joshua_danley

July 31, 2017

Looking at the SLT stuff closely, I guess that I'd be deciding between the A77 Mark II or the older A99. The idea of stepping up to full frame is appealing and I don't think that I'd need the bells and whistles (or price tag) of the A99 Mark II. So many decisions...

July 30, 2017

Thanks for the insight Colin. I'll have to take a close look at the SLT line

July 30, 2017

Thanks for the response John. The A900 seems to be able to be had pretty reasonably. I'll take a look and see how that stocks up with the other models still taking the alpha mount.

July 30, 2017

As an addendum to the above, I've looked into the A77, A77ii, A99, and A99ii. I'm not sure if there are other models that I should be looking into. I believe these all still take the alpha mount lenses. Any opinions on what would be a reasonable upgrade from this batch coming from the A700. Budget is something around $1500-2000 but I could stretch it if there was something compelling for me to do so.

July 30, 2017

Hello everyone. I've been away for a long time but still use my camera regularly, particularly for taking photos of my other hobby. I started out on the Minolta Maxxum series of cameras and have a Maxxum 7 and a 7D that I haven't used in forever. Since the late 1990s, I have accumulated a lot of Minolta glass. When Sony bought Minolta out, I upgraded to a second hand A700 and have been using that ever since. It felt comfortable to me coming from the 7 and 7D. I believe that body is now something like 10 years old. It is working well enough still but I got to wondering....

The landscape out there seems very different than the last time I checked into the market. There have been a lot of advances and I'm a bit confused about them all. Seems most of these advances have left my legacy Minolta glass in the past. My questions is this... If I were to upgrade my camera body, which Sony model would be my best bet to allow me to continue to use my current lens line-up? I'd rather not have to invest in all new glass. I like the Minolta quality that I get. That warmth is something I appreciate as today's lenses seem more sterile feeling. I'm looking for something with solid performance and a good lay out of controls but I'd rather not have to use adapters. I don't need any of the fancy video capabilities today's cameras have.

Here is my current inventory of Minolta Glass (as an aside, I haven't bought a new lens in at least 10 years and I love of these all but can't believe the bargain basement prices Minolta glass is going for on eBay these days)

-24-50mm f4

-28-85mm f3.5-4.5

-28-135mm f4-4.5

-35-70mm f4

-35-105mm f3.5-4.5

-70-210mm f4

-100-200mm f4.5

-100-300m APO f4.5-5.6

-28mm f2.8

-50mm f1.7

-50mm f1.4

-100mm f2.8

-135mm f2.8

I'd really like to hear your input and thanks in advance.

September 9, 2012

Hi everyone. I just wanted to report that I ended up buying an A700 and love it. I won't get to take it out for a full test until next weekend

but so far I'm very impressed. I think this will be plenty of camera for me for some time to come. Thanks for the input.

August 19, 2012

Thanks for your response. The major thing against the A77 is the price right now. Unfortunately, just too far out of my reach plus, I don't really need all of those bells & whistles. Also, I don't have a P&S so I use my cameras for family functions as well and primarily shoot in JPEG with those. It's my understanding that the A77 is a bit weaker in its handling of JPEG's though I haven't indendently verified this.

August 19, 2012

Hello everyone. I'm sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything with a search. I've been away from photography for far too long in order to pursue my training and career but now would like to get back into it and I feel that I need to update my camera body. I have a Minolta Maxxum 7 and a Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D (both owned since release). I stepped away about the time Sony started producing A-mount bodies. After extensive research online, it appears to me that the A700 was the successor to the 7D (which I love) and now there is an A77 to succeed that. I like everything I've read about the A700 and feel that it would fit me nicely. I cannot afford an A900/850 nor do I have any interest in what I've seen of the SLT series. The controls on the A580 and somewhat smaller size don't suit my big hands. My concern is that the technology in the A700 is dated many years after its release/discontinuation, though less so than my 7D, and that this camera is no longer relevant. Should I take a chance and buy a second hand A700 in 2012 or wait for the next generation in that line up (since the A77 is currently not a consideration)?

For what it's worth, I have a strong investment in Minolta glass. I actually like to collect key pieces from that era as much as I like to shoot them so ignore the significant duplication over similar focal lengths. Thanks in advance for your responses.

