Minolta Dimage 7 5MP Digital Camera w/ 7x Optical Zoom
Details
- Availability:
- No longer available through SilverGelatin.net
- List Price:
- $1,299.99
- Average Customer Rating:
- 4.0 out of 5
- Manufacturer:
- Konica Minolta
- Release Date:
- 2001-07-24
Features
- 5.24-megapixel sensor creates 2,560 x 1,920 images for prints at sizes up to 13-by-19 inches
- 7x optical plus 2x digital zoom lens with autofocus
- Included 16 MB CompactFlash memory card holds up to 12 images at default resolution
- Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
- 12-bit A/D conversion provides excellent tonal range
Description
The first consumer-oriented 5-megapixel camera to hit the market, Minolta's DiMAGE 7 leapfrogged the competition by coming out at a time when other camera manufacturers were just introducing their 4-megapixel models. The DiMAGE 7 offers an ultrahigh resolution 5.24-megapixel CCD sensor that delivers excellent images for prints as large as 13 by 19 inches. A high-performance, all-glass, 7x zoom lens (equivalent to 28-200mm on a 35mm camera), with a 2x digital zoom, ensures maximum flexibility when composing your shots. Add to this a host of creative controls stacked into a unit with the size and feel of an SLR, and you have a digital camera with the type of functionality typically found only in professional models.
Three controls provide access to the camera's primary adjustable features. Digital subject-program selection allows you to set aperture and shutter speed for superior results in five popular formats: portrait, sports action, sunsets, night portraits, or text. A function dial allows adjustment between four modes of pixel resolution, five modes of data compression, four modes of exposure control, five modes of drive options, seven modes of white balance, and five levels of ISO. The digital-effects controller allows image manipulation by compensating for exposure, contrast, and color saturation before the image is saved. As insurance, Minolta provides a fourth control that instantly restores the camera's automatic settings. Changing most settings is a two-handed operation: one hand selects the feature you're adjusting, while spinning a second dial actually changes the setting. The system is reasonably intuitive, but don't plan to make any adjustments with one hand.
To preview and review images, the DiMAGE 7 features a digital viewfinder that pivots for comfortable close-ups or tripod shooting. An eye-sensing switch (triggered when you put your eye up to the camera) automatically turns off the TFT LCD viewscreen to conserve battery power.
In manual-focus mode, the camera also has an electronic magnification feature. At the push of a button, the center of the image is blown up to 4x original size in the viewfinder so you can check the fine details and ensure the image is in focus before snapping the shutter. In autofocus mode, a flex-focusing option allows the focal point to be moved to any part of the image for off-center shooting.
The DiMAGE 7 is so packed with features that it would be impossible to list them all, but here are some highlights:
Despite its ultrahigh resolution and extensive set of features, the DiMAGE 7 has a few flaws. To compose shots traditionally, it uses an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which offers far less detail than a traditional optical viewfinder. The 16 MB CompactFlash card provided with the camera holds only 12 images at the default resolution (or a single uncompressed image). Like many manufacturers, Minolta supplies the camera with a set of inadequate AA alkaline batteries (use of rechargeable Ni-MH batteries is recommended, even by Minolta). Though the image sensor is at the cutting edge of technology, the rest of the circuitry can't quite keep up; saving an uncompressed image to the memory card requires a 40-second wait. In addition, we found the multitude of control buttons that must be manipulated simultaneously to be somewhat awkward and initially intimidating. Finally, zooming the lens is a manual-only operation requiring a twist of the barrel--unlike many cameras, the Minolta lacks a pushbutton zoom.
These minor gripes aside, the manual zoom is actually faster than an electronic zoom and easy to get used to; larger capacity CompactFlash cards are readily available; and the control systems are easy enough to learn even for the novice. Moreover, since the EVF is a tiny monitor, you can view camera settings while composing your shot--something you can't do with a traditional optical viewfinder. Though some controls may be awkward for beginners, the camera operates in fully automatic mode by default, allowing users the opportunity to manually adjust settings as they become comfortable with the controls.
