Product Description

The DiMAGE Xg digital camera offers the mobile user the chance to take high-quality pictures in any place and at anytime. With the proud heritage of the DiMAGE X Series built into a stylishly thin profile, the camera has user-friendly functions that enable you to capture images simply and easily for high-quality results.The DiMAGE Xg's compact (just 20mm thick), unobtrusive body stems from its proprietary, non-extended 3x folded optical zoom, which is a feature that will make this camera attractive among a wide range of users.With the world's fastest start-up time of approx. 0.8 seconds, the DiMAGE Xg can realize a rapid shot with a highly reliable shutter, ensuring that you'll be ready to take great pictures right away with no waiting.The DiMAGE Xg can shoot both still images and movies beautifully. The Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection determines the conditions, and then selects suitable photo mode. The camera's range of movie functions enhances the fun of making movies easily.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45317 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Minolta
• Model: 2798-301
• Dimensions: 2.64" h x 3.37" w x .79" l, 2.65 pounds
• Display size: 1.6

Features

• 3.2-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 10-by-14-inch enlargements
• 3x folded optical zoom lens, 4x digital zoom combines for 12x total zoom
• .8-inches thick; movie mode with audio; PictBridge support
• Store images on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards
• Powered by 1 NP-200 lithium-ion battery

Amazon.com Product Description
Konica Minolta updates its popular Dimage X series with the Dimage Xg, featuring a faster start-up time of approximately 0.8 seconds, larger LCD (1.6 inches), and continuous advance of 2 frames per second. Its thin, lightweight body (weighing only 4.2 ounces and just 0.8 inches thick) enables you to comfortably carry the Dimage Xg wherever you roam. In fact, it's the world's thinnest optical zoom digital camera (for 3.2 MP models as of January 2004). The Dimage Xg offers a 3.2-megapixel resolution, a non-extending 3x optical zoom lens, movie mode with audio (with a length limited only by your memory card),

Optics and Resolution The Dimage Xg has a 3.2-megapixel resolution, which enables you to print enlargements up to 11 x 14 inches. It has a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 pixels, as well as 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, and 640 x 480 pixel modes.

Although the Dimage Xg is thinner than any single focal length digital camera (just 0.8 inch), it houses a revolutionary folded 3X optical zoom lens that can capture everything from scenic landscapes to macro close-ups. The lens never extends from the camera body and zooming noise is kept at a minimum. The slow shutter speed and Dark-Noise Reduction combine to prevent graininess and give exceptional night photos with clearly contrasted dark tones.

Video and Audio
The Dimage Xg can record video at two resolution modes--160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixels. The length of the movie is limited only by the memory card capacity. With the Remote Camera function, you can use standard Windows programs like Microsoft NetMeeting to teleconference with users anywhere in the world by simply connecting the Dimage Xg to your PC with a USB cable.

You can record up to 15 seconds of sound with the Voice Memo feature immediately after a shot has been taken. The Audio Caption feature records simultaneously during playback and you can record up to 180 minutes of audio (depending on your memory card size).

More Features
Two autofocus modes give you precise control over image sharpness. Wide AF uses a large, 5-point autofocus area for quick, easy picture-taking. Spot AF uses a small focus area in the center of the image frame for singling out a specific subject or detail.

Dark noise, an ever-present problem in electronic systems, manifests itself by giving a grainy or sandy appearance to digital images taken with long exposures. The Dimage Xg combats this with user-selectable noise reduction, which automatically activates for exposures of one second or longer.

Other features include:

• 1.6-inch digital interface TFT with anti-reflection coating
• Optical real-image zoom viewfinder
• Crop frame feature trims parts of captured still pictures and save the image as a separate file
• Email copy function creates a compressed 640 x 480 or 160 x 120 JPEG image for easy transfer to PC and transmission through your email program
• Multiframe mode captures 9 sequential images in a 3x3 grid in a single frame
• Focus as close as 5.9 inches without the need for special macro settings
• The advanced 256-segment metering evaluates subject and scene brightness and monitors the situation for even the slightest changes
• The Dimage Xg can printout photos directly to a PictBridge*-compliant printer without having to go through a personal computer

Storage and Transfer
The Dimage Xg stores images on Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards, and a 16 MB SD card is included. It will hold approximately 17 standard 3.2-megapixel images. It transfers image to PCs and Macs via a speedy USB 2.0 connection.

CxProcess II Image Processor
Konica Minolta's newest image processing technology, CxProcess II, is used to bring out the best in the 3.3 megapixel CCD. CxProcess II controls the essential image qualities of color, contrast, and sharpness while minimizing noise. Brilliant, saturated color remains vibrant without becoming unnatural. Subtle contrast is rendered to retain the richness and depth of the subject while preserving details in the highlights and shadows. Sharpness is controlled to show fine detail while minimizing hard, unnatural edges.

