Time for a New Camera - Help (yes, another new camera post)

I shoot a Minolta 5D, primary lenses are Tamron 70-30 TeleMacro, Minolta 35-70 Tele. I like this camera.

I am considering moving to a new camera, since my wife is buying (YAY!!). I don't intend to sell.

Option 1: Stay with Minolta, get a 7D, or a Sony Alpha100. This would allow me to keep my old lenses, & have a back-up camera. I also really like the in camera stabilization system that this camera offers.

Option 2: Chnge systems, I am considering either the Canon system, (EOS XTi or EOS 30D), or the Nikon system (the D80 or D200).

Option 3: The new Sigma SD14.

Questions: Is there ANY glass for the Minolta system that equals the sharpness and clarity and speed available for the Cannon/Nikon systems?

Thanks for the help!!

My advice will depend on what you want to do with the camera/system. If you don't use long lenses much, the Sony deal might be a good one. FWIW, I love my D80 and for me it's a better choice than the heavier D200.


Kent in SD

Tough question Brian. I'm not familiar with Minolta glass at all so I can't help there. I can say the advantage of going to Nikon or Canon is that there's so much more variety available, and also a much larger used market if you choose to buy there or sell your equipment in the future. I use Nikon and love it. IMO Nikon's ergonomics are the best in the business. That said, I think Canon has probably far surpassed Nikon on the engineering/technical front somewhat, but I still can't stand their ergonomics. If I were going to start over, I guess what system I chose would depend on what I was going to shoot. Birds & other tele stuff, I think I would choose Canon. For landscapes, I would choose Nikon. My reasoning is that I think Canon has better long lenses than Nikon, although both systems are excellent in either area and I don't think you cold go wrong with either. Handle both brands and see which feels better to you.

Brian: The answer to your question about Minolta glass is that their good stuff was equal to the big two. I have Minolta 20mm, 24-85, 100 macro, 200 macro and Tokina 28-80, 80-200, and 300 f2.8 lenses. They're all from my film days so for me going to a Sony A100 was the only affordable step. I did not buy a Minolta DSLR. I almost pulled the trigger on a 7D but when news of the A100 came out I held out for it and I'm glad I did.

With that said, I'm not sure where Sony is going with lenses. There's a lot of hoopla about their affiliation with Carl Zeiss. Their 80-200 and 300 f2.8 are overpriced IMO. My Tokinas are very nearly their equal for a fraction of the cost. Unfortunately, Tokina is not making their pro level lenses with the A mount. You can go with Sigma or Tamron if you don't want to pay the Sony brand name premium. The other option is to check the used market for original Minolta lenses. All my lenses, teleconverters, remote cables, flashes, etc work great on the A100.

You would probably transition into the A100 real easily. I switched from the Maxxum 7 film body which was and still is the easiest and most efficient camera to operate I've ever seen. Changing basic settings with menus instead of knobs and buttons drives me nuts but so it goes. The Minolta 7D is apparently close to the same ease of operation but I would be concerned about buying 2 year old technology.

There is a lot to be said for having 2 compatible bodies. If you switch systems you'll have to carry lenses for each body, something that would probably get real old real fast. If you do switch I think it would be wise to sell the Minolta stuff and get a uesd backup body for what you decide on. Good luck on your decision. >=))>

Hey Brain, Don't over look the new Fujifilm S5 Pro, many upgrade over the past models. It works with Nikon mount lens.