<s>
It	O
made	O
the	O
first	O
integrated	O
autofocus	O
35mm	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
system	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
19	O
January	O
2006	O
,	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
announced	O
that	O
it	O
was	O
leaving	O
the	O
camera	O
and	O
photo	O
business	O
,	O
and	O
that	O
it	O
would	O
sell	O
a	O
portion	O
of	O
its	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
business	O
to	O
Sony	B-Algorithm
as	I-Algorithm
part	O
of	O
its	O
move	O
to	O
pull	O
completely	O
out	O
of	O
the	O
business	O
of	O
selling	O
cameras	O
and	O
photographic	O
film	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1937	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	O
Flex	O
is	O
Japan	O
's	O
second	O
twin-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
(	O
after	O
the	O
Prince	O
Flex	O
by	O
Neumann	O
&	O
Heilemann	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1958	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
SR-2	I-Algorithm
is	O
Minolta	O
's	O
first	O
single-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
1962	O
:	O
John	O
Glenn	O
takes	O
a	O
specially	O
modified	O
Ansco-logoed	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Hi-Matic	I-Algorithm
camera	O
into	O
space	O
aboard	O
Friendship	O
7	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1966	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
SR-T	I-Algorithm
101	I-Algorithm
SLR	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
is	O
one	O
of	O
the	O
first	O
with	O
TTL	O
(	O
through-the-lens	O
)	O
full	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
light	O
metering	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1972	O
:	O
Minolta	O
signs	O
an	O
agreement	O
to	O
cooperate	O
with	O
Leica	O
in	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
development	O
;	O
</s>
<s>
1973	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
CL	I-Algorithm
is	O
the	O
first	O
fruit	O
of	O
this	O
agreement	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1976	O
:	O
The	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R3	I-Algorithm
is	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
produces	O
the	O
R3	O
,	O
R4	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
R5	B-Algorithm
models	O
in	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R	I-Algorithm
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1977	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
XD-11	I-Algorithm
(	O
N	O
.	O
America	O
only	O
,	O
XD-7	O
worldwide	O
)	O
is	O
introduced	O
,	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
first	O
'	O
multi	O
mode	O
 '	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
offering	O
M	O
,	O
A	O
,	O
S	B-Algorithm
modes	I-Algorithm
,	O
with	O
a	O
'	O
Program	O
override	O
 '	O
in	O
S	B-Algorithm
mode	I-Algorithm
effected	O
by	O
a	O
computer	O
chip	O
,	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
first	O
Program	O
mode	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1981	O
:	O
Implementation	O
of	O
Minolta	O
's	O
invention	O
and	O
patent	O
of	O
TTL	O
(	O
through-the-lens	O
)	O
OTF	O
(	O
off-the-film	O
)	O
exposure	O
metering	O
:	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
CLE	I-Algorithm
is	O
the	O
first	O
35mm	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
to	O
feature	O
TTL	O
metering	O
and	O
aperture	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
autoexposure	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
X-700	I-Algorithm
manual-focus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
is	O
introduced	O
;	O
this	O
model	O
is	O
sold	O
until	O
1999	O
and	O
is	O
enormously	O
successful	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
XD-11	I-Algorithm
(	O
Model	O
E	O
)	O
is	O
the	O
first	O
Minolta	O
product	O
branded	O
with	O
an	O
updated	O
logo	O
(	O
in	O
caps	O
)	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
in	O
use	O
until	O
the	O
2003	O
merger	O
with	O
Konica	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1985	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Maxxum	I-Algorithm
7000	I-Algorithm
Alpha	B-Application
Mount	O
Camera	O
becomes	O
the	O
world	O
's	O
first	O
autofocus	O
