Milsurp After Hours

When the SLR film camera age met the DSLR digital age there was a transition that was eased when Minolta.....being bought out... teamed up with Sony to make Maxxum auto lens compatible DSLR cameras. The first Sony A series DSLR camera line was created and Sony began releasing cameras in 2006 that were completely compatible with Minolta Maxxum auto lenses. The lenses the photographers already had operated as they were used to operating them and needed no converting attachments. The first offering was the A100 for a MSRP of $1000 with an 18-70 Sony made lens. You can find them on ebay today at reasonable prices at under $100 as well as the later models that go up to several hundred dollars depending on which camera you select. The urge overtook me to find such a camera when Alabama's governor Memaw gave all citizens who paid state income tax a tax rebate.

The line continued until around 2015 in which the E series was begun. The E series had some changes that would make it necessary to purchase a converter to continue to use the old Maxxum lenses.

What I selected was based on sorting through a lot of feature valuations and trade offs between the models. The A65 came with a 24mp sensor and has GPS and fully articulating mirror as well as a view window. The camera was introduced in 2011 for around $1300. The camera is expected to be good for 150,000 to a couple hundred thousand clicks....there are actual number estimates that I can't find quickly at the moment. The camera keeps a running count of total life of the camera clicks. My camera has 18,421 on the clock.

What I got was a camera, two batteries, a charger, a Sony 18-50 lens and the bundle canvas camera bag that must have been part of the package when the original purchaser came along. The seller took my $300 offer which was only about $25 less than he was asking after already reducing his asking price.

Since I just got this camera a couple hours ago I have not really tested it. I was only concerned about the basic functioning and how my lenses would work on it. All that has me happy as to now.

What kind of digital media does this camera use?

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The first models used the old wide card. This one uses the same SD cards other up to the minute cameras use. Well .... up to the minute cameras sometime like the mini size card....which I don't like .... but have a camera that uses it. I could give a fire and brimstone lecture about what a crappy idea mini size cards are..... but nobody is interested and I'll let it rest.

I have 2 small digital cameras that use SD cards, and 2 dash cams that use the smaller cards like the cell phones used to have.
Micro cards I think.

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Took it out to Battleship park today. Used the 18-55 Sony lens and the Minolta Max 75-300. Couldn't have gone better. Images really sharp and high resolution. Images made at med level 4300 pixel width resolution. Camera does really good in low relatively limited light without flash. Colors look good to me. All the controls seem simple and ergonomic to me. The auto focus is excellent .... for my eyes it's important. The fill flash works good too... look at the soldier statue face. One shot no fill and one shot with fill. Both acceptable. This was in harsh back glare of the sun too.

Great photos of Battleship Park, wish there was something like that around here.

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You could get on a plane. I'd put you up at my house.

Sometimes I seriously think about doing things like that, or going on a road trip as I have a new car in the driveway
that seldom gets used (have had it for over a year and put 1300 miles on it).
Like I said, I think about it, but never do it. .. ... It's just easier to stay home.

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Try the Thursday night skype chats. I'd love to talk to you again. It's about what probably we most feel connected to besides milsurps.