Product Description

When quality and control matter, the DiMAGE 7Hi is the camera of choice. With five-million pixel resolution and a 7X zoom lens, the DiMAGE 7Hi is a digital imaging center that can control all the essential elements for high-quality photography: sharpness, exposure, contrast, color, and saturation. 12-bit A/D conversion and Minolta's image-processing technology, CxProcess, guarantee what you see will be captured. And image quality choices have been refined with the inclusion of the Extra Fine mode, which performs only minimal compression. Other features that you will love include: built-in flash synch terminal, expanded shutter range, enhanced burst modes, and luxurious black exterior finish.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76724 in Camera & Photo
• Size: SLR Size
• Brand: Konica-Minolta
• Model: 2778101Y
• Platforms: PowerMac, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, Mac OS X, Mac OS 9 and below, Windows, Windows NT, Macintosh, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5
• Dimensions: 3.00" h x 2.00" w x 4.40" l, .50 pounds
• Memory: 10MB
• Display size: 1.8

Features

• 5.24 megapixel (5.0 effective megapixels) sensor creates 2560 x 1950 images for prints at 13 by 17 inches and beyond
• 7x optical plus 2x digital (14x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 5 images at default resolution
• 60 second movie mode records at 15 fps; built-in flash synchronization terminal
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB connector; powered by four NiMH rechargeable batteries

Amazon.com Product Description
Get professional results with the Minolta Dimage 7Hi, which features 5-megapixel resolution and a 7x optical zoom lens. With the Dimage 7Hi, you can control all the essential elements necessary for high-quality photography, from sharpness and exposure to color and saturation. The Dimage 7Hi incorporates features found in its sister model, the Dimage 7i, and offers further enhancements. The 7Hi comes with a built-in flash synchronization terminal, making it a versatile digital-imaging tool in the studio and on location.

Optics and Resolution
The Minolta Dimage 7Hi is built around a high-precision electro-optical system designed to maximize image quality. The system contains a 5.24-megapixel, 2/3-type interline primary color CCD with 5 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images. The pixel resolution of the CCD will produce 13-by-17-inch, 150 dpi prints on an inkjet printer.

The Dimage 7Hi's new "extra-fine" mode creates JPEG files with a compression ratio of 1/2.5. This mode not only reduces the compression ratio, but also enhances image quality with nearly lossless JPEG imaging. The extra-fine mode can also be used for commercial purposes.

The image formed on the CCD is enhanced by Minolta's exclusive CxProcess image processing technology, which optimizes sharpness, color reproduction, tonal gradation, and noise to create clear and natural images. This wide dynamic range is provided by an improved electro-optical system with a 12-bit analog to digital conversion to ensure natural color and tonal reproduction.

With a focal range of 7.2-50.8mm, the Dimage 7Hi's fast 7x zoom apochromatic (APO) lens is equivalent to a 28-200mm on a 35mm camera. In addition, the Minolta Dimage 7Hi's optical zoom lens accepts standard 49mm filters.

More Features
The Dimage 7Hi incorporates direct manual focus, which can be found in professional film cameras like the award-winning Minolta Maxxum 7. It allows the focus to be fine-tuned manually, after the AF system has focused and locked on the subject.

The Dimage 7Hi has two displays for critical composition: grid and scale. The grid, usually found only in large-format view cameras, makes aligning the camera simple, via vertical or horizontal elements within the image. The grid confirms that the horizon or buildings are straight. The scale can be used in close-up photography to judge the relative proportions of the subject. The Dimage 7Hi is fitted with a 1.8-inch low-temperature high-contrast color LCD monitor.

A new built-in flash sync terminal allows the Dimage 7Hi to be connected to professional studio and location flash systems by plugging the flash's PC cord into the terminal. To capture images under varying natural and artificial lighting sources, white balance is controlled with nine settings: five presets, three customs, and one auto.

You can record audio along with still images with the voice-memo feature, which allows a 16-bit audio track of up to 15 seconds to be attached to an image after it has been captured.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the Dimage 7Hi produces digital videos in multiple creative formats, including standard QVGA (320 x 240) color movies and monochrome night movies up to 60 seconds with 16-bit audio. The night-movie mode can record movie clips under extreme low-light conditions, while the interval function can produce a series of still images taken at regular intervals, or it can combine the images into a time-lapsed movie at any image size.

Storage
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards and the memory slot is compatible with CompactFlash Type II cards as well as Microdrives. The included 16 MB card holds approximately eight images at 2,560 x 1,920 pixel resolution.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four NiMH rechargeable batteries, which are included along with a battery charger. At 4.6 by 3.6 by 4.4 inches and 18.5 ounces, the Dimage 7Hi is definitely not an easily pocketable point-and-shoot camera. The package includes the Dimage 7Hi camera, a 16 MB CompactFlash card, four NiMH rechargeable batteries, battery charger, neck strap, lens hood, lens cap with strap, USB and video cables, CD-ROM with Dimage Image View software and drivers, and a printed camera manual.

