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I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide to
a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus, has an aperture priority and
proram setting, but I usually shoot manual. Subjects include house
interiors, outdoor nature (macro and telephoto)
I like to compose and frame the shot, then select aperture/speed
depending on the effect I want. Two camera bodies means I can mix film
types, also has a DOF preview. I like to be able to get 8x10 prints done
sometimes, for my gallery wall.

Problem is camera bodies are getting old, and need repairs once in a
while. As well, I'm doing more photos on the web, and scanning is an
extra step.

I'm thinking of going digital, but I think to get the image quality I
want, as well as easy manual control like I have now (without stepping
thru menues every time) I need to go to something like the Canon Digital
rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big investment.

Anyone out there been in a similar position, and what was your solution?

On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:50:55 -0400, ravens <> wrote:

> I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide to
> a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus, has an aperture priority and
> proram setting, but I usually shoot manual. Subjects include house
> interiors, outdoor nature (macro and telephoto)
> I like to compose and frame the shot, then select aperture/speed
> depending on the effect I want. Two camera bodies means I can mix film
> types, also has a DOF preview. I like to be able to get 8x10 prints done
> sometimes, for my gallery wall.
>
> Problem is camera bodies are getting old, and need repairs once in a
> while. As well, I'm doing more photos on the web, and scanning is an
> extra step.
>
> I'm thinking of going digital, but I think to get the image quality I
> want, as well as easy manual control like I have now (without stepping
> thru menues every time) I need to go to something like the Canon Digital
> rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big investment.
>
> Anyone out there been in a similar position, and what was your solution?

Minolta will soon be introducing a digital SLR body. You should be able to use
your old lenses with one.

Ken Oaf <> writes:

>Minolta will soon be introducing a digital SLR body. You should be able to use
>your old lenses with one.

Well, probably not the X-700 is a pre-autofocus SLR which used Minolta
MC or MD mount lenses. The Maxxum autofocus series brought out a new
lens mount. I'd expect any digital Minolta would use the current
autofocus lenses, not the old lenses that were obsoleted a couple of
decades ago.

I have an X-570 and even older SR-T101 myself. I like them. But I
don't expect to see any new cameras that will work with those lenses.

Dave

Ken Oaf wrote:
> On Tue, 10 Aug 2004 12:50:55 -0400, ravens <> wrote:
>
>
>>I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide to
>>a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus, has an aperture priority and
>>proram setting, but I usually shoot manual. Subjects include house
>>interiors, outdoor nature (macro and telephoto)
>>I like to compose and frame the shot, then select aperture/speed
>>depending on the effect I want. Two camera bodies means I can mix film
>>types, also has a DOF preview. I like to be able to get 8x10 prints done
>>sometimes, for my gallery wall.
>>
>>Problem is camera bodies are getting old, and need repairs once in a
>>while. As well, I'm doing more photos on the web, and scanning is an
>>extra step.
>>
>>I'm thinking of going digital, but I think to get the image quality I
>>want, as well as easy manual control like I have now (without stepping
>>thru menues every time) I need to go to something like the Canon Digital
>>rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big investment.
>>
>>Anyone out there been in a similar position, and what was your solution?
>
>
> Minolta will soon be introducing a digital SLR body. You should be able to use
> your old lenses with one.
>
>
>
>
I was looking for comments on the transition to digital, but thanks.

Will my old lenses be that useful, since they are manual focus, and
supposedly the digital sensor is smaller than the 35mm film format?

>> ravens <> wrote:
>>
>> I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide
>> to a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus

>From: Ken Oaf
>
>Minolta will soon be introducing a digital SLR body. You should be able to
>use your old lenses with one.

Highly unlikely you can use the old manual focus MC and MD mount lenses for the
X-700 with the new Minolta digital, which is designed for the AF lenses. Maybe
there's a converter somewhere that lets you mount them but typically you lose
most basic features with these type of converters (ie, can only meter in
stop-down mode, etc).

raven I also own the X-700 (two of them)
and I finnally updated to digital with
Canon (gave up waiting for Minolta or MD
to New conversion).

The Canon 10D is much better...(worth
the couple of $hundered more then Rebel)
what an improvement! And like with my
Minolta I still take all my photos in
Manual. A Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro is an
excellent macro/portrait lens.

Not to mention with the purchase of a
printer you remove all film headaches.
The Canon i9900 is an excellent printer
and will beat most film prints from
4"x6" to 13"x19" edge to edge on Photo
Pro paper.

Damm I sound like a Canon salesmen but I
do love the 10D and the i9900.

Good Luck with whatever you choose.


"ravens" <>
wrote in message
news:R17Sc.15424$. ..
> I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually)
and various lens from a 24mm wide to
> a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus,
has an aperture priority and
> proram setting, but I usually shoot
manual. Subjects include house
> interiors, outdoor nature (macro and
telephoto)
> I like to compose and frame the shot,
then select aperture/speed
> depending on the effect I want. Two
camera bodies means I can mix film
> types, also has a DOF preview. I like
to be able to get 8x10 prints done
> sometimes, for my gallery wall.
>
> Problem is camera bodies are getting
old, and need repairs once in a
> while. As well, I'm doing more photos
on the web, and scanning is an
> extra step.
>
> I'm thinking of going digital, but I
think to get the image quality I
> want, as well as easy manual control
like I have now (without stepping
> thru menues every time) I need to go
to something like the Canon Digital
> rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big
investment.
>
> Anyone out there been in a similar
position, and what was your solution?

