The Minolta Maxxum 9000 was aimed at the professional market as compared with the Minolta 7000 which was launched first in 1985, despite being completed after the Minolta 9000, as it aims for the advanced amateur market.
In the early 1980s, Minolta was developing several ranges of autofocus SLR cameras, with the Minolta 7000 aimed at the advanced amateur market, and the Minolta 9000 aimed at the professional market. The Minolta MAXXUM 7000 (7000 AF in Europe and -7000 in Japan) 35 mm SLR camera was introduced in February 1985. Development on the Minolta 9000 was completed before that of the Minolta 7000, but for marketing purposes, the 9000 was held back and the 7000 was launched first in February 1985. 
