The Six-Megapixel Club

Hidrieus · 11-13-2019, 02:06 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Dan James

So, inspired by the Pentax K100D's fabulous sensor, and being no stranger to quite a number of older CCD sensor cameras that have delivered lovely images, I came across an example of another DSLR on my wish list, the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D. Like the K100D, it has a 6MP CCD sensor. Given that Sony bought out Konica Minolta's camera business in the mid 2000s, then released their first DSLR the a100, and it was very similar to the Dynax 5D, it's quite possible that there is plenty of Konica Minolta DNA in the sensor Sony developed for the a100. Which also means it could share many similarities with the Sony sensor in the K100D. On first impressions I'd say the colours were richer with the K100D, but perhaps the 5D gives slightly more natural colours because of this.

I've been shooting the 5D mostly in its "Natural+" colour JPEG mode, and a little in the Black and White mode too, and all with the standard 18-70 kit zoom. All shots straight out of camera JPEGs.

I've always had a soft spot for Pentax, and the K100D (and the K-m I also have) I prefer overall to the 5D. But the 5D is a lovely camera, and arguably handles better and feels better built than the Pentaxes. Everything is pretty logical to use, and it's winning me over.

My dilemma is whether to keep the 5D and buy a better lens to see what it can really do (I had the old Minolta 35-70 f/4 macro when I had Sony DLSRs which was fantastic and would be my first choice), to just keep using the kit zoom (I also have a 70-something zoom I've not taken out of the box yet and might never) which delivers better than I expected, or to sell it on having tried it and stick to the two Pentax.

Thoughts welcome!

Keep it. I like my pentaxes but I also like my Sony A700 which has certainly Minolta DNA. And it has so many unique features but best of all it feels good. Also the Minolta lenses have an appeal of their own.

**paulh** · 11-13-2019, 04:52 PM - **3 Likes**

Dusty chairs after a few days of Santa Ana winds...DA35/2.4 on *ist D:

Dan James · 11-14-2019, 01:32 PM

Originally posted by paulh

I'd probably keep them all

. My wife used a very nice Minolta AF 50/1.7 lens on her Sony A300.

SMC-M75-150/4 on *ist D:

Ah yes I've had a couple of those Minolta AF 50/1.7s, very impressive. I also had a 50/2.8 AF Macro which was stunning with my Sony DSLRs a couple of years back. I could probably pick up a 50/1.7 fairly reasonable for the 5D...

Dan James · 11-14-2019, 01:37 PM

Originally posted by Hidrieus

Keep it. I like my pentaxes but I also like my Sony A700 which has certainly Minolta DNA. And it has so many unique features but best of all it feels good. Also the Minolta lenses have an appeal of their own.

Thanks Hidrieus. Yeh my Pentaxes feel good, but the Minolta has a couple of tiny differences that make a difference, like the type/texture of the rubber on the grip is more tactile and feels higher quality, and the main grip itself has a flattened front, which fits a half closed hand more naturally than a grip that's continuously curved. I've had the 50/1.7, 50/2.8 Macro and 35-40/4 Zoom Macro previously in Minolta/Sony AF mount, which I used on a Sony a100 and a350. All were great, the Macro was stunning, and the zoom was as good as zoom as I've used in any mount I'd say. Previously I've had numerous MC/MD Minolta lenses on film bodies and on a Sony NEX via adapter, and most of those were fantastic too. Minolta made some beautiful glass!

**BigMackCam** · 11-14-2019, 01:55 PM

Originally posted by Dan James

I came across an example of another DSLR on my wish list, the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D....

... the 5D is a lovely camera, and arguably handles better and feels better built than the Pentaxes. Everything is pretty logical to use, and it's winning me over...

My dilemma is whether to keep the 5D and buy a better lens to see what it can really do (I had the old Minolta 35-70 f/4 macro when I had Sony DLSRs which was fantastic and would be my first choice), to just keep using the kit zoom (I also have a 70-something zoom I've not taken out of the box yet and might never) which delivers better than I expected, or to sell it on having tried it and stick to the two Pentax.

Thoughts welcome!

Keep it, for sure!

There's some great, inexpensive Minolta AF glass available used these days. I picked up a brand new, still-factory-sealed Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II Aspherical (the non-macro version) fairly recently for GBP £15 (under $20), and whilst it, too, is technically a "kit" lens, it's one of the best I've used. It's clearly built to a price, but optically very capable (good enough that I like the results on my 24MP Hasselblad HV).