From the Manufacturer
When quality and control matter, the DiMAGE 7Hi is the camera of choice. With five-million pixel resolution and a 7X zoom lens, the DiMAGE 7Hi is a digital imaging center that can control all the essential elements for high-quality photography: sharpness, exposure, contrast, color, and saturation. 12-bit A/D conversion and Minolta’s image-processing technology, CxProcess, guarantee what you see will be captured. Image quality choices have been refined with the inclusion of the Extra Fine mode, which performs only minimal compression. Other new features you will love: built-in flash synch terminal, expanded shutter range, enhanced burst modes, and luxurious black exterior finish.

Features:

5.2 Megapixel CCD
The DiMAGE 7Hi is built around a high-precision electro-optical system designed to maximize image quality. The system starts with a 5.2 mega-pixel 2/3-type interline primary-color CCD with 5.0 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images. The pixel resolution will produce 13 x 17" 150 dpi prints.

CxProcess Image-Processing Technology
Minolta’s CxProcess ensures that the image from the CCD will faithfully reproduce the original scene. The 7Hi’s CxProcess system controls image sharpness, color, and contrast while minimizing noise to produce vivid, natural pictures.

12-Bit A/D Conversion
12-bit A/D conversion preserves all the image subtleties. With billions of colors and 4,096 levels in each color channel, images possess near lifelike color and detail. This is especially evident in portraiture: smooth complexion, fine hair detail, and vivid eye color.

Extra Fine Mode

The DiMAGE 7Hi’s new Extra Fine mode creates JPEG files with a compression ratio of 1/2.5. This mode not only reduces the compression ratio, but also enhances image quality with nearly lossless JPEG imaging. Extra Fine mode can also be used for commercial purposes.

7X, GT APO Zoom Lens
A high-resolution CCD is as only as good as the lens in front of it. This Minolta GT lens is a high-performance 7X, f/2.8 – f3.5 apochromatic (APO) zoom. With enough resolution to produce a fine image on a seven-million pixel CCD, this lens features anomalous dispersion (AD) glass and aspheric elements to ensure sharp, high-contrast, and distortion-free images at any focal length.

Although the lens is a fast f/2.8, 7X zoom, it is about the size of a standard 50mm lens on a 35mm camera. The versatile focal range of 7.2 - 50.8mm is equivalent to a 28 - 200mm lens in the conventional 35mm film format.

Dual-Focal Macro System
The DiMAGE 7Hi has a dual-focal macro system that allows the zoom lens to be set at the wide-angle or telephoto position to take advantage of different focal lengths. At the wide-angle position, the larger field-of-view and depth-of-field create a stronger perspective and a sense of space. The telephoto position isolates the subject and minimizes distortion with a narrow field-of-view and shallow depth-of-field.

High-Performance Autofocusing
The DiMAGE 7Hi’s autofocus system features flexible and dynamic functions that enable it to perform with razor-sharp precision in virtually any situation.

The wide AF area makes accurate focusing simple. Within the focus frames are three AF sensors including a central crosshair sensor; the crosshair sensor ensures accurate focusing regardless of subject contrast. The camera automatically locates the subject within the wide frames and confirms the point of focus by briefly displaying the active AF sensor. The AF system works in low-light, twilight, or dimly lit interiors, without the need for an AF illuminator. The monitor and viewfinder images are automatically amplified so the subject is always visible.

The DiMAGE 7Hi also features Direct Manual Focus (DMF), which is found in professional-level film cameras like the award-winning Maxxum 7 AF SLR. With DMF, after the AF system has focused and locked on the subject, the focus can be fine-tuned manually.

Flex Focus Point
Flex Focus Point expands the creative versatility of the AF system. It is a single crosshair sensor that can be placed anywhere within the image frame. With the camera on a tripod, simply use the four-way controller to position the Flex Focus Point on the subject; the AF system will use that point for each exposure.

LCD Monitor plus Digital Hyper Viewfinder
The 7Hi’s high-contrast LCD monitor and Digital Hyper Viewfinder make viewing easy and provide accurate color rendition. The monitor and viewfinder displays not only show active camera settings, exposure information, and warnings; they also include a grid for aligning the camera to horizontal or vertical subject elements, and a scale to judge the subject’s relative proportions in close-up photography. A real-time histogram is available for evaluating the subject brightness and contrast to optimize the camera’s exposure and contrast controls.

