Reviews

Manufacturer's Description
The Dimage Z1 is a powerful yet easy-to-use SLR-type digital camera. Designed around Minolta's new 10X Mega-zoom, the Dimage Z1 features advanced technology and Rapid AF so you can capture images in virtually any situation. TV quality 30fps VGA movies expand its capabilities even more. This compact, stylish Dimage Z1 has the imaging tools you need to capture the pictures you want.

The Dimage Z1 design reflects the sophistication and future of digital technology. Significantly smaller than a compact 35mm SLR camera with a built-in flash and zoom lens, this powerful imaging system can easily slip into a fanny pack or hip bag.

40X Mega-Zoom (10X Optical, 4X Digital) Lens The Dimage Z1 is the first Minolta digital camera to be equipped with the new 10X Mega-zoom lens. With a focal range of 5.8mm to 58mm, this lens is equivalent to a 38 - 380mm lens in the 35mm format. The 10X Mega-zoom is a fast f2.8 - f3.5 lens allowing fast shutter speeds for sports or natural-light photography. The ten-element seven-group lens design contains two aspheric lenses to minimize aberrations and produce beautifully crisp images.

When combined with the seamless 4X Digital Zoom function, the Mega-zoom lens has an outstanding 40X zoom range, equivalent to a 38 - 1520mm lens.

Rapid Autofocus Powerful optics combined with a high-resolution 3.3 megapixel 1/2.7 interline primary-color CCD require a powerful autofocus system. The Dimage Z1 features Rapid AF to ensure sharp images with minimum delay. The Rapid AF system uses high-speed drive to focus the lens quickly and smoothly - a 0.3 second focusing time at a focal length of 5.8mm and 0.4 seconds at 58mm -- giving the Dimage Z1 the world's fastest AF among digital cameras with a built-in 10X or greater optical zoom.

TV Quality Movie Recording High-quality VGA (640 x 480) movies at 30fps can be recorded, with quality comparable to S-VHS video. Image size and frame rate can be selected to balance image quality with file size. Three image sizes are available: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. Because of the high frame rate of the CCD, movies may be shot at 30fps to create natural flicker-free images, or 15fps to maximize recording time. The length of the movie is only limited by the memory card capacity, image size, and frame rate.

Because the Dimage Z1 can capture large, high-quality VGA movies, image sharpness and brightness is critical. During recording the Z1 will continue to autofocus to provide the sharpest possible image. Additionally, a night-movie mode can make color recordings under extreme low-light conditions.

CxProcess II Processing Technology CxProcess II, Minolta's new image-processing technology, is used to bring out the best in the 3.3 megapixel CCD. CxProcess II controls the essential image qualities of color, contrast, and sharpness while minimizing noise. Brilliant, saturated color remains vibrant without becoming unnatural. Subtle contrast is rendered to retain the richness and depth of the subject while preserving details in the highlights and shadows. Sharpness is controlled by balancing resolution with acutance to show fine detail while minimizing hard, unnatural edges.

Progressive Capture Mode Minolta's new Progressive Capture drive mode makes sure you never miss the action. When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, Progressive Capture begins saving images in the buffer memory. Simply watch the action on the monitor and when it's over, release the shutter button and the images in the buffer memory will be saved to the memory card. Six frames are saved with standard continuous advance and 10 frames with UHS continuous advance.

Fast Startup/Response Time Every aspect of the Dimage Z1's performance is pushed to the limit. Startup time is a mere 2 seconds and shutdown time is 2.4 seconds. After focus has been locked, the shutter-release time lag is 0.06 second -- comparable to a 35mm SLR camera. The Z1 is ready to capture another image in just 1.2 seconds after the previous exposure.

Super Macro Mode Capturing the intricate details in close-up photography has never been easier. The Dimage Z1's Super Macro mode lets you focus as close as 1.6 in. (4cm) from the front of the lens.

Switch Finder The Dimage Z1 is equipped with Minolta's exclusive Switch Finder. This unique system allows the camera's LCD monitor to be viewed either directly or through the viewfinder. Since a single monitor is used, you need not worry about the color, contrast, and resolution difference between separate rear and viewfinder monitors. With the viewfinder's large apparent angle-of-view, the monitor image is big and clear.

Real Motion LCD Monitor The Real Motion LCD monitor uses a 60fps frame rate. This Real Motion frame rate brings the live image to life -- showing action smoothly compared to the slower 30fps rate of conventional monitors.

Powerful Built-In Flash The Dimage Z1 packs the most powerful flash ever built into a Minolta digital camera. With a guide number of 39 feet (12 meters), the flash can illuminate a subject up to approximately 20 ft. (6m) away when used at the wide-angle position with autoexposure and auto camera sensitivity.

Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection In the past, photographers always had to make time-consuming manual adjustments as the subject and shooting environment changed. The Dimage Z1's Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection analyzes the shooting conditions and selects the optimum exposure, white-balance, and image-processing program. Additionally, five subject programs: portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait, cover common and specialized shooting conditions and can be selected manually.

Automatic Monitor Amplification When working in less than ideal lighting conditions, precisely framing an image on the monitor can be difficult. The Dimage Z1's automatic monitor amplification brightens the monitor under low light so the live image is always visible.

Custom Settings The Z1's operations can be tailored to meet the photographer's needs. The function set using the flash-mode button can be customized to control the flash mode, white balance, drive mode, focusing mode, or color mode. Images can be rotated to orient them correctly so you don't need to twist your head to the left or right when playing back vertically framed shots.

Dark Noise Reduction Dark noise, an ever-present problem in electronic systems, manifests itself by giving a grainy or sandy appearance to images taken with long exposures. The Dimage Z1 combats this with a selectable noise-reduction function, which automatically activates for exposures of one second or longer.