The nice thing with Minolta AF glass is that it has dropped in price about as far as it can by now. So long as you shop around and pay the lower end of market prices, you can buy a lens, play with it for a few weeks or months, and if you don't like it, sell it for what you paid. There's literally no risk...

**paulh** · 11-14-2019, 01:58 PM - **5 Likes**

Entrance to the gardens - Industar 50-2 on *ist D:

DA18-55 on K100D:

**djb47** · 11-16-2019, 09:23 AM - **3 Likes**

Xposted from DIC thread. *ist DS2/Pentax F - f35-80mm

kypfer · 11-17-2019, 04:22 PM - **10 Likes**

*ist Ds doing what it does best ... jpg straight from the camera, just resized for posting

30sec @ f/16 - Fujinon 28mm

**paulh** · 11-18-2019, 04:33 PM - **3 Likes**

Got clothespins? SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D:

**paulh** · 11-22-2019, 08:13 PM - **4 Likes**

1960 Chevy Impala at the Thousand Oaks Streetfair. SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D:

Judge at work:

Grippy · 11-23-2019, 03:51 AM - **10 Likes**

Alright, less than 6mp

Oly E1, only 5mp

P1013158

Jan178 · 11-23-2019, 02:07 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by Grippy

Alright, less than 6mp

Oly E1, only 5mp
P1013158

Wow, you can even count those pixels! ...oh wait, it was the eyes...

**djb47** · 11-23-2019, 02:56 PM - **7 Likes**

Glue sticks light painted with a black light flashlight. X-posted from DIC thread.

**paulh** · 11-25-2019, 05:38 PM - **2 Likes**

DA18-55 on *ist D (from 2014):

**paulh** · 11-26-2019, 03:58 PM - **2 Likes**

A clean '57 Chevy Bel-air hardtop seen at a recent carshow. SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D. I was unintentionally shooting at iso800 all day

, but I don't think it hurt this shot too much...

11-14-2019, 01:58 PM - 5 Likes	#996
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	Entrance to the gardens - Industar 50-2 on ist D: DA18-55 on K100D: Last edited by paulh; 11-14-2019 at 04:10 PM.*

11-16-2019, 09:23 AM - 3 Likes	#997
djb47 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Lenoir, NC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,561	Holiday Quail Xposted from DIC thread. *ist DS2/Pentax F - f35-80mm

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11-13-2019, 02:06 PM - 1 Like	#991
Hidrieus Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 326	Originally posted by Dan James So, inspired by the Pentax K100D's fabulous sensor, and being no stranger to quite a number of older CCD sensor cameras that have delivered lovely images, I came across an example of another DSLR on my wish list, the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D. Like the K100D, it has a 6MP CCD sensor. Given that Sony bought out Konica Minolta's camera business in the mid 2000s, then released their first DSLR the a100, and it was very similar to the Dynax 5D, it's quite possible that there is plenty of Konica Minolta DNA in the sensor Sony developed for the a100. Which also means it could share many similarities with the Sony sensor in the K100D. On first impressions I'd say the colours were richer with the K100D, but perhaps the 5D gives slightly more natural colours because of this. I've been shooting the 5D mostly in its "Natural+" colour JPEG mode, and a little in the Black and White mode too, and all with the standard 18-70 kit zoom. All shots straight out of camera JPEGs. I've always had a soft spot for Pentax, and the K100D (and the K-m I also have) I prefer overall to the 5D. But the 5D is a lovely camera, and arguably handles better and feels better built than the Pentaxes. Everything is pretty logical to use, and it's winning me over. My dilemma is whether to keep the 5D and buy a better lens to see what it can really do (I had the old Minolta 35-70 f/4 macro when I had Sony DLSRs which was fantastic and would be my first choice), to just keep using the kit zoom (I also have a 70-something zoom I've not taken out of the box yet and might never) which delivers better than I expected, or to sell it on having tried it and stick to the two Pentax. Thoughts welcome! Keep it. I like my pentaxes but I also like my Sony A700 which has certainly Minolta DNA. And it has so many unique features but best of all it feels good. Also the Minolta lenses have an appeal of their own.

