new body Dynax 500si -> 700si OR 9xi

[hilbren]

Hey hello, I new here...

I started with photographing when I got a camera from my aunt. It is an Minolta dynax 500si.
I bought some secondhand lenses (Minolta 28-85 and a sigma 70-210 high speed)

But know I want to buy a “new” secondhand body, buget is around €130, I did some research and I have two bodies to choose:

- Minolta Maxxum 700si
http://www.camerareview.com/template...?camera_id=116
nice body with some nice features


- Minolta 9xi
http://www.camerareview.com/template...?camera_id=304

semi prof. Body with some extreme features;
disadvantage: weird chip card (do you really need those things?)


Hope you can help me with the choice?

[Photo-John]

Hello and welcome to the site, hilbren. I don't know if you looked at the camera reviews on this site, but all of those cameras are listed with plenty of reviews. All of those cameras are out-of-production? So they're listed on an archive page. And since Konica and Minolta merged, they're listed as Konica Minolta cameras, now. Here's a link to that review page:

http://www.photographyreview.com/cat...3105_0crx.aspx

According to the last 700si review, that camera also uses the chips. Since it's been a while since they made those bodies, I'd be worried about getting replacements. And they're small so they'll be easy to lose.

Unless your current body is a problem, it might be best to keep it and keep saving. Lenses are the best place to invest your money, anyway. If you really do need a new body, I'd recommend trying to buy something newer than the si cameras.

I hope that helps.

[dejay]

The 600si is a great body. No chips required. I bought mine used from KEH about 5 years ago and it still takes great images with the 50mm or most Tamron zooms. Instuction manuals are still around.

[hilbren]

3 days ago sombody offert me a Dynax 800si for €150

so I bought it !!
it's incredebly fast compared to the 500si, and it has so many fuctions (i have to try them all!!)

O, and another question, I have a 28-85mm lens from minolta, it's made for manual and for autofocus. So the lens is focusing quite heavy, is there a way to make it focus a bit lighter?