Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 Review
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 was recently reviewed at Digital Camera Review. The Z6 is a 6 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom and Konica Minolta’s CCD-shift Anti-Shake system.
The big feature of this camera is Konica Minolta’s Anti-Shake technology. In their implementation, the sensor actually moves to minimize the camera shake. This CCD-shift mechanism was first feature in Konica Minolta’s DiMAGE A series and is included in the Maxxum 7D digital SLR. I found it to be very effective. You can even see the difference when you zoom in on a subject and depress the shutter halfway. You’ll immediately see the minor shakes disappear and the image move smoothly. If you put your ear up to the camera while in this state, you can hear the mechanism inside.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 Review
The DiMAGE X1 is another very thin digital camera that can fit in your pocket. Using advanced anti-shake technology and a nice 8 megapixel CCD, this camera tries to be everything to everyone looking for portabilitiy. Photography Blog has an overview and review of the camera including sample images.
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 is a stylish 8 megapixel digital camera with a slimline body that is just 19.5mm deep. Available in silver, black or red, the Konica Minolta X1 features Konica Minolta’s Anti-Shake technology, as used on the company’s range of digital SLR cameras. This enables you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than usual. The Konica Minolta X1’s anti-shake system is different, however, to the other Konica Minolta cameras, in that the lens unit is moved to compensate for camera shake, rather than the CCD sensor. The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 also offers a large 2.5 inch LCD screen (at the expense of an optical viewfinder) which is is protected by an acrylic panel to reduce scratching. Finally, there is a a newly designed “flat” 3x optical zoom lens, which means that the lens doesn’t protrude when zooming and is therefore truly 19.5mm deep. So is the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1 the perfect union of style and substance?
Konica Minolta Dynax 5D Review
A review of the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D, a 6 megapixel Digital SLR coming at you from Pocket-lint. They seemed to really like the camera, giving it a score of one less than perfect.
Enter the Konica Minolta Dynax 5D, technically a slimmed down version of it’s larger brother, the Dynax 7D, it features almost all of that model’s specification and panache, but with a slightly modified body; it’s plastic, with simplified controls. This combines to make it one of the better-specified budget D-SLRs on the market.
Features of note include the company’s proprietary CCD Anti Shake system where the CCD moves to counteract camera shake. Other manufacturers fit anti-shake technology within their lenses; with the Dynax it’s built into the body, so all the lenses you have can benefit.
Konica Minolta’s highly rated CXProcess III image processing algorithm is there as standard, which basically helps to get tip top results and speeds up image processing, getting the shots off the sensor and into the memory as quickly as possible. A 3fps (up to 10 frames) burst mode seems slow but works quite well with only short pauses once the buffer is full as space in the buffer is freed up.
Konica Minolta Issues CCD Alert
It looks like no one is immune from CCD problems, as Konica Minolta releases a CCD alert.
Several of its camera lines, manufactured between October 2004 and March 2005 have the same problem effecting the Sony CCD’s.
A manufacturing error with the CCD affects the live and recorded image causing blurry and unnaturally-colored images.
Models affected:
- DiMAGE 7i
- DiMAGE 7Hi
- DiMAGE A1
- DiMAGE Xi
- DiMAGE Xt
- DiMAGE X20
- DiMAGE S414
- DiMAGE F300
Konica Minolta will repair all models with the defective CCD free of charge. Head on over to the product alert page for more details.
thanks to DPReview for the details.
Konica Minolta MAXXUM 5D
Steve’s Digicams has an overview and review of the Konica Minolta MAXXUM 5D, a 6.1 megapixel Digital SLR.
The Maxxum 5D combines Konica Minolta’s advanced technologies and greater ease of use into an even smaller and more lightweight design. The Maxxum 5D enhances camera reliability through its strong build quality. The body is constructed using sturdy glass fiber plastic, making it lighter and smaller than the Maxxum 7D by about 22% in volume. Rubberized grips make it highly tactile and easy to handle and hold. The camera’s high-performance functions will satisfy the demanding and creative techniques of photography enthusiasts and its ease of use and familiar lever and knob operation makes it ideal even for casual digital photographers looking for their first step up to digital SLR photography.
Read the rest of the review and see some sample photos at Steve’s Digicams.
