Minolta

[cndij]

Hoping to get some advice from you experts. Me personally, I'm not much more than a point and shoot gal, though I do have a yashika, I have had for 30 years and use occasionally. My question is for my cousin. He is a semi-professional photographer, still using his Konica, he has had for 30 years, with I kid you not, probably close to $10,000 worth of lenses, filters, and specialty equipment. He is not very computer savvy, and has never used a digital camera. I would like to introduce him to the world of digital and was leaning towards a Minolta, so he could use all of his existing lenses etc., but haven't read much good about them on Amazon. I would like some suggestions on whether or not it's worth it to pursue a Minolta, or just go with one of the other DSLR's for a starter digital for him. He doesn't have the finances at the present to be investing in lenses again, and I am hoping to find a starter around $400. Is that doable?

 

[Daisy14'sDH]

I dont know if Minolta makes DSLRs, I think Sony bought them a few years back, I beleive their lenses are interchangeable... but this is where google is your friend! ( We should make tha into an acronym) <GIYF>

 

[cndij]

Wow, had no idea Minolta had been bought by Sony. I knew Konica had been bought by Minolta years ago. I wondered why on Amazon I couldn't find any Minolta DSLR with more than 5-6MP resolution, I guess they haven't made any since then. OK, then I want to refine my request for Sony which I am assuming will use the Konica mounts like Minolta did.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

This is something i know about. I am the proud owner of a sony and a minitola lens. If there autofocus you can use them as is. If not you need an adaptor. I paid $30 for my adaptor. I have a sony alpha 230 that is simple enough for my beginer self and still somthing I can learn to do more on.

 

[MICKEY88]

Wow, had no idea Minolta had been bought by Sony. I knew Konica had been bought by Minolta years ago. I wondered why on Amazon I couldn't find any Minolta DSLR with more than 5-6MP resolution, I guess they haven't made any since then. OK, then I want to refine my request for Sony which I am assuming will use the Konica mounts like Minolta did.

Minolta didn't use Konica mount, they used the Alpha mount which Minolta came out with in the 80's when they released their first autofocus slr,

Sony also uses the Minolta Alpha mount, they kept the alpha name for theiir dslrs

 

[cndij]

So is there no current digital brand that is compatible with the old Konica lenses? If so then I guess I'm back to the drawing board with finding a starter digital SLR so open to suggestions to one that would be good for a sophisticated photographer, new to digital .

 

[photo_chick]

So is there no current digital brand that is compatible with the old Konica lenses? If so then I guess I'm back to the drawing board with finding a starter digital SLR so open to suggestions to one that would be good for a sophisticated photographer, new to digital .

There are third party adapters that will allow the lenses to be mounted. But really, when you're looking at a 30 year old lens that is probably not auto focus and you will loose a lot of functionality, you have to ask if it's worth it.

Any DSLR will have the same basic modes and functions. Photography is photography. Where they start to separate from consumer to pro models is in areas like ISO, burst rates, buffer sizes, AF points.. etc.

It comes down to the photographer and what they want from the camera. I know seasoned pros who are very happy with a lower end DSLR. I know green amateurs who demand all the bells and whistles and a full frame sensor. It's all about what you want from the camera.

 

[ukcatfan]

So is there no current digital brand that is compatible with the old Konica lenses? If so then I guess I'm back to the drawing board with finding a starter digital SLR so open to suggestions to one that would be good for a sophisticated photographer, new to digital .

Since he is an experienced photographer, I personally would not pick a new brand for him. I think he would have to make that decision on his own.