How satisfied are you with your non-Canon, non-Nikon System?

[sean_buerger]

Since there's Canon and Nikon polls

I wil start with rating Sigma here. I'm very satisfied with the camera, but not happy with the Sigma lenses that I have. The overall system gets a 'satisfied'.

Are you a good consumer and by your system from one source? Do you use adaptors to continue using old lenses?

Cheerio. Sean.

[Confusion Circle]

I've been a Minolta Maxxum user since 1993. Never regretted that decision. Loved the cameras (I own 4) and the lenses, especially the Leica designed 70-210 f4.

[Mithras]

Prior to stepping up to a DSLR I used a Nikon non-AF film camera. I was not heavily invested in lenses. When it came time to step up to DSLR I spent nearly a year researching while I saved my pennies. I settled on the Konica Minolta 7D for 4 reasons - anti-shake, price, feel of the camera in my hand, and brand. Of course at the time I thought KM was going to be around for a while.

While I am pleased with the camera I am somewhat disappointed that when I check out accessories they are not as easily found or that the third party lens makers seem to have decided the Minolta (Sony) mount is not as important and therefore placed on the back burner. Example Tamron's 17-50 f/2.8

Don't get me wrong I am satisfied with my KM 7D but if I had known about the big bale out I probably would have gone with Nikon.

[JDArt]

I bought an Olympus e-10 and I have to say that I was so disappointed in so many things about that camera -- most noticably responsiveness -- that I ditched the system and went to the Big Two.

[scoundrel1728]

Oly E-10? The dSLR that came out about 2003 and has a noninterchangeable lens and a beam splitter rather than a movable mirror?

[prophotoimages]

Since I also use Medium Format and large format cameras, I am happy with my selections as far as film bodies go. I love loading film holders in anticipation of packing things up and going on a "shoot". I love working in my "wet darkroom" and I love still watching images come up in the developer tray. And although I also have a "digital darkroom" which is used extensively, I will never forget what got me to this point in my digital life.

[scoundrel1728]

So far, I have a Canon body, one Tamron lens, and one Tokina lens and I am thinking about picking up a Sigma lens next. (What was that question about the importance of brand name again?)

[ntotrr]

Originally Posted by sean_buerger

Since there's Canon and Nikon polls

I wil start with rating Sigma here. I'm very satisfied with the camera, but not happy with the Sigma lenses that I have. The overall system gets a 'satisfied'.

Are you a good consumer and by your system from one source? Do you use adaptors to continue using old lenses?

Cheerio. Sean.

What Sigma lenses do you have?* I've got the 50mm EX, 105mm EX DG, 17-35mm EX, and 24-70mm EX DG whixh I use on my SD9 and I'm quite satisfied with them.*

[sean_buerger]

Alrighty,

as I've mentioned on other spaces of this website, I bought my SD10 with the kit lenses. One lens being the 18-50, the other being the 55-200 zoom lens. Both of them show rather severe chromatic trouble. I might like to add that I live near to the equator and that the outdoor lighting conditions are almost always very contrasty here.

After having too many pictures with purple fringing and pictures not being focused right, I bought the EX DC 2.8/18-50 zoom. The lens is heavy and sturdy, but a weak performer. Purple fringing is somewhat improved compared to the kit lens. But the focusing is still unreliable, even in good conditions. Furthermore the lens is soft and needs to be stopped down to '8' to be really sharp.

Because of this, I stopped bying SIGMA lenses. I assume that there are good lenses from SIGMA, but how would I know which one is a banana and which one isn't. Now I use mostly manual focus NIKKOR lenses from the days, when I used a Nikon F2. I get the results that I expect.

The camera is user friendly and I like the sharp results.
Cheers. Sean.

[35mm girl]

Hiya everyoine!
I am downright ecstatic about my new-to-me Minolta SLR srt101 {NO digiies, for this chick--only analog/traditional film!!} It is actually about 16 years younger than I am!! LOL

[Spacey]

Pentax.

*ist DL.

It pretty much rocks. And lenses are cheaper than Nikon AF or Canon EF mounts. Dont quite know why though...
Lighter and smaller than the Nikon equiv (D50) and ... well no close equiv. from Canon.

Why cant Canon release an SD-based SLR, that isnt the Mark II?

[drichi]

One I have had for 29 years...an Olympus OM1. Absolutely satisfied with it and the lenses and other pieces of the OM system I have. And still, after squinting through the small, dark viewfinder of my NikonD70s and hoping the AF works because I cannot see clearly enough thru the viewtunnel, when I pick up the OM1 and look through that big, bright, clear viewfinder, I wonder if somehow the D70 hasn't regressed. Nikon is trying, the newer models are smaller and have reasonable viewfinders. Except for the digital part, maybe they will progress to the 1977 OM level someday.

I wonder what Oly engineers could have done with that design/idea had they the technology then that we have now. Probably screw it up.

[JeanMontambeault]

I love shooting with my 7D. This is one of the best camera to have in your hands.
For the moment the A-mount lenses and other accessories are in high demand and so very expensive. One can barely speak of a used market. Hopefully this should calm down as Sony puts it house in order and begin getting more bodies and more lenses out there.

Jean

[Paul Shields]

Love the Olympus 4:3rds system (not to be confused with the likes of the E-10). Great image quality, great lenses, and lots of features that are missing or just not as well developed in the C/N camp.

[dougjgreen]

Originally Posted by scoundrel1728

Oly E-10? The dSLR that came out about 2003 and has a noninterchangeable lens and a beam splitter rather than a movable mirror?

Actually, the Olympus e-10 came out in 2001. I bought one in 2002 and it tided me over until 2005, when I bought my first interchangeable lens DSLR. In all fairness, the Olympus e-10 was the best DSLR camera you could buy in 2001 for under $2K, and by the next year, it was the best DSLR you could buy for under $1K. By 2003, it had been surpassed, but EVERY DSLR ever made has been rendered obsolete within 2-3 years by newer and better products. The fact is, Olympus made compromises, most noteably, in AF performance and burst performance, to make a DSLR that they could sell for $1600 in 2001, when the cheapest Nikon and Canon and Kodak (built on Nikon and Canon chassis) DSLRs cost more than twice that amount. But those compromizes were reasonable ones - they made a DSLR that was great for anything OTHER than action photography. In those days, if you shot sports, you either spent ALOT more, or you used film.

[Darryl_Lessere]

Originally Posted by Mithras

While I am pleased with the camera I am somewhat disappointed that when I check out accessories they are not as easily found or that the third party lens makers seem to have decided the Minolta (Sony) mount is not as important and therefore placed on the back burner. Example Tamron's 17-50 f/2.8

I found this about 10 seconds after I read your post: enjoy

http://www.photocamel.com/index.php/topic,17337.0.html

[Chickenhawk]

Sony Alpha 100

Very satisfied as all my old Minolta lenses fit and the camera is excellent in use. No regrets

[ships]

I have seven Minolta camers 5000,7000,xgm,x9,x300,x370,x500,and to many lens to list all second hand love them all ,long live film

[kkart]

Minolta 5D here

I am VERY Happy with the quality and the results I have gotten with my cam. I only use Minolta glass for my dslr. Luckily I bought all my lenses BEFORE Sony came to town and prices were comparable to the Canon and Nikon lineup. Though that will be changing as I am venturing into the M42 area and wanting to go with Zeiss, also a Bigma and Vivitar Series 1 1:1 macro are in the works too.

I have to admit, I have been using Minolta cameras for over 15 years now, they have always held up.....call me a happy camper!