difficult choice: keep my sony/minolta collection?

I have been collecting many sony/minolta equipment over the past 5 years.
Cameras: minolta 7d, sony A100, Sony A580 and Sony A850. Sold my Sony A700 about 8 months ago.
Lenses (apart from minor quality lenses and many M42 lenses: Sony 70-200G, Sony 70-400G, Tamron 28-75, 2.8, Sony macro 100mm 2.8 D version, Sigma 18-250 hsm os, minolta 17-32 2.8-4.0, minolta 35-105 beercan, minolta 50mm 1.4, minolta 50 1.7, etc.
Flashlights: minolta 36, sony 42 and sony 58.

Since 1 month I have been using the Sony hyperzoom HX100V, which is, in my honest opinion an excellent performer and very convenient to carry around. Great Zoom (27-810mm optical, digital zoom is also very acceptable), wonderful daylight photos (carl zeiss lens T-coating) and various gimmicks like a wonderful hd video performance, 3D photos, etc.

Now, I really doubt of selling all my DSLR equipment and go through photo-taking life with just my Sony HX100V. Of course I am well aware of compact's shortcomings and limitations. For example; no 2.8 covering all reach, no flashshoe (although the Sony hx100v has a very good flash reach), inferior bokeh, etc. etc.

But, on the other hand, the sony hx100v is easy to carry (no weight problem), makes good photos, and has many great features.

My question is: does my doubt sound familiar? Has anyone ever considered the same question, and more important, what was your decision?

I should add that I am also not happy with all the (quite expensive) new Sony-DSLRs and those still to come. I read many different reactions and reviews on the A77 and A65. Probably, the new fullframe sony cameras will follow the same new slt line. This may have its advantages but also its limitations. And prices will certainly be quite stiff.

Thanks for your reactions.

I did the same as Bjorn, from analog SLR to digital compact and the next step was DSLR. Sometimes I hate carrying all that equipment around and in such moments I will have my compact in my pocket.

Any decision you take is good, it is your hobby and you, and only you, can decide which way to go.


btw, if you decide to let go some of your camera's and lenses, give me a ring.....

BertH wrote: I did the same as Bjorn, from analog SLR to digital compact and the next step was DSLR. Sometimes I hate carrying all that equipment around and in such moments I will have my compact in my pocket. Any decision you take is good, it is your hobby and you, and only you, can decide which way to go.

+1

Ask yourself the question why you had all those lenses and cameras (must have cost you a little) and what has changed.

i would say investigate all the lenses you have and see what you did use the past year and how frequently. then sell all you have not used that often or not at all.

if you have the a850, all the other bodies you have will be inferior, thus sell those as well.

keep the 50/100/70-200/28-75 if you want to continue using a dslr

if not, sell all and shoot a while with the HX100V - and if you are not happy with the IQ or the possibilities, sell it as well and buy a NEX 5N or something similar.

remember, there have been masters of photography that got away with a simple Leica and a 35 or 50 mm lens.

a smaller number of lenses may limit you somewhat in what you can do, but at the same time forces you to exploit the possibilities just one lens can give you - which is usually quite a bit more then you did up till now....

I would keep A850, 28-75 f2.8, 70-200 and a 50mm prime. More then enough for everyday use. A flash like the F42 good be a nice addition. Maybe you can trade the 50/1.4 for a 24/2.8 a nice and small prime


I have an excellent compact like the LX5 and I must say sometimes I think it is the only camera I need, see the kind of photos I use to take, this was taken with the G9 from my wife:



You never can carry a DSLR, zoom and flash, but a compact is something you carry everywhere

Just trying to help:
First question is if you just want snap-short or real pictures.
Second, have you tried to take the A850 out with just a 50mm lens
or just one zoom.
You could also go the NEX route, and still use old lenses when you need to.

Go for it. I started with a megazoom before buying a DSLR. Granted it's not quite a compact, but it is much more portable and less of a hassle. I was able to get picture that made me quite happy.









If you can do the same with your camera than go for it. You won't have all the nice features of a DSLR, but for walking around on a nice day that typically doesn't matter.