35mm	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
with	O
in-camera	O
autofocus	O
motor	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1995	O
:	O
Introduction	O
of	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
RD-175	I-Algorithm
,	O
a	O
1.75-megapixel	O
digital	B-Device
SLR	I-Device
camera	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
1996	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Vectis	I-Algorithm
camera	O
is	O
a	O
completely	O
new	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
system	O
designed	O
around	O
the	O
Advanced	O
Photo	O
System	O
(	O
APS	O
)	O
film	O
format	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
1998	O
:	O
The	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Maxxum	I-Algorithm
9	I-Algorithm
autofocus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
is	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2003	O
:	O
DiMAGE	B-Algorithm
A1	I-Algorithm
introduced	O
world	O
's	O
first	O
sensor-based	O
anti-shake	O
,	O
and	O
was	O
the	O
final	O
Minolta	O
product	O
branded	O
prior	O
to	O
the	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
merger	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
2005	O
:	O
The	O
company	O
announces	O
joint	O
venture	O
with	O
Sony	O
on	O
CCD	B-Algorithm
and	O
CMOS	O
technologies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Relying	O
heavily	O
on	O
imported	O
German	O
technology	O
,	O
Nichi-Doku	O
turned	O
out	O
their	O
first	O
product	O
,	O
a	O
bellows	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
called	O
the	O
Nifcarette	O
,	O
in	O
March	O
1929	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
(	O
Chiyoda	O
Optics	O
and	O
Fine	O
Engineering	O
,	O
Ltd	O
.	O
)	O
and	O
built	O
the	O
first	O
Japanese-made	O
twin-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
,	O
the	O
Minoltaflex	O
,	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
German	O
Rolleiflex	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1947	O
,	O
the	O
Minolta-35	B-Algorithm
was	O
introduced	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
is	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Leica	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
concept	O
with	O
the	O
39mm	O
screw	O
lens-mount	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
John	O
Glenn	O
took	O
a	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Hi-Matic	I-Algorithm
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
35mm	O
camera	O
aboard	O
the	O
spacecraft	O
Friendship	O
7	O
in	O
1962	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
1968	O
,	O
Apollo	O
8	O
orbited	O
the	O
moon	O
with	O
a	O
Minolta	O
Space	O
Meter	O
aboard	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
the	O
late	O
1950s	O
and	O
1960s	O
,	O
Minolta	O
competed	O
in	O
the	O
medium-format	O
roll	O
film	B-Application
camera	I-Application
market	O
with	O
the	O
Autocord	O
series	O
of	O
TLR	O
(	O
twin-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
)	O
cameras	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1958	O
,	O
Minolta	O
introduced	O
its	O
SR-2	O
single	B-Algorithm
lens	I-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
(	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
)	O
35mm	O
camera	O
which	O
was	O
equipped	O
with	O
a	O
bayonet	O
mount	O
and	O
instant	O
return	O
mirror	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
well-made	O
and	O
widely	O
regarded	O
as	O
some	O
of	O
the	O
most	O
innovative	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
of	O
their	O
time	O
,	O
Minolta	O
cameras	O
were	O
not	O
as	O
robust	O
as	O
competing	O
Nikon	O
models	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
also	O
lacked	O
important	O
professional	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
motor	O
drive	O
,	O
removable	O
pentaprism	O
,	O
and	O
removable	O
back	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
also	O
introduced	O
the	O
first	O
commercially	O
successful	O
autofocus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
line	O
with	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
series	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Tangible	O
results	O
of	O
this	O
cooperation	O
were	O
the	O
Leica	O
CL/Minolta	O
