Product Description

The DiMAGE Xi is the most compact 3.2-megapixel camera with 3X optical zoom in the world. Amazingly light, too. You can have it on you at all times, in a shirt or pants pocket. It's never been easier to make high-quality digital photography a part of your lifestyle. Turn the power switch on, and you're ready to shoot in just 1.2 seconds. That's the fastest startup time of any digital camera featuring optical zoom. With the DiMAGE Xi, important moments will never pass you by.Optical zoom gets you closer to distant subjects while maintaining the camera's highest level of quality. What's more, Minolta's innovative optics keeps it slim at all times - there's no protruding zoom lens, no matter which magnification you're shooting at. Optical zoom is adjusted internally, so it's very quick as well. And the 4X digital zoom feature lets you shift seamlessly into a total range of 12X zoom. If you see something that demands a close-up, bring the camera as close as 25cm to the subject for a crisp, detailed shot. You can capture this type of image anytime you want, without having to switch modes. Flexible focusing is another advantage. If your picture looks a little crowded, use Spot AF to focus on a single subject in the center of the picture frame. At other times, Wide AF keeps the whole frame in sharp focus. Sounds like a lot for a unit so small and light? You bet. But Minolta's innovative optics gives you more power in less size. Discover the ideal camera for an active lifestyle. And enjoy it anytime, anywhere!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65109 in Camera & Photo
• Size: Pocket Size
• Brand: Konica-Minolta
• Model: 2783-301
• Dimensions: 2.80" h x 3.30" w x .80" l, .30 pounds
• Memory: 16MB
• Display size: 1.5

Features

• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical plus 4x digital (12x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB Secure Digital (SD) card
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery included

Amazon.com Product Description
Early Adopters Pick: November 2002. The world’s smallest, lightest 3.2-megapixel camera, with a revolutionary folded 3x optical zoom lens.

By incorporating a clever internal zoom lens, developing a slim new rechargeable battery, and using diminutive SD memory cards, Minolta's Dimage Xi is truly pocket-sized. The Dimage Xi features a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor--an improvement over the 2-megapixel Dimage X--and a 3x optical zoom. Besides increased resolution, the Dimage Xi has several other enhancements, including selectable ISO settings, optional date imprinting, spot autofocus (AF), an improved antireflection LCD, and automatic e-mail file copy creation.

Optics and Resolution
The Dimage Xi has a 3-megapixel sensor with a maximum resolution of 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, enough detail for photos from 4 by 6 inches to 11 by 14 inches. It also features a 3x optical zoom (equivalent to a 37-111mm on a 35mm camera) and a 4x digital zoom for a total 12x zoom.

This lens employs five aspheric elements (including two double-sided) to ensure sharp, contrast-rich images at all focal lengths. In spite of its compact dimensions, the optical zoom has a fast, maximum aperture of f2.8-f3.6 (wide to telephoto), which allows images to be captured in low light with little noise.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on stamp-size Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard memory cards. The Dimage Xi comes with a 16 MB SD card. Images can be transferred to your Mac or PC via USB, and the included audio-visual cable lets you view images and film clips on your home TV.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the Dimage Xi captures 320 x 240 pixel video (with audio) for up to 35 seconds at 15 frames per second. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family.

More Features
The Dimage Xi's most unusual feature is its internal zoom lens. While most digital cameras are built like their film counterparts--with a telescoping zoom lens protruding from the front--the lens assembly in the Dimage Xi is arranged vertically inside the camera, with the sensor at the very bottom, like a periscope in a submarine. This layout allows for a slim camera with a full 3x optical zoom. In addition, startup times are faster, since you don't have to wait for the lens to extend before shooting.

Other features include:

• Audio caption recording of up to 15 seconds
• 1.5-inch TFT LCD screen
• Flash modes: auto, red-eye reduction, night portrait

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery NP-200 (included). It measures 3.3 by 2.8 by 0.8 inches and weighs 4.6 ounces. This package includes the Dimage Xi digital camera, battery and battery charger, USB and AV cables, hand strap, and Dimage software and viewer CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

From the Manufacturer
The DiMAGE Xi is one of the world’s smallest, lightest, and thinnest digital camera with a 3.3 megapixel CCD (3.2 million effective pixels). It houses a revolutionary folded 12X (3X optical) zoom lens that can capture everything from scenic landscapes to intimate portraits. The lens is positioned vertically within the camera, which allows the lens to always remain inside the camera body. While maintaining one of the world’s fastest start-up (1.2 seconds) and response time, the DiMAGE Xi offers enhanced features which makes it a fun and easy-to-use, versatile multimedia tool.