Konica-Minolta DiMAGE Z6 Review
Lets Go Digital has a review up of the DiMAGE Z6. It is very detailed and has some great pictures up, so its worth checking out.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 review : Konica Minolta enhanced their series Megazoom digital cameras with the new 6 Megapixel Konica Minolta Z6. Konica Minolta seem to be getting a liking for it, their series of Megazoom cameras have grown to several generations now. The introduction of the DiMAGE Z6 digital camera makes Konica Minolta surpass themselves by raising the resolution once again, this time from 5 to 6 Megapixels. Of course the size of the 2 inch format LCD monitor is kept the same, going back to a smaller size would be impossible. The Konica Minolta Z6 digital camera combines a large optical range with the renown and very much appreciated Anti-Shake system which form the major points of this newly introduced digital camera.
No Konica Minolta DCs for Canada
Konica Minolta is closing its Canadian digital camera group. It is sad news really as I think Konica Minolta makes some pretty nice cameras. Why is it stoping its digital camera distribution and marketing in Canada? Here is an announcement going over the details.
Announcement:
Dear Konica Minolta Consumer,
Effective October 1, 2005, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Canada, Inc. will cease its operations in the Canadian market only. All other world-wide Konica Minolta subsidiary’s and companies will remain operational.
Distribution of Konica Minolta products including film, single use cameras, and inkjet paper will be conducted through Phototrader Inc. and there should be no disruption of these products at the retail level. Phototrader will also be responsible for service requirements of mini-labs. They can be reached at their head office via telephone at 905-738-5222, or via email at support@phototrader.com. For more information on Phototrader Inc. please click here.
(more…)
Konica Minolta Announces New Vice President
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. announces the appointment of Peter Mador as vice president of sales and marketing for Konica Minolta’s commercial products. In this new position, Peter is responsible for digital minilabs, Photo Link kiosks and related on-site photofinishing sales and marketing efforts.
“The addition of Peter Mador to our Commercial Products team signals an important move for Konica Minolta,” said Todd Schrader, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. “Peter’s extensive experience in the imaging business ensures that Konica Minolta is best prepared to take advantage of all growth opportunities and that our customers’ needs will be satisfied in today’s fast-changing commercial photo finishing market.”
Peter Mador, a Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) graduate, brings more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the wholesale and retail photofinishing business. Most recently Peter served as vice president of sales at Noritsu America Corporation where he managed the Photo Specialty, Professional, Government, New Business Development and Remarketing Sales Divisions.
Steve’s Digicams - Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1
Steve is all over the DiMAGE X1 with his wonderful overview and review of the slim 8 megapixel camera.
The 8-megapixel DiMAGE X1 is extremely compact and represents a fusion of Konica Minolta’s best imaging technologies including the revolutionary Anti-Shake technology and high-resolution movie clips – both a first for the DiMAGE X line – to provide the best image quality possible. To accommodate the camera’s high resolution while keeping the body as slim as possible, the DiMAGE X1 employs a newly designed “non- protruding” 3x optical zoom lens.
The DiMAGE X1 is equipped with a large, 2.5-inch LCD monitor that features a Bright LCD backlight function, which lets users adjust the LCD brightness as needed with the simple touch of a button. For the first time ever in the DiMAGE X series, the DiMAGE X1 offers Anti-Shake capability to help reduce the effects of camera shake, ensuring clear, steady shots of scenes that are otherwise difficult to shoot by hand such as in low light situations or indoors.
The DiMAGE X1 makes taking clear, high-quality images effortless with a Digital Subject Program Selection that offers pre-programmed settings for seven common photo scenes: Portrait, Landscape, Sunset, Super Macro, Night Portrait, Night View, and Text. Users simply choose the mode best suited to their shooting conditions, and the DiMAGE X1 is ready in an instant with the optimum settings to turn that special moment into a beautiful memory.
Read the rest at Steve’s Digicams.
Konica Minolta to Liquidate Canadian Unit
Press Release:
Konica Minolta Holdings Inc said it has decided to liquidate a wholly-owned Canadian unit that sells digital cameras because of stiffer competition.
Konica Minolta Holdings, which makes office equipment and digital cameras, said the winding-up will not affect its forecasts for the year to March 2006.
In August, the company forecast a full-year net profit of 23 bln yen and current profit of 80 bln yen on revenue of ¥1.13 tn.
The Canadian unit, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Canada Inc, capitalized at CA$5.66 mn, will be liquidated at a yet-to-be decided date, subject to regulatory procedures.
Konica Minolta Holdings said that it will seek partners that can distribute its digital cameras in Canada. It did not elaborate.
thanks to dpreview for the information.
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