a quick google reveals these tech specs

http://www.mhohner.de/minolta/onebody.php?id=5000i

Im no authority on Minotas, prefer Pentaxs myself, but it looks like an early and pretty basic AF film SLR. The Tamron 28-80 is pants but servicable (I had one briefly in Pentax mount but got rid of it after only a couple of films). Its what is called a standard zoom, going from moderate wide angle (28mm) to short telephoto (80).

Infinity - 0.7 is your focus scale, IIRC printed directly on the focusing ring on this lens.

1:3.5-5.6 is the maximum aperture opening, expressed as a focal ratio (focal length/aperture size) at the short end (1:3.5) and the long (1:5.6). You will often hear these quoted as just F5.6 or similar. F3.5-5.6 is pretty standard for a cheap zoom like this, its fast enough for out doors but dont count on keeping the shutter speed up inside without resorting to flash.


The Sunpak 888AFZ Thyristor is a flash gun. Google is less helpful in this regard and I cant find any info on it. Its probably an auto flash, if so you should be able to set your film ISO on the back and it will read off an aperture setting. You set the camera to that aperture and flash sync speed or slower (1/90th), the flash fires and a sensor on the gun itself automatically cuts out the light to give you correct exposure.

hope this helps somewhat

Try this page for a manual

http://www.geocities.com/eskoufos/fmm.html

Thyristor really means switch, if it looks like a flashgun then thats what it is, otherwise it may be a switch for activating one.

-- doh didnt see Mongoose post >.<

normally I would point out at this point that the Minolta mount is still being used by Sony DSLRs, but since you only have one lens and its about a fivers worth on ebay, my advice would be to totally ignore the fact that you already have a Minolta if you went shopping for a digital.

It looks to be a pretty capable camera though, with program and manual operation you should be able to have some fun with it. I use a Pentax Z50p (similar vintage) when I want to carry a decent camera but there is a serious chance of it being damaged or stolen.

There are plenty of pop the roll in the post companies that do it relatively cheaply. Have a look around Poundland for some envelopes and film.