Minolta Dimage Z1

Ergonomically designed, SLR-styled, and packed with powerful automatic and manual controls, the Minolta Dimage Z1 is a great choice for advanced photographers. It features an amazing 10x optical zoom, 3.2-megapixel resolution, and a 30 frame-per-second movie mode with sound.

Optics and Resolution
The Dimage Z1 features a 3.2-megapixel resolution that produces images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels for photo-quality prints up to 8 x 10 inches and medium-quality enlargements up to 11 x 14 inches. Other resolution modes include 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480. The 10x optical zoom has a focal range of 5.8-58mm (equivalent to 38-380mm in 35mm photography). It also has a 4x digital zoom.

Movie Mode
With the Dimage Z1, you can capture TV-quality video (comparable to S-VHS) with sound. You can select from three resolution modes: 640 x 480 (VGA), 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. Video can be captures at 30 frames per second (fps) for flicker-free movies, or at 15 fps to maximize recording time. The length of your captured video is limited only by your memory card capacity.

More Features
Turn on the power, and you can take your first shot in approx. 2 seconds. Shutter release time lag is only 0.06 seconds, and shot intervals are 1.2 seconds. The DiMAGE Z1 also boasts the fastest autofocusing in its class. At 10x zoom, the Rapid AF, which employs video AF for accuracy and a passive sensor specifically to boost speed, has your subject in focus in approximately 0.4 seconds, and is even faster at wider angles.

• 1.6-inch LCD screen with anti-reflection coating
• Built-in flash with Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, and Slow-Sync modes
• Hot shoe for adding external flash
• Capture an entire sequence of 1.3 megapixel images at 10 frames per second
• White balance modes: Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash), Custom
• Color modes: Natural Color, Vivid Color, Black and White, Sepia

Power and Size
The camera is powered by two AA batteries (alkalines included, rechargeable NiMH batteries recommended). It measures 4.31 x 3.05 x 3.15 inches and weighs 10.8 ounces (excluding battery).

What's In The Box
This package includes the Dimage Z1 digital camera, 16 MB Secure Digital memory card, four AA alkaline batteries, USB and AV cables, lens cap, accessory shoe cap, neck strap, and CD-ROM with Dimage Viewer software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

From the Manufacturer
The Dimage Z1 is a powerful yet easy-to-use SLR-type digital camera. Designed around Minolta's new 10X Mega-zoom, the Dimage Z1 features advanced technology and Rapid AF so you can capture images in virtually any situation. TV quality 30fps VGA movies expand its capabilities even more. This compact, stylish Dimage Z1 has the imaging tools you need to capture the pictures you want.

The Dimage Z1 design reflects the sophistication and future of digital technology. Significantly smaller than a compact 35mm SLR camera with a built-in flash and zoom lens, this powerful imaging system can easily slip into a fanny pack or hip bag.

40X Mega-Zoom (10X Optical, 4X Digital) Lens
The Dimage Z1 is the first Minolta digital camera to be equipped with the new 10X Mega-zoom lens. With a focal range of 5.8mm to 58mm, this lens is equivalent to a 38 - 380mm lens in the 35mm format. The 10X Mega-zoom is a fast f2.8 - f3.5 lens allowing fast shutter speeds for sports or natural-light photography. The ten-element seven-group lens design contains two aspheric lenses to minimize aberrations and produce beautifully crisp images.

When combined with the seamless 4X Digital Zoom function, the Mega-zoom lens has an outstanding 40X zoom range, equivalent to a 38 - 1520mm lens.

Rapid Autofocus
Powerful optics combined with a high-resolution 3.3 megapixel 1/2.7 interline primary-color CCD require a powerful autofocus system. The Dimage Z1 features Rapid AF to ensure sharp images with minimum delay. The Rapid AF system uses high-speed drive to focus the lens quickly and smoothly - a 0.3 second focusing time at a focal length of 5.8mm and 0.4 seconds at 58mm -- giving the Dimage Z1 the world's fastest AF among digital cameras with a built-in 10X or greater optical zoom.