Expanded Shutter Speed Range
The 7Hi has an expanded dynamic shutter-speed range from 15 seconds to a super-fast 1/4000 second to control exposure and motion in program and aperture-priority modes. In shutter priority and manual modes, the maximum shutter speed is 1/2000 second. Bulb exposures up to thirty seconds can also be made.

Expanded Continuous Advance Modes
The 7Hi is a versatile imaging tool built for high performance under demanding situations. The UHS (Ultra High Speed) continuous-advance mode can capture SXGA size images (1280 X 960 pixels) at approximately 7 fames per second -- equivalent to most professional film cameras. A new high-speed continuous-advance mode can capture successive full-size images at approximately 3 frames per second, even with high-quality TIFF and RAW images. The standard continuous advance mode captures images from full-size (2560 x 1920) to VGA (640 x 480) at a maximum 2 frames per second.

Nine-Position White Balance
Accurate color reproduction is essential for today’s serious digital photographers, and very simple for the 7Hi. To capture images under varying natural and artificial lighting sources, white balance is controlled with nine settings: five preset, three custom, and one auto.

Color Space Selection and ICC Profile Attachment
To ensure that colors are not distorted when printed or displayed on monitors, the color space can now be selected between sRGB and Adobe RGB, and the camera’s ICC profile can now be attached to the image file.

Manual Shift
After the exposure has been set, Manual Shift lets the photographer change the shutter speed/aperture combination without affecting the original exposure value.

Wireless/Remote Flash Control
Wireless/remote flash control adds a versatile creative dimension to flash photography by allowing multiple off-camera Minolta flash units to be fired simultaneously by the camera without the need for connecting cables. Minolta 5600HS(D) or 3600HS(D) flash units can be placed around the subject to create attractive lighting effects. By using the built-in flash and TTL metering, the DiMAGE 7Hi controls the output of the off-camera flash units for proper exposures. Unlike most slave flash systems, the built-in flash will fire the remote Minolta units without influencing the lighting of the final image. The DiMAGE 7Hi is also compatible with normal slave units where the camera flash can act as a main or fill light while triggering single or multiple off-camera lighting units.

Macro Photography
For close-up photography, Minolta offers a high-quality macro lighting system as an optional accessory for the 7Hi. The Macro Flash Controller can be coupled with the Micro Ring Flash 1200 or the Micro Twin Flash 2400 lighting sets. Both these systems give considerable control over lighting in confined spaces at close working distances.

PC Terminal
A new built-in flash sync terminal allows the DiMAGE 7Hi to be connected to professional studio and location flash systems.

Quick View
Captured images can be easily accessed from the recording mode. Simply press the Quick View button to display the images on the memory card. Except for menu controls, all playback functions are now available in Quick View; recorded images can be enlarged to confirm sharpness and a histogram can be displayed to judge exposure and contrast. Images can be displayed with or without shooting data or in a nine-frame or four-frame index format.

Ergonomic Design for Easy Operation
The DiMAGE 7Hi retains the same simple control layout of the DiMAGE 7i, with controls and dials arranged for clear, intuitive operation. All shooting controls are placed around the newly designed contoured grip area. The camera can be controlled with the thumb and index finger while maintaining a firm grip on the body. Creative and high-level functions are placed on the function dial and Digital Effects Control on the other side of the camera.

Rugged Construction for Workhorse Reliability
A true "working" camera, the DiMAGE 7Hi is housed in a lightweight magnesium-alloy body for durability and reliable performance. Magnesium alloy provides the benefits of rugged die-cast construction without the cumbersome weight. Magnesium is about 30% lighter than aluminum and 65% lighter than steel.

The DiMAGE 7Hi is not only light, it is compact. The body is significantly smaller than compact 35mm AF SLR cameras with a built-in flash and attached zoom lens. The 7Hi can easily slip into a fanny pack or hip bag.

Digital Effects Control
The Digital Effects Control is a built-in image-processing center that allows exposure, contrast, and color saturation to be adjusted before the image is captured. An additional Filter setting controls the overall color of the image by making the color cooler or warmer. With black & white images, the filter can create a warm or cool toned image similar to sepia or gold toners with photographic prints as well as the unique tones of magenta and green.

Digital Enhanced Bracketing
To ensure that the correct level of adjustment is made with the Digital Effects Control, a Digital Enhanced Bracket can be made. This bracket is a three-frame series of images with a slight increase and decrease in exposure. The DiMAGE 7Hi can also make contrast, color saturation, and filter brackets.

Digital Subject Programs
In addition to fully automatic Program (P) mode, the 7Hi features five Digital Subject Programs that optimize exposure and image-processing controls for specific shooting conditions and subjects. Simply select the appropriate program and the camera does the rest.

