Dennis,
A friend of mine sent me this, this morning what do you think of this?

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0601/06011901konicaminoltaout.asp

I cant believe it, I guess all the new Minolta digitals will be Sony now. Maybe thats why all of those cool new digital only lenses Minolta announced have not come out yet? I was also going to ask you what Compact Flash's are you using? We have discovered its almost impossible to beat the Lexar Pro 80x. Were using 1,2 and 4 gig cards. The nice thing about them is you can hold the shutter button down and shoot away and the camera wont stop to catch up with writing the pictures to the card for about 50 pictures great for action.
Well gotta run,
Mike

Hi Mike,

Want a laugh, check out the KM dSLR forum on dpreview.com today. A lot of egos to begin with now "the sky is falling". Sony worked with KM (konica minolta) to develop the 7D and 5D dSLR cameras. I think this is just part of the game plan for Sony to really step into Digital photography. Even though the 2 KM dslrs are not the most popular on the market, as a new comer they have earned respect with pros and those really understanding modern cameras. KM was a respectable name in the film 35mm industry so using them to introduce the cameras was a good thing. Combine that with KM lens quality and Sony (a gadget company) gains instant market respect when the re-badging takes place. Had the same cameras been introduced as sonys a year and a half ago they most likely wouldn't have been given a second look by the industry or consumers.

I too use Lexar 80x CF cards. I have to watch my spending and had 1 512meg card I was using with my p&s and bought a second 512meg to give me 2 cards. Then I found a 40gig portable hard drive with a card reader that fits on my camera belt. Check out www.hyperdrive.com with good CF cards running about $100 a gig the hyperdrive at $200 for 40 gig is a bargain. With 2 CF cards I can swap and keep shooting while the full card is downloading to the portable.

I'm picking up a used Sigma 170-500mm AF APO f5-6.5 to round out my camera bag. What a cool tool it is...

Dennis,
I never thought of that but its right on the mark, I wonder if that will make our KM's classics??? I hear you about the pocketbook but with my wife shooting so dang many pictures we had to do it. All she ever uses now is the 4 gig and 2 gig we had 2-2 gig compact flashes but for some unknown reson 1 decided not to store anymore, hell for that matter it decided not to give up the pictures on it. I'm going to check out the link on the hyperdrive. We have so much other camera stuff around I shudder to think of having more. What type of bag are you using we using 2 backpack camera bags work great as you can grab one and run. They have tape on them to show which one is which as the 2 different cameras are set up a little different. Works good but they could be bigger.
Mike

Anyone want to buy a SRT-101 or an SRT-102... ;)
Man - I'm sorry to hear they're giving up on the market.
I've had mostly Minolta cameras since I got into photography in the 60's. I have also bought a few Canon's and others but, found myself soon in the market for a newer Milnolta sortly thereafter due to there flexibilty and higher technological developement.
I have never had a Minolta break down on me (well, if you don't count the one the 'number of exposures remaining reading' on one of my old X-700's being off by a couple shots in the window... I know about it so it doesn't bother me). I wish I could have said the same thing for my last Cannon - I quess it just didn't like cold weather very much...

I've still been doing most of my photography in 35mm and getting the prints digitized or making my own files from slides.
Quess it's about time to get really serious about this digital stuff - seems these computers are here to stay... :D

John

John,
I can tell you and I cant speak for Dennis but I'm sure he would also highly recommend the Minolta soon to be Sony D'series digital cameras. I have never had a problem with them unless you want to include operator error...LOL.. I think there awesome cameras! The things are just incredible.
Mike

I hope Sony chooses to carry on the Minolta heritage like Konica tried to. Seeing "Sony-Minolta" on packaging and lens caps would go a long way with Minolta followers. Did you know Minolta was the first camera in space? That should wake Royce up!

Other than the initial cost John, the new stuff is fantastic. No more having to waste the end of a roll because you need to change asa for different conditions for example. No more expense or wait to fire off 20 test shots to try out a new lens to see if you like it. I'm sold on Minolta but would suggest you find your price/feature must haves and go put your hands on everything that lands on your list.

As for camara bag or case. I have a Pelican hard case for storage and long distance travel. Then for walking around I have this old holster (like a fannypack) I'm replacing with a Tamrac modular belt system and Tamrac Pro Dig Zoom 7 (like a holster) that can attach to the belt along with lens cases or I can attach up to 2 lens cases to it and use it over my sholder.

Give me a backpack or sholder bag and I tend to want to set them down when I shoot which means I'm not thinking about them... I also tend to travel lighter this way.

John,
...I have never had a problem with them unless you want to include operator error...LOL...
Mike

Mike;
Yeah - I've heard that could happen :D
I was definately thinking of staying with a newer digital KM due to lens interchangability.
I have been looking at the 5 & 7D's for the last month or so - sorry to say "Santa" didn't seem to get my list this year...

I got to see Dennis' new camera at the SF rod Show last weekend - but, he wasn't lettin' any of us bozos touch it... :D
J/K - I snuck a few looks but, didn't get around to asking any questions - we were kinda into the cars... ;)
Did see that the pictures he took came out great and that just solidified my thoughts on these cameras.

Maybe there will be some deals before the car shows start up again this spring...

John

Ive got a Minolta srt 101 now too :) never use it tho but its NEVER failed to work either.

My wife and I are running 7D's have 2 of them and for lenses were using, 70-200F/2.8, 17-35 F/2.8, 300 F/2.8, 1.4X and a 2X teleconverter , 20 wide angle F/2.8, 28-75 F/2.8 I want to get a 50 F/1.4 and a 17-35 F/2.8 but we will see. For a flash were using the 5600HS which once you learn how to run it is a incredible flash unit. The nice thing is alot of the lenses were bought when we used good old fashioned film Minolta SLRs.

I love photography and started doing it using my Brownie that I received for Christmas in the mid fifties. Graduated to TLR's with my first Rollicord in late 50's then to SLR's with a Canon when I went into the military. From Canon to Nikons in the early eighties. Currently and still use the Nikon F4s with an assortment of lenses but did pick up a pentax digital 4MP to try it out and I will tell you I have been happy with it as it is so easy to transfer pictures to a computer and then to friends around the world in seconds. I still like the feel of the old camera but the versatility of the digital is awesome. Currently looking at the DX2 but it is pricey. I would guess when I purchase my next one the next technology to take over will be to attach CCD's to the retina of your eye. That way you can shoot at a blink.........will it ever stop!

Hi Guy - If you miss the feel of the 35mm slr when shooting digital you need to look into a dslr for your next digital camera. It's a bit more expensive but prices are dropping and for anyone who enjoyed 35mm slr photography it's the best of both worlds...

Just bail on the KMS ship and come to the enlightend side.

CANON Rulez the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just bail on the KMS ship and come to the enlightend side.

CANON Rulez the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

You're not one of those guys are you? ;)

At least I am not one of those Nikon fanboyz. :D

I have been playing with my new 430EX hot shoe flash all day and am confused as ever.

Still fun learning stuff...

http://www.funkconsulting.com/67camaro/photo/

Just bail on the KMS ship and come to the enlightend side.

CANON Rulez the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dennis, I just realized their everywhere now, I have a friend whos always saying that, I always tell him I would if I didnt have to rebuy the anitshake with every lense......LOL

LOL - I hear you on the anti-shake. Some of my recent car show pic's were shot at 1/10th sec. hand held and without AS they would have been blurry.

Hey Funk - Glad you were able to put the fotofolio to use... I have a soft spot for brittany and springer spaniels, the best dog I ever had was (Jackson) a black and white springer when I was in my 20's...