Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Review
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Review
Date: May 24, 2004 |
Category:
Advanced Amateur - Prosumer
Pheww, we have barely time to digest the introduction
of the Minolta DiMAGE A1 with its novel Anti-Shake
Technology, and the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2
is introduced. It has a new 8MP resolution image
sensor and a new Super-Fine Electronic Viewfinder
(VGA EVF) with 992K pixels resolution. Its 28-200mm
(35mm equivalent) 7x optical zoom lens covers
the most used focal lengths in photography, ranging
from wide angle for landscapes and interiors to
a telephoto for portraits.
The Anti-Shake Technology is probably the most
interesting feature since it stabilizes the image
sensor instead of the conventional lens stabilization.
This enables you to handhold shots at slow shutter
speeds without suffering from camera shake. It
also helps stabilizes your long telephoto shots.
Unique to the DiMAGE A2 is a sensor grip that
activates autofocus and automatic switching from
the LCD to the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) when
you put your eye to the EVF. Those who take RAW
images will be happy to note the three RAW frames
buffer.
Other professional features: real-time histogram;
tiltable viewfinder eyepiece as well as LCD; high-quality
movie recording; tele/wide macro system; an interval
function for time-lapse movies; direct manual
focus; availability of RAW image format; and a
wide assortment of optional accessories.
The Konica Minolta A2, with its professional
black finish magnesium-alloy body, will appeal
to advanced amateur / prosumer photographers who
desire a quality and professional SLR-type digital
camera.
Read our Minolta
DiMAGE A2 Review.
Get a second opinion:
Steve's
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 |
Konica
Minolta DiMAGE A2 |
QuickFact™
Sheet
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Image
Sensor |
8.0
effective megapixels
2/3 in. CCD
Anti-Shake Technology |
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Lens |
Minolta APO GT |
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 Focal
Length |
7.2-50.8mm (28-200mm,
35 mm equivalent) |
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Maximum
Aperture |
F2.8(W)-F3.5(T) |
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Optical
Zoom |
7x; with manual
zooming ring |
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Macro |
21 cm / 8.3 in.
(W); 13 cm / 5.1 in. (T) |
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Auto
Focus |
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Video AF |
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Autofocus areas: Wide
focus area, Spot focus point. Flex Focus
Point control is available with the
spot focus point. |
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Focus modes: Autofocus
- Single-shot AF, Continuous AF, Full-time
AF, Subject Tracking AF. Manual focus
with 3.3x Flex Digital Magnifier (FDM) |
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Full-time AF: With the
spot focus point or Flex Focus Point.
Full-time AF can be disabled. |
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Subject Tracking AF: With
continuous AF. Subject Tracking AF can
be disabled. |
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Direct Manual Focus (DMF)
allows the focus to be fine-tuned manually
without switching to a manual focus
mode |
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Shutter
Speed |
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30 - 1/4,000 sec. |
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Bulb (max. 30 sec.) |
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Exposure Control |
Programmed AE (with
program shift), Aperture priority, Shutter
priority, Manual |
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Shooting Modes |
Digital Subject
Program Selection (Portrait, Sports Action,
Sunset, Night Portrait), Movie (15 min. of
544x408 Motion JPEG MOV with sound), Continuous
(2.7fps), Interval Recording, Voice Memo (15
sec.) |
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Exposure Compensation |
+/- 2EV in 1/3
increments; Three-frame bracket in 0.5 and
0.3 EV increments
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Light
Metering |
Multi-segment,
Center-Weighted, Spot (Center or with Flex
Focus Point) |
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White Balance |
Automatic; Present
(Daylight, Tungsten, Shade, Cloudy, Flash,
and Fluorescent settings) with fine adjustments
in seven levels; Custom (three settings) |
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Viewfinder |
Super-Fine
EVF, 0-90° viewable position; 0.44 in.
TFT liquid-crystal microdisplay LCD (922K
pixels); @ 100% coverage
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LCD |
1.8
in. (46mm) low-temperature polysilicon TFT
color LCD (118K pixels) with anti-reflection
coating; -20° - +90° viewable position;
automatic monitor amplification activates
in low-light; @ 100% coverage |
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ISO Sensitivity |
Auto; ISO 64,
100, 200, 400, 800 equivalent
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Storage
Media |
CompactFlash
I and II, incl. IBM Microdrive (170MB, 340MB,
512MB, 1GB) |
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Battery |
Li-Ion
Rechargeable Battery |
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Included
Accessories |
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No Memory Card incl. |
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Li-Ion Battery with Battery
Charger |
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A/V Cable, USB Cable |
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Lens Shade |
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Strap (Neck) |
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Software CD-ROMs (DiMAGE
Viewer, ULEAD Video Studio 7 SE) |
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Dimensions (W
x H x D) |
117 x 85 x 113.5
mm /
4.61 x 3.35 x 4.47 in. |
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Weight (Camera
body only) |
565 g / 19.9 oz. |
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MSRP |
$ |
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Product technical specifications (including MSRP and Included Accessories)
are as represented by the manufacturer and subject to manufacturer's change
without any notice or obligation on the part of the manufacturer or of Photoxels.
Included Accessories may also differ by country or area. Please verify latest
specs from the appropriate manufacturer's site.
Before you buy, do your homework and verify a seller's reputation. One
source you may want to check with is Resellerratings.com.
And remember, if a price seems to good to be true, it probably is.
DISCLAIMER:
We strive for accuracy in reproducing these specs, but being human, we do occasionally make mistakes. Also, in the early stages of a product introduction, you can almost guarantee there will be some errors from the manufacturers themselves as they update their sites. If you see any mistakes, please contact us. We do appreciate your writing in with the corrections and thank you in advance!
Read the QuickFact Sheets on other Ultra
Zoom digital cameras.
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