What to do, what to do? Getting back into photography...

Howdy guys and girls,

I have an off again / on again relationship with photography that has seemed to restart with the interest from my 17 YO son wishing to learn more about taking photos.

With the advances in technologies over the last decade or more in photography my once "cool" gear has somewhat become OLD.    I still have my original and working Konica/Minolta Maxxum 7D that my dear wife spent big bucks for when it first came out and a just recently "dying" Dynax 5D that I purchased used when I had to send my 7D in to Precision for repairs.    I have a small assortment of what I consider to be a nice collection of modest lenses including the Minolta AF 24-105mm D, Minolta 100-300mm D, KM 17-35mm D, Minolta 50mm 1.7, Minolta 100mm macro, and lastly a cheaper Minolta 18-70mm DT lens.    Most of the lenses were purchased when I originally got my still-with-me film Maxxum 7 with the 3600D flash.

With my Dynax 5D starting to show the AS system death shake, and my 7D having been repaired once for the same AS system death shake (I assume nobody still works on these old cameras?!?), I have to wonder which Sony bodies to look at/for as more modern used purchases for the near future (from the likes of KEH.com) as I don't wish to start acquiring another brand of lenses.

Questions:   It looks like Sony kept the KM lens mount alive for some time, but they look to have changed to another mount system for their NEX and possibly their "E" lenses (whatever they are)...  which models should I look for or look out for?

Do these older Sony offerings still allow me to use my Minolta 3600D flash?

Thank you all in advance.

you are a bit all over the place with you photographic priorities. Are we talking you having a bonding moment with your 17 yo son, or the itch to get back into photography... the third element is no mention of budget.

BTW I use my 7D from time to time and find its colors to be unprecedented.

Budget ?

It this about you getting some use out of old lenses ?

Bonding opportunity?

Is his interest in Photography as strong as your interest in having a Dad Moment ?

Yes, Sony has kept the Alpha mount alive. They still make cameras and lenses that use the Minolta mount. Your options in buying a current camera that will fit your lenses are the A68, the A77 mark ii (both APS-C), and A99 mark ii (full frame). All of these have an electronic viewfinder.

Older cameras that have the alpha mount are the A58, A57, A37, A33, A65, A77, and the full frame A99. True SLRs from Sony that used the alpha mount were the A900, A850, A580, A560, A550, A500, A700, A200, A100 and some others.

First, consider a switch to Canon or Nikon. Sony E mount is expensive and has limited selection from third party manufacturers. A mount is totally dead but provides access to all classic Minolta lenses plus Sony lenses, some of which are awesome.

Maybe get a used a99 Mk 1. I have it and it is a great camera. Fits with all Your Minolta film lenses, I also have the 24-105 and it is a good lens. Lots of other Minolta AF lenses can be had cheaply but be aware that they maybe don't give a "modern" look, nowadays high microcontrast is the norm. Minolta lenses are actually sharp but give a somewhat smooth and soft impression. This is difficult to explain but old Minoltonians will understand. All the detail is there but the images look (pleasingly) soft.

The 3600D flash has the old Maxxum shoe, this fits the A700 APC-C and the A900 FF cameras, from NEX-6 (E mount) and a99 onwords Sony uses the new MI (Multi Interface) show which provides more functionality.

No sweat, just buy the Godox TT350S (2xAA) or V860II flash (Li-Ion battery). Both of these flashes are light years ahead of any Minolta flash and they are cheap plus have loads of power, 2.4GHz wireless and so on. I have both and they are all the flash You need.

I suggest You start with the a99 and You old Minolta lenses, the a99 included an adapter for the old Minolta flashes but buy a modern unit ASAP. the A900 is not much cheaper and is a generation behind so I suggest You go for the a99 if You wish to continue in A mount. But first consider a switch to CaNikon.

Again I ask, what is your budget...

