is it possible?

[Kwacker]

To get a backing plate that will turn an older 35mm Minolta SLR into a digital camera?

I have a great camera with lenses but never use it! I think it would be great to be able to convert it to a digital, there must be a market for something like this.

Kwacker

[SamHH]

I pretty sure the answer is no. Most medium format digital cameras work exactly like this; you can simply swap between a digital back and a film back. I guess given this is practical for their manufacturers given the much lower production numbers and the more specialist uses. I doubt you could attach a medium format digital back to a small format camera and anyway, most of them cost well into the tens of thousands.

[RobDickinson]

Short answer is no.

Buy a Sony Alpha mount dSLR and you can use those minolta lens's (probably).

[VxDuncan]

No. Beacause to convert a 35mm SLR you'd need a 35mm (ie full frame) sensor which are silly money. THe cheapest cameras with a sensor the same size as 35mm film are £1500+, making it a waste of time, plus it would have to be different for each camera, and very fragile to fit.

You can get a digital back for the medium format cameras, but you could also buy a small country for the same money.

£250 on a cheap sony DSLR will give you a far better solution anyway.

[Simpo Two]

VxDuncan said:

No. Beacause to convert a 35mm SLR you'd need a 35mm (ie full frame) sensor which are silly money.

You could put a DX sensor on it and just get a crop factor like most DSLRs.

However the number of sales to people with that particular model of Minolta SLR who wish to convert it into a DSLR would fail to recoup the multi-million pound investment.

[Tuna]

There was a 'conversion' thingy developed and sold for a while I believe - it looked like a 35mm film roll with a rigid tounge where the film would normally unwind. The amount of compromise needed to make it work rendered it useless though. Not sure if you could still get one, or if it would really be worth the bother.

What mount type are the lenses? The Sony Alpha range of DSLRs can use some Minolta lenses I believe, but it might only be compatible with newer glass.

[onomatopoeia]

Almost all Minolta AF mount glass will work on Sony Alpha DSLRs. Some early Minolta fit Sigmas and Tokinas don't (I own three Sigmas of varying ages which work fine on my Sony A300, I had a Tokina which didn't).

dyxum.com has a database of just about every A-mount lens which contains information about compatibility with the Sony DSLRs.

[Kwacker]

Thanks all,

The minolta will have to stay in the drawer gathering dust until it becomes an antique then. It might even get promoted to the loft.

As for getting a DSLR, I'll have to wait til the wife is in a spending mood!

Cheers

Kwacker