In addition to a full-auto mode, the Maxxum HTsi offers five different subject program modes: portrait, landscape, close-up, sport/action, and night portrait. For creative exposure control, Minolta provides aperture and shutter priority modes. In manual mode, you can take full creative control over the image-making process by selecting both the shutter speed and aperture. Functions such as spot metering, slow-shutter synch, exposure compensation, exposure bracketing, double-exposure mode, panorama mode, and a remote release terminal increase the HTsi's flexibility.

To catch action shots, the HTsi has two frames per second continuous film advance driven by the camera motor. The control layout is simple and logical so beginners and professionals alike can work quickly and successfully. This model includes two powerful zoom lenses: a 28-80mm and a 75- 300mm.