Is this a good time to invest in Konica-Minolta/Sony a?

<Newbie alert on.>
I was so determined to buy 350D but the size was a big turn off for me
after I went to the store to actually feel the camera. I noticed the
cheap feeling of the plastic body and also, its so tiny that I could
not hold it with all the fingers to get a good grip.
Knowing my budget, I was told by the salesman that KM 7D bodies are
going around $700 these days, with magnesium body and lots of buttons.
I picked one up in the store and it felt really good. I saw some sample
images too - impressed me greatly.
I learned from http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydslra100/page3.asp
that Sony would be bringing out a whole line of lenses (though they
appeared a bit pricy) for their new a system. I was wondering if these
lenses could be used on previous KM models such as 7D or 5D.
As 7D is not a new release I am sure the pros and cons are already
sorted out in great details, but with the magnesium body and a promise
of great variety of new lenses (both from Sony and Zeiss) - I am
thinking of buying 7D as my first DSLR. Can you guys share your
knowledge/experience on this camera or investing in the KM line please?
Any thoughts or my questions/comments will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Steve

 

You have many choices open to you in this price range. If you have Minolta
AF lenses and can wait I would go ahead and order the Sony alpha.
If you do not have an invested interest in Minolta glass you can choose from
a smorgasboard of dSLRs in this price range. While users on this group have
irrational preferences for one model/brand over another the truth is that
most users would be happy with almost any of them.

 

The Alpha looks to be a pretty good package, has anyone seen a price yet?

 

B&H is taking advance orders. Check their site.

 

I learned from http://www.dpreview.com/articles/sonydslra100/page3.asp

Personally, I'd be leery. Sony has a way of killing off perfectly good
technology through tying people down to the "Sony-Only" philosophy. Look at
betamax and minidiscs as the most classic examples.

But, of course, that's just me. However, if you're looking to invest
long-term into a system with the intention of spending a lot of money and
purchasing a wide variety of products, then I really don't think that Sony
will ever have as wide of an offering as Canon or Nikon. In fact, looking
at the SAL 70-200 f/2.8 and SAL 300 f/2.8, they're so amazingly similar to
Canon models (and not just in color) that I would be *VERY* surprised that
they weren't either built by or licensed from Canon. The 1.4 and 2.0
teleconverters look awfully similar to Canon models as well.

Overall, Canon or Nikon will give you over twice the lens options, more
room to move up into more professional cameras, a wider variety of
accessories, and whether you agree with me about Sony killing off good
technology or not, are much more likely to stay in the game for the
long-haul. In terms of variety and longevity, it's a non-starter.

Now, that's not to say that everyone needs to move into professional
cameras, buy 400mm lenses, use different focusing screens, wireless remotes,
or other things that don't seem (at least from my casual glance) to be yet
offered by Sony. You may, instead, be attracted to having image
stabilization in the body as opposed to the lenses (that is a feature which
I personally find highly desirable), or like particular lenses in the
lineup. If so, that's fine. I'm not in any way a Canon or Nikon zealot,
and if the Sony makes more sense to you, by all means, go for it!

steve

 

But for most people that will buy matbe 3-4 lenses or maybe only two it
seems to be a good compromise.

 

With Pentax offering IS in the body shortly, there's another option, and
Pentax has been in the game longer than Sony has existed.

 

Depends on which lenses they need.

 

They are using the KM mount and are using CF for storage not just memory
stick. Therefore that particular worry isn't valid in this specific case.

That could be a good thing. As for wide range of offerings there are very
few people who need such a wide range of specialist stuff. The vast
majority will not need tilt shift lenses. This is a consumer grade slr
after all.

There is now a glut of KM stuff in the 2nd hand market and as for longevity
of the machine itself 18 months is about it for any DSLR these days.

That particular camera is aimed at people who wouldn't want them anyway.

You may, instead, be attracted to having image

Agreed.

and if the Sony makes more sense to you, by all means, go for it!

 

So has minolta, sorry Had.

 

Canon is still WAY out ahead of the other players in the 35 mm DSLR
market. They are even way ahead of Nikon (To the dismay of Nikon
fans.)

It is largely because Canon produces their own sensors. I will
confess, Nikor glass is still the best.

The way I see it is this: Buy a Canon D20 or the D30 and use it to
learn to be a good photographer. Then, because you wont be able to
help yourself, buy the 5D using your wifes credit card.

Sony-Schmony.

-Pete

http://petephotosarizona.blogspot.com/

 

Really? Depends on more than that. I know lots of people that have "bought
in" to Canon or Nikon because of the huge range of lenses and add ons
available and most of them use just one lens (the standard zoom) all the
time, a few use a 70-2/300 occasionally and thats it.

 

And Minolta are offering which camera? Can't live in the past.

 

I agree. The average buyer isn't going to buy a flock of lenses that cost
over a thousand dollars a pop, so the enormous range of extremely
high-priced lenses available in those mounts is really meaningless to him. I
know 35mm SLR owners who either a) never bought a second lens for their
camera, or b) bought a second lens, used it once or twice and then never
used it again. And they would never even dream of buying one of the
expensive pro grade lenses, no matter what their needs were.

 

If those are the lenses they need then they have a plethora of options.

 

I believe that his point is that Pentax could get in trouble and end up
belonging to Lego or whoever else wants a DSLR line at the time and has
money just as KM ended up belonging to Sony.

 

Yes in any of the D-SLR camera ranges, all will work.

 

Yes thats true and as long as they keep the same lens mount and have the
same great ergonomics and are making better cameras every couple of years I
will probably still be a customer.

 

$900 @ b&h (body) (pre-order)

 

Given that it uses the AF-mount and CF memory, it seems that Sony are
doing as little as possible to offend the owners of 16 M lenses out there...