Minolta's Dynax 400si — entry si-series autofocus SLR, fully electronic, Minolta A mount, 1995.
The Minolta Dynax 400si, from 1995, was an entry-level body in the fourth-generation si-series of Minolta autofocus SLRs. It was sold as the Dynax 400si in Europe, the Maxxum 400si in North America and the Alpha 303si in Japan. The si-series simplified some of the xi automation and returned toward more conventional controls, keeping the Minolta A mount.
It is a 35mm single-lens-reflex on the Minolta A bayonet with body-integral autofocus. It offers program and manual exposure with through-the-lens metering, and is a fully electronic body whose electronically controlled shutter and motorised film transport both depend on battery power, with an LCD for settings. A built-in flash and subject-program modes were part of the si generation's consumer-friendly design.
The 400si suits a beginner or traveller after an affordable, easy autofocus SLR with access to the Minolta A lens range. It handles as a light, mostly automatic camera for everyday pictures, with subject programs for common scenes. Its limits are the simplified controls and its full reliance on electronics.
On the used market, check the LCD for missing segments and confirm the autofocus and electronic shutter work. Test the motorised advance and rewind, verify the meter and the built-in flash, and inspect the foam light seals for perishing. Clean the battery contacts, confirm the correct battery, and remember the fully electronic body will not fire without power.