Minolta Dynax 404si

I know film cameras are more cumbersome, and you don't see what you have taken until next week, and there is also the cost of film and developing, BUT a film is equivalent to a 56Mb digital which I doubt is even made yet. And the Minolta Dynax 404si 35mm SLR camera's are available on eBay at a quarter of the price of a pocket point and shoot digital.

Use this for the important photos, such as weddings and christenings etc., and use the pocket digital for travel, as they are less cumbersome.

The Minolta 404si is a good beginners camera or a back up camera for an advanced photographer. It has as many features as the more expensive minolta cameras, such as spot metering and av lock. It has a slow motor drive of one frame p/sec but so do others in this class. It's slightly too slow auto focus would be hard to use for faster moving objects. But otherwise locks on in a wide range of conditions. The body will fit all the bigger zooms and wide angles and has a satisfying clunk when it takes a photo. The Minolta honey comb type metering is also spot on for using slide film in all situtations.