Customer Reviews

A real camera!!
I've been using a variety of 35mm SLR cameras for more than three decades and I place great importance on the feel of the camera in my hand. I approached my recent purchase of a 5MP camera with some early leaning towards Nikon since I've worked with two of their CoolPix cameras. I tried to do my homework on the web and am aware of most +'s and -'s.

The hands-on experience sold me on the Minolta 7Hi. I love the fact that there is manual control, on the lens, of the zoom. I love the fact that the camera permits "DMF" or direct manual focus, which allows you to take advantage of a fast autofocus system that feels much faster than the Nikon (35mm or CoolPix), and THEN to tweak it manually with a ring on the lens. I love the fact that the LCD switches off whenever you put the camera up to your eye to use the electronic viewfinder (EVF).

About four weeks of shooting in Islamorada, Miami, and New York have only strengthened the love affair. This is one great camera. The images, both on screen and printed are gorgeous. I don't print at >=11X14 and the noise is so much better (to my eye) than my earlier digital cameras that I can not say it is a problem. The 12bit A/D and the 64MB RAM buffer in the camera are really nice additions that I think are not found in the other two 5MP choices. The UHS (ultra high speed) mode is incredible.....we're going to use that in my research laboratory in ways that I hadn't even imagined at the time I chose the camera (thanks to an adaptor from Brunel Microscopes in UK) . Finally, I think they designed the menus in a very easy to learn way. Nikon menus (880, 990, 995) always seemed a bit impenetrable to me. But, I move through all the 7Hi menus all the time and had little difficulty keeping straight how to do what where. This is a real credit to those who designed the user interface.

I've added a spare set of 4 AA 1850mAh batteries and (now that each set has been cycled 3-4 times) this will be more than enough for many hundreds of 5MP shots. I also sprang for a 49mm UV filter, a couple of high speed 256MB CF cards and am considering a firewire CF card reader. Otherwise, the bundle is complete.

My single most significant gripe is that the Minolta software crashes all the time under Mac OS X 10.2. The current Mac version is useless, while the Windows version seems OK. But, this isn't the camera's fault, presumably is something that Minolta will fix soon, and really only limits your use of RAW images. Photoshop, Canvas, or iPhoto all work fine.

This is a real camera that just happens to store the images digitally rather than on film. I'd say this camera finally delivers on the digital promise.

Finest I've ever owned or Used
I've been a serious amateur photographer for at least 50 years. This is my 3rd digital camera. It was difficult deciding between the Nikon 5700 and the Minolta 7Hi. The 28mm capability of the zoom lens plus all the other features made me go for the Minolta.

I've not been disappointed. The lens is absolutely pin sharp. The Auto focus (a problem with all the Nikon coolpix cameras) is right on for 99.9% of my exposures. And it focuses quickly.

If this camera has a weak point....it is the hot shoe which is a propriatory one which can be used only with Minolta external flash units. It is a dirty trick that Minolta played and their flash units cost a fortune. Hopefully Vivitar will come along with a compatible flash unit for the 7Hi.

I've never been able to observe the so-called noise that some reviewers have objected to in the images. Low light level images turn out beautifully.

I've tried all the color profile settings while playing around with the various profiles with my HP printer. I've finally returned to the Normal sRGB setting even though it has a smaller gamut than the Adobe RGB profile. I seem to realize better compatibility with my printer when I use the sRGB setting.

Images made with the camera then blown up to 8 X 10 on matte surface paper have an almost 3 dimensional quality. Beautiful, rich colors, so sharp it's almost too good to be true.

This is the sharpest lens and best camera I've ever owned in my life and I'm 67 years old. AND, guess what? The local Micro Center store had a 20% off sale on all digital cameras so I was able to get my 7Hi at a reasonable price from a local dealer without having to fight with high pressure salesmen on the phone.

This one is a real keeper.

The best digicam on the market
I spent several months researching the high end amateur digital cameras, looking for (and hoping to find) the ideal camera to pursuade me to give up film photography. I had a very demanding set of criteria: great lens, at least 5 MP, at least 7X optical zoom, lots of photographic control, Compact Flash and IBM microdrive compatible, non-proprietary rechargeable batteries, and it had to feel really good in my hands. To my surprize, such a camera does exist - the Minolta Dimage 7Hi. I tried it out at a local store, and was so impressed I immediately ordered it from Amazon.com. Now, over 4,000 pictures later, I'm absolutely thrilled. This is one awesome camera, that takes incredible pictures. Every feature works like clockwork, and the photo control is terrific. It's solid and even looks great. I've compared my pictures to those of a few friends using Canon and Nikon high-end digicams, and the 7Hi results are as good or better. I'm a very picky person who's been into photography and darkroom work for over 30 years, and I I've not shot a picture using film since I bought my DImage 7Hi - it's just too good and too much fun.
If you want a great digicam, that produces photos that rival the best you've taken with film, this camera won't disappoint.