i have a tamron lense (for camera), can this lense fix to any digital camera ? which SLR digital is recommend?

Question

currently i'm using minolta dynx 500 si. intend to buy digital camera. which one should i choose ? SLR digital or normal digital camera ? can my tamron lense (not for digital camera) fix to any digital SLR camera ? any SLR digital and normal digital camera recommended ? budget +/- RM2,500 (for digital SLR) . the best is can use my tamron lense together.thanks.

Answer 1

Your current Tamron lens will work on all digital SLR cameras with a Minolta mount... if it's an auto-focus lens. If it's not an AF lens, you can't use it. And if it is an AF lens, it will be magnified on a digital body. Use a factor 1.5 to calculate how much. For example, if you have a 28-105mm lens, multiply both of those numbers by 1.5, and you'll see that the lens will behave as a 42-158mm lens on a digital body. So even if you can still use it technically, this shift in focal length may make it less practical for every day use.
The only dSLR with a Minolta mount worth getting is the Sony A100. Sony took over Konica-Minolta and now uses that mount system for their own camera. Before the Sony take over, Konica-Minolta made a few dSLR cameras too, but these are all very old by now.
The Sony A100 body costs about $670 in the USA. (I don't know the camera prices in RM) I looked up the exchange rate and 2,500 Malaysian Ringgit = 718.97 US$. So it looks like you have just enough cash for the A100 and a memory card. Here are two in-depth reviews for the A100:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydslra100/page30.asp
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/alpha100_pg6.html

For your budget, you could also get a few other dSLR cameras with a cheap kit lens, such as the Nikon D40 or the Pentax K100D, but look into the Sony first. It's not my favorite camera but it is the best value for your budget (because you already have a lens).

If you decide to get a point & shoot camera instead, there are hundreds of options. None are as good as a dSLR, but it may be sufficient for snapshots.
The Canon G7 is perhaps the best for image quality, the Canon S3 is one of the best with a mega-zoom lens, the Fuji F30 is great in low light... the choices are endless and further advice can only be provided if you tell us what you're looking for in more detail.

Answer 2

To the best of my knowledge the Sony Alpha uses the Minolta mount. Although whether or not you can fit any film lens to them is something I do not know. Your lens will not fit on any other brand of camera. Although Tamron make lenses for may cameras, they have a specific mount for each brand and thus will not fit others. In some instances there are adapters, but these are not a great idea as you generally lose some feature of the lens such as auto focus etc.

Take the lens with you when you go to look at a camera and find out then if it can be used.

Answer 3

Ponies is right, as usual. But, if I were you, I'd think about switching brands at this point. Chances are, your Tamron isn't really a top notch performer, and Canon and Nikon have so much more to offer as a complete system than Sony. Also, the Sony dSLR hasn't been gathering glowing reviews. It might be different if you had scads of great Minolta glass, but in your situation I'd definitely consider making a change to Nikon or Canon.

Answer 4

Minolta Maxxum (or Dynax) lenses will fit on the Sony Alpha DSLRs. Unfortunately, I can't tell you if it will have 100% funtionality, since it is a third party lens.