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NP-200), which can shoot approximately 220 images on a single charge. The Dimage Xg measures 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches and weighs 4.2 ounces without battery or recording media.

What's in the Box
This package contains the Dimage Xg digital camera, rechargeable battery (NP-200), battery charger (BC-700), hand strap, USB cable, 16 MB SD memory card, and CD-ROM with Dimage Viewer software.

From the Manufacturer
Konica Minolta is proud to introduce the new Dimage Xg digital camera, which offers the mobile user the chance to take high-quality pictures in any place and at anytime. With the proud heritage of the Dimage X Series built into a stylishly thin profile, the camera has user-friendly functions that enable you to capture images simply and easily for high-quality results.

The Dimage Xg’s compact (just 0.8" thick), unobtrusive body stems from its proprietary, non-extending 3x folded optical zoom, which is a feature that will make this camera attractive among a wide range of users.

Using the onboard Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection, the Dimage Xg can automatically select the best recording mode, making it possible for anyone to easily take beautiful pictures. The user can also select the recording mode from the following items manually: Portrait, Sports, Landscape, and Sunset. The Night portrait/Night view mode can also be selected, however, only by the user.

With the world’s fastest start-up time (January 2004) of approx. 0.8 seconds, the Dimage Xg can realize a rapid shot with a highly reliable shutter, ensuring that you’ll be ready to take great pictures right away with no waiting.

The Dimage Xg is a stylish, thin-profile digital camera that delivers perfect results every time. It’s easy to use and hold, and it looks great. The Dimage Xg is the easiest, most versatile, and coolest way to capture those precious moments.

Features:

• World’s thinnest zoom camera (January 2004) at 0.8 inch thick, thanks to Konica Minolta’s original, specially developed folded 3x optical zoom lens (thinner than cameras without an optical zoom)
• World’s lightest camera body (January 2004) at 4.2 oz (excluding battery and media)
• World’s smallest camera (January 2004), fitting easily in a shirt pocket or purse, with full-time/full flat design
• Ready to use with virtually no delay, about 0.8 sec. after the main switch is turned
• Worlds fastest start time (January 2004)
• Much quieter than conventional zoom cameras, as the innovative inner-zoom within the body, does not need a moving lens mechanism
• Easy to operate, with button layout similar to other popular portable devices
• Original new folded 3x optical zoom (37-111 mm at 35 mm equivalent)
• Wide-focus Area (5-point) with spot-AF
• 4X Digital Zoom (12X zoom when combined with 3X optical zoom)
• Despite the ultra compact size, there is strong brightness at the f/3.6 setting, even with the zoom
• Close focus of 5.9 inches throughout camera’s entire zoom range
• Selectable noise reduction function
• Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection: Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, or Sunset. (Night portrait/Night view can be set manually)
• Selectable color modes: color, black & white, and Sepia
• Maximum shutter speed of 4-seconds
• Exposure compensation of +/-2 Ev in 1/3 stop increments
• Continuous advance of 1.5fps
• Extended movie recording allows digital video with audio to be captured until card reaches full capacity
• Two movie modes: 320x240 and 160x120 with selectable frame rates of 15/30 fps
• Night movie enables color movies to be taken at night or in dark places
• Movie Frame Capture lets the user isolate and capture individual frames from captured movie data
• Movie Clip Capture lets the user isolate and capture clips from captured movie data
• Audio recording up to 180 minutes
• Voice memo erasing allows the user to erase only voice memos including audio captions
• Remote camera support (live video conferencing)
• E-mail copy function in two sizes 640x480 and 160x120
• Multi-Frame Advance (nine images are laid out in a 3 X 3 grid in a single frame)
• Image Pasting: image pasting allows one image to be placed in another image for creative special effects
• Crop Frame: users can trim unwanted parts of a captured image and save the image as a separate file
• USB Direct Print with PictBridge
• AF sound and shutter sound customizing

Customer Reviews

Great product, great value
After looking for a small digital camera for family gatherings, vacations, and general candid photo ops, I came across a review in the Wall Street Journal dated 2/18 rating four new small digital cameras hitting the market in the next few months. I was amazed that they picked a Konica Minolta over the others, including the new Sony DSC-T1, which retails for $549.00.
I've had the camera for a few days and it so user friendly that my wife is no longer intimidated by digital photography. It is incredibly small yet I had no trouble holding it comfortably and was able to keep still while shooting.
I have a Nikon Coolpix 950 which I doubt I'll use again.
Also, don't be misled by megapixels: 3.2 is plenty for printing, even 8x10" photos. Look for more pixels only if you will be cropping large sections of the photo and then printing large copies. The only down side is the 16MB SD card provided. On the 'fine' setting, only 9 photos fit on the card. Order at least a 256MB which holds approx. 154 photos.
Last, but certainly not least, is photo quality. It is as good or better than larger, more expensive digital cameras I've used. Red-eye reduction deserves special mention as working well. Overall, a great package at an unbeatable price.