Hard to offer advice when you are not offering the basic information needed.

there are lots of good used cameras out there that will use your a-mount stuff.  I have a 13 year old KM 7D, I have the Vgrip, and the OEM KM Flash, and the original charger and two OEM batteries.  I have the boxes and all the original paper work. I have the original OEM screen protector, the polycarbonate one.  I have a perfectly pristine Sony A700 with OEM Vgrip, charger and flash, all the boxes and paper work. My Point here is both are great cameras and are out there.  I would not sell either of these cameras under any circumstances, but there are offerings out there.

Bill aka EO

I just went to ebay.. ( not my favorite place ). Ive been an a-mount shooter for decades. Trying to put myself in your place, with your concern for OVF. You could not find a better A-mount than a Sony A700. I found a package on Ebay, that shows a well maintained Camera with a genuine Sony V-grip ( worth 300 dollars by itself ). all the paper work and included boxes. And also a very important book from Gary Friedman on the A700 ( I have this book and by itself is worth 75 dollars. Chargers and extra batteries straps and cables etc.

What ever you do , do not look for the cheapest camera.. look past the price, and look for clues as to how the camera was maintained by the owner. this set up looks like it was kept pristine by the owner. Documentation is important when considering a used camera. This set up appears to be one that would be well maintained by the effort to " Keep all of the peripheral stuff like paper work, boxes, packaging and even that Gary Friedman book tells me this is a good offering.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sony-Alpha-DSLR-A700-12-2-MP-Digital-SLR-Camera-With-Vertical-Grip-/152666741451?epid=100123496&hash=item238ba59acb:g:cZEAAOSwf-VWab2z

Bill

Here is a shot I took of my son taken from 90 feet away from the penalty box  using this camera.

blow this up to see Michael's face, even through his wire guard face mask.

I just went to the link and the price dropped 200 dollars... This would be a great buy for you if everything is ok. 549 dollars is a great buy.

AS far as the Vgrip goes.. every camera I own has a Vgrip... ergonomically the Vgrip not only adds power( 2 batteries ), it also adds balance. My only concern is EBay.

If you decide to go this way, I would suggest since the price has dropped, that getting the 1 year protection plan for 74 dollars would be peace of mind.  At 625 dollars +Shipping. with a one year guarantee would be well within your budget.

Bill aka EO

I told you that the ebay offer was perfect for you, and with the addition of the buyer protection plan for 79 dollars ( well respected third party warranty ) would give you the same warranty as a New camera. that deal could not have been a better deal for you.

Bill aka EO

KeithH wrote:

I went to visit a nice local camera store and looked at the A850 (used) that they had along with a newer A7R II so I could start to understand this mirrorless technology. While the electronic viewer on the brand new camera was very nice and the feature of seeing results of compensation and changes to the exposure "live" in the viewer was very nice, I know that my wife will NOT allow me to spend that kind of money for a new model.

Keith in Washington State

If You want an EVF and a generally more modern camera, then there are cheaper options than the A7R Mk2. An old A7 with LA-EA4 adapter will take Your old Maxxum lenses. And the a99 will take them directly.

A850? Just be sure to check the price first and compare with the a99. The old skool A850/A900 are in my view overpriced due to romantics out there. The a99's I see are not much more expensive than the A850/900.

The a99 carries the MI connector so You can buy into the modern 2.4GHz wireless flash systems. They also have better sensors.

You already have a nice group of lenses. An A55 is available at KEH very reasonably priced. If you want new, the A68 body for $600 USD will work great with all your lenses and the upgrade from the cameras you are used to, or even the A700 being mentioned is absolutely amazing.  You will find focusing speed, exposure accuracy, dynamic range of your photos and the difference moving to 24 mp another order of magnitude.

My own experience has been with the KM5D, which I still used until it finally died about six months ago, A700 which I used along with the KM5D for over 10 years, and an A7ii with the LA-AE adaptor which give approximately A55 focusing.  The A68 is my choice for use with telephotos due to extra reach and size over the FF A7ii.

