Gamera upgrade to Minolta 7D

[Tater John]

I'm no camera bug so I'm soliciting oppinions.

I've had a Minolta 7000 for 20 yrs. and have added lens in that time. Now I'd like to move to the digital SLR and you'd think sticking with Minolta would be a no-brainer because the lens interchange but like the Scarecrow from Oz, 'if I only had a brain'.

Has anyone had their hands on the 7D, would you share you thoughts? Does a 1 gig flashcard hold alot of images should I have two?
 

Prices of the 7D are about half when first introduced. Sounds like a no-brainer again,but even though the money is just under a grand its still a far amount of money.

Rusty

[Phil Magistro]

Here's a review for you to look over.  I have no experience with Minolta but one thing I believe you should look into is whether your existing lenses will work on the 7D body.  They may, I just don't know for sure. -   http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/minolta-7d.shtml  

My opinion is to also consider a Canon 10 D or 20D.  Even though I'm a dedicated Nikon shooter, Canon offers a lot of flexibility due to the sheer number of cameras out there.  With the introduction of the 30D the price for a 20D has dropped to around $1000 and I'm sure you could find a good price on a used one.  You would have to buy a lens but there's a large selection of used lenses for Canons.

Just a thought.....

Phil

[Tater John]

Thanks Phil, I read the review link this morning. The lens do interchange, according to the mfg.

Rusty

[Weasel]

I believe I heard that Minolta is not doing well and may be getting out of the camera business.  I friend of mine had a 7D, and when he had problems was told it would be several weeks before they could fix his camera.  He sold it and bought Canon.  I highly recommend the 20D, especially now that they can be had for $1000 (I paid $1500 for mine several months ago).

[Tater John]

Well I'm more confused now then before my first post. Information overload!  Weasel, Minolta sold to Sony, found out yesterday and the first of this month Sony is to announce what it has in store for the consumer. Everything is a computer now and obsolete when it hits the shelf, sheez...

The lens I own are 28mm 1:2.8; zoom 35-70mm 1:4 and zoom 70-210mm 1:4.  I always shoot in program mode and wanted a digital so I could monkey around with the settings and compare results, maybe learn something about photography in the process without burning miles of film.

I'll get'er figgered out...Rusty

[Tater John]

I bought the 7D a couple of weeks ago for $719 and a sandisk 1gig card for $80. I'm a pretty happy picture taker and wish I could have afforded one much sooner. Provided I didn't get a lemon I will be satisfied for another 20yrs or 100,000 shots which ever come first. I'll be upgrading the computer now so I can handle the dimage software and of course a printer. We were in awe when I played back images on a HD TV, best slide show I've ever put on! The stuff you could pull up from the background amazed all, just like the detective shows or 24...1 gig holds a LOT of images. So far, GREAT camera.   Rusty

[Phil Magistro]

Best of luck with the camera Rusty!

Phil

[Dave N./TX]

I have been reading the reviews of the Sony a100 10.2M pixel SLR that is just now coming out and really like what I have seen. Sone bought out the Minolta line and this is the firt SLR they are selling based off the Minolta 7D with a bunch of nice features - like image stablization in the camera not the lens like most SLRs. I takes all the existing Minolta auto focus lens as well.

I have a Nikon D70 now and am seriously considering buying this one for my spouse. It sells for 999 with the 18-80 kit lens.

Dave N/TX