Why did you choose this camera?

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon .If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have purchased one?

I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly. Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Depending on how deep your pocket is i believe you can get ay camera that you want.

Personally i have a few cheap Minolta Lenses and hence am leaning towards the 7D (I don't want to have to change all my gear at once)

I haven't gotten one yet but surely will by mid year. I would recommend that you go into a camera store and try different cameras, read the comprehensive reviews on this site and then make up your mind.

Cheers.

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

By the way, when i got married last year we shot digital except for i roll of B/W film we were quite impressed with the prints. I believe the photographer used the Canon EOS 1D Mark II

dipac said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Yes I agree with trying cameras out . I have seen the 20d at Best Buy but not the Minolta. I dont like using a tripod and the anti shake is appealing although it wont compensate for the use of a tripod being I never use one anyway I figured antishake was what I could benifit from. Sorry about your wedding pictures. Truly the photographer didnt know his equipment? Or was lacking in PS skills? Anyway.........thanks for your reply.
Charlotte

dipac said:

dipac said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Hi Charlotte,

I think Dipac was saying the digital prints are impressive, not just the b/w.


I can't give my comment since I shoot Minolta prior to 7D.

Cheers!
Des

digitalphoto said:

dipac said:

digitalphoto said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Des

'Charter Member of the Konica Minolta 7D Adoption Society'

Please visit me at http://racandes.fotopic.net/
7D Dedicated Site: http://www.dyxum.com

I shoot weddings and the 7D is my choice because of the fine low light operation, the great skin tone rendition, large review screen, great viewfinder, and fantastic control layout. The only other cameras that I would really like to use would be the Canon EOS1 DII or the EOS1 DsII. These, however are in a different league.
--
Cheerio...
Rich

The B&W was at our request (the photographer tried really hard to talk us out of a fim B&W). My wife wouldn't accept a B&W image made out of a digital image. She wanted the fim negatives for security!!

digitalphoto said:

Yes I agree with trying cameras out . I have seen the 20d at Best
Buy but not the Minolta. I dont like using a tripod and the anti
shake is appealing although it wont compensate for the use of a
tripod being I never use one anyway I figured antishake was what I
could benifit from. Sorry about your wedding pictures. Truly the
photographer didnt know his equipment? Or was lacking in PS skills?
Anyway.........thanks for your reply.
Charlotte

Click to expand...

your right .........okay bedtime for me - or past it I must add -thanks eveyone for your repies
zzzzzzzzzzz

Desmond Lim said:

I think Dipac was saying the digital prints are impressive, not
just the b/w.


I can't give my comment since I shoot Minolta prior to 7D.

Cheers!
Des

digitalphoto said:

dipac said:

Desmond Lim said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Des

'Charter Member of the Konica Minolta 7D Adoption Society'

Please visit me at http://racandes.fotopic.net/
7D Dedicated Site: http://www.dyxum.com

Click to expand...

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

I've used Minolta slrs for years, with dabbles in a variety of other cameras and a Fuji S602 for a while now. While I have some Minolta maxxum lenses, the flash isn't fully compatible, etc. The price difference with some of the competing cameras would have more than made up for the lenses I have now. I like the feel of the camera and the control scheme. To be honest, even with the large lcd, I may find I'll need my glasses more to use it. The lcd protector and lcd can't be diopter corrected and I got in the habit of using mostly the finder on the Fuji for verifying detail and shots. That said, the same would apply to any of the cmaers for checking the shot and reading menus - although I was able to read the Fuji lcd for the most part so it may be the protector more than the arm length. I don't do weddings so can't tell you anything insightful there but have already noticed a massive improvement over the Fuji for certain types of shots that required quick reactions from both me and the camera.

Craig Gillette said:

I've used Minolta slrs for years, with dabbles in a variety of
other cameras and a Fuji S602 for a while now. While I have some
Minolta maxxum lenses, the flash isn't fully compatible, etc. The
price difference with some of the competing cameras would have more
than made up for the lenses I have now. I like the feel of the
camera and the control scheme. To be honest, even with the large
lcd, I may find I'll need my glasses more to use it. The lcd
protector and lcd can't be diopter corrected and I got in the habit
of using mostly the finder on the Fuji for verifying detail and
shots. That said, the same would apply to any of the cmaers for
checking the shot and reading menus - although I was able to read
the Fuji lcd for the most part so it may be the protector more than
the arm length. I don't do weddings so can't tell you anything
insightful there but have already noticed a massive improvement
over the Fuji for certain types of shots that required quick
reactions from both me and the camera.

