Why Sony / Minolta at all?

[Guest]

Hey Fellow Minolta Fans,

Where are your pictures?
I've been slowly uploading photos and they are starting to get lonely. So far there are only three of us in the gallery. It's really easy to get started so come join us.

Vince B.

 

[Guest]

Hello - yet another Minolta Discussion Forum. Cool. Let's give it a try.

As I say on http://www.minoltaphotography.com/ and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/minoltaphotography/ and http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/minoltaphotography ... here's waht I find for me, and apparently this is true for many of us:

"Since the 1920's, Minolta Japan, and it's factories around the world have been making fine cameras of many types with many names and model numbers marketed around the world and into outer space. Photographers have found Minolta cameras uniquely: easy to use; reliable; afordable to purchase, maintain, expand and upgrade; uncompromising in their picture producing quality; well balanced all around."

Details? You want details? ;-)

Peter Blaise

PS - Attachment? Hmm ... there must be something of interest to share here ...

 

[Guest]

I have to admit that when I first choose MINOLTA more than twenty years ago - it was mostly because of my then childish desire to be different and unique in everything I do. I gust wanted to stand out from the crowd (in this case of Nikon-fobians...)</P>

Fortunately for me, my first MINOLTA was an SRT-101 with a ROKKOR MC 58 f/1.4 and a ROKKOR MC 128 f/2.8. This set provided me with results that allowed me to irritate all the "Nikonians" spending twice the mony on Nikon-F or Nikkormat... </p>

Attached is one of my first B&W images, taken with Minolta SRT-101 & ROKKOR MC 135 f/2.8 </P>

 

[Guest]

I purchased a 7xi first then the 9 and I found a 9xi (used). The system works for my needs. I don't really get into wether Nikon or Canon is better than Minolta. I just know my editor doesn't care and the people I sell my pictures to don't care. Minolta has always been a leader in new ideas, and the rest followed or purchased the rights to Minolta inventions. Minolta has been behind the power curve when it comes to a digital SLR, but I think they will release one sometime in the next year.
All the Minolta glass I have is great, and the flash system has never failed me.
I just love the people that turn their nose up when I tell them I shoot with Minota and not Nikon or Canon. They all jumped on the mine is better than yours bandwagon, I just don't care. You have to find the right tool for your needs and Minolta more than filled my needs and within a reasonable dollar amount.
Thats my 2 cents worth.
Bob

 

[Guest]

Bob Bruce (Bmb77) on Saturday, April 05, 2003 - 9:51 pm said:

I don't really get into whether Nikon or Canon is better than Minolta. I just know my editor doesn't care and the people I sell my pictures to don't care.

For camera magazines, it matters, because they like to print the details along with the pictures. But it doesn't affect their decisions on whether to buy a shot or not. A friend of mine used to shoot basketball with a simple camera. She got better results than the pros, because she knew basketball, and the particular players in that league, better than the pros did.

 

[Guest]

I am a long-term Nikon user (since around 1970).

My wife needed a digital camer for her real estate work and the Dimage X looked to me to be the perfect fit. It's small, simple to use (she's wasn't a big camera user), and the pics looked good from it.

I wanted to try a camera with more features. I like having a good manual control, higher resolution, etc. I saw the Dimage s404 and liked the fact that the controls were similar to the X. This way, she could use it if necessary. The 32M buffer is a big plus for me because speed is important when I only have a few seconds to get several pictures.

Size was a major consideration because I travel a lot on business (not photo related) and I can't be carying around a lot of photo equipment. I have to cary tools (65lb tool box), parts, etc. So I need a very small camera bag, no tripod (I'm still looking for a good solution for this problem), external flash & bracket, a couple filters, and lots of batteries. Again, the s404 seemed to fit this bill.

Well, after purchasing one of the last ones around my town, I am in love with it. I still wish it were faster, but I just put in a 512M fast CF chip and that helps. Everything I mentioned fits in a camera bag that is about 7" long, 5" deep, & 5" high.

I shot a bunh of travel pics and sceanery shots on my trips and tried printing them on my Lexmark Z43 using Photoshop 6. They look better that a lot of the 35mm stuff I used to shoot. Very crisp & good color.

I would love to play with a Dimage 7Hi, but I think it's going to be too bulky for my travels.

John F.

 

[justterry]

I started with minolta when my newphew was selling his x-9(I think that was the name of it) cheap since he needed the money

I have been with them ever since

 

[audemars]

my first camera that i bought myself was nikon lite70 p&s. as i didn't know and care much about photograpy things, i assumed the camera served me well. i gave this camera as i bought my first slr.

my first slr is dynax 5 kit. i bought it a year ago. a really nice camera, packed with features. i love it.

i bought dynax 7 few months later, as got extra money from my summer work. i bought the 24-105 mm and the 3600HSD flash. this kit is a fantastic tools and i've been using this much more than my dynax 5. feel solid and well built. this is something i'll keep forever with me. hehe.

it has been a year, my life with photography. i enjoy it so much. but it did cost me a lot with films, process fees etc. as i'm only a student this quite a problem. as i rarely shoot with my dynax 5 and few of my lenses, i decided to sell them for extra money -- films,process fees, travels etc.
but i'll miss my first ever minolta camera...the dynax 5....

 

[dioden]

Time to swap to a digi camera then, it's a lot easier and cheaper.

 

[kiwirob]

I purchased a Dynax 5000i as my first SLR, this then died in a mysterious accident involving water. After this I purchased a 7000i which was a fantastic camera, beautifully built and solid as a rock. I had this camera for nearly 10 years teo of whic were spent being dragged around Europe. This camera finally wore out and I purchased a 700si, the first 700si was a lemon and so was the second, both swapped for new bodies, finally the third worked. I don't really like the the 700si far to plasticky and not as well built as the 7000i which I believe was the better camera. I probably should have purchased Nikon or Canon to replace the 7000 but I had a bag full of lens, flash and other goodies so couldn't justify it.

Minolta has really done it's users a great disservice in not producing a Digital SLR. I want one and will purchase a Nikon, Canon or Pentax if Minolta don't come up with something within the next 12 months. The future is digital and Minolta are being left behind if something doesn't happen soon I can't see them having any future in SLR photography.