It's a pretty good deal. I personally wouldn't have gone for it, but then I don't go for Minolta gear. If it had been comparable Nikon gear I certainly would have.First of all, if you haven't read the camera manual then
download a copy and read it.Second, go to your local public library and browse through the photography section. Most of the stuff there will be on digital photography, but they should have some introductory photography books. Things like depth of field, lighting, and composition are the same whether you're doing it digitally, on film, or on glass plates.Third, visit your local bookstore and browse through their photography section. If you don't want to buy too many books, jot down the title and author and go back to the library. They'll probably be able to borrow the book from another library.Most important, take pictures. Photography is like riding a bicycle. You can read about it all you want, watch other people do it, yet the only way you can learn it is to do it.Plan on wasting rolls of film practicing in your backyard or in a park. You can save some money by not asking for any prints when you get the film processed, just scanned onto a CD so you can view them on your computer.