Minolta's 1998 consumer AF 35mm SLR — A-mount, 30s-1/4000s, 14-segment metering, sold as Maxxum XTsi in the US.
The Minolta Dynax 505si is a 1998 autofocus 35mm SLR from Minolta's consumer si-series, sold in North America as the Maxxum XTsi and in Japan as the Alpha Sweet. It is a separate model from the Dynax 505si Super, which followed with added features, and sat above the entry 404si in the late-1990s Dynax range.
It uses the Minolta A-type bayonet with body-integral autofocus driven by two vertical sensors plus a central cross-type sensor. The electronically controlled focal-plane shutter runs from 30s to 1/4000s. Metering is a 14-segment silicon system switchable to spot, with exposure compensation to plus/minus 3EV, and modes span full program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual plus subject programs. Film speed sets by DX from ISO 25-5000 or manually from ISO 6-6400. The penta-mirror finder shows about 90% of the frame, a guide-number-12 flash is built in, and the body weighs roughly 350g running on CR2 lithium batteries.
The 505si makes an inexpensive gateway into the vast Minolta/Sony A-mount lens catalogue, with enough manual control for students learning exposure and enough automation for casual shooting. It is light and plasticky but capable; the Super variant and pro-grade Dynax bodies overshadow it for enthusiasts, which keeps prices low.
Check the usual late-1990s AF SLR points: LCD panels for bleed or missing segments, the AF drive for smooth operation with a lens mounted, the built-in flash for charge and fire, film-door seals, and the mirror bumper. These need CR2 batteries to function at all, so test powered. Grip rubbers can turn sticky with age; a clean example with a 35-80mm kit zoom is the common used package.