Minolta Dimage F300 5.3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
Details
- Availability:
- No longer available through SilverGelatin.net
- List Price:
- $749.99
- Average Customer Rating:
- 4.5 out of 5
- Manufacturer:
- Konica Minolta
- Release Date:
- 2003-03-01
Features
- 5.3 megapixel sensor creates high-resolution images for prints up to poster size
- 3x optical plus 4x digital (12x total) zoom autofocus lens
- Complete controls over exposure, color, contrast, saturation, and white balance
- Includes 32 MB Secure Digital card; connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
- Package includes four rechargeable NiMH batteries, charger, and case
Description
Once you use the DiMAGE F300 you'll know it's a high-quality digital camera. From the elegant design and rich metal body to the sophisticated performance features including a 5.0 megapixel CCD, an ultra-compact Minolta GT 3X zoom lens, UHS continuous advance, 12-bit A/D conversion, and Minolta's advanced CxProcess, the DiMAGE F300 ensures that the beauty and details of the original scene are preserved in the digital image. Additionally, the DiMAGE F300 can take over control for point and shoot ease, or give you complete control over exposure, color, contrast, saturation, sharpness, white balance, camera sensitivity, and focus. A complete multimedia tool, the DiMAGE F300 also records movie clips and audio.
The Minolta Dimage F300 5.3-megapixel digital camera produces high-quality images and incorporates advanced automatic functions. It features a sleek, contoured design similar to Minolta's F100, but offers increased resolution and zoom range, a new noise-reduction option, and Minolta's award-winning subject-tracking autofocus (AF) and Minolta's area AF.
Optics and Resolution
The Dimage F300 features a 5.3-megapixel primary-color CCD with 5.0 million effective pixels for high-resolution images. It incorporates a built-in 3x optical zoom Minolta GT lens for color accuracy, and its 4x digital zoom capability combines with a compact lens design for a wide image-capture range. Three aspheric lens elements ensure sharp images at all focal lengths. With a focal range of 7.8-23.4mm, the lens is equivalent to a 38-114mm 35mm zoom lens.
The image formed on the camera’s CCD sensor is enhanced by Minolta’s exclusive CxProcess image-processing technology to optimize sharpness, color reproduction, tonal gradation, and noise to create clear and natural-looking images. The Dimage F300’s wide dynamic range is provided by 12-bit A/D (analog to digital) conversion to ensure natural color and accurate tonal reproduction.
Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Secure Digital memory cards, and a 32 MB card is included. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows 98 Rev2Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
More Features
A versatile camera, the Dimage F300 allows complete control over exposure, color, contrast, saturation, white balance, camera sensitivity, and focus. It can also record movies and audio.
Like the Dimage F100, the F300 also comes equipped with subject-tracking AF and Minolta’s area AF. These technologies work together to locate and follow the subject through three-dimensional space within the camera’s extra-wide focusing area, making the autofocus system ready to take a picture whenever you're ready to shoot.
The Dimage F300 combats noise (which can give a grainy look to digital images) by employing a large signal-to-noise ratio to minimize its effect even with higher CCD gain--as well as allowing photographers to select noise reduction to control image quality.
This stylish camera features a slim aluminum body exterior and stainless-steel accents around the lens barrel with an easy-to-hold elegant grip and ergonomic control layout.
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by one CR-V3 lithium battery and four rechargeable NiMH batteries. It measures 4.3 by 2.1 by 1.3 inches and weighs 6.5 ounces. This package includes the Dimage F300 digital camera, batteries and NiMH battery charger, 32 MB Secure Digital memory card, USB and AV cables, hand strap, sports case, and a CD-ROM with Dimage Viewer and ArcSoft Funhouse software, and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
Spotlight customer reviews
High quality results - Hard to get them sometimes!!
[ Posted: 2005-01-03 ]
In many was this is the best digital camera I have ever used, in other ways the worst.
It is S-L-O-W, forget it for active kids and sports!
The pictures it produces are properly exposed and the lens is sharp.
Some of the pictures I have taken with this camera are BREATH TAKING!! Some of the pictures I have MISSED because of the slow system MAKES ME SICK!! The movie mode works well and is handy.
I picked up a refurbished unit cheap and have been using it for a month. If you can put up with the slow operation it is an awesome camera.
I haven't had any of the software issues others have complained of (who knows what bugs their computer had!) and it is way better on batteries than my last HP camera. If you can live with it, it's a steal.
Mark
Excellent digital camera with excellent picture result
[ Posted: 2004-10-05 ]
Excellent digital camera with excellent picture result at this price
Amazing outdoor pictures
[ Posted: 2004-02-03 ]
After doing a ton of research, I found this camera for $300. At the time of purchase, this was a steal. I took the camera to Israel with me and took some unbelievable outdoor pictures.
The manual settings are plentiful (if a bit cumbersome at times), although I find that the automatic setting is still better at figuring out lighting than I am.
The only complaint is for low-light pictures, which have yet to come out too great. However, I think this is a problem in the user and not the camera. Time will tell.
Excellent camera for the price. Very satisfied
batteries get sucked up quick
[ Posted: 2004-01-28 ]
this is a a good camera for the price and takes great pictures, however it will drain batteries super fast. I can only get about 5 pictures out before the batteries are drained. I would suggest buying a different camera. I have spent over $100.00 in just batteries and I have used the camera less than 5 hours. I have owned it for about 7 months but I can not depend on it.
Simply the best for the money
[ Posted: 2004-01-26 ]
I looked and used a lot of cameras and liked the features of the f300. One main feature is the lcd screen on the top and AA batteries and a sd card all common items. Most of the ones that are supposed to be better don't have this it is all proprietery. Anyway most reviewers are working or being taken care of $$$ by the manufacturer. I would check this one out. I have one and so does my wife. I used 3 of the top rated ones and they just don't touch this one.