full frame or not

i have never own a dslr or any digital for that matter. i have shot with a 35mm minolta for about 15 years. i thnk it is time to go digital and not sure which to buy. full frame or not full frame is my biggest ? .

Why would you need full frame? Do you still have your minolta lenses?

Full-frame is an option like the difference between a v6 and a v8 in your car - some people need it (or want it) and some people don't. On one side of the coin you will get better low-light sensitivity, but on the other you probably didn't shoot too much over ISO200 with film so you probably wouldn't need that anyway. Full-frame cameras tend to be larger and heavier, and are definitely more expensive.

There's a whole system of trade-offs that will be determined by your usage.

How do you intend to use your camera?

If you're a professional then you can ask yourself the question.

- All 24x36 sensor DSLR's on the market are in the professional segment. They are big and expensive and tend to require lenses that are big and expensive. They produce the utmost image quality unless you decide to go to medium format. They give you the maximum performance in terms of images/second, autofocus accuracy, etc.
- There are also professional bodies with smaller sensor sizes which have almost as good performance at much lower cost with a smaller, lighter body and accessories

If you're an amateur it's easy - smaller sensor sizes rule with a vast variety of systems.

If you're somewhere between the two, like many people on this forum - it's up to you to decide. I would say go for the smaller sensor unless you have the knowledge and need for professional material

thank you both for your input. I do still have my minolta lenes and dozens of filters that fit them not that all those things can't be done on computers these days. would like to think i'm as good as a professional but i'm really very much of an amateur. I think I may be interested in the new pentax k7. but again thanks for your help.

Note that the old Minolta SR-mount, manual focus lenses (MC & MD) do not fit on the new A-mount Sony DSLRs. - TF

my lenes are promaster af would they enterchange

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Originally Posted by judy8283

my lenes are promaster af would they enterchange

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If they were auto focus on a Minolta, they will work on a new Sony. They would have to be very good Promasters to be worth being the deciding factor, though. - TF