Will my lenses work on a new digital camera?

[aimeejo]

Hi, I'm brand new here.

I used to be pretty active with photography in art school back in college and am looking now to get back into it. I have a 35mm Minolta x-370s that I bought new around 1998. With it I have the stock 15mm (can't remember exactly off the top of my head) lens as well as a tokina sz-x 28-200mm.

I am looking to purchase my first serious digital camera (that's not a compact). Originally I thought about getting a Nikon or Canon since I was starting fresh. But the other part of me thinks it would be smarter to get a camera that can use the lenses that I already own. I was looking at getting a (used) Sony a55 since I read that Sony's can use minolta's lenses. But after coming to that decision, I'm not sure that my lenses will actually work on that camera.

Here's my questions... WILL my lenses actually work on this or any of Sony's cameras (I can't find anything regarding this particular lens with a Sony)? If not, is there a digital camera they work on? Or would I be better off going with something else completely, investing in new lenses (which I wouldn't get right away because of the expense), and just using the lenses I now have on the Minolta when I want to shoot film? And if so, any camera suggestions would be more than welcome!!

I am so out of the loop right now. My sister's camera shoots digital AND 35mm, yet when I search I cannot find anything else like this (perhaps this feature is defunct from the transition period, much like the vhs/dvd combo players?) and am overwhelmed at all the options. HELP! LOL!

Thank you!

 

[penfolderoldo]

Welcome to the forum. Firstly, unless your sister is using a high-end Leica or the like then i'm pretty sure she's not shooting 35mm film AND digital with the same camera, as these are pretty separate disciplines that require different hardware, so i'm thinking you may be slightly confused there. On your main point, since I think the X-370 used the Minolta SR mount then the simple answer is no, they won't fit on anything current (that said, i'm no expert on Minolta kit). You can get various adaptor rings that would let you mount them on various makes of camera check out ebay), but i'm thinking it would be better to go for something completely new, as most of the current manufacturers do digital body + kit lens combo at reasonable prices.

 

[aimeejo]

The mount on the Tokina lens indicates "M"... if this means anything. Sorry about my ignorance, I'm seriously starting over. I have a slew of darkroom equipment (and enlarger) in my basement which has never been set up and I can't even remember how to process film, and even then I only knew black and white. Though back then, I actually did very well in my photography classes and really enjoyed it.

If your suggestion is to start with a whole new kit, what would you recommend? My needs are threefold. I want the best possible camera that a beginner hobbiest can get/afford so that I don't need to upgrade anytime soon (I'm willing to get used, so that I can get a really good camera at a lower price, but my cap is about $400), but at the same time if I don't stick with it for some reason I'm not out thousands. Additionally, my day job requires I take interior and exterior photos all the time. Also I have an online clothing store, the compact digital I have now cannot get any good closeup shots of the clothing on the mannequins or clear shots of the labels, which is important to my business.

Any suggestions?

 

[aimeejo]

Oh, and thank you for the welcome and the response! I'm happy to be here

 

[penfolderoldo]

Well if your caps $400 then you won't be out $$$'s so that's not an issue I guess. Something like a Canon T3 (here) or the Nikon D3000 (here) would do a decent job for you, and i'm sure they could be bought cheaper used than the prices listed. If your day job expects you to use your own gear tho least they can do is help you out with the cost

 

[aimeejo]

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I was doing some research and am thinking about possibly spending a little more and going for the Nikon D5100. Do you think the extra expense is worth it over the D3000? And I wish work would cover the expense! LOL

 

[MLeeK]

The D5100 is ABSOLUTELY worth it over the D3000. Big improvement from the D3000 line to the D5000 line. Even bigger to the 5100.

 

[marmots]

Nikon D5100. Do you think the extra expense is worth it over the D3000?

absolutely
the really cheap bodies are hardly even worth it

i recommend either this or this

but if you cant afford that, then this or this

the price difference between the t2i, and the 60d, isn't that big, and the same goes for nikon
but you get a MUCH better camera in either case

but like i said the really cheap ones are barely worth it, so if you're willing to expand your budget a little bit you could do much better

 

[aimeejo]

Do you think these are better than the Sony a55? I haven't completely taken that out of the running yet.

 

[marmots]

well that depends, with nikon or canon you will have more compatible equipment, but the sony has some nice features

one thing to look out for is the electronic viewfinder
some people love it, some people hate it