Enhanced features include; 12X zoom capability (3X Optical, 4X Digital), Macro Capability, user-selectable ISO settings, optional date imprinting, spot autofocus (AF), an anti-reflection LCD, an automatic e-mail file copy creation function, and the user can make movie clips and add audio to their still images.

Folded 3X Optical Zoom Lens
Although the DiMAGE Xi is thinner than any single focal length digital camera, it houses a revolutionary folded 3X optical zoom lens that can capture everything from scenic landscapes to intimate portraits. By using a high-quality prism that folds the optical path, the lens never extends from the camera body, and zooming noise is reduced to a whisper. This exclusive f/2.8 – 3.6 lens provides a 5.7 – 17.1mm focal range (equivalent to 37 – 111mm on a 35mm camera). The high-performance lens optics include five aspheric elements to ensure crisp, detailed images with high contrast.

12x Seamless Zoom (3X Optical, 4X Digital)
In addition to the 3X optical zoom, the DiMAGE Xi provides 2X and 4X digital zoom power, selectable in 0.2X increments. The resulting maximum 12X zoom capacity equals a 444mm lens on a 35mm camera.

Fine Image Quality
The little DiMAGE Xi is big on performance. Images captured with the super-sharp aspheric zoom lens are formed with 3.2 million effective pixels, and enhanced by Minolta’s CxProcess image processing technology – the same technology used in Minolta’s top-of-the-line DiMAGE 7Hi digital SLR camera. The CCD’s pixel resolution will produce 10 X 14 inch (B4 size) 150 dpi prints or double-L size photo-quality prints.

Wide and Spot Autofocus Modes
Two autofocus modes give precise control over image sharpness. Wide AF uses a large autofocus area for quick, easy picture-taking. Spot AF uses a small focus area in the center of the image for singling out a specific subject or detail.

CxProcess Image Processing
Minolta’s CxProcess image processing technology produces vivid digital images that mirror your original impression of the scene. CxProcess produces clear, natural-looking images by optimizing sharpness, color, and contrast, while minimizing noise.

Macro Capability
Taking beautifully detailed close-ups is a snap with the DiMAGE Xi. It can make sharp, clear images of objects as close as 9.8 inches from the camera face, without the need for special macro settings. At the telephoto position, an area the size of a business card can be covered.

Movie and Audio Recording
Besides being one of the world’s smallest digital cameras, the DiMAGE Xi is a versatile multimedia tool with movie and audio functions. Up to 35 seconds of digital video can be recorded with accompanying audio. You can also record a 15-second voice memo immediately after capturing a still image, or attach up to 15 seconds of audio to a previously recorded still image. Plus, up to 30 minutes of audio without image data can be recorded.

E-Mail Copy Function
Sending e-mail images was never this simple. The DiMAGE Xi’s e-mail copy function makes a 640 X 480 (VGA) copy of an image on the memory card so that it can be easily transferred over the Internet.

Auto Reset Function
The auto reset function gives photographers the choice of having user-selected mode settings remain active or reset to "full auto" when the camera is switched off. For casual users, this prevents previous settings from being accidentally employed the next time the camera is used. For advanced image-makers, the specific camera functions can be set and remain set for each use.

LCD Monitor plus Optical Viewfinder
For optimum versatility and easy image making even on bright sunny days, the DiMAGE Xi features an LCD monitor plus an optical real-image viewfinder.

Planar Design for Simple Operation
The DiMAGE Xi is as much fun to use as it is to carry. Its revolutionary planar design makes it small and unobtrusive yet comfortable to handle, so images can be captured confidently without drawing attention. Simple, ergonomic controls are located around the LCD monitor to ensure smooth, effortless operation. The Xi’s sophisticated, stainless steel and aluminum alloy exterior is equally at home in the boardroom, ballroom, or beach house.

Uses SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCards
The DiMAGE Xi uses the popular SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCards as recording media. These tiny cards, about the size of a commemorative stamp, are widely available.

Easy Data Transfer to PC
When the DiMAGE Xi is turned on, in record or playback mode, images and other data can be transferred to a personal computer through the supplied USB cable. Plug in the cable and simply drag and drop the images onto the computer.