CL	O
,	O
an	O
affordable	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
to	O
supplement	O
the	O
Leica	O
M	O
range	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
CL	I-Algorithm
was	O
built	O
by	O
Minolta	O
to	O
Leica	O
specifications	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Other	O
results	O
were	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R3	I-Algorithm
,	O
which	O
was	O
in	O
fact	O
the	O
Minolta	O
XE-1	O
with	O
a	O
Leica	O
lens	O
mount	O
,	O
viewfinder	O
,	O
and	O
spot	O
metering	O
system	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R4	I-Algorithm
was	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
XD-11	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
Additionally	O
,	O
five	O
Minolta	O
lenses	O
were	O
repackaged	O
as	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R	I-Algorithm
lenses	O
:	O
the	O
Minolta	O
24/2.8	O
MC	O
Rokkor-X	O
optics	O
are	O
found	O
in	O
the	O
Leica	O
24/2.8	O
Elmarit-R	O
,	O
and	O
similarly	O
for	O
the	O
Minolta	O
35-70/3.5	O
,	O
75-200/4.5	O
,	O
70-210/4	O
,	O
and	O
16/2.8	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1977	O
,	O
Minolta	O
introduced	O
the	O
XD-11	B-Algorithm
,	O
the	O
first	O
multimode	O
35mm	O
compact	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
to	O
include	O
both	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
and	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
in	O
a	O
single	O
body	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
was	O
also	O
the	O
first	O
camera	O
to	O
employ	O
a	O
computerised	O
chip	O
,	O
which	O
in	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
priority	I-Algorithm
mode	I-Algorithm
overrode	O
the	O
chosen	O
speed	O
if	O
necessary	O
to	O
give	O
a	O
correct	O
exposure	O
,	O
thus	O
offering	O
the	O
first-ever	O
'	O
programmed	O
mode	O
 '	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
XD-11	B-Algorithm
was	O
the	O
last	O
attempt	O
by	O
Minolta	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
professional	O
and	O
semiprofessional	O
35mm	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
market	O
until	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
9	O
in	O
1998	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Elements	O
of	O
the	O
XD-11	B-Algorithm
design	O
(	O
called	O
the	O
XD-7	O
in	O
Europe	O
)	O
were	O
utilized	O
by	O
Leitz	O
for	O
the	O
Leica	B-Algorithm
R4	I-Algorithm
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
continued	O
to	O
offer	O
35mm	O
manual	O
focus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
in	O
its	O
X-370	O
,	O
X-570	O
,	O
and	O
X-700	O
from	O
1981	O
,	O
but	O
slowly	O
repositioned	O
its	O
cameras	O
to	O
appeal	O
to	O
a	O
broader	O
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
advanced	O
vertical	O
metal	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
design	O
of	O
the	O
older	O
cameras	O
was	O
rejected	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
a	O
cheaper	O
horizontal	O
cloth-curtain	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
,	O
reducing	O
flash	O
sync	O
to	O
a	O
slow	O
1/60th	O
second	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
As	O
Minolta	O
's	O
autofocus	O
Maxxums	B-Application
were	O
proving	O
successful	O
,	O
Minolta	O
invested	O
fewer	O
resources	O
in	O
its	O
manual	O
focus	O
line	O
as	O
time	O
progressed	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
entered	O
the	O
highly	O
competitive	O
35mm	O
compact	O
camera	O
market	O
in	O
the	O
1980s	O
and	O
transitioned	O
from	O
older	O
rangefinder	B-Algorithm
designs	O
to	O
"	O
point-and-shoot	O
"	O
(	O
P&S	O
)	O
electronic	O
autofocus/autowind	O
cameras	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
1985	O
,	O
Minolta	O
introduced	O
a	O
new	O
line	O
of	O
autofocus	O
(	O
AF	O
)	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
North	O
America	O
,	O
they	O
used	O
the	O
name	O
Maxxum	B-Application
;	O
in	O
Europe	O
,	O
the	O
cameras	O
were	O
called	O
Dynax	B-Application
;	O
and	O
in	O
Japan	O
,	O
they	O
were	O
named	O
Alpha	B-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
They	O
were	O
Minolta	O
's	O
first	O
line	O
of	O
automatic	O
focus	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
the	O
first	O