P/A/S/M Exposure Modes Like a fine 35mm SLR camera, the Z1 provides four exposure-control modes: programmed AE, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual. Additionally, 30-second bulb exposures can be made in manual exposure mode.

Three Metering Modes Another similarity to a high-quality 35mm SLR is the Z1's three selectable metering modes: multi-segment, center-weighted, and spot. Multi-segment metering uses 256 segments to determine exposure.

Creative Color Modes As well as natural color and black & white, the Dimage Z1 has two color modes for creative control: vivid color and sepia. Vivid color increases the saturation to produce vibrant color images. Sepia creates the feel of antique photographs with its warm tone.

Preset or Custom White Balance White balance controls how the camera interprets the color of the ambient lighting. Auto white balance compensates for changes in lighting automatically. Five preset white-balance settings: daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, and flash, can be selected for specific light sources. For critical control over color, the custom setting allows the camera to be calibrated to the lighting conditions at the scene.

Fluid Playback Part of the excitement of digital photography is being able to immediately see the pictures you have taken. With the flick of a switch, you can access the recorded images; playback is fluid from frame to frame.

Uses AA Batteries Easy-to-find AA batteries power the Dimage Z1. Alkaline or rechargeable Ni-MH can be used. No matter where you are in the world, you will never have to worry about finding extra batteries.

Box Contains
 

• Camera
• Neck Strap NS-DG5000
• Lens cap LF-242
• Accessory shoe cap SC-1000
• AV cable AVC-200
• 16-MB SD (Secure Digital) memory card
• USB cable USB-500
• DiMAGE viewer, ArcSoft VideoImpression CD-ROM
• Four "AA" alkaline batteries

91 of 95 people found the following review helpful:

All the functions of an SLR, October 28, 2003

My Z1 arrived two days ago together with a Fuji 256 SD Card. First impressions are superb.

After many years of using an SLR due to flexibility the release of the Z1 seemed to offer all the features I wanted. 35 - 305mm zoom, spot metering, exposure lock, fast auto focus and more.

At the 305mm the picture quality is outstanding and incorporates steadyshot technology to eliminate camera shake.

I've had a basic Fuji Digital Camera for a couple of years and been quite disapointed with digital photography until now!

On my first day I fired off over 200 shots playing with depth of field, exposure etc and the nice thing is no processing costs!

The Amazon price is an amzing deal. Well chuffed!  

135 of 137 people found the following review helpful:

Minolta Z1, September 30, 2003
 

This camera must rate as an excellent buy, the 10x zoom with x4x digital zoom, and multi view-finder are technological break throughs that no digital camera in this price range can match.

If you want a digital camera with features replicating those of an SLR camera, at under half the price of an SLR, this is the camera to buy. If you are wanting a digital camera to take simple family photos this camera is maybe to bulky in size (not weight), and cheaper options that are simpler to use are available.

The best feature of this camera, must be the flipping lcd display that allows you to view it either through the view finder in SLR camera style, or as a 1.5' lcd monitor on the back of the camera. This means you can view images of what you are taking in all light conditions, and can ease focusing and limit camera shake.

The x10 optical zoom and x4 digital zoom is unrivalled, and giving a total of x40 zoom. The quality of the zoom is excellent, and truely magnifying, but be warned camera shake at x40 zoom can be excessive without a tripod or steady hand. However the camera does warn you of shake.

The camera comes with an optional wide angle lense extension, however i have yet to find one in stock in the uk, although some companies are advertising it at £69.99. A camera bag is also going to be available from minolta, and I would recommend that you purchase one to protect the camera, as although the camera is supplied with a neck strap it is far to large to put in a coat pocket.

This is the first non-SLR digital camera to offer a wide angle lense and a lense eqivalent of 38-380mm which gives the capability of telephoto and macro in one lense.

The camera also has a shoe for a flash in addition to the built in one.

The camera uses, 4 AA batteries which is great for compatibility but increases weight compared to rival cameras, but i think the reassurance that you do not have to rely on an expensive single rechargeable battery, and the fact you do not have to buy an expensive spare, is cost saving.

All Customer Reviews
Avg. Customer Review:

Minolta Dimage Z1, March 2, 2004

My wife and I are going on the holiday of a lifetime to Egypt ( I wanted Majorca ) this year first a cruise along the Nile then sightseeing Egypt, it is a place my wife has always wanted to see but without the kids. So my Wife purchased this Camera for me for my Christmas present to make sure we had something worthwile to bore the neighbours with and seeing as the Toshiba PDRM4 I was using was well past its sell by date. I had read all the reviews I could find for the Z1 and I was convinced this was the Camera for me, a keen amateur. It did not let me down, its ease of use and the results that a total novice could produce exceeded my expectaions as opposed to the Toshiba I was using it was in a different league, and the only problem I could find with it was the shutter release button could protude from the camera body a little more as I have large fingers and I find it awkward at times as it is so small, but that is my problem.

My sixteen year old son read part of the the quick start handbook and in a matter of hours he had mastered the art of taking decent photographs ( heads and feet ) and video clips, the only other Camera he has had was a throwaway type he uses for taking pictures of his fishing catches.

I also purchased Digital Camera in softback to learn about Digital Photography and gain the skills required to produce stunning photographs and Photoshop classroom in a book to enhance my Photo editing skills, both these books will pay for themselves twice over in the first year. I have also bought two sets of Hahnell 2000mAH rechargeable batteries and trickle charger as well as extra SD and MM cards as video clips soon fill the smaller cards up fast.

All in all I am well satisfied with this Camera it does everything I want and more, I have found a new hobby and the only thing holding me back is me.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

Quality, February 29, 2004

I love the image quality the Dimage gives me. The only thing is, everytime I put the batteries in, I'm wary of snapping off the compartment lid because it's so flimsy.