For my first DLSR, is the Sony a55 or Nikon d5100 a better choice?
I'm hoping to take photos of my family (kids), travels, and youth sports (soccer and track). I have a good collection of old Konica Minolta lenses that will work with the a55 and am attracted to its 10 fps, but have read in the reviews that the 10 fps isn't all it's billed as. Any thoughts?
You are going to have to visit a proper camera store and hold both in your hands.
Shooting a camera using the machine gun method, only makes your job in front of the computer that much more tedious.
If you learn to shoot at the peak of action, you can reduce the number of shots you later have to sort out.
Camera skills are much better than shooting at a bizillion shots per game you cover.
Make sure that the old lenses you have will auto-focus and that the A55 can meter through them. You can do that by taking them into a camera store and testing them on the A55 before you pick one or the other camera systems
Here is how the sensors of those two cameras sensors compare
For 3-digit alphas (dSLR's), your lenses will have no problem. Research for compatibility issues between old Minolta lenses and 2-digit alphas (SLT's) first before making a final decision.
Seeing as you need speed for the soccer and track, go with the A55. The translucent mirror technology is pretty neat and could be the difference between getting your shot and losing it. Also since you have Minolta lenses you can begin to use them again when otherwise they would be useless. Go for it, and as the others said, double check on the compatibility of the Minolta lenses. P. S. Sony makes Nikon's APS-C sensors.
I think you should go for Sony a55 DSLR Camera that will be a better option