commercially	O
successful	O
autofocus	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
the	O
world	O
had	O
seen	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
's	O
marketing	O
agency	O
of	O
record	O
,	O
The	O
Manhattan-based	O
William	O
Esty	O
Company	O
branded	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Application
Maxxum	I-Application
,	O
which	O
was	O
named	O
by	O
Creative	O
Director	O
George	O
Morin	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
With	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
line	O
,	O
the	O
heavy	O
duty	O
metal	O
bodies	O
of	O
earlier	O
Minoltas	O
were	O
abandoned	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
lighter	O
and	O
less	O
expensive	O
plastics	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Maxxum	B-Algorithm
7000	I-Algorithm
,	O
the	O
most	O
popular	O
of	O
the	O
new	O
Maxxums	B-Application
,	O
introduced	O
the	O
innovation	O
of	O
arrow	O
buttons	O
for	O
setting	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
and	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
speed	O
,	O
rather	O
than	O
a	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
speed	O
dial	O
on	O
the	O
body	O
and	O
an	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
ring	O
on	O
the	O
lens	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Maxxum	B-Algorithm
7000	I-Algorithm
had	O
two	O
8-bit	O
CPUs	O
and	O
six	O
integrated	O
circuits	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
A	O
circuit	O
on	O
the	O
lens	O
relayed	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
information	O
to	O
the	O
camera	O
body	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
motor	O
for	O
autofocus	O
was	O
contained	O
within	O
the	O
camera	O
body	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
An	O
LCD	O
showed	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
,	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
speed	O
,	O
and	O
frame	O
count	O
,	O
while	O
an	O
infrared	O
beam	O
counted	O
sprocket	O
holes	O
when	O
advancing	O
the	O
film	O
from	O
frame	O
to	O
frame	O
(	O
this	O
prevents	O
the	O
use	O
of	O
infrared	O
film	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
Maxxum	B-Application
cameras	O
use	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Application
A-mount	I-Application
;	O
earlier	O
manual-focus	O
Minolta	O
SR-mount	O
lenses	O
are	O
incompatible	O
with	O
the	O
new	O
AF	O
cameras	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
After	O
the	O
4-digit	O
Maxxum	B-Application
i	O
line	O
,	O
which	O
included	O
the	O
3000i	O
,	O
5000i	O
,	O
7000i	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
8000i	O
,	O
came	O
the	O
1-digit	O
Maxxum	B-Application
xi	O
line	O
;	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
3-digit	O
si	O
line	O
;	O
the	O
1-digit	O
line	O
without	O
letters	O
(	O
Alpha/Dynax/Maxxum	O
3	O
,	O
4	O
,	O
5	O
,	O
7	O
,	O
9	O
)	O
;	O
and	O
finally	O
,	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
50	O
(	O
Dynax	B-Application
40	O
)	O
and	O
Maxxum	B-Application
70	O
(	O
Dynax	B-Application
60	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
also	O
invested	O
in	O
APS	O
(	O
Advanced	O
Photo	O
System	O
)	O
film-format	O
cameras	O
,	O
most	O
notably	O
with	O
the	O
Vectis	O
line	O
of	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
beginning	O
in	O
1996	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Digital	B-Application
photography	I-Application
was	O
entering	O
the	O
marketplace	O
,	O
and	O
Minolta	O
eventually	O
discontinued	O
all	O
APS	O
camera	O
production	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Standardized	O
features	O
that	O
were	O
first	O
introduced	O
on	O
Minolta	O
models	O
included	O
multisensor	O
light	O
metering	O
coupled	O
to	O
multiple	O
AF	O
sensors	O
,	O
automatic	O
flash	O
balance	O
system	O
,	O
wireless	O
TTL	O
flash	O
control	O
,	O
TTL-controlled	O
full-time	O
flash	O
sync	O
,	O
and	O
speedy	O
front	O
and	O
rear	O
wheels	O
for	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
and	O
aperture	B-General_Concept
control	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
an	O
effort	O
to	O
strengthen	O
market	O
share	O
and	O
acquire	O
additional	O
assets	O
in	O
film	O
,	O
