Sort of off topic, apologies.

Any recommendations for move from my 35mm SLR (Minolta Dynax, upper spec model) to digital?
Not sure wether to go for cheaper non-SLR model and wait for improvements in SLRs, or splurge now for the SLR.

Thing that bugs me is that (away from Heuers) I generally do a lot of shooting at 24-28mm focal length.
With the smaller CCD chips in all but the high end digital cameras, this multiplication factor (1.6x?) on the focal length worries me. Is the performance at lowest focal length still OK if you are using a lens which I guess was originally designed to be “fisheye” (16-17mm focal length on a 35mm, 24-28mm on a digital)?

Maybe in 1 year SLRs with full size CCDs (ie multiplacation factor = 1) will be decent price (for me that is under 1000 sterling).

Or is this a nothing issue?

Other requirements... easy method to lock spot metering and lock focus on an off centre subject.
Used to have a Canon EOS where you could select the focus/metering point by just looking at the point in the viewfinder. Worked superbly well. Is that still on the Canon digital SLRs?