What's a good DSLR that's from Minolta?

Question

I had an old Minolta SLR and now that I've considered shoveling out the cash to upgrade to a real DSLR instead of my cheap Kodak DSLR-like, I want to know what's a good Minolta DSLR, so that I can still use all my old lenses and filters, but have a high-quality digital SLR.

No, it's a Kodak SLR-like, idk, a cheap $350 camera.

I just want a camera that will let me use my Minolta lenses and filters, that's a DSLR that doesn't cost more than $2000.

Answer 1

Minolta had only 2 DSLR : Maxxum/Dynax 7D and 5D.
5D is smaller, has better IQ and is cheaper. Can be found for less than $500 with lens on ebay.
Sony has 2 DSLR that work with minolta's lenses (they did buy the brand) : Alpha 100 (very similar to 5D) and Alpha 700 (just went out, very good image quality! - but around $1300)

Answer 2

Sorry to say, Minolta sold their business to Sony. There are some older Minolta DSLR cameras, but nothing current. Sony makes the Alpha and the A 700, but if your older lenses will fit is another question. I'm pretty sure they have to be auto focus lenses, otherwise they will not fit the Sony DSLR.

I did not know Kodak made any DSLR-like cameras, except for maybe the P880. I was thinking about it for a while, but turned it down for obvious reasons.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, Minolta changed their lens mount in 1985 when they introduced the Auto Focus Maxxum line of cameras. In 2006, Konica-Minolta quit the camera business and Sony bought the rights to their camera technology.

There is an adapter you can buy to use the older MC/MD lenses on the A-mount Maxxum and Sony DSLR cameras. They will, of course, be manual focus and you'll have to use stop-down metering.

IMO you should be looking seriously at the latest from Sony, the A700. It accepts all the Maxxum A-mount AF lenses made since 1985 and a lot of the Maxxum accessories. It was reviewed in the Jan. 2008 issue of Shutterbug Magazine or you can read it at shutterbug.com.