film	B-Application
cameras	I-Application
,	O
and	O
optical	O
equipment	O
,	O
Minolta	O
merged	O
with	O
another	O
long-time	O
Japanese	O
camera	O
manufacturer	O
,	O
Konica	O
Ltd.	O
,	O
in	O
2003	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Until	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
announced	O
their	O
withdrawal	O
plan	O
in	O
2006	O
,	O
they	O
made	O
Maxxum/Dynax	B-Application
digital	O
and	O
film-based	O
cameras	O
(	O
retaining	O
the	O
different	O
names	O
in	O
the	O
different	O
markets	O
)	O
,	O
improving	O
the	O
design	O
while	O
maintaining	O
the	O
basic	O
concepts	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Maxxum	B-Application
4	O
is	O
a	O
low-priced	O
35mm	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
with	O
an	O
A-type	O
bayonet	O
mount	O
,	O
built-in	O
flash	O
,	O
autoexposure	O
,	O
predictive	O
autofocus	O
,	O
electronically	O
controlled	O
vertical-traverse	O
focal	O
plane	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
through-the-lens	O
(	O
TTL	O
)	O
phase-detection	O
focusing	O
and	O
metering	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
advertising	O
literature	O
,	O
Minolta	O
claimed	O
that	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
4	O
was	O
the	O
most	O
compact	O
35mm	O
AF	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
the	O
second	O
fastest	O
at	O
autofocusing	O
,	O
while	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
5	O
was	O
the	O
fastest	O
at	O
autofocusing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
made	O
one	O
last	O
attempt	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
amateur	O
and	O
professional	O
market	O
with	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
(	O
Dynax	B-Application
)	O
9	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
followed	O
by	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
7	O
in	O
2000	O
,	O
which	O
used	O
a	O
full	O
LCD	O
readout	O
on	O
the	O
rear	O
of	O
the	O
camera	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
All	O
of	O
these	O
cameras	O
were	O
eventually	O
discontinued	O
in	O
favor	O
of	O
the	O
less-expensive	O
Maxxum	B-Application
50	O
and	O
70	O
,	O
which	O
were	O
sold	O
under	O
the	O
Minolta	O
name	O
until	O
2006	O
,	O
when	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
ceased	O
production	O
of	O
all	O
film	B-Application
cameras	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
had	O
a	O
line	O
of	O
digital	O
point-and-shoot	O
cameras	O
to	O
compete	O
in	O
the	O
digital	B-Application
photography	I-Application
market	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
created	O
a	O
new	O
category	O
of	O
"	O
bridge	B-Device
cameras	I-Device
,	O
"	O
with	O
the	O
introduction	O
of	O
the	O
DiMAGE	B-Device
7	I-Device
.	O
</s>
<s>
Designed	O
for	O
use	O
by	O
people	O
familiar	O
with	O
35mm	O
single-lens	B-Algorithm
reflex	I-Algorithm
(	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
)	O
cameras	O
but	O
without	O
the	O
added	O
cost	O
or	O
complication	O
of	O
interchangeable	O
lenses	O
or	O
optical	O
reflex	O
viewfinders	O
,	O
the	O
DiMAGE	O
incorporated	O
many	O
of	O
the	O
features	O
of	O
a	O
higher-level	O
film	B-Application
camera	I-Application
with	O
the	O
simplicity	O
of	O
smaller	O
compact	O
digicams	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
camera	O
had	O
a	O
traditional	O
zoom	O
ring	O
and	O
focus	O
ring	O
on	O
the	O
lens	O
barrel	O
and	O
was	O
equipped	O
with	O
an	O
electronic	O
viewfinder	O
(	O
EVF	O
)	O
rather	O
than	O
the	O
direct	O
optical	O
reflex	O
view	O
of	O
an	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
It	O
added	O
other	O
features	O
such	O
as	O
a	O
histogram	B-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
the	O
cameras	O
were	O
compatible	O
with	O
Minolta	O
's	O
flashes	O
for	O
modern	O
film	O
SLRs	B-Algorithm
.	O
</s>
<s>
However	O
,	O
the	O
DiMAGE	B-Device
7	I-Device
(	O
including	O
the	O
DiMAGE	B-Algorithm
A1	I-Algorithm
,	O
A2	O
,	O
and	O
A200	O
)	O
and	O
similar	O
bridge	B-Device
cameras	I-Device
were	O
not	O
really	O
adequate	O
substitutes	O
for	O
professional	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
cameras	I-Algorithm
,	O
and	O
initially	O
there	O
were	O
many	O
reports	O
of	O
slow	O
