BebuLamar

While I agree that her mother knows nothing about photography but I wouldn't advice her to listen to some stranger on the UHH and not her mother.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

The only stupid questions are the ones you don't have the courage to ask...

1) Can I use the Minolta & Kiron lenses on my Olympus? Is there an attachment for it?

Not directly. You need an adapter. Adapters are either very cheap and don't do much, or very expensive and ALMOST retain any automatic features of the lens. Personally, I would trade all that old film gear plus cash for a Micro 4/3 native lens, unless you want to use film.

Reputable used dealers frequented by UHH members include KEH.com, MPB.com, Adorama.com, UsedPhotoPro.com, and BHPHOTOVIDEO.com.

2) The very little that I have read about the Minolta camera and lenses, it seems like people are still using this camera or at least the lenses.... Is the photography world still using film camera? Like I said, I am a dumbass in this world. I barely dabble in this world.

Minolta merged with Konica to become Konica-Minolta. Sony bought Konica-Minolta and the result was the line of digital SLR and mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras Sony now sells. SOME of the Minolta film lenses fit SOME of the Sony digital cameras. No doubt a Sony fan will pitch in here with the details. Or you can Google it.

3) Can I use the Minolta? Where do I buy the film? How do I do the film development? Is there a way to not use film? (I am going to assume the answer is "No" to this question, but I'm asking anyways)

The Minolta MAY be usable. It probably needs a cleaning, lubrication, and adjustment by a camera repair facility that works on old used gear.

Film is available from many mail order dealers who have Internet sites (BHPHOTOVIDEO.com and ADORAMA.com, for examples).

You may discover that the camera needs a mercury battery that is no longer made. There are some solutions for that, none of which are ideal. Google them.

Film development is still available from mail order labs like https://www.TheDarkroom.com and https://www.dwaynesphoto.com. Darkroom supplies and chemicals are still available if you want to learn how. The major online camera stores like BHPHOTOVIDEO.com and ADORAMA.com have that stuff.

4) I also have a Canon Video recorder---- is there a way to attach the Minolta & Kiron lenses to it? I have not tried this... I just thought about it.

Your Olympus OM-D E-M10III probably has better video features than an old Canon video camera, with the exception of audio. There is no headphone jack or microphone jack, two "cardinal sin" omissions if you want to record video without a separate audio recorder and a lot of fiddling to sync them in post-production software. MOST old video cameras are not compatible with film camera lenses. SOME work with cine lenses, but those are usually super-expensive cameras and lenses used in professional movie making.

The good news about the camera you have is that it is part of the Micro 4/3 lens system that includes Panasonic Lumix. Both companies make lenses that are mostly compatible with each others' Micro 4/3 bodies. Third parties also make Micro 4/3 lenses. Check this out:

https://alikgriffin.com/micro-43-lens-buying-guide/ OR https://www.m43lenses.com

goofybruce

Have you gone on-line to search for the operating manual for the camera(s)? That would give you information on all the "thing-ies" and knobs on the camera. Maybe even find some site where the subject is those particular lenses, as well.
Is there a local camera club where you could attend a meeting to seek help? As a rule (and this site is a good example) photographers as a group "need" to share their knowledge. But a good, one-on-one session with someone familiar with your camera(s) in a studio or on a field trip, would also be the jump-start you need.

And, with the film camera, it might be a chance to do some darkroom work in B&W since developing B&W film is not so temperature sensitive. Of course, that would also lead down the path of buying an enlarger to make your own prints, but developing B&W is quite easy and an interior room, especially a bathroom with a sink, can be easily made into a darkroom.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Hello Kbose: If you were my daughter (or granddaughter) and you told me you wanted to take hair pictures in your salon, I would ask if you had simply tried to use your cell phone to do that. The same with pictures of your dog. By doing this, you would avoid a lot of technical issues and you would not have to have a bunch of photographic equipment at the ready! Today's cell phones really do take some pretty decent pics. One thing I would remember in using a cell phone, would be to stand back at least six feet from your subject and zoom in with your fingers. That way you would be able to avoid unflattering distortions such as really big noses (a concept I am still trying to teach my daughter-in-law--mostly without success).

