canon makes point an shoot digi's with a viewfinder, something my wife had to have.
She also hates her canon elf, and is on the way to buying a D40!
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gwb72tii

Whenever you find you are on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.
Mark Twain [Samuel Langhornne Clemens] (1835-1910)

I'll try to answer a couple of your questions.
Your Minolta and all other film cameras? Not worth anything these days, except if it's a super collectible model, but keep it for posterity, you can show it to your kids/grandkids in the future and tell them how it used to be. Or in the event the whole digital world collapses, you will be able to get pictures of it. (Just not sure where you'll get the film processed though).
Manual/autofocus. Why do you want to manual focus?
I think it's proven, the latest technology autofocus systems are better than the human eye for focusing.
The beauty of digital is you can take several shots till you get the effect/exposure you are after, and it doesn't cost you an extra penny, just edit out the bad.
Most if not all point and shoots are rangefinder style, i.e., you don't look through the lens just a little parallel window, with no split image/focus aid.
You'll just have to live with that fact.
And remember, don't put all the focus (pun intended) on the camera, it's the eye looking through the lens that produces a great photo.:)....oh yeah, and subject matter

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TonyHavana wrote:

I'll try to answer a couple of your questions. Your Minolta and all other film cameras? Not worth anything these days, except if it's a super collectible model, but keep it for posterity, you can show it to your kids/grandkids in the future and tell them how it used to be. Or in the event the whole digital world collapses, you will be able to get pictures of it. (Just not sure where you'll get the film processed though). Manual/autofocus. Why do you want to manual focus? I think it's proven, the latest technology autofocus systems are better than the human eye for focusing. The beauty of digital is you can take several shots till you get the effect/exposure you are after, and it doesn't cost you an extra penny, just edit out the bad. Most if not all point and shoots are rangefinder style, i.e., you don't look through the lens just a little parallel window, with no split image/focus aid. You'll just have to live with that fact. And remember, don't put all the focus (pun intended) on the camera, it's the eye looking through the lens that produces a great photo.:)....oh yeah, and subject matter

Thank you, I think I was obsessing about using the 1.8 50mm lens that brings in a lot of light but has not A/F. It just downed on me that I really don't need any of that stuff, the AF lens that came with the camera is really good (28-105 equiv approx) AF takes care of my eyesight, and the camera can be programmed to 1600 or higher, so yes I have to move to the 21st century. For the pictures I take that is good enough!
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72 tii A4, 72 tii Alpina, 98 M3 coupe

Don't argue with anyone that will not consider the possibility of being wrong...
the future is a dream, the present infinitesimally brief, but the memories are forever...

go to www.kenrockwell.com

he's an excellent resource for Nikon stuff and would probably be considered a guru of sorts.

i have a D50 and absolutely love it!
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'74 2002 (undergoing Megasquirt conversion!)