records of important events.

15 Custom Functions
The Maxxum 70 is the only camera in its class to offer 15 custom functions. Now you can custom-tailor the camera to suit your preferences. Functions 1 ? 15 are as follows:

1. AF priority/shutter-release priority
2. Film rewind start ? automatic/manual
3. Film tip rewound/left out
4. DX memory off/on
5. Shutter-release lock when no film in chamber ? released/locked
6. Lens focus-hold button ? focus hold/continuous AF/depth-of-field preview
7. P mode settings ? normal with autoflash/PA with flash off/PS with flash off
8. AF area selection with AF button ? pressing activates spot focus area & locks focus; removing finger from button returns to wide focus area; other focus area selected with control dial & removing finger returns to wide focus area./Pressing activates selected focus area & locks focus; focus area or wide or spot selected with control dial, selected focus area remains after finger is removed./Each press toggles focus area between wide and spot, selected focus area appears in viewfinder, data panel displays selected area only during selection.
9. AE lock button activated while pressed/activated after pressed & canceled by pressing again
10. AF illuminator by built-in flash ? yes/no
11. Flash metering - ADI/TTL
12. Selected focus area indication in viewfinder screen ? always at focus lock for .3 or .6 sec./only when focus area selected
13. Shutter-release lock without lens attached ? locked/released
14. Shutter-release lock with back cover open ? locked/released
15. Setting date format ? year-month-day/month-day-year/day-month-year

Optional Wireless Remote Control
Available as an accessory, the IR remote control RC-3 can be used with the Maxxum 70 DATE to release the shutter from up to 16 feet away. Ideal for self-portraits, group shots, or when taking pictures of dimly-lit scenes with the camera mounted on a tripod.