Expert: John Oliverio - 12/14/2008

Question
I own a film maxxum 5 minolta camera.  Advise models that would take my current owned lenses and has autofocus and will put date on the photos.

Also, does Sony have a new camera body that will accept my Minolta lenses?   thanks

Answer
Minolta no longer makes cameras.  Their camera division was purchased by Sony last summer.  Your lenses will work on any current Sony digital SLR. There were two models built by (konica) Minolta. The 5D and 7D. Current Sony models are the A200, A300, A350 and A900. Older models are the A100 and A700. Be aware that with the exception of the A900 all of your lenses will be 1.5 times more powerful than they would be on a film camera.  For example, a 300mm would be a 450mm.  So I would suggest that if you buy a camera (other than the A900, which is full frame) you at least buy the kit lens.  Because the wide angle you have will not be wide enough on a digital. You probably have something that starts around 28mm, which would be 42mm on the digital.  Not wide enough.  Todays kit lenses start around 18mm.

John