ruri
11-29-2002, 09:00 PM
First of all, I would like to apologize for not being more active on this forum. My brother just got hitched, and I was a wee bit busy...
Okay, here's my latest toy (picture taken from DC-imaging 'cause I didn't have another camera to take the picture of this camera):
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage7i.jpg
It's the Minolta Dimage 7i, a 5MP, 7x/2x zoom, SLR form-factor digicam.
The camera is a little bit smaller than a 35mm SLR and weighs considerably less due to extensive use of plastic external casing.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage_back.jpg
The back of the camera sports a 1.8" non-movable LCD display, an electronic viewfinder and control buttons. I wished the LCD would be pivotal like the Canon / Nikon model, but this one is just as bright and sharp as the one on the G2.
The battery holder (4 AA's) sits below the LCD display.
The camera can take pictures in one of three resolution (1MP, 2MP, 5 MP) at one of three quality setting (economy, standard, fine). It can also record RAW image files, but that would require the included software to read the data. A RAW file also takes up some 14MB. The 5MP resolution will output 2560 x 1920 image.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage_side.jpg
The camera is capable of 7X analog zoom with 2X digital zoom. To zoom, you twist the lens barrel ring (that black thing) just like a 35mm SLR camera; thus, the Dimage 7i is really a "two-handed" camera. I find manual zoom is a significant feature over the electronically controlled zoom, as it offers an infinite zoom range rather than the incremental step of an electronically controlled unit. I can also go from 1X to 7X as fast as I can turn that ring (about 0.2 sec).
The camera takes both Compact Flash (CF) and microdrive storage media. I have used both with great success. With my 340MB microdrive, I could record about 300 pics at 5MP, standard resolution.
Unfortunately, the camera is not without fault. My biggest gripes concern the camera's power consumption. This thing eats battery for breakfast. With a set of new Duracell Ultras (not the standard alkaline mind you), I only managed 18 (yes, eighteen) flashed-enabled shots before the battery gave out. To be fair, I was using the power-sucking microdrive, but still, these were Duracell Ultras. With a set of 1800mAh NIMHs, I could take about 50-60 shots. So yes, rechargeables are a must.
My other gripe is the cheezy, plasticky feel of the unit. For a camera at this price range, I was hoping for something more substantial. That, however, doesn't detract from the camera's greatest strengh, it's picture quality. In short, this camera takes amazing pictures. I am most pleased with the pictures quality.
As proof, here's a picture I took, using 7X zoom (full zoom folks) at 5MP, standard quality. I cropped it down as the full image would be way too big for this forum.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/lakergirls.jpg
Needless to say, this shot was taken indoor, under artificial lighting, a serious challenge for any camera.
Oh, and if you look carefully at the dude in the uper-right hand corner wearing the black sweater, that's Don Johnson.
I will post mini-reviews of other toys I got in later postings...
Okay, here's my latest toy (picture taken from DC-imaging 'cause I didn't have another camera to take the picture of this camera):
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage7i.jpg
It's the Minolta Dimage 7i, a 5MP, 7x/2x zoom, SLR form-factor digicam.
The camera is a little bit smaller than a 35mm SLR and weighs considerably less due to extensive use of plastic external casing.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage_back.jpg
The back of the camera sports a 1.8" non-movable LCD display, an electronic viewfinder and control buttons. I wished the LCD would be pivotal like the Canon / Nikon model, but this one is just as bright and sharp as the one on the G2.
The battery holder (4 AA's) sits below the LCD display.
The camera can take pictures in one of three resolution (1MP, 2MP, 5 MP) at one of three quality setting (economy, standard, fine). It can also record RAW image files, but that would require the included software to read the data. A RAW file also takes up some 14MB. The 5MP resolution will output 2560 x 1920 image.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/dimage_side.jpg
The camera is capable of 7X analog zoom with 2X digital zoom. To zoom, you twist the lens barrel ring (that black thing) just like a 35mm SLR camera; thus, the Dimage 7i is really a "two-handed" camera. I find manual zoom is a significant feature over the electronically controlled zoom, as it offers an infinite zoom range rather than the incremental step of an electronically controlled unit. I can also go from 1X to 7X as fast as I can turn that ring (about 0.2 sec).
The camera takes both Compact Flash (CF) and microdrive storage media. I have used both with great success. With my 340MB microdrive, I could record about 300 pics at 5MP, standard resolution.
Unfortunately, the camera is not without fault. My biggest gripes concern the camera's power consumption. This thing eats battery for breakfast. With a set of new Duracell Ultras (not the standard alkaline mind you), I only managed 18 (yes, eighteen) flashed-enabled shots before the battery gave out. To be fair, I was using the power-sucking microdrive, but still, these were Duracell Ultras. With a set of 1800mAh NIMHs, I could take about 50-60 shots. So yes, rechargeables are a must.
My other gripe is the cheezy, plasticky feel of the unit. For a camera at this price range, I was hoping for something more substantial. That, however, doesn't detract from the camera's greatest strengh, it's picture quality. In short, this camera takes amazing pictures. I am most pleased with the pictures quality.
As proof, here's a picture I took, using 7X zoom (full zoom folks) at 5MP, standard quality. I cropped it down as the full image would be way too big for this forum.
http://www.speakeasy.org/~datn/images/lakergirls.jpg
Needless to say, this shot was taken indoor, under artificial lighting, a serious challenge for any camera.
Oh, and if you look carefully at the dude in the uper-right hand corner wearing the black sweater, that's Don Johnson.
I will post mini-reviews of other toys I got in later postings...