Digital BW, The Print

My 1160 has lived past it's time, my 1280 busted a flange that kept 
the heads in place so they flopped around and would have had to be 
replaced so I got my hands on a refurbished 2200 instead ($200). 
Actually not a bad deal but now I see I can get a new 24000 for about 
$650 which I probably will do. In additition, I need a new camera 
(DSLR) instead of just using my old film (Minolta) camera all the 
time. I don't want to spend the 4 figure bucks for some of the ones 
that look pretty good so I looked at the Nikon D80. Is it a decent 
camera or any other suggestions in the same price range.

I will also need a another scanner so I am in need and may end up 
needy. 

I don't want to get into a CFS anymore and am trying to simplify my 
work flow. I'm an old guy who has suffered the return of the child 
who has a child. I shouldn't say suffer but it is tough to have a 3 
year old granddaughter around 24 hours/day. Any help, not with the 
kid of course, but with the equipment would be appreciated. I hope 
this is not considered off topic but it does concern the final print. 

Thanks for any advice received.

Barry Schaffer (I have been part of this group for a long time but 
have not contributed much the last few years)

My 1160 has lived past it's time, my 1280 busted a flange that kept 
the heads in place so they flopped around and would have had to be 
replaced so I got my hands on a refurbished 2200 instead ($200). 
Actually not a bad deal but now I see I can get a new 24000 for about 
$650 which I probably will do. In additition, I need a new camera 
(DSLR) instead of just using my old film (Minolta) camera all the 
time. I don't want to spend the 4 figure bucks for some of the ones 
that look pretty good so I looked at the Nikon D80. Is it a decent 
camera or any other suggestions in the same price range.

I will also need a another scanner so I am in need and may end up 
needy. 

I don't want to get into a CFS anymore and am trying to simplify my 
work flow. I'm an old guy who has suffered the return of the child 
who has a child. I shouldn't say suffer but it is tough to have a 3 
year old granddaughter around 24 hours/day. Any help, not with the 
kid of course, but with the equipment would be appreciated. I hope 
this is not considered off topic but it does concern the final print. 

Thanks for any advice received.

Barry Schaffer (I have been part of this group for a long time but 
have not contributed much the last few years)

> $650 which I probably will do. In additition, I need a new camera 
> (DSLR) instead of just using my old film (Minolta) camera all the 
> time. 

If you're willing to venture outside Canon/Nikon offerings, the K100D
from Pentax is an excellent value. B&H has body-only with 2Gb SD card
for about $430 after $50 mail-in rebate.

I have the now-discontinued K110D. If you use RAW capture mode, you
can get results every bit as good as Canon/Nikon 6mp/8mp offerings. I
love Pentax's 50/1.4 lens too. 

While I'm plugging non-mainstream alternatives, look into Bibble for
Raw processing and Picture Window Pro for image editting.

Last thought: If you don't need to print larger than letter size, the
Epson C88 is an excellent value, especially when used with MIS inks
(either for B&W or color printing).

> In additition, I need a new camera 
> (DSLR) instead of just using my old film (Minolta) camera all the 
> time. I don't want to spend the 4 figure bucks for some of the ones 
> that look pretty good so I looked at the Nikon D80. Is it a decent 
> camera or any other suggestions in the same price range.
> 

My question is regarding the Minolta film camera you are using -- is
it one of the old manual focus (MD mount) SLRs, or is it one of
Minolta's newer auto-focus SLRs (Maxxum mount)?

If you're using an auto-focus Minolta Maxxum, how many lenses do you
have for it? 

I have been using a Sony Alpha 100 DSLR (10MP) for a couple of months
now (had a Maxxum 5D that I unfortunately dropped), and I really like
the Sony A100 DSLR. It's a great camera, and assuming you have two or
more of the Minolta auto-focus lenses, you can buy the A100 body only
from B&H PhotoVideo for $630. 

Heck, even if you don't have Minolta auto-focus lenses, you can buy
them used in almost "like new" condition from keh.com for dirt cheap.

Just an alternative to consider.

 - Craig