Click to expand...

Because I had become used to the Fuji finder, when I tried a relative's D70 a while back, the finder didn't seem that bad but I am pleased with this finder as well. I've only done a few indoor shots and some outdoors under dull conditions so can't be really sure that I've found my desired settings yet.

I take D7D beaciuse that camera for me give best results of skin colours,tonnaly,saturation.IMHO the best camera with this for now.Yes - D7D is not so fast like Canon but for me is not soo important

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Key reasons for me were (in order of importance):

• Anti-shake for all lenses (used it on the A2 and loved it)
• Ergonomics - I own a Dynax 7 and love the control layout
• Existing investment in Minolta glass
• Flash system - which I have to say has been a little disappointing compared to my Dynax 7 in terms of off camera, multi flash.

As a number of people are starting to realise there are no bad cameras at this price bracket now - not even at significantly less. This is great news for everyone... it keeps the manufacturers on their toes, means you\ don't have to change brands if you have an investment in glass and - if you don't have an existing investment - means you have great choice.

daveR

but Minolta has been the mainstay of my decades of photography interest.

Someone posted a link to a photosite of the shooter who did the KM site samples. On that other site, he had examples of shots with nearly all digital cameras, and you almost couldn't tell which was which. OTOH you also don't know what work went into each shot.

Having enough lenses(etc.) to keep me shooting upon the purchase of the Maxxum 7D body was the initial thinking (AS supported that decision). The build, layout, and everything else pleases me more than all the others. The features and quality impressed me; and I owned a 300D, and was pleased trying the D70(and others) but the 7D is 'Best in Category' in my book. And I'm sure it will encounter some embellishment, too. Maybe WiFi, etc.

But you're not me, and my extreme satisfaction may not go that far with others, say, with smaller hands or weak arms; with different shooting situations.

Good Luck

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

--
JusGene
In the 7D Gang!
I live in Minoltaville, just outside the world
'The more you know, the more you don't know' -Me (8/14/1987)

M7D, D7u(with son), SPxi

Just one reason: ERGONOMICS

I've invested some time in trying out some DSLRs (Cann 10D, 20D and 300D) and Minolta. The Minolta fitted like a glove. It is realy designed by a someone who made a lot of pictures.

The AS is a "nice to have" just as the verry nice viewfinder and the big LCD and the manny features. But number One is the ERGONOMICS

It is hard to tell if the same thing will work for you, so try it in the shop. You are the judge for this...

The picture quality is good, as is for manny camera's (like the D70, 300D and so on)
Soi the Ergonomics is the key issue for me.....

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

You really can't go wrong with either the Canon 20D or the KM 7D, both are excellent photographic tools

I went KM after handling both cameras.

The viewfinder on the 7D is bigger and brighter, the control layout is old school knobs and switches (my kind of camera).

The build quality is extremely high, anti-shake is even better than I expected and it simply oozes class

Would I buy it again...........Yep!

Preferences are of course personal and indivdual, so try them both and draw your own conclusions, that's what it's all about, whatever makes you happy is a winner for you.

You may love the 20D for completely different reasons, freedom of choice, thank goodness we have all these great cams to choose from

Den.

gfrensen said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

A ton of Minolta Glass…. The good stuff, 16mm fisheye,35mm f2, 85mm 1.4G, 100mm Macro, 28-85mm f3.5, 80-200 f2.8G, 300mm f4, and a Sigma 17-35mm f2.8. Married with children, one in college and one on the way…. The wife (yes I’m counting my blessings) would never let me buy glass like this again. And I think the 7D will work out very well for me.
Mike
Still have the Maxxum 7 and 9 film plus the 9000, I think 2 will go soon..

Ricwind said:

I went KM after handling both cameras.

The viewfinder on the 7D is bigger and brighter, the control layout
is old school knobs and switches (my kind of camera).
The build quality is extremely high, anti-shake is even better than
I expected and it simply oozes class

Would I buy it again...........Yep!

Preferences are of course personal and indivdual, so try them both
and draw your own conclusions, that's what it's all about, whatever
makes you happy is a winner for you.

You may love the 20D for completely different reasons, freedom of
choice, thank goodness we have all these great cams to choose from


Den.

gfrensen said:

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

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It seems to me that the 7D would be an ideal wedding camera. I am a Maxxum 9 shooter, use it for weddings, and will likely get a 7D very soon. While there do remain some apparent flash issues with the 5600HS flash, which could be an important factor for wedding photography, supposedly they have mostly been resolved by adjusting the pre-flash on older flash units (although this may have an impact on wireless flash exposures), and newer flash units supposedly don't have the issue.

Why is the 7D such a great wedding camera? Because of the combination of AS and high speed lenses for ambient light photography that no other system offers. While you can get a 70-200/2.8 IS/VR lens for the Canon or Nikon systems, you cannot get an iimage stabilized 85/1.4, 100/2, 35/1.4 or 2.0, 50/1.4 or 1.7, or any other high-speed lenses (i.e., faster thatn 2.8) for these other systems, but with the 7D all of these lenses become image stabilized. This can facilitate ambient light shooting in a church, a reception hall, the "ready-room" or wherever a bride is "getting ready," and other situations where you may find yourself shooting in low light levels. This would be particularly useful for the "photojournalist" style of shooting. All of the above lenses are availble on the used market, and most are still in production (not the 100/2 which has a stellar reputation). KM also has a very compact, light and optically superior 200/2.8 lens. (Depending on your budget, any of the above lenses would be excellent choices, as would either of the 17-35 lenses, the 28-75/2.8, 80-200/2.8 (although now discontinued and replaced by the expensive 70-200/2.8 SSM, you should be able to find one on the used market). A good all-around lens would be the 24-105/3.5-4.5. When considering focal lengths remember to factor in the 1.5x crop factor.)

The easy to use wireless flash system adds another benefit (no separate, expensive controller required).

Many reviews have talked about the 7D's superior reproduction of skin tones, which I would think is a benefit. So too could be the 7D's zone matching system (not addressed in most reviews), which could help in certain photographic situations (such as photographing a bride in her white gown). Many others have mentioned the superior ergonomics, which generally allow for faster operation of the camera when switching modes or making changes to your camera settings.

I would think all of the above are reasons why the 7D would be an excellent choice for someone interested in wedding/portrait photography.

Mark Van Bergh

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

digitalphoto said:

Please don't think I am here to start a war, seems like lately they
are easy to start. I am just looking to buy a digital camera soon
.If you didnt have any Minolta lenses would you still have
purchased one?
I will be needing it for use for weddings and portraits mainly.
Would this be a camera that could cover low light situations okay
or should I look elsewheres. I am currently using an E-20 but I do
not shoot weddings with it. I use film for weddings and I am
looking to go digital. Which lens would be a wise buy and is anyone
using this camera for weddings and portraits. Seems like Canon is
popular but looking at all options before making a final desicion .
Thanks
Charlotte

Click to expand...

When I decided to get the 7D, I did not have any Maxxum lenses. I cannot afford the 7D itself yet, but have bought my first lens and a film Maxxum. My decision was based on:
1. AS in the body - this wil help me in taking pictures in low light.

2. The large LCD screen.

3. The large # of external controls to control the picture, as opposed to menu settings.
4. The fact that you can use the camera effectively while wearing gloves.

5. Prior experience with a Minolta Dimage 7i - I like the feel.

I chose to buy a Tokina 24-200 lens and a film Maxxim now to get used to the lens, and plan to buy the 7D in a couple of months, when I can afford to. The Tokina lens will be the equivalent of a 36-300 lens on the 7D, which should be sufficient for most purposes, although I might buy a wider angle lens eventually, and might get a longer lens or a teleconverter for photographing birds & other animals.

digitalphoto said:

Yes I agree with trying cameras out . I have seen the 20d at Best
Buy but not the Minolta.

Click to expand...

With all respect to BestBuy, it's not right place to go test cameras. Aside from everything else, their sales won't be really helpful to choose right DSLR.
Try local photo shops or Wolf/Ritz if you have nothing but them in your area.

I agree, anti-shake feature is awesome, but it does not eleminate use of tripod in many cases.