If you can afford the Canon 5D, it's much better, yes - and I say this
as a Minolta user. However, you need to be able to afford the right
lenses (the 5D is quite picky about which exact lens types you use,
producing bad results in the corners from some zooms and wides) and
ideally, a couple of image stabilised lenses. The cheaper 70-300mm IS
USM really isn't up to the 5D - or any - digital standards, it was soft
even on our 300D and is probably softer on our new 400D, will know soon.
Bonus, however, is that the cheap Canon 50mm f1.8 and 28mm f2.8 lenses
are both star performers of the 5D.

To make the most the Fantasy card you must have an xi Power Zoom lens. I
don't think any of the others need a special lens, but many are quite
limited if you only have 28-80mm, as they can program effects or
settings for a much wider range (20mm to 300mm).

I have:

Exposure Bracketing card
Data Memory Card - this is a model 1 card, and most people want the type 2
Auto Program Shift 2
A-S Mode card
Flash Bracketing card

All are new, unused, shrink wrapped in some cases. I have LOADS of
Bracketing cards. I'll mail one free to anyone subscribing to our
Photoworld magazine (UK Minolta Club mag) in addition to any other offer
we are making, on request. They hardly add anything to the weight.

David

Veritas-

Don't kid yourself.  Once you start shooting digital, you will find
yourself shooting less and less film, and eventually none.  The film I
shot was of the Space Shuttle Columbia's last launch, and only because
that was the body that worked with the Minolta 500mm AF Mirror lens.

I have the Minolta 9xi body.  I think I have the "Child" card for it, but
don't recall for sure.  There were two auto-zoom cards, and I got the
cheaper one.  I have a 28-105mm power zoom lens that is required for the
auto-zoom feature of the card to work.  If your 28-80 is mechanical zoom,
neither auto-zoom card will work with it.

If price is important, look for a good used or new-old-stock
Konica-Minolta 7D.  If you can afford it, I suggest you go for the Sony
Alpha 100 with its higher pixel count.  I got mine when it first appeared
at a Ritz store and have not regretted it.  It works with all of my old
Minolta lenses including the power zoom lens and the 500mm f/8 AF mirror
lens.  (I used the 500mm to shoot the most recent Shuttle launch from my
front yard, and you can see the solid rockets separating.)

With either body, get it with the kit lens.  It is unlikely that any of
your existing 35mm lenses will provide the wide angle coverage of the kit
lens.  Because of the digital sensor's 1.5X "crop factor", your 28-80 zoom
lens will provide the equivalent coverage of a 42-120mm lens on a 35mm
film body.

The Canon EOS 5D is a fine camera.  It has a full frame sensor, so there
is no crop factor to worry about.  But it is not the "end-all" camera
body, and will likely be replaced by a newer model within the next six
months.  If you choose to get one, it means all new lenses and
accessories, as you probably realize.  The KM 7D or SA 100 will allow you
to use most of your existing 7xi accessories, and will be a lot less
expensive way to break into digital photography.

Fred