Bill Hilton wrote:
>>>ravens <> wrote:
>>>
>>>I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide
>>>to a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus
>
>
>>From: Ken Oaf
>>
>>Minolta will soon be introducing a digital SLR body. You should be able to
>>use your old lenses with one.
>
>
> Highly unlikely you can use the old manual focus MC and MD mount lenses for the
> X-700 with the new Minolta digital, which is designed for the AF lenses. Maybe
> there's a converter somewhere that lets you mount them but typically you lose
> most basic features with these type of converters (ie, can only meter in
> stop-down mode, etc).
>
>
Those were my worries too - thanks for confirming that

Thanks - appreciate the feedback.
I see reviews that compare the Nikon D70 very favourably with not only
the Canon 300D but also the more expensive 10D -I wonder what tipped you
towards Canon (other than what sounds like a match to a great printer).
Not sure on the price differences exactly, but here in Canada Henry's
has following for camra body only
Canon rebel - $1200
Canon 10D - $1800
Nikon D70 - $1500

All are avail in various packages with a lens

YoYo wrote:

> raven I also own the X-700 (two of them)
> and I finnally updated to digital with
> Canon (gave up waiting for Minolta or MD
> to New conversion).
>
> The Canon 10D is much better...(worth
> the couple of $hundered more then Rebel)
> what an improvement! And like with my
> Minolta I still take all my photos in
> Manual. A Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro is an
> excellent macro/portrait lens.
>
> Not to mention with the purchase of a
> printer you remove all film headaches.
> The Canon i9900 is an excellent printer
> and will beat most film prints from
> 4"x6" to 13"x19" edge to edge on Photo
> Pro paper.
>
> Damm I sound like a Canon salesmen but I
> do love the 10D and the i9900.
>
> Good Luck with whatever you choose.
>
>
> "ravens" <>
> wrote in message
> news:R17Sc.15424$. ..
>
>>I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually)
>
> and various lens from a 24mm wide to
>
>>a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus,
>
> has an aperture priority and
>
>>proram setting, but I usually shoot
>
> manual. Subjects include house
>
>>interiors, outdoor nature (macro and
>
> telephoto)
>
>>I like to compose and frame the shot,
>
> then select aperture/speed
>
>>depending on the effect I want. Two
>
> camera bodies means I can mix film
>
>>types, also has a DOF preview. I like
>
> to be able to get 8x10 prints done
>
>>sometimes, for my gallery wall.
>>
>>Problem is camera bodies are getting
>
> old, and need repairs once in a
>
>>while. As well, I'm doing more photos
>
> on the web, and scanning is an
>
>>extra step.
>>
>>I'm thinking of going digital, but I
>
> think to get the image quality I
>
>>want, as well as easy manual control
>
> like I have now (without stepping
>
>>thru menues every time) I need to go
>
> to something like the Canon Digital
>
>>rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big
>
> investment.
>
>>Anyone out there been in a similar
>
> position, and what was your solution?
>
>

>From: ravens
>
>Thanks - appreciate the feedback.
>I see reviews that compare the Nikon D70 very favourably with not only
>the Canon 300D but also the more expensive 10D -I wonder what tipped
>you towards Canon

Most people who own Canon EF lenses stick with Canon dSLR's and most people
with Nikon mount lenses stick with Nikon dSLR's when they migrate from film.

If you're moving over from Minolta and have no lens investments in either
system then it's a jump ball. The D70 is a pretty appealing product and most
people looking at this level of body will do well with either it or the 10D.
On the other hand Canon is more popular with professionals and high-end users
because of the wider range of lenses with IS (especially the long telephotos)
and because the Canon pro bodies are better than the Nikon competition,
especially the 8 Mpix 1D Mark II over the 4 Mpix Nikon D2H and the 11 Mpix
Canon 1Ds over the Nikon ... uh, Nikon doesn't actually have anything to
compete with the 1Ds, unless you count the Kodak body with the Nikon mount
(which most everyone finds substandard). Every couple of months we hear about
another well-known Nikon pro selling his gear and switching to Canon digital,
like Jim Brandenburg and Tom Vezo.

If you're not going to need pro-level gear and don't have several kilo-bucks to
blow on a super-tele then you should do fine with either the Nikon or the Canon
consumer models.

Bill

No dSLR will take you obsolete Minolta MD lenses. You will have to buy
either a Pentax *istD and a Pentax *ist film SLR to find what you seek.
Alternative choice is more expensive Nikon D70 and a F75 body. The Pentax is
the one that will accept a lot of manual focus lenses from Pentax, or
K-Mount lenses.

"ravens" <> wrote in message
news:R17Sc.15424$. ..
> I've a Minolta X-700 (two actually) and various lens from a 24mm wide to
> a 80-200 zoom. Camera is manual focus, has an aperture priority and
> proram setting, but I usually shoot manual. Subjects include house
> interiors, outdoor nature (macro and telephoto)
> I like to compose and frame the shot, then select aperture/speed
> depending on the effect I want. Two camera bodies means I can mix film
> types, also has a DOF preview. I like to be able to get 8x10 prints done
> sometimes, for my gallery wall.
>
> Problem is camera bodies are getting old, and need repairs once in a
> while. As well, I'm doing more photos on the web, and scanning is an
> extra step.
>
> I'm thinking of going digital, but I think to get the image quality I
> want, as well as easy manual control like I have now (without stepping
> thru menues every time) I need to go to something like the Canon Digital
> rebel, or Nikon D70. Which is a big investment.
>
> Anyone out there been in a similar position, and what was your solution?