Ok. It's time to buy MY OWN camera. I've always used my father's ones and now I FEEL the need of a personal camera. Actually I'm using the Minolta Dimage7. I love that camera, maybe only because I've captured with it a lot of shots I really love. Btw... I love the digital viewfinder, but it's too grainy.. I love the manual focus, but it's really difficult to understand when the subject is perfectly on focus.. I love the resulting images, but the noise is really high in some situations.. I'd like to have times shorter than 1/2000 and more steps for the aperture.. After reading some reviews on "Digital Photography Review" I think my camera will be the Minolta Dimage A1.. If you want to see the review: Minolta A1 Ok.. Minolta A1 has noise too (obviously less than Dimage7) but it has improvements on all the points in the list above and it mounts an antishake system.. One of the best CCD is on the Canon 10D but (I know.. my pov is really questionable) i'd like to have a digital viewfinder and I hate the "1.6x" problem with the optics/CCD size.. What do you think?

You know I have the D7 too, and while I love my camera, I found many reasons to not love it. I've heard that the A1 has many improvements and I'd love to try it. The noise on the D7 is a very big issue for me as well as the terrible autofocusing system. Forget trying to shoot action shots....it is impossible. This is why I've pretty much only used this camera in Manual Focus, which I've never found to be difficult. I've found that proper exposure is also a pain. What I see in my viewfinder when I take the image is often not what I see when I get the image onto my computer.... (wonder if this is my monitor?) They appear much darker than they do in camera. I know I should check the histogram in camera after each shot, but I find it to be a pain in the arse, doing that while I am engaged in photographing things. I believe Bidsey is using this camera, maybe he will see this post. He seems to have good luck. For me I have decided that I will wait until I can afford to buy a DSLR, that I can integrate into my already existing lens system.... It's my dissatisfaction with the Dimage that has led me back to film for most of my shooting.

Yeah Michelle! You're right about the exposure.. Btw in the A1 there is a totally new viewfinder with better resolution and different visualization technology.. The autofocusing system seems really good now.. So dunno.. I'd like to hear something from Bidsy, then.. I'll write an IM :) Thank you for your advice :)

Hi ratto! Caught you post! To be honest, I've only had the A1 about six or seven weeks, and I have'nt had a lot of time to test it (especially outside!). I have used it in the studio and have yet to find anything to fault it. The viewfinder is the best I've seen outside a DSLR. I used a Fuji 6900z previously, and that was grainy, but the A1 is very very clear! One little niggle (and if anyone knows how to get around this, I'd be grateful!) is that the viewfinder darkens when the shot is focused, almost like some kind of DOF preview. As yet, I have'nt found any reference to why it does this or how to turn it off! The Minolta A1 is well put together, and if you have used a "7", then you'll find your way around easily. I opted for the battery pack which will house 2 Lithium batteries. I have used this 2 battery set up in the studio for 6 hours, without recharging the cells. So scores on the battery life for me! (The packe also allows the camera to be used in "portrait" orientation more easily, which I find better for the kind of work I do. The images themselves are excellent (IMHO). I do tend to wash my work thru Photoshop, but work I have done for other people involving "straight" shots has been very well received. At the end of the day, its down to choice. I was lucky enough to be able to blag the use of the A1 for a weekend prior to purchase, and this influenced my decision. Dunno if this is any help to you, but its my ten pence worth! Cheers:)

Thank you very much for your advice Bidsy! I've noticed that Dimage7 too darkens the viewfinder when you're using manual settings and autofocus.. i've always assumed the "true" exposure is the dark one.. but maybe i'm wrong.. Thank you again :)

In a manual setting I am wondering if maybe the darkening is due to having an improper f stop/aperature setting? Had the same problem with my Sony, and found out that I could also adjust the f stop manually, no more dark pictures that show lighter in the lcd! I don't know about the Minolta, but I was just throwing that suggestion out there.

I have bought the Minolta a1 too. I'm very impressed about this camera. The anti shake system is awwwwww. Some days ago, when making some shots, i heard a helicopter above me. I zoom on it and then pushed the releaser. I was holding the camera in my hand and did 200mm zoom, This image is completly sharp...1/320 f4,5 with my fuji S304 this would be impossible. All around the camera is sometimes killing me...but thats not the problem of the camera...more my absence of knowledge

Hi well I have a Minolta7HI the previous version and to be honest have found it hard to fault in practical use.. It is quite a good upgrade from the original 7 So maybe this may be true for the A1... I have found like most things with practice you learn how to get the most from it Auto or Manual.. The lense is a beauty with wonderful saturated natural colours, and The A1 has the same optics..Its a bargain now at the price having paid a lot more when I got mine Grrr!! lol.. Maybe I would consider the New Canon EOS 300D if you can go to that.. But the plastic feel puts me off.. At the price the results are hard to beat IMHO Danny ...Best of luck whatever

Thank you to all, guys (and gals :)) I've found the Minolta A1 at less than 1000eu.. so i'm going for it! Hope i'll do the right choice.. :)) We'll see :) Thank you again! Ale

ratto? for less than 1000?? i bought mine at t-online shop with a bag and a 512mb card for 1040?...the minolta only cost 830?...

Ratto, I bought the A1 after a week of CNET surfing.I'm a real beginner at the photography thing.But I love the camera.The only problem my A1 has... is my lack of experience. My favorite feature is the review options.you can review,inlarge,and scroll thru the image looking for problems. and the anti-shake is awsome.I'm not the steadiest of people and believe you me it helps.