TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

This is my first post having recently discovered the forum, so please excuse if this seems a little long winded.
Back in the 90's I was heavily into film photography, family commitments required a hiatus and I stashed my cameras away. Now I find myself with the time and interest to get back into the hobby. I currently have safely put away my Minolta 3xi and 9xi plus a host of lenses and accessories. To throw something else in the mix my wife had found out my interest and had gotten me a kit consisting of a Nikon D5100, several lenses and accessories wrapped up in a really nice backpack case for all.
Should I expand on the new tech, is there any value in my old Minolta kits. Does anyone think they could be considered trade inable to expand my Nikon kit. Thanks people

Marionsho Loc: Kansas

Welcome to the Hog TJB. A Minolta 9xi? My dream camera from the mid eighty's.
Hope you enjoy the Hog as much as I. Check out this link, in case you missed it.
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-429798-1.html
Marion

TJBNovember Loc: Long Island, New York

Thanks Marion,
those two cameras were well used and traveled. I'm also into collecting and operating Lionel Trains, so they made their way to quite a few toy train conventions as the shelves of albums can attest to.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

Back in the '70s I was heavily into photography with a lot of cameras and a dream darkroom. Work and family got in the way. Five years ago some granddaughters sparked some interest and I "discovered" digital photography and videography.

I think you have to decide whether you want to re-learn or re-discover film photography. Or, you can decide that learning something entirely new will be exciting. Many never get comfortable with or like the computer part of digital. They should enjoy the resurging film photography world. Others, including me, find the capabilities of programs like Lightroom fascinating, even though it can be complex. I'll never shoot film again.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

If you still enjoy the "the shelves of albums" you may find a branch of digital photography is getting a scanner and incorporating those images into your digital/Lightroom world.

Kuzano

Not a lot of interest in your film minolta bodies, but the market is surprising. Those getting fed up with digital, for a number of reason (and there are) are digging out their old film stuff. Those who never shot film, are starting to pick up film camera's and that market is digging it's own niche, like vinyl record. I'm near two decaded in sorting out and picking up film gear that is rising. New films and processing methods are rising in the market.

The market is picky but one thing you may not know, is that Minolta was purchased by Konica Minolta and created some very nice digital as Konica Minolta, before being sought by Sony and moving fully into the Digital market.

Some good news there was that the Minolta lenses you likely have with your kits, worked on Konica Minolta, and further into the Sony Digital stream. So, likelihood is good you have lenses that would fit a Sony if you have purchased one, or even work as manual focus with your Nyekon, if you want to pursue that path.

So, value remains depending on one's needs, but depending on your experience with digital, your 3Xi and 9Xi may still find use in your own hands. The equipment was good, the lenses were good, and Minolta still trudges along nicely in Sony Sheep Clothing.

There's film, there's processing, there's growth, and there's fun. And I'm having a great time buying and selling for particular gear and makes. When I was shooting film, I always fondled and lusted after new gear. Now buying and sell, I can say I have been able to own, shoot and sell some of the finest gear of the last 3 - 4 decades.

I don't do much with digital... fastest way to lose money is the constant (weekly) evolution of models with "new" features.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

TJ, welcome to the Hog.
Yes, a lot of us have been there and done that. Don't know much about Minolta but I think if the lenses are AF, they may actually fit whatever brand bought them out.
You're at an interesting cross roads and whether film plays any part of your photographic future depends entirely on what your goals are in photography. If you were GOOD when you shot film, you are still good when you shoot digi.
I personally still shoot some film, but it has nothing to do with nostalgia or because I learned on it. It's strictly because some of what I like to shoot today looks better with film than with digi but those are far and few between occasions. Mostly when I'm trying to get that noir look. Otherwise I'm digi all the way. My film camera uses ALL my modern lenses.
Sounds like you may have been experienced, so I would shoot the kit you have for a year before you start pumping money into that camera, just in case you decide there is a camera system that you prefer better. If you're serious, you'll know in a year what you REALLY need.
Unless you shoot only still shots it's pretty hard to compare film to a modern dslr. Digital is just way to versatile but film has a look that can't be equaled if you're wet printing. If you digitize, might as well stay with digital and avoid the film precess hassle.
Again welcome and good luck!!!
SS

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

My one SLR was a Yashica TL Super that I bought in '69 while in 'Nam. Used it for a number of years then it, and the two lenses I had ended up in the back of a closet for years. Shutter was sticky, etc. A few years ago I searched out a Yashica collector's site and offered it free to anyone who wanted to restore it and use it. Ended up sending it to a guy about 100 mi from here. Of course, I didn't make any money on it but I got the satisfaction of knowing that someone is happy with it and that it is being used again instead of just sitting. That was worth it to me.

PapaJohnny Loc: Middletown, Ohio

I agree that it comes down to the excitement of starting all over again. I am also a newbie on here. In the 80's I used a Canon AE-1 and Canon T-50. I too have several lenses for them and would love to sell them because they are too good to throw away. I rediscovered my love for taking photos after a 30 year hiatus and last Christmas bought a Nikon D3300 kit and got real excited and had to re-learn stuff all over again PLUS the new technology. Since then I have bought several lenses and accessories, and just bought (almost a year to the day from buying the D3300), a Nikon D7200 body about a week ago. YES, get involved again! This is SO much fun!!!

Nymphadora

If you want to donate the Minolta's, the filmphotographyproject.com collects used film cameras to give to high school photography classes. And they don't charge for them. You can go to their site and email Mike Raso. After looking at their film site, with film podcasts every 15 days, and many new types of films to try, you may decide to keep them and work with film again. Most of my shooting is with film but sometimes digital. I began using Eastman 5222 XX b&w movie stock, an incredible film still a movie industry standard for b&w movies. Their site is incredible. Nyms

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

I believe your Minolta 3xi and 9xi were auto focus camera's, if so your Minolta lenses should also be AF. These older AF lenses will still work on the latest Sony camera's like the Sony A77 II and the newest Sony A99 II. I own several of these lenses and love them, including the 20 mm, 24 mm, and 28 mm lenses, I also have the 50mm and 100mm micro lenses, and the 50 1.4 and several zooms. You can sell those on this site or Ebay. The bodies on the other hand might make great paper weights, not worth much but on ebay or this site someone out there will buy them also. Good luck.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

I've shot the beer can on my em1 before...nice results from an old AF lens.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum! I grew up on Long Island, and now I'm in the Catskills.

Unless you have a really special film camera, they're not worth very much. Here's a link to what that Minolta has sold for on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=Minolta%203xi&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

I got rid of all my film cameras but one, just in case. A couple of years ago, I went on ebay and bought two of my early cameras, a Miranda Sensorex and an Agfa Optima, just for sentimental reasons. Then I continued buying some old cameras to make them into a lamp. Think outside the box, and you can find uses for old things.

revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

Check out prices on eBay for similar equipment. Go to items already sold to get the true picture.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

I have a friend who displays them in an antique breakfront. Looks cool and very interesting.
Mark