Bundled with DiMAGE Viewer
DiMAGE Viewer supports the latest generation of Minolta digital cameras. The Viewer complements the camera by allowing still and movie images to be processed and edited on a computer. A wide range of image-processing controls is available, plus a new movie enhancer plug-in for editing and processing digital video. The DiMAGE Viewer is not limited to images captured with Minolta cameras, and can edit and process numerous common image-file formats.

Customer Reviews

Great compact camera 3MP + 3X Optical Zoom
After doing a lot research, I decided to buy this little Minolta wonder while on a trip to Japan a month ago.
Sure there are cheaper 3MP cameras in the market, but none of them combines the design, quality, functions and capabilities of the Dimage Xi in such a small package. There also some 4MP cameras that are cheaper or in the same price range of the Xi, but they are bulkier, besides for the common user as myself 3MP image quality is more than enough.
It has the fastest startup in its class (1.2 Seconds); and the menus as well as the instruction manuals are simple and friendly.
The Dimage Xi has a lot of functions only available on bigger cameras like: 3X Optical Zoom + 4X Digital Zoom, Different ISO settings, Focus lock, Single photo, Continuous capture, Movie and Audio recording, Different flash modes, Exposure compensation, White balance and several combinations of image quality and sizes.
The mini battery charges in about two hours and so far has given me a full day of shots
while using the LCD and without the need of recharge.
Its "periscope type" optical zoom is really unique and the image quality is amazing.
Finally I may add that this camera is a great eye catcher, everybody seems to like it!
The only complain I have is the almost useless PC software that comes with the camera.
After a month of heavy use I will DEFINITELY RECOMMEND this camera.

Worth the money
This camera is amazing. It's so light and compact, it's hard to believe you've got a 3.2 megapixel camera with 12x combined zoom in your hands!

The camera uploaded/connected to Windows 2000 via USB with absolutely NO problems, and I had no trouble AT ALL at removing either the memory card OR the battery. Wish it could take standard AA or AAA batteries, but that's the tradeoff you make for a tiny package.

Also, I'm astounded with the extra features this camera offers: record short movies WITH sound, record voice messages/memos to yourself, tiny moving lens cover, internal zoom parts, FAST startup and shutdown, just to name a few. Wow.

Even the manual is easy to follow and written in plain english. I didn't try any of the enclosed photo software because Paint Shop Pro 7 is the best and easiest photo and paint software I've ever found. .

The camera also has several levels of quality. With my 128mb memory card, it can store 13 pictures on highest quality and picture size, and 1958 pictures on the lowest quality and smallest picture size. On medium settings, you'd get at least 391 pictures at a time. Not too shabby!

I'd recommend buying an extra battery pack so you won't worry about running out of power, although the batteries do last a long time if you aren't using the LCD display much.

All in all, this camera is worth the money you pay for it.

The improved manifestation of the dimage X
The DiMAGE Xi is the upgrade of the popular Dimage X and is identical in physical appearance. It employs the same f/2.8 "folded" 3X optical 37-111mm (35mm equivalent) zoom lens. The main upgrade is the CCD imager which went from 1.96 to 3.2 megapixel and now yields up to 2048 x 1536 pixel images. Other enhancements include user-selectable ISO settings, optional date imprinting, spot autofocus, an improved anti-reflective LCD and automatic e-mail file copy creation.

The contrast and color issues of the DiMAGE X have been remedied and I was quite impressed with the image quality. Even heavily backlit subjects were metered and rendered well which is quite a feat for a micro-size 3x zoom digicam.

The 1.5 inch LCD is somewhat improved for outdoor use with the new less-reflective covering. I still found myself cupping a hand around the LCD to make it easier to see in bright light. When not using the LCD as a live viewfinder, the eye-level optical viewfinder makes it easy to compose the picture in daylight and by not using the power consuming LCD, battery life is extended.

The DiMAGE X required 6 button presses to delete an image during playback as it had to be done from the menu. The DiMAGE Xi now lets you delete an image by simply pressing the flash mode/delete button on the back.

It's a bit pricy as was the dimage x, but by far this camera is one the smallerst out there, fastest, and picture quality is much improved. They pretty much fixed all the flaws of the x an made this camera 10 folds better. Pick one up, you won't regret it.