11-13-2019, 04:52 PM - 3 Likes	#992
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	Dusty chairs after a few days of Santa Ana winds...DA35/2.4 on *ist D:

11-14-2019, 01:32 PM	#993
Dan James Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Sussex Posts: 163	Originally posted by paulh I'd probably keep them all . My wife used a very nice Minolta AF 50/1.7 lens on her Sony A300. SMC-M75-150/4 on *ist D: Ah yes I've had a couple of those Minolta AF 50/1.7s, very impressive. I also had a 50/2.8 AF Macro which was stunning with my Sony DSLRs a couple of years back. I could probably pick up a 50/1.7 fairly reasonable for the 5D...

11-14-2019, 01:37 PM	#994
Dan James Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Sussex Posts: 163	Originally posted by Hidrieus Keep it. I like my pentaxes but I also like my Sony A700 which has certainly Minolta DNA. And it has so many unique features but best of all it feels good. Also the Minolta lenses have an appeal of their own. Thanks Hidrieus. Yeh my Pentaxes feel good, but the Minolta has a couple of tiny differences that make a difference, like the type/texture of the rubber on the grip is more tactile and feels higher quality, and the main grip itself has a flattened front, which fits a half closed hand more naturally than a grip that's continuously curved. I've had the 50/1.7, 50/2.8 Macro and 35-40/4 Zoom Macro previously in Minolta/Sony AF mount, which I used on a Sony a100 and a350. All were great, the Macro was stunning, and the zoom was as good as zoom as I've used in any mount I'd say. Previously I've had numerous MC/MD Minolta lenses on film bodies and on a Sony NEX via adapter, and most of those were fantastic too. Minolta made some beautiful glass!

11-14-2019, 01:55 PM	#995
BigMackCam Digitiser of Film Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: North East of England Posts: 20,674	Originally posted by Dan James I came across an example of another DSLR on my wish list, the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D.... ... the 5D is a lovely camera, and arguably handles better and feels better built than the Pentaxes. Everything is pretty logical to use, and it's winning me over... My dilemma is whether to keep the 5D and buy a better lens to see what it can really do (I had the old Minolta 35-70 f/4 macro when I had Sony DLSRs which was fantastic and would be my first choice), to just keep using the kit zoom (I also have a 70-something zoom I've not taken out of the box yet and might never) which delivers better than I expected, or to sell it on having tried it and stick to the two Pentax. Thoughts welcome! Keep it, for sure! There's some great, inexpensive Minolta AF glass available used these days. I picked up a brand new, still-factory-sealed Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 II Aspherical (the non-macro version) fairly recently for GBP £15 (under $20), and whilst it, too, is technically a "kit" lens, it's one of the best I've used. It's clearly built to a price, but optically very capable (good enough that I like the results on my 24MP Hasselblad HV). The nice thing with Minolta AF glass is that it has dropped in price about as far as it can by now. So long as you shop around and pay the lower end of market prices, you can buy a lens, play with it for a few weeks or months, and if you don't like it, sell it for what you paid. There's literally no risk...

11-17-2019, 04:22 PM - 10 Likes	#998
kypfer Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Jersey C.I. Posts: 3,594	*ist Ds doing what it does best ... jpg straight from the camera, just resized for posting 30sec @ f/16 - Fujinon 28mm

11-18-2019, 04:33 PM - 3 Likes	#999
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	Got clothespins? SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D:

11-22-2019, 08:13 PM - 4 Likes	#1000
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	1960 Chevy Impala at the Thousand Oaks Streetfair. SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D: Judge at work:

11-23-2019, 03:51 AM - 10 Likes	#1001
Grippy Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Adelaide Posts: 816	Alright, less than 6mp Oly E1, only 5mp P1013158

11-23-2019, 02:07 PM - 2 Likes	#1002
Jan178 Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Rovaniemi, Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 963	Originally posted by Grippy Alright, less than 6mp Oly E1, only 5mp P1013158 Wow, you can even count those pixels! ...oh wait, it was the eyes...

11-23-2019, 02:56 PM - 7 Likes	#1003
djb47 Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Lenoir, NC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,561	Glue sticks light painted with a black light flashlight. X-posted from DIC thread.

11-25-2019, 05:38 PM - 2 Likes	#1004
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	DA18-55 on *ist D (from 2014):

11-26-2019, 03:58 PM - 2 Likes	#1005
paulh Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: DFW Texas/Ventura County, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 33,273 Original Poster	A clean '57 Chevy Bel-air hardtop seen at a recent carshow. SMC-A35/2.8 on *ist D. I was unintentionally shooting at iso800 all day , but I don't think it hurt this shot too much...