I admire your determination to use your papaw's equipment. I would go to your local camera store and ask them for help. Consider as well whether you want to continue down the path of film photography as that can get a little pricey. I know this may not have been as responsive to your original question, but as I read between the lines what you are trying to accomplish, I would ask that you at least consider what I have suggested as an alternative. Best of luck. Richard (nervous2)

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

I'm curious here (imagine that!!) in that it seems that everyone here (most. anyway) assumes that Kbose is female. I see NOTHING gender specific in the OP's original post. They could be Male.. or Female. I couldn't care less they're gender. They asked a question. I answered to the best of my own ability because I have an OM-D 10.2, similar to the OP's OM-D 10.3 ... and I use adapted lenses on it.
No feathers ruffled here.... I'm just curious as to why UHH people assume, I'm guessing, gender because of occupation. I'm assuming it's because like me, most here are older than Methusala!!

clint f. Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa

As a film and digital shooter my advice is to put the Minolta on a place where it is displayed as a reminder of all the wonderful memories of time spent with Papaw. Film is much more difficult and expensive than digital. There are few, if any advantages to using film. For the cost of film, processing and printing a single roll of film you’ve spent enough to buy an SD card that will hold thousands of shots on your digital. Film will take a week at least to view. The learning curve is steep and results are iffy.
The digital gives you instant feedback. There is a drugstore on every corner that will print the shots while you wait. Your first order of business is to learn the features and functions on your digital camera. You don’t mention where you live-urban or rural- but if you can, take a basic photo class at an adult learning center or community college. In my home town one of the studio owners taught a class with guest speakers from other pros. If that won’t fit into your presumably busy life there are literally thousands of YouTube videos that teach digital photography. Look around and pick an instructor whose style coincides with the delivery suitable to your learning style. Take your time and learn what they are teaching. Start with the basic functions of your camera and build your knowledge base. Once you can operate the camera you can learn about composition and post processing.
The use of a cell phone was mentioned and is a good idea. I just returned from a Nile river cruise. I took a very expensive camera and lens, took a couple thousand shots. My favorite picture of the trip was from the wife’s 10 year old iPhone. It is a selfie of her in a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings. She had a pretty big smile. She could have sent the image to the family thousands of miles away back in Montana, and Washington and all in a matter of seconds. Pretty handy.
Once you have a good grasp of your digital camera and the lens that is on it then consider exploring that film camera. I know your mom wants you to use the film camera but now is not the time.
Good luck with your learning. Keep asking questions and enjoy.

BebuLamar

I made the assumption but I don't think it's too much of an assumption because unless Kbosel is gay she is a female because she wrote this.

"The canon video recorder thingy I've got isn't high end... and honestly- even if the Minolta and Kiron lenses were to fit on it- I would be afraid they would be too heavy on the camera.... It's just a starter thing we got about 4-5 years ago. My husband thought about starting a youtube channel and didn't want to spend a lot of money at the time on a camera. It does the job. It isn't a potato camera. But it also isn't high end. It's a good starter."

yorkiebyte Loc: Scottsdale, AZ/Bandon by the Sea, OR

Good answer! Maybe, maybe not!

BebuLamar

I made the assumption that if someone has a husband then she is a female but of course today there are males with husbands.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

It amazes me but when I discuss the subject with some friends and family members, they think all bayonet type lenses are the same and can be interchanged across all brands Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax,etc. In an ideal world you could take any lens and mount it on any body - as you expect a common light bulb can screw into any socket (at least in North America and elsewhere). All the majors have their own lens mount standards and proprietary mechanical and electrical designs which are usually patented. So you can't take a Nikon F mount lens and directly slap it on your OM-D camera, but via an adapter it is possible because the focal plane distance can be extended on the SLR lens - in a few cases AF and lens/exposure metadata can be communicated to the camera.

But, as pointed out in the discussions that almost any lens can be adapted to a mirrorless body, especially the DSLR type lenses to a mirrorless mount. In some cases manufacturers have adopted a defacto standards such as M42 screw mount (really old), Pentax/Ricoh K mount, L mount alliance, Leica M mount, etc., and of course the micro 4/3 mount which is shared between Olympus and Panasonic/Lumix. Yes, one of the big benefits with mirrorless over DSLR is being able to use almost any lens, vintage or new, from other manufacturers. I am beginning to experiment in this area as well with my Nikon Z's.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Just curious — Did you get enough answers to help you move forward?

BebuLamar

I think she had enough answers to not do anything.