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To: SWAMPSNIPER

Well I finally got off my rear, and went to the closet to find the old camera. Reading your post made me curious again.

It’s a latter 1980’s Minolta 5000i that we pull out, and use occasionally. It still takes great pictures. We have several attachments for it, but right at this moment I am against the clock, and can’t dig through the camera bag to list what we have. Wide angle, telephoto, and another lens.

I’m surprised that it still works so well as it spends years in the closet coming out only at Christmas, and occasionally for the Spring flowers, and once in awhile the Orchid collection.

We also have a newer Kodak m550 digital camera, but I’m still learning about that thing.


8 posted on 03/23/2011 4:08:46 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: rockinqsranch
All the lenses you have for the 5000i will work perfectly on any Sony Alpha DSLR body. If you decide to go digital you may already have the most expensive part of the package.

Sony lenses have 3 extra electrical contacts used for sending a flash controlling signal to the camera but they aren't needed for most functions, not by me anyway.

Go to KEH and Ebay, check out Maxxum lens values, you may be pleasantly surprised at the value of what you have. Lenses considered "kit" lenses in 1985 have become almost cult items today. Many have not depreciated much, a few have increased in value. My 50mm f1.4 is still worth almost as much as a new Sony 50mm f1.4, and although the Sony is an excellent lens the old Minolta is built better.

The even older MC/MD mount lenses are being used by 4/3 format shooters, even though they are manual focus. A simple adapter makes them fit and image quality is excellent. Many people enjoy manual focus.

You really could have several hundred bucks worth of a digital rig already in your hands.

I have 6 lenses for my Sony, 4 of them are mid 80s Minolta products.

A Minolta 50mm f1.4 or f1.7 for example will bring 200 to over 300 bucks today. A Minolta 70-210 f4 150 to 200 bucks. A 35-70 f4 doesn't bring much, they are too common, but they are one of the best "walk around" lenses you can get for every day use.

20 posted on 03/23/2011 11:44:02 AM PDT by SWAMPSNIPER (The Second Amendment, A Matter of Fact, Not a Matter of Opinion)
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