<tbody>

<tr>

Minolta 28mm f2.8

</td>

Minolta 35-105mm f3.5-4.5

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Minolta 50mm f1.7 RS

</td>

Minolta 70-210mm f4

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Konica-Minolta 18-70mm DT f3.5-5.6 D

</td>

Minolta 100mm f2.8 Macro

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Minolta 24-50mm f4

</td>

Minolta 135mm f2.8

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Minolta 28-85mm f3.5-4.5

</td>

Minolta 100-300mm APO f4.5-5.6

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Minolta 28-135mm f4-4.5

</td>

Tokina 19-35mm f3.5-4.5

</td>

</tr>

<tr>

Minolta 35-70mm f4

</td>

</td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

June 22, 2006

Here is a B&W pic taken many years ago with the Maxxum 7 using the 50mm and the tubes.<div>

00H2KL-30741084.jpg.c133f6454eedc1a2fd6ad691eadfe709.jpg

</div>

June 22, 2006

Hi Hal...I have used the Kenko auto-focus extension tube set for years, first with my Maxxum 7 and now with my 7D. These have the electrical contacts so that autofocus (not very useful that close in) and exposure can be maintained. The set has 3 tubes of 12, 20, and 36mm lengths. They generaly go for $160 and can be found at B&H. I really like working with them and have gotten some really good pics over the years. I've gotten the best results pairing them with my Minolta AF 50mm f1.7. Good Luck.

January 20, 2006

Hello everyone...Over the New Years holiday, I designed and launched

a website for my photography. I would greatly appreciate any

comments or critiques that you may have. I post it here becuase all

of the images were captured with either a Maxxum 400si, 7, or 7D.

Thanks.

http://www.jdanleyphotography.com

Josh

December 28, 2005

Hello everyone. I've been shooting a Maxxum 7 film for 3 years now

and absolutely love that camera. That's why I was so excited to be

able to get the 7D this Christmas.

So here I am playing with it and am having some trouble with flash

and overexposure. I've read the manual twice and googled this with

no luck.

The camera doesn't seem to meter properly with the flash raised or

an accessory flash in the shoe. In Manual, adjusting shutter and

aperture has no effect on the meter reading the camera is giving

me. It always reads dead on at 0, no matter what my settings are.

Same seems true for Aperture Priortiy as well. The shutter speed

never changes as I cycle apertures from 1.7 to 25. So as I go

through apertures, some pics are underexposed, some just right, and

some overexposed but the camera's meter never changes.

I've tried this with both the built in flash and a 3600HS D with the

same result. I've tried it with a Minolta 50mm and a Minolta 28-85

with the same result. Exposure and Flash Compensation are both at

0. Flash Mode is set to Fill-Flash and ADI. This is my first DSLR

so maybe I'm doing something wrong...Any help would be greatly

appreciated...Thanks in advance for your help.

February 22, 2005

I can only speak for the 35-70 f4 and I have nothing but good things to say about it. Using it with a Maxxum 7, its small, not too heavy, sharp along its whole range, and has always helped me to capture great B&W photos. It can also be picked up second hand for a great price so I wouldn't think twice.

February 17, 2005

I've had my 7 since Dec. of 2001 and have used it extensively and in some very hostile environments. I have not been overly careful with it but there isn't a scratch on it, including the LCD screen. It is made of some very tough plastic. I have recently purchased a plastic screen protector for the LCD. I don't want anything to happen to it since the 7's are getting harder and harder to come by. You can cut PDA protectors or there is a company on *Bay that makes them to fit. Enjoy your purchase, you won't regret it.

August 7, 2004

I lament the inevitable switch to digital not because I am afraid of change or that I am not skilled with Photoshop and the like. It's not even an issue of quality because both film and digital mediums can produce great pictures. Indeed, I own both a film and a digital system but will predominantly shoot film until the last roll comes off the assembly line. Of all the arguments to be made in the film vs. digital discussion, the one that weighs most heavily on me is one that I rarely hear brought up.

What I lament is the loss of the darkroom. Is there no one out there that is going to miss it? I do a lot of work with computers from what my job requires to what I do in my spare time. I am very skilled with photoshop and a multitude of other high end programs. BUT the computer is a tool I use when I want to connect with the world either via the internet, e-mail, or IM's. The darkroom is where I go to disconnect and enjoy my art without those other distractions. My computer is in the middle of where my family interacts. My darkroom is a place all to myself. The peace that I find in the darkroom is something that I find in little else. I realize that one day film will go the way of the dinosaur and for me, that will be a very sad day indeed.

July 5, 2004

Hello everyone...I have recently acquired an old pair of Morris AC

Slave Specialist from the auction site. This link is the

manufacturer's specs on the slaves...

http://www.themorriscompany.com/studio/acslavespecialist.html

Neither of these slaves came with its modeling light which is rated

at 60W and available for $10.95 each. My question is can I use a

cheaper replacement from some place like Home Depot? If I can, what

bulbs would work best?

Also, I am very new to lighting and am on a very limited budget. I

have these two slaves, a minolta 5400HS, and a minolta 3600HSS D. I

hope to be able to use these together to do some small table top

photography at first and maybe move onto portaiture. Given the

specs of these two slaves as found from the link above, will these

be powerful enough to allow me to do this?

Thanks in advance for all of your help...

