Need advice on buying a new camera

[lisagene]

I'd like to buy a new Minolta film camera, but need some advice as to what model might be right for me. I am a long time X700 user, and I'm simply getting tired of the all manuel settings and having to lug around my Sunpak flash. I like the results I get, but with an active 3 year old to take pictures of, I'd rather have a camera that gives me more freedom. I'd like a camera with a built in flash (where red eye will not be an issue) and automated exposure settings, that gives me comparable results to what I get with the X700. Ideally, I'd like this camera to have manuel features as well, so if I feel like playing around, I'm able to. Does such a thing exist in the Minolta line? I appreciate any advice.

 

[clive]

1.built-in flash is very likely to give u redeye. u need hotshoe flash to greatly reduce chances of redeye
2.since its for pics of your child...a low budget will be in priority, i guess? and u prefer film body..that means dynax 5 should be an ok choice. for more features, can go for dynax 7.(dynax 9 should be out of question i suppose)
3. the lens: avoid the commonly bundled "kit lens", its betetr to go for something like the 28-105/f3.5-4.5

^_^

 

[SGY]

Dynax 5 is a good choice. AF speed is quite fast, comparing to other si series cameras. Can see some 2nd-hands around. Zoom lens can choose 24-85 or 24-105, but they are not very cheap. The 'kit lens' 28-80 (D) is actually ok. Otherwise, use prime lenses.

 

[deslim27]

Hi lisagene,

Are you considering digital?

 

[TME]

Dynax 5 for affordability.... and yeah the ever versatile 50mm prime...

 

[TITANIUMLEE]

I think dynax 7 is good. For other dynax series, let say dynax 5 and 3 the body is too small for guy. The dynax 9 is too experience.

I'd like to buy a new Minolta film camera, but need some advice as to what model might be right for me. I am a long time X700 user, and I'm simply getting tired of the all manuel settings and having to lug around my Sunpak flash. I like the results I get, but with an active 3 year old to take pictures of, I'd rather have a camera that gives me more freedom. I'd like a camera with a built in flash (where red eye will not be an issue) and automated exposure settings, that gives me comparable results to what I get with the X700. Ideally, I'd like this camera to have manuel features as well, so if I feel like playing around, I'm able to. Does such a thing exist in the Minolta line? I appreciate any advice.

 

[The_Cheat]

I think dynax 7 is good. For other dynax series, let say dynax 5 and 3 the body is too small for guy. The dynax 9 is too experience.

Experience?? :dunno: :what:

Anyway, I think dynax 5 is a very good camera to start off with. Dynax 7 would be better in terms of investment though.

 

[TME]

I think dynax 7 is good. For other dynax series, let say dynax 5 and 3 the body is too small for guy. The dynax 9 is too experience.

The 7 doesn't come cheap! A 2nd hand one would still cost like 2 - 2.5 times that of a 2nd hand 5. A brand new 7 still costs in excess of $1000.

 

[The_Cheat]

The 7 doesn't come cheap! A 2nd hand one would still cost like 2 - 2.5 times that of a 2nd hand 5. A brand new 7 still costs in excess of $1000.

Actually I'd gotten my Dynax 5 kit second hand... and the price is really quite low. Don't wanna disclose the price at transaction, but it's definitely the case as stated by TME.

Dynax 5 is definitely a good camera. Love to take pictures with it. :lovegrin:
Dynax 7 would have been better... but, heck! We would always drool on more and better, and ended up not using most of the functions anyway. It's the person behind the camera that counts at the end of the day, right?

 

[TME]

Actually I'd gotten my Dynax 5 kit second hand... and the price is really quite low. Don't wanna disclose the price at transaction, but it's definitely the case as stated by TME.

Dynax 5 is definitely a good camera. Love to take pictures with it. :lovegrin:
Dynax 7 would have been better... but, heck! We would always drool on more and better, and ended up not using most of the functions anyway. It's the person behind the camera that counts at the end of the day, right?

Actually u do use quite a number of the features on the 7 like I do (I'm no pro nor do I shoot very often), but it's so seamless that u forget that u are using it. And when u shift down to a lower end SLR, u find that it's a bit awkward without all the gadgetry that made your life so smooth when shooting..... in my case the shift down is perhaps a little more extreme since it's from a 7 to a 505si....

 

[junyang]

what happened to ur dynax 7!?!

 

[The_Cheat]

what happened to ur dynax 7!?!

Yar man! Whatever happened to your dynax 7? Why downgrade? :dunno:

 

[TME]

Aiyoh!! Relax lar..... The 7 is still with me.... just that sometimes my dad use my camera lar.... so I have the 505si to play around with lor.... I actually haven't shot at all with the 505si after I upgraded to the 7 so about 1 month back I was just using up the film my dad left in the 505si and was like.... arrrgghhh..... where my exposure compensation dial, where's my spot metering modes, where's focal point selector, where's my aperture preview, why the viewfinder so small and dim, why the autofocus so slow....etc..... hahaha..... was quite distressing.... in the end just switched to full auto and fire lor....... kekekeke..... not an experience I want to repeat if possible.... although that cam is still my backup... some back tho'....