The camera comes equipped with a lens cap, lens shade, neck strap, video cable, USB cable, accessory-shoe cap, 16 MB CompactFlash card, four AA alkaline batteries, and a CD-ROM for DiMAGE image processing software. --Brett M. Nunn and Walt Opie
Pros:
- 5-megapixel sensor is the highest resolution available in a consumer camera
- Impressive 7x optical zoom lens
- Virtually every function can be controlled manually, including focus
- Movie mode captures short film clips
- SLR-style look and feel
Cons:
- Generally skimpy set of included accessories
- Adjusting most settings requires the use of both hands simultaneously
Spotlight customer reviews
THIS PRODUCT IS ABOVE AND BEYOUND
[ Posted: 2007-03-11 ]
Having decided to visit China............I was told,by other world travlers, " do not take anything big, as far as camera's along" .to much weight, size, just to much ---- explained like this------ no dammaged film,-digital ,has finally arrived....etc. . no inspection and on and on....so as such, I was convinced .So, I went looking for "Digital"... with luck I chose Minolta Dimage-7 and with out any reservation,I could not have made a better choice.the zoom could not be greater for me the close up.wow wow wow, and over all wow .............I have printed 20x30,s that look like they belong a museum... When I had my showing, ...with 30 pieces in all, ..... and placed on display, in the Hospital for Special Care a hospital in New Britain Ct. where people that are checked in may never leave out due to severe condition, auto accident, skiing accident, or even swimming accident or a stroke. Having hung my works, I had people that had not been out of their beds and in the hall or in their wheel chairs for a long while, , going up and down the halls admiring my display and thanking me for my presentation. Thank you Minolta, you made my life works....."work" ......like never before....... My greatest reward of my career, came when this wonderful wonderful happy lady wheeled up to me.......she thanked me personally.
Not for the Amature
[ Posted: 2006-11-18 ]
I've had many digital cameras and this is by far the best out of all of them. Although it's only 5mp it gives out great quality pictures, this is due to the size of the lens. I've taken several award winning photographs with it, and carry it everywhere I go.
When I first got the camera I realized it was geared towards people who are knoledgable about cameras, there are many differant setting in many differant places and to be quite honest, you need to know them because the auto feature sucks. The autofocus is slow, the auto light meter tends to read on the dark side and the auto shutter is a bit slower than I like. If you put it into manual mode and focus yourself, set the light meter yoursself and make sure the shutter speed is appropriate you will be very happy with the results. It also sucks batteries like no other camera I've ever seen it you use the viewfinder alot. My suggestion is to get a few good sets of lithium batteries and keep the viewfinder off, then you will get a good 50-75 picts out of a set of batteries.
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Behind the times
[ Posted: 2003-12-30 ]
While this camera boasts lots of features, and for the most part that is true, it is not easy to use. There is so many buttons to change to get the right photo, it is time comsuming and awkward.
Battery life- none- batteries are only good for about 20 pictures then, new ones must be put in.
Quality of pictures are variable and enhancements need to be done on almost all pictures taken.
Eye piece and other connected plastic pieces seem to fall off easily and permanently
The worst is the video, the quality compared to lesser priced camera is poor and WIHTOUT SOUND. What good is that.
Overall I would go with another camera and I will. Most people don't need 5+ megapixels anyway.
Excellence for creative photography
[ Posted: 2003-11-18 ]
The uniqueness of this camera, as compared to many of its analogs, is the availability and quality of the black-and-white mode for serious creative photographers. The results are comparable to the real film but with digital manipulation, the camera provides a more versatile and efficient application. The examples of black-and-white images taken by this camera can be seen at:http://pathology2.jhu.edu/shihlab/index.cfm. The only things need to be improved for this camera are: 1) the autofocusing function is too slow and sometimes not accurate especially in the dim light; 2) the range of aperture is relatively limited. Overall, this camera is probably the only digital one for photographers who are seeking taking black-and-white images.
2 years after purchase - and loving it more everyday
[ Posted: 2003-05-02 ]
This is my second digital camera, and at first I hated it because it was not a point and shoot, which was the only camera I had ever known. It was just too complex for a meathead like me to use. If I'd have reviewed this camera a year ago I would have given it a 2 star rating.
Over the last year I have really gotten to know the camera and have upgraded the firmware, and I now take great shots with this camera, using a 512mb CF and (usually) 3 sets of rechargable NMH AA batteries. The firmware fixed alot of the bad issues with the camera, and most importantly sped up the drive rate for multiple shots. I would say that the firmware was the most important thing here. It truly makes the camera great.
This camera has phenominal picture quality without the firmware update and will teach a meathead like myself to take better pictures just by the trial by fire approach. It only gets better as you learn to use it. That being said - if you don't like a steep learning curve challenge and are used to point and shoots, this is not the camera for you.
I purchased the 7i for my father in law and I can tell you that its a much easier camera to use than the 7, but with all of the great features. You may want to go that route if you want the great image quality without as steep of a curve.