New Zeiss Alpha Lenses Backwards Compatible?

[kdemas]

I'm thinking about getting an A900 with some nice Zeiss glass and I am wondering if the new Alpha lenses can be used with older Minolta bodies, like the Maxxum 9? I'd love to have the flexibility I have now with my D300/F6 combo (shoot some occasional Kodachrome).

Thanks in advance.

Kent

 

[kdemas]

Hmmm... I might have found an answer:

http://www.dyxum.com/columns/other/maxxum9/index.asp

 

[douglasf13]

If you can't find the Maxxum 9 with the SSM conversion, the Maxxum 7 is a great camera and works with SSM already. I believe the Maxxum 5, 4, and 3 work as well. The Maxxum 9, while incredible, was a bit older and released before Minolta had SSM.

 

[kdemas]

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it!

Kent

 

[gsking]

Yes, the 7 has every feature, vs. the 9 has many missing. The 9 won't even work with wireless flash with the new 58 flash, for example. They disabled the oldest wireless flash protocol on the 58, so the 9 won't work at all, and the 7 has to be used at speeds greater than 1/60. The 9 also doesn't have ADI or SSM (without modification), no digital display on the back, etc.

But it does have that sexy 1/300 shutter.

Greg