June 13, 2004

Hello everyone...My father had a Minolta Dimage 7 which he could

shoot with, load his pics into ACDSee, and print 8x10 images without

any adjustments neccessary. He has since upgraded to a Canon 10D

and the same does not hold true. All of the pictures taken with the

camera come out roughly at 11x17 when loaded into ACDSee or

Photoshop. He can print 8x10 by hooking the camera directly to the

printer but he'd rather be able to adjust the images. Also, image

size cannot be adjusted to 8x10 in photoshop with constrained

proportions becuase the pics are not exactly 11x17 so the best you

can get is maybe 6.6x10. I can make the image 8x10 with cropping in

photoshop but is there a way the camera can be set so that it saves

the image in an 8x10 format. By the way, image quality is set to

Large fine mode. I appreciate your help, since as a Minotla film

shooter I can't offer him any support.

June 13, 2004

Tim,

I had this same problem with a Sigma 70-300 when I switched from a 530si to the 7. The 7 would become totally unstable and unusable. What I found out was that with third party lenses, the chips aren't always compatible with later models in the same camera family. What most likely needs to happen is you need to have this lens re-chipped. I just sold mine and upgraded to better glass but I hear that Sigma does these re-chippings for free if you contact them. Thats about all I can tell you. Good luck.

June 8, 2004

Hello everyone...I recently purchased a Gossen Lunasix that is in

very good shape given its age. It did not come with batteries. I

ordered the Wein MRB625 replacement cells which are rated at the

same 1.35V of the original PX-13 batteries. I allowed the batteries

an hour in the open air to activate them. When I place them in the

meter, my readings are inaccurate when compared with my Maxxum 7.

When I move the battery test switch over, the needle moves but

doesn't even get close to the red battery check area. Are these

batteries no good? I bought the Wein cells so I would not have to

pay to have the device calibrated. Anyone know of a substitute

power source I can use and not have to have my meter calibrated.

Finally, has anyone had experience with having these meters

serviced. Does it cost a great deal? All your input is greatly

appreciated...Thanks.

June 6, 2004

Hello everyone...I need some help in figuring out how to build

what's labled as a monopod shoe that I found online. In the June of

1999 "Shutterbug", Tom Fuller wrote a Do-It-Yourself column on

building a monopod shoe that he called Bigfoot. Here is the link:

http://www.shutterbug.com/columns/0699sb_doityourself/ Bigfoot is

the last picture on the page. While I don't have a monopod, I do

have some ideas of how i could put that shoe to use and was

wondering if anyone is familiar with how to construct it.

The "accompanying illustrations/guide" mentioned in the last

paragraph seem to be left out of the web version. If anyone has an

old copy of shutterbug or an idea of exactly what went into this

design, I would appreciate hearing about it. Thanks in advance.

May 29, 2004

Hello...I own both of these lenses and both are very good. The 70-210 covers a very useful range but is somewhat heavy. This doesn't bother me but it gives some people pause. Also, I find that there is not enough dampening of the zoom ring. It turns very easily. Picture quality is quite amazing though and that's what matters with any lens. The 28-135 is an exceptional lens and, for a zoom, sharp along most of its range. There is no dedicated lens hood for this lens, however, so flare control can be a problem. Also, its a little heavy and its large filter size means you probably won't be able to swap filters between your lenses with this one. The focusing ring is a bit small on both for manual focusing. Both are good choices for durability with their solid construction. Basically, you can't go wrong with these.

May 27, 2004

The camera rewinds the film when the film tension is high. Certain brands or batches of films have a bit higher tension than a camera is looking for so it will assume you are at the end of the roll and rewind. Try turning the spool on the end of the canister before loading the film to loosen the tension. You can also try different films...If the camera does it with all films, the sensor might need adjusting. My 7 has never done this but I had a 700si that did it with Kodak film all the time. Good luck.

May 25, 2004

Hello everyone...

I have a Maxxum 7 with the VC-7 control grip and I've been looking

into getting a flash bracket for some time now to use with my

5400HS/3600HS D. I like the stroboframe pro-t but tiffen tells me

they don't make an antitwist plate that would fit my setup. They

say to just use the cork pad but on their web site, they said that

with this bracket, they consider the use of an antitwist plate

mandatory. So...My question is has anyone used this setup with the

stroboframe pro-t and with what kind of success. Perhaps someone

knows how to secure the camera better than the corkplate and without

the antitwist. Thanks in advance for your help.

April 14, 2004

John,

I took the camera out with the older style Minolta 28-85 and shot 2 rolls through it with that. I noticed the same problem as with the 70-210 just not as pronounced. This leads me to believe that it is not a lens problem as I first suspected but rather a camera issue. I dug out my extended warranty so I am going to drop it off at an authorized repair facility tomorrow. I'll post when I do find out what exactly is the problem.

April 11, 2004

My dad recently gave me his Maxxum 28-135mm lens. I went to

Minolta's lens web page and the only 28-135 it list is a f4-5.6.

The lens that I have is stamped f4-4.5. I am curious as to what the

discrepancy is about and if anyone has any info on this. Is is

simply a case of Minolta's web site missing a listing? Thanks in

advance.

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Posts posted by joshua_danley