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“The Minolta QTSi is marketed as an entry-level SLR,...”

written by Gunshot Lead. on 10/07/2001

Good Points
Fumble-proof Autofocus Point-and-Shoot Camera.
Strong suit is "snapshot" style of photography.
Supported by Canon family of interchangable lenses.

Bad Points
No manual or program control.
Autoexposure results are iffy.
Autofocus tends to hunt too much.
Slow continuous advance (1 fps).
No growth potential for amateurs/professionals.

General Comments
The Minolta QTSi is marketed as an entry-level SLR, but is really a Point-And-Shoot in SLR clothing. The camera has all the popular Vari-program settings (Sport, Landscape, Green mode, etc), but lacks any manual or priority control modes that would be of value to an amateur/professional. It has full compatibility and support of Minolta add-ons and accessories. The camera features multi-segment exposure metering available in higher-end models, but the results are marginal. In optimal daylight conditions, frames tended towards overexposure. The built-in flash has all the bells and whistles including red-eye reduction and fill-flash, but has a small Guide Number. Overall, it's a good fumble-proof camera, but is basically a heavy Point-and-Shoot. For those consumers looking for convenience, there are lighter, dedicated P&S 35mm with similar issues and a wider range of zoom lenses out of the box. Amateurs should consider moving up to the STsi which has manual controls for growth potential.