Just what I wanted
I wanted a camera that was small and light, to use when backpacking. This little camera represents an excellent compromise for my needs. I like the fact that it is compact; I carry it in my pocket all the time, unlike my other digital camera that gets left behind much of the time. I like the fact that the lens extension is completely internal, and that the camera does not change shape or get larger when opened for shooting. The internal lens means the camera is ready to take pictures in less than a second from turning it on.

One needs to be sure to hold the camera carefully when shooting, since the light weight makes it easy to take shaky pictures. Also, one needs to hold it as recommended to avoid blocking part of the picture with a finger or thumb. I can deal with these caveats.

All in all, I'm highly satisfied with this camera as meeting my specific needs. I recommend it for anyone needing a camera that's small, light, and always at the ready for a picture. This is one camera that you will take along with you.

Jay

Absolutely a great camera
First off, I have owned a few digital cameras. The first was a Sony dsc-p92, nice camera, great quality pictures, a little bulky for the pocket. Traded this camera for the Olympus c-750uz, which is a fabulous camera and has everything one would want in a camera except size. This camera was stolen because instead of putting it in my pocket(can't do way to big) after the battery went dead, I stupidly put it back in my car in sight (I always put the camera in the trunk except this day) while at the Lowry Park zoo in Tampa for what was to be a few minutes while walking around the park outside. Anyway some Lowlifes broke out he window and grabbed the camera. (We were told by the park security they had been doing this a lot, Thanks for the warning after $700 worth of camera gone). The dilemma for the next camera was primarily wanting a camera that I didn't mind having in my pocket even after the batteries went dead, and one my girfriend didn't mind carrying(she hated both the other cameras for their bulkiness). We also wanted a camera that took decent pictures. Did lots of internet research and came across the Xt, I read reviews for the Xt and loved everything about it, except that some reviewers had complained about picture quality, so it was out. Later while going to Ritz camera they had an Xg, and was told about a wall street journal article that raved about it picture quality being even better than the new Sony 5mp mini. Decided to get the Xg and test it out. Wow, Minolta must have fixed any problems with the previous model, this takes a great picture for 3.2mp. It is not up to the definition of the Olympus or sony, and I do miss the 10x zoom sometimes, but this camera goes everywhere. It is so fast to start up, advertised as the quickest, and It focuses very fast. My other cameras were a lot slower. Was out last night at a club, and got some great pictures of the band, the flash is very bright. I also experimented with the movie and recorded one of the songs. Now this place was dark, so the movie pictures were not the best, but the sound quality was amazing! If you want a great audio recorder this is it. The movies taken in full light are ok, but you wouldn't want this camera to be your movie camera nevertheless, cool movies as long as the memory card can handle(The memory cards are very small and cheaper than comparable Sony and Olympus). Also just started using the burst mode for pictures, If you want some good pictures of your friends this camera can snap off (very quickly)as many pictures as you need, so you can go back and keep the one where everyone has the best smile. Why try for the one perfect picture? I get about six real quick and always have at least one really good picture. Other nice features are the battery life, very long outlasts 256mb of pictures. At first I wanted a camera that took AA batterys, already have rechargeables, but I love this Li-ion battrery, very lightweight and small, and can get them for about $10 on the internet, not bad, and they don't have be drained completely like the Ni-Mh. They charge really fast too. An Hour Maybe. SO how about the complaints? A little weird to handle at first because of the lens and Lcd location. Finger gets in front of lens until trained :) LCD worthless in sunlight, but didn't expect it to be. If Minolta could put the lcd into the viewfinder and have an eyecup attached that kept out the light, that would be fantastic. And if they could ever get a 10x zoom and 5mp in a camera so small, WOW. Your camera purchase comes down to what do need the most. I think the Olympus has the most features, 10x zoom is amazing plus they sell 2x multipliers for 20X!! and best picture, has raw file mode for uncompressed files. This camera is great for wildlife photography. The only drawback is the size, but still not a big a some digitals or 35mm. The Minolta gives up a few things but much less than any other camera I saw that was as portable or in the price range. The problems I read others had with this camera I did not find. Someone had a focusing problem indoors, I did not, without flash they will blur sometimes which is to be expected (use a mini tripod). I have taken pictures at night without the flash(and a solid platform) to get the background and they come out brighter than my eyes can see, very surprised. Other people complained about not having a battery cradle and AV output, but you get so many other things other cameras dont have and the easiest portability of almost any other camera, so this was not a problem for me, it all comes down to what you want, and they haven't made a Camera that has everything in one package yet.....getting close though :)