I have a d60,10d, and 20d. I got the 7d because I have a whole line of minolta lenses. I will let you know how the 20 and the 7 stack up against each other in a few days.
Yeah it sure does. It's a Macro Lens: Zoom Macro (This is the world's first Macro zoom lens with a magnification ratio capability from 1:1 to 3:1. It provides handy motorized operation and a double-floating element design that eliminates aberrations, even with its 3X f/1.7 setting.):
I notice a few folks from the old MML (Minolta Mailing List) and yahoo egroups Minolta board on this post! I'm in a similar situation as these individuals: I had used Minolta AF cameras since the late 1980s, starting with a Minolta 7000 and including an 800si and a Maxxum 7. I just didn't want to wait any longer for a Minolta DSLR, so I sold off most of my Minolta lenses, and I now own a 10D. I probably would have kept using Minolta if the company had given *any* early indication that that a DSLR was on the way. But, the announcment came too late for my tastes, and then there was nearly a year wait for the release. I was in the market for a DSLR and got the 10D.
The Minolta DSLR looks like a fine camera, although the initial price seemed a bit high. In any case, I am quite pleased with my decision to move to Canon.
While we're on the subject of Canon/Nikon alternatives, has anyone had much experience with the Pentax *ist D or SD? I have been thinking on and off about getting one for my lady since she would most likely enjoy its more compact size. Any thoughts?
Yellowfin wrote:
While we're on the subject of Canon/Nikon alternatives, has anyone had much experience with the Pentax *ist D or SD? I have been thinking on and off about getting one for my lady since she would most likely enjoy its more compact size. Any thoughts?
Gee Bill
If you get her a Canon 350, she'd have the advantage of compact size AND be able to share all of your lenses with you!!
350 is a very small camera. Will be good for her. And you can use it too with your lenses just in case. But if you don't want her to mess up with your gears, go ahead and buy the Pentax.
Yeh the 350D is a much better option than the Pentax *IST Ds.
The *IST Ds seems a little "Basic" IMO and aimed at the conumer market (I rekon mainly at the compact users who want a d\slr) I had a look at one when it came out, too many "Picture modes" and the SD card option will mean your lady will not be able to share cards with you..... And besides why would you buy pentax over canon anyway?
And the 350D isn't basic? If you put the two side by side the 350D looks like the cheap piece of poorly made crap that it is. I would be the farm on it that the pentax would stand up far better to a bit of rough use than the canon would and you have the benefit of decades worth of pentax glass that's cheap and easy to get. Canon needs to gets its act together for the cheap stuff, a bit of quality wouldn't go amiss.
I was a Minolta photographer and due to them taking too long to come out with a digital body I swapped to Canon when all of my gear was run over. I replaced a 700si with and Eos 33, I hated it, the 700si is a far better camera than the 33 and I prefered my Minolta glass and the flash system is much better. Now I have a 20D and can't afford to switch back, if I could I would.
Hey I am a canon fan but the Pentax is a better built camera and the viewfinder is leaps better. What is more important for everyday life than the viewfinder? The image quality of the rebel suits me better at high iso but it's to the point where the end user can't identify what shot the picture if the shooter does his job right, so that isn't much of a factor. The ergonomics of the rebel are a pretty big compromise too. lastly, Pentax makes some very small, absolutely gorgeous lenses that canon users could only dream about that makes the small form factor really take shape. When you take a rebel 350 and put on a 17-40 or 28-135 lens - the lens completely dwarfs the body and then the wonderfull size advantage for those that like to go light becomes a frustrating mockery. Not on the pentax. Check out some of their lenses like the pancake 40 mm. This make a small camera make sense. here is a shot off the B&H site ( hope this is ok?) http://www.invl.com/366728.jpg
Pavel wrote:
What is more important for everyday life than the viewfinder? The image quality of the rebel suits me better at high iso but it's to the point where the end user can't identify what shot the picture if the shooter does his job right, so that isn't much of a factor. The ergonomics of the rebel are a pretty big compromise too.
There's nothing more important than the quality of the final picture. Period.
Will the XT's squinty viewfinder and button-mashing ergonomics prevent one from leveraging its advantages over comparable cameras when it comes to resolution, noiselessness, etc? I certainly prefer the ergonomics of my 20D over my old DRebel, for instance, but I can't think of a single instance where the DRebel's viewfinder or ergonomics actually prevented me from taking the shot I wanted to (once I've learned my way around the camera of course), and I can't imagine I'd have any problems with the XT, either. Given a choice between a camera with a great viewfinder that takes mediocre pictures or a camera with a mediocre viewfinder that takes great pictures, I'll choose the latter -- every time.
DaShiv ... sure but you are assuming that the pentax images are inferior ... they aren't except at 1600 and there is noise ninja for those times. Some like the ccd and some like the cmos look but it is a matter of preference - not quality. Viewfinder? Yes it can stop you from getting the shot. Try macro with that 350 and see how you like taking a quess if it's in focus when you manually focus. If you take that position I suppose you consider it trivial to go from an slr viefinder to a evu of a point and shoot too, right? Not me. Ergonomics - try something fast moving where the light is harsh like a baseball game on a bright day. Shoot with the rebel and you either guess at exposure or if you go by the meter you don't have anything but shadows under their baseball caps. I will take the pentax and it's spot meter and get better shots with it vs my 10D most of the time. The spotmeter is the third biggest reason my 10D just sits there. Right after the focus speed and viefinder. What I mean to say is that shooting is different and peoples preferences and needs are different. Some will prefer the 350's benefits and others will be better served by the advantages the pentax brings to the table. But to present it as if the pentax was a worse camera than the 350 is poor acknowledgement of the weaknesses of the 350 or closed mindedness. They are different but pretty much eaqual and "some" canon shooters might be better served to look at other products more open mindedly - they might find there are compelling solutions out there without canon on the front. What a though, eh?
I agree, the 350 with athe 35 f2 is a very attractive small package. Add the 50 1.8 and a 85 f1.8 or perhaps the 100 f2 to it and in my mind you have a very carriable package that is fairly versatile at the same time. Just need a couple of baggy pockets and good shoes to be all set.
) 
yea it does. Must be macro or medical lens?
Yeah it sure does. It's a Macro Lens: Zoom Macro (This is the world's first Macro zoom lens with a magnification ratio capability from 1:1 to 3:1. It provides handy motorized operation and a double-floating element design that eliminates aberrations, even with its 3X f/1.7 setting.):