Anders_Nilsson wrote:

First, consider a switch to Canon or Nikon.

Consider switching to Pentax. No Nikon or Canon body have IBIS and I think you will miss it dearly. Plus Pentax keeps backward compatibilty for every Pentax lens made from 1952, even the screw-mount M42 ones with a simple adapter. As far as I know Nikon indicates many old Nikkor lenses as incompatible for the latest F-mount, they follow the politics of built-in obsolescence. I used to use an A700 which I still have and cherish. If they were newer OVF A-mount models by Sony I would have not even think to switch to another brand, I love my Minolta colection of lenses. I am using now a Pentax K-5 and I am mostly satisfied. One of many useful features is that Pentax IBIS can correct automatically horizon to some degree. Only I miss using the build-in flash as an HSS commander. It can be used as a remote wireless commander but does not support HSS. For wireless HSS I have to mount an external flash.

KeithH wrote:

EvilOne wrote:

Again I ask, what is your budget...

Hard to offer advice when you are not offering the basic information needed.

<snip>

Bill aka EO

To tell you the truth Bill, I think that the "WANT" in me will want to get as much camera as I can get away with when it comes to the money. Something in or above the range of the A5xx series to the A850 range..

That all being said, I think that between $400 and $900 dollars (US) is what I envision spending on my next new-to-me used DSLR body.

With that amount I'd list in order a850, a550, and a700.. if SLT design is acceptable an a77 or a58. I really like the 20Mpx sensor output that Pentax got with Ks1 and Ks2, so an a58 sounds interesting to me, just after the 850.

Old thread, but while not in the same place as you [were], I'm having the similar thoughts. Still trying to see where I move on from the 5D, A850, and A200 (!), plus my arsenal of 30+ year old Minolta glass. Many years late, but I have to admit that for my style of shooting nothing A-mount calls my name right now. 

A68 give you the latest functionality at a bargain price.  Replacing my A700 with one soon.

jimrpdx wrote:

KeithH wrote:

EvilOne wrote:

Again I ask, what is your budget...

Hard to offer advice when you are not offering the basic information needed.

<snip>

Bill aka EO

To tell you the truth Bill, I think that the "WANT" in me will want to get as much camera as I can get away with when it comes to the money. Something in or above the range of the A5xx series to the A850 range..

That all being said, I think that between $400 and $900 dollars (US) is what I envision spending on my next new-to-me used DSLR body.

With that amount I'd list in order a850, a550, and a700.. if SLT design is acceptable an a77 or a58. I really like the 20Mpx sensor output that Pentax got with Ks1 and Ks2, so an a58 sounds interesting to me, just after the 850.

Ok, since my last post I've added the a77ii to my collection. I'm now inseparably invested into Minolta/Sony. Actually thought about going Nikon due to the D7500/D500 but stayed with Sony. The a77ii has a temperamental AF system but I think it's just a matter of getting used to it.

Now, the a77ii was $960 for me here in China. Check deals where You live. Seems Americans pay 1/3 less than the rest of the world for anything and they have generally insane deals on anything not latest&greatest. Also the a99i is just above $1000 and the incredible thing is that it has dropped only maybe 10% on the used market since I bought mine slightly used in October 2015. Still a great camera.

Please do Yourself a favour and check out the Imaging Resource comparometer for IQ comparison and try to rent or borrow or just use in real stores as many various systems You can lay Your hands on. 5 min with a camera and standard zoom and You should get a feeling for how it feels.

And if You're not heavily invested in Minolta glass then don't be afraid to try other systems. Recent glass is usually better than old glass. If You plan a trip to NY, then drop into B&H for a morning and just check out the feeling of the D7500 and 7Dii so You see what You give up if going Sony.

Also now the A7iii is out, check slightly used prices for A7i and A7ii. And don't forget oddities like the A7S though it seems expensive even used.