A1 versus A2. 5 MO vs 8 MP

[Gary_Berg]

[font color=\'#000000\']I would vote that more megapixels is better than higher quality. For example, I'd suggest that an 8MP fine JPEG may be better than a 5MP extra-fine. Perhaps not when you examine 1:1 on the screen and peep at the pixels, but when printing, or when both are displayed full screen or something. If you plan to shoot RAW files, then the A2 images are certainly going to be bigger.

The A2 is supposed to have faster focus (something like 30-50%), it also has an option to view at the taking aperture to check out DOF. You might want to go to the Minolta site and look for the downloadable brochure for the A2; I believe it states in there what the major improvements are.

Here's the link:
http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise....ochures[/font]

[Stealthfixr]

[font color=\'#000000\']I've had an A1 for a year, and my Stepfather recently bought the A2.  I took his A2, put in one of my CF cards, and spent awhile playing with it and taking lots of pictures.  The main differences in use are:

- A2 has a noticeably faster shutter release
- EVF viewfinder is nice and improved, but not a HUGE difference
- RAW + JPG option is nice--wish my A1 had that

Other than those, nothing really jumped out and smacked me in terms of differences while in use.  In terms of image quality (putting both on tripods and taking the same image with both), there is actually not a huge difference either.  The 5MP A1's images upsize nicely, and actually contain a little less noise from what I can tell.  The A2 takes excellent quality images, and needs less interpolation to get those nice, big prints.  If you use Noise Ninja or some other noise reducing program, the noise is a non-issue between the two.  Of course, the A2 will require more memory per shot--small consideration.

Bottom line:  I am not upgrading my A1 to an A2.  If I had to buy a new digicam today (did not already have the A1), I would unquestionably buy the A2.  Good luck![/font]

[susana]

[font color=\'#000000\']Hi

I am deciding between the Minolta A1 and A2. I am new to digital photography and I am going to be travelling for several months so I wonder if the difference form 5MP to 8 MP would translate in a huge difference in the size of the files.

Apart from that and the better viewfinder, is there anything to consider in favor of the A2?

Prices are very similar right now.

Thanks[/font]

[Bobtrips]

[font color=\'#000000\']I've got an A1, bought it a month or so before the A2 was announced.  I wish I had waited just for the improved viewfinder.

If you're going to be traveling for an extended time then consider carrying a portable storage device.  I've been traveling with a 20 gig portable hard drive for the last ~4 years.  If I were starting over I would probably purchase a portable CD burner, burn a couple of copies, mail one home.[/font]

[DaveLon]

[font color=\'#000000\']I started with the original Dimage 7 so the A2 was a wonderful step up!

But. . .
RAW files are 11.3 or more megs each and Xfine JPEG rings in at about 8 meg so storage on a long trip could well become an issue.

But . . .
The larger pixel count allows more crop 'room' as it were and the new EVF is a dream compaired to the earlier versions!!

So. . .
You makes your choice and goes with the result. I am not sorry I have an A2.

Dave S[/font]