autofocus	O
speed	O
and	O
various	O
malfunctions	O
(	O
this	O
surfaced	O
when	O
a	O
Sony-designed	O
CCD	B-Algorithm
chip	O
would	O
malfunction	O
,	O
rendering	O
the	O
camera	O
useless	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
,	O
however	O
,	O
issued	O
a	O
CCD	B-Algorithm
alert	O
and	O
fixed	O
faulty	O
units	O
free	O
of	O
charge	O
;	O
after	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
's	O
withdrawal	O
from	O
the	O
photo	O
business	O
,	O
Sony	O
took	O
over	O
the	O
CCD	B-Algorithm
alert	O
until	O
the	O
warranty	O
repair	O
service	O
was	O
terminated	O
in	O
2010	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Minolta	O
later	O
innovated	O
in	O
this	O
line	O
by	O
being	O
the	O
first	O
manufacturer	O
to	O
integrate	O
a	O
mechanical	O
antishake	O
system	O
(	O
Minolta	O
's	O
antishake	O
is	O
based	O
inside	O
the	O
camera	O
body	O
as	O
opposed	O
to	O
the	O
camera	O
lens	O
,	O
common	O
with	O
Canon	B-Application
EF	I-Application
and	O
Nikon	O
AF	O
lenses	O
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Fast	O
startup	O
times	O
are	O
one	O
potential	O
benefit	O
of	O
this	O
design	O
(	O
since	O
nothing	O
needs	O
to	O
extend	O
)	O
,	O
but	O
slow	O
focus	O
and	O
shutter	B-Algorithm
lag	O
times	O
marred	O
the	O
advantage	O
of	O
this	O
innovation	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Although	O
Minolta	O
had	O
launched	O
their	O
first	O
digital	B-Device
SLR	I-Device
system	O
as	O
early	O
as	O
1995	O
,	O
the	O
RD-175	B-Algorithm
—	O
a	O
3	O
sensor	O
(	O
3	O
x	O
0.38	O
megapixel	O
)	O
camera	O
based	O
on	O
the	O
Maxxum	B-Application
500si	O
—	O
was	O
never	O
successful	O
,	O
and	O
in	O
1998	O
,	O
it	O
was	O
superseded	O
by	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
Dimâge	I-Algorithm
RD	I-Algorithm
3000	I-Algorithm
,	O
a	O
3-megapixel	O
DSLR	B-Device
based	O
on	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Algorithm
V-mount	I-Algorithm
of	O
Minolta	O
's	O
APS	O
format	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
camera	I-Algorithm
line	O
,	O
which	O
was	O
equally	O
unsuccessful	O
and	O
short-lived	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
While	O
Minolta	O
was	O
the	O
inventor	O
of	O
the	O
modern	O
integrated	O
AF	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
,	O
it	O
took	O
Konica	O
Minolta	B-Application
a	I-Application
long	O
time	O
to	O
enter	O
the	O
digital	B-Device
SLR	I-Device
market	O
,	O
a	O
delay	O
that	O
may	O
have	O
proved	O
fatal.Konica	O
Minolta	O
was	O
the	O
last	O
of	O
the	O
large	O
camera	O
manufacturers	O
to	O
launch	O
a	O
digital	B-Device
SLR	I-Device
camera	I-Device
(	O
Maxxum/Dynax	B-Application
5D	O
and	O
7D	O
)	O
using	O
the	O
35mm	O
AF	O
mount	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
During	O
July	O
2005	O
,	O
KM	O
and	O
Sony	O
negotiated	O
on	O
a	O
joint	O
development	O
of	O
a	O
new	O
line	O
of	O
DSLR	B-Device
cameras	I-Device
,	O
where	O
it	O
was	O
believed	O
that	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
and	O
Sony	O
would	O
market	O
their	O
DSLR	B-Device
line	O
to	O
the	O
masses	O
(	O
much	O
like	O
the	O
joint	O
marketing	O
and	O
development	O
of	O
Pentax	B-Application
and	O
Samsung	B-Application
K10/GX10	O
DSLRs	B-Device
)	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
On	O
19	O
January	O
2006	O
,	O
KM	O
announced	O
that	O
all	O
DSLR	B-Device
production	O
would	O
continue	O
under	O
Sony	O
's	O
management	O
;	O
DSLR	B-Device
camera	I-Device
assets	O
were	O
transferred	O
to	O
Sony	O
during	O
the	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
withdrawal	O
phase	O
until	O
March	O
31	O
,	O
2006	O
,	O
where	O
technical	O
support	O
for	O
these	O
cameras	O
(	O
primarily	O
Konica	O
Minolta	O
's	O
other	O
digital	O
cameras	O
)	O
was	O
assumed	O
by	O
Sony	O
,	O
who	O
announced	O
the	O
first	O
Konica	O
Minolta-based	O
Sony	O
SLR	B-Algorithm
—	O
the	O
Alpha	B-Device
A100	I-Device
—	O
on	O
June	O
5	O
,	O
2006	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Sony	O
continued	O
the	O
manufacture	O
of	O
DSLRs	B-Device
using	O
Minolta	O
technology	O
until	O
2010	O
when	O
the	O
company	O
phased	O
out	O
DSLRs	B-Device
for	O
its	O
SLT	B-Device
system	O
but	O
retained	O
the	O
Minolta	B-Application
A-mount	I-Application
.	O
</s>