 

[The_Cheat]

Aiyoh!! Relax lar..... The 7 is still with me.... just that sometimes my dad use my camera lar.... so I have the 505si to play around with lor.... I actually haven't shot at all with the 505si after I upgraded to the 7 so about 1 month back I was just using up the film my dad left in the 505si and was like.... arrrgghhh..... where my exposure compensation dial, where's my spot metering modes, where's focal point selector, where's my aperture preview, why the viewfinder so small and dim, why the autofocus so slow....etc..... hahaha..... was quite distressing.... in the end just switched to full auto and fire lor....... kekekeke..... not an experience I want to repeat if possible.... although that cam is still my backup... some back tho'....

Thought that you were robbed of your Dynax 7 or something...

Anyway, I personally think 505si isn't really that bad. It's really a decent camera for a relatively cheap, entry-level camera.

 

[TME]

Thought that you were robbed of your Dynax 7 or something...

Anyway, I personally think 505si isn't really that bad. It's really a decent camera for a relatively cheap, entry-level camera.

I paid a grand total of $650 for my 505si two or three years back... for that money today u can get a better camera the 5....

 

[The_Cheat]

I paid a grand total of $650 for my 505si two or three years back... for that money today u can get a better camera the 5....

It's not really fair to make this kind of comparison, since a lot of things change in 2 to 3 years. $650 three years back would be equvalent to more or less $700 by now, due to inflation. Three years back, the technology would cost more than it is now, since technology move forward, not backward. And most importantly, if you were to say that $650 for three years, you won't be able to capture a lot of memories on film, that may I dare to assume, priceless? :dunno:

Actually, I prefer to go second hand, since I can use whatever is available two to three years back, at half the cost I need for a brand new one! :bsmilie:

 

[TME]

It's not really fair to make this kind of comparison, since a lot of things change in 2 to 3 years. $650 three years back would be equvalent to more or less $700 by now, due to inflation. Three years back, the technology would cost more than it is now, since technology move forward, not backward. And most importantly, if you were to say that $650 for three years, you won't be able to capture a lot of memories on film, that may I dare to assume, priceless? :dunno:

Actually, I prefer to go second hand, since I can use whatever is available two to three years back, at half the cost I need for a brand new one! :bsmilie:

$650 is $700 today tehreabouts. It only shows that money has gotten smaller.... less buying power. In any case, it was the best bang for buck then. But I were getting a similar camera today, I'll get much more with the 5 and really I probably wouldn't have thought of moving up to a 7 since I would have much faster AF, a metal lens mount, 7-point focus, focus assist, aperture preview, higher sync flash speeds, and larger closer to 100% viewfinder. All these points prompted me to shift to the 7.

 

[The_Cheat]

$650 is $700 today tehreabouts. It only shows that money has gotten smaller.... less buying power. In any case, it was the best bang for buck then. But I were getting a similar camera today, I'll get much more with the 5 and really I probably wouldn't have thought of moving up to a 7 since I would have much faster AF, a metal lens mount, 7-point focus, focus assist, aperture preview, higher sync flash speeds, and larger closer to 100% viewfinder. All these points prompted me to shift to the 7.

Hmm... have never played with a Dynax 7 before... so wouldn't really know whether I need to upgrade or not. But even if I do touich a 7, I doubt that I would upgrade. *Have* been spending quite a bit on cameras for the last three months, so I shall resist any temptation to buy buy buy!

Have been neglecting my bass for more than 3 months too!

 

[TME]

Hmm... have never played with a Dynax 7 before... so wouldn't really know whether I need to upgrade or not. But even if I do touich a 7, I doubt that I would upgrade. *Have* been spending quite a bit on cameras for the last three months, so I shall resist any temptation to buy buy buy!

Have been neglecting my bass for more than 3 months too!

U are using what? 5? Or A1? If using 5 then I'll say dun upgrade to 7. Really no need too cos the main difference is the speed and accuracy of AF and the vertical grip having full controls. Other than that I think mainly the same except that 5 is perhaps less depth for each feature they share. Based on my rusty memory about the 5's feature. So not entirely reliable....

 

[The_Cheat]

U are using what? 5? Or A1? If using 5 then I'll say dun upgrade to 7. Really no need too cos the main difference is the speed and accuracy of AF and the vertical grip having full controls. Other than that I think mainly the same except that 5 is perhaps less depth for each feature they share. Based on my rusty memory about the 5's feature. So not entirely reliable....

I'm using 5, and I'm really happy with it!
Well, 'cept for the fact that it's a tad to small for my hand! :bsmilie: