minolta losing the plot

Coming from Minolta 35mm equipment I purchased a D7 and have been very pleased with it. I have produced some great photos and it has really given me a great buzz for digital photography. But heres my problem. As good as the D7 its not perfect, I want more. I still have my Dynax 7 body and a collection of lenses to go with it, so I want a Minolta DSLR body. Canon, Nikon and now even Sigma are producing one,why not Minolta ?

If Minolta want to keep with the big boys don't you think they need a digital SLR.

Hi Steve,

I think it's more than likely they are working on this as we speak.

I'd place a bet that Minolta will have a Big Black DSLR on the market before the year is out.

Mark H.

I'm afraid that I must agree, and I too was disappointed logging in today and finding no mention of a Minolta DSLR body ... I really don't understand why Minolta is having difficulty as they really had a good grounding in the D7, and a Maxxum 7 body screaming for digital attention ... !?!?

I suppose the show isn't over yet, and even Olympus hasn't made any announcements yet so I guess there is still some time ... another Poster mentioned something that I also thought meant BIG news from Steve's Digicams ... that being his quote regarding a price breakthrough for a DSLR, and so far only the Nikon has yet to be priced with all the others being too expensive for the average consumer ... Minolta broke some price barriers with their 5MP D7, so why can't they design a similarly Price Breaking DSLR?

Anyway, my two cents worth ... I'll still be hopeful for the duration of the show, but I cannot help but be pessimistic ...

Kind regards,

Andrew

Steve B said:

Coming from Minolta 35mm equipment I purchased a D7 and have been
very pleased with it. I have produced some great photos and it has
really given me a great buzz for digital photography. But heres my
problem. As good as the D7 its not perfect, I want more. I still
have my Dynax 7 body and a collection of lenses to go with it, so I
want a Minolta DSLR body. Canon, Nikon and now even Sigma are
producing one,why not Minolta ?
If Minolta want to keep with the big boys don't you think they need
a digital SLR.

Click to expand...

Hi -

You may want to review this posting in an earlier thread on the subject. It doesn't sound like anything is just around the corner.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?Forum=1024&message=2241356

Jim B.

Andrew said:

I suppose the show isn't over yet, and even Olympus hasn't made any
announcements yet so I guess there is still some time ... another
Poster mentioned something that I also thought meant BIG news from
Steve's Digicams ... that being his quote regarding a price
breakthrough for a DSLR, and so far only the Nikon has yet to be
priced with all the others being too expensive for the average
consumer ... Minolta broke some price barriers with their 5MP D7,
so why can't they design a similarly Price Breaking DSLR?

Anyway, my two cents worth ... I'll still be hopeful for the
duration of the show, but I cannot help but be pessimistic ...

Kind regards,

Andrew

Steve B said:

Coming from Minolta 35mm equipment I purchased a D7 and have been
very pleased with it. I have produced some great photos and it has
really given me a great buzz for digital photography. But heres my
problem. As good as the D7 its not perfect, I want more. I still
have my Dynax 7 body and a collection of lenses to go with it, so I
want a Minolta DSLR body. Canon, Nikon and now even Sigma are
producing one,why not Minolta ?
If Minolta want to keep with the big boys don't you think they need
a digital SLR.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Jim B said:

Hi -

You may want to review this posting in an earlier thread on the
subject. It doesn't sound like anything is just around the corner.

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?Forum=1024&message=2241356

Jim B.

Click to expand...

Oh well, I'll eat my words, and maybe won't place that bet after all.

Not that I care much anyway. I wouldn't dream of spending circa $3000 on any camera. £840 for the D7 was pretty extreme in my book, and it's going to have to last for a good few years or more, so I get my money's worth.

What can you do with a big fat DSLR anyway, that can't be done with the D7 ? - not that much more at all really.

Mark H.

I think it's time for me to give up on Minolta. I also have a lot of Minolta gear and lenses and am tired waiting for their first generation D-SLR. Canon is on their second generation with some great stuff. Nikon on their third or fourth, depends how you count. Even if Minolta comes up with D-SLR, it will be their first try and I will not be likely to buy at this point.

I think it's time to admit that I bet on a wrong horse back 20 years ago. All my friends were telling me that and I guess they were ultimately proven right. Minolta is now just concentrating on competing with some Chinese and Korean manufacturers, with their Dimage line. Sure they are on top, but of which pile?

The 5 and 7 are great for what they are, but they are not SLRs. Great things are done with them, but there were great things done with pin-hole cameras as well.

This is aimed at Minolta and not at any of the folks here on this forum. Like I said before, Dimage 5 and 7 are great cameras in their own category, I just wish there was a Minolta SLR forum here, so I can continue being a Minolta guy among my Canon and Niko friends.

Jurek

Steve B said:

Coming from Minolta 35mm equipment I purchased a D7 and have been
very pleased with it. I have produced some great photos and it has
really given me a great buzz for digital photography. But heres my
problem. As good as the D7 its not perfect, I want more. I still
have my Dynax 7 body and a collection of lenses to go with it, so I
want a Minolta DSLR body. Canon, Nikon and now even Sigma are
producing one,why not Minolta ?
If Minolta want to keep with the big boys don't you think they need
a digital SLR.

Click to expand...

Jurek said:

I think it's time for me to give up on Minolta.

Click to expand...

[ rest of whinge deleted ]

My sentiments exactly from a year ago.

Now I figure:

a) My D7 is lighter and has glass as good as my SLR.

b) 28mm to 200mm covers most of my existing glass
anyway -- and I didn't use the > 200mm stuff
very often and if I wanted
a Contax G or Bessa.

c) I don't like hauling around my Dynax anymore. It's
big and heavy. It's also noisier.

d) If Minolta provided a Dynax 7 or 9 equivalent DSLR
I'm unlikely to be a customer now.

Now I'd prefer it if Minolta concentrated on the the next generation
of D5/7 with more mature featureset with higher quality and
higher performance.
-----------------Andrew.