The Minolta Dynax 800si, released in 1997 (sold as the Maxxum 800si in North America), was the flagship of Minolta's advanced-amateur autofocus SLR line — the most capable Dynax below the professional 9-series, using the Minolta AF (A-type) bayonet.
Highlights include a top shutter speed of 1/8000 second, Minolta's acclaimed 14-segment honeycomb metering plus spot metering, predictive autofocus with a built-in motor drive, an unusually powerful built-in flash with wireless off-camera TTL control of Minolta system flashes, an eyepiece shutter, extensive custom functions and a big top-deck LCD — all powered by a single 2CR5 lithium battery.
Its significance is as peak late-90s Minolta engineering at pocket-money prices: the A-mount it uses lived on through Sony's DSLRs, so lenses are abundant and cheap in the UK, and the 800si's spec still embarrasses many modern film-shooter choices — one reason it maintains steady ten-listing volume.
UK used-buying checks: put a 2CR5 in and check the top LCD for bleed or missing segments, the most common age fault; work the command dials and mode buttons for dead detents; fire at 1/8000 and listen for consistent shutter sound, and check the shutter blades for oil; test the pop-up flash and, if you use Minolta flashes, the wireless TTL trigger; inspect the film door seals and pressure plate; and remember grip rubber often turns sticky — cosmetic, but a haggling point. With bodies this cheap, prioritise one sold with a decent Minolta AF lens, since the glass is where the value hides.