Expert: Abe - 12/23/2008

Question
Hello Abe.
Thank you very much for your answer.

Actually I am looking for a higher end DSLR, I have been taking film and slide with Minolta manual camera for many years, pictures turn out good.  I also have a Minolta Dynax 7000i, a Maxxum HTsi Plus and a EOS 1000.

The followings are my lenses and most of them are in perfect to almost new condition.
Carl Zeise Jena   AF 35~70mm  1:3.5-4.5  (M) w / 52mm Vivitar UV
Sigma   AF 70~210mm UC-2  1:4-5.6  (M)
Minolta   AF 28~80mm D  1:3.5-5.6  w / 55mm Kenko UV
Canon   AF 35~80mm EF  1:4-5.6  w/ 49mm Universal UMC 1A
Tokina   AF 70~210mm SD  1:4-5.6  (C/EF)  w / 52mm Hoya 1B
Minolta   MD 70~210mm  1:4  w / 52mm Hoya UV (0)
Minolta   MD 100mm  1:2.5  w / 49mm Hoya 1B
Minolta   MD 45mm  1:2  
Minolta   MD 35~70mm  1:3.5  w/ 55mm Hoya UV (0)
Carl Zeise Jena   MC S 135mm  1:3.5  converter-(MD) w / 49mm Hoya 1B
Carl Zeise Jena   MC 24mm  1:2.8  (MD) w / 52mm Hoya UV (0)
Pentacon   29mm  1:2.8  converter-(MD) w / 55mm Hoya 1B
Vivita    Series1  24~70mm  1:3.8-4.8 (MD) w/ 67mm Arrow UV

I am thinking whether or not I can buy a DSLR that able to accept my lenses (although this is an option for me).  If so, I then get the following choice.
I.   Sony A350 or A700, (since I have more Minolta lenses, the Zeise lense take very good pictures.) I do study for them on the Web but all of the manufacturers said their products are the best.  I personally do not familiar about Sony.
II.   Canon 450D, 40D or 50D. I may be able to make adaptor to turn the Zeise MC S 135 to fit the Canon body and use it as a manual lenses. (our factory have CNC milling machine and CNC lath machine).  I have idea about the 450D and the 50D but feel difficult to compare the 40D and 50D.
III.   Nikon 60D, 80D or 90D.  I never use Nikon before but I know it’s a great camera.  I also feel difficult to compare the 80D and 90D.  I am not comfortable for the 90D that it’s ISO start at 200.  In most of the case I use 100 or lower.  I take 64 for Kodak Slide and sometimes 25 for Kodak film. Would ISO 200 be a matter for the 90D? (In case I take bright outdoor and I Need very sharp pictures).
IV.   Panasonic DMC-L 10K, my reason is fir it’s Leica lense.  I have a Lumix DMC-FZ5 and its Leica lense produce very good picture.  But the image sensor of the L10 is smaller then the above cameras, I doubt about their picture quality.

Could you please give me advise on the above matter, and if you are in my case, which one would you pick?

Thank you very much again for your attention to this matter.

Francis.


Answer
Hi Francis,

It seems you've done a lot of the research already. Good for you! I never recommend Sony DSLR's because they have not achieved processing technologies to match that of Canon and Nikon.

The Nikon D90 or the Canon XSi or Canon 50D are your best options. Of the three, the XSi is the best value and I think you would be happy with it. The XSi is small, fast, and has superb image quality. In addition, Canon lenses are less expensive than their Nikon counterparts. When buying into a system, this should be a major factor in one's decision making process.

Best of luck!
Abe