TV Quality Movie Recording
High-quality VGA (640 x 480) movies at 30fps can be recorded, with quality comparable to S-VHS video. Image size and frame rate can be selected to balance image quality with file size. Three image sizes are available: 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120. Because of the high frame rate of the CCD, movies may be shot at 30fps to create natural flicker-free images, or 15fps to maximize recording time. The length of the movie is only limited by the memory card capacity, image size, and frame rate.

Because the Dimage Z1 can capture large, high-quality VGA movies, image sharpness and brightness is critical. During recording the Z1 will continue to autofocus to provide the sharpest possible image. Additionally, a night-movie mode can make color recordings under extreme low-light conditions.

CxProcess II Processing Technology
CxProcess II, Minolta's new image-processing technology, 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 by balancing resolution with acutance to show fine detail while minimizing hard, unnatural edges.

Progressive Capture Mode
Minolta's new Progressive Capture drive mode makes sure you never miss the action. When the shutter-release button is pressed and held, Progressive Capture begins saving images in the buffer memory. Simply watch the action on the monitor and when it's over, release the shutter button and the images in the buffer memory will be saved to the memory card. Six frames are saved with standard continuous advance and 10 frames with UHS continuous advance.

Fast Startup/Response Time
Every aspect of the Dimage Z1's performance is pushed to the limit. Startup time is a mere 2 seconds and shutdown time is 2.4 seconds. After focus has been locked, the shutter-release time lag is 0.06 second -- comparable to a 35mm SLR camera. The Z1 is ready to capture another image in just 1.2 seconds after the previous exposure.

Super Macro Mode
Capturing the intricate details in close-up photography has never been easier. The Dimage Z1's Super Macro mode lets you focus as close as 1.6 in. (4cm) from the front of the lens.

Switch Finder
The Dimage Z1 is equipped with Minolta's exclusive Switch Finder. This unique system allows the camera's LCD monitor to be viewed either directly or through the viewfinder. Since a single monitor is used, you need not worry about the color, contrast, and resolution difference between separate rear and viewfinder monitors. With the viewfinder's large apparent angle-of-view, the monitor image is big and clear.

Real Motion LCD Monitor
The Real Motion LCD monitor uses a 60fps frame rate. This Real Motion frame rate brings the live image to life -- showing action smoothly compared to the slower 30fps rate of conventional monitors.

Powerful Built-In Flash
The Dimage Z1 packs the most powerful flash ever built into a Minolta digital camera. With a guide number of 39 feet (12 meters), the flash can illuminate a subject up to approximately 20 ft. (6m) away when used at the wide-angle position with autoexposure and auto camera sensitivity.

Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection
In the past, photographers always had to make time-consuming manual adjustments as the subject and shooting environment changed. The Dimage Z1's Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection analyzes the shooting conditions and selects the optimum exposure, white-balance, and image-processing program. Additionally, five subject programs: portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, and night portrait, cover common and specialized shooting conditions and can be selected manually.

Automatic Monitor Amplification
When working in less than ideal lighting conditions, precisely framing an image on the monitor can be difficult. The Dimage Z1's automatic monitor amplification brightens the monitor under low light so the live image is always visible.

Custom Settings
The Z1's operations can be tailored to meet the photographer's needs. The function set using the flash-mode button can be customized to control the flash mode, white balance, drive mode, focusing mode, or color mode. Images can be rotated to orient them correctly so you don't need to twist your head to the left or right when playing back vertically framed shots.

Dark Noise Reduction
Dark noise, an ever-present problem in electronic systems, manifests itself by giving a grainy or sandy appearance to images taken with long exposures. The Dimage Z1 combats this with a selectable noise-reduction function, which automatically activates for exposures of one second or longer.

P/A/S/M Exposure Modes
Like a fine 35mm SLR camera, the Z1 provides four exposure-control modes: programmed AE, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual. Additionally, 30-second bulb exposures can be made in manual exposure mode.

Three Metering Modes
Another similarity to a high-quality 35mm SLR is the Z1's three selectable metering modes: multi-segment, center-weighted, and spot. Multi-segment metering uses 256 segments to determine exposure.

Creative Color Modes
As well as natural color and black & white, the Dimage Z1 has two color modes for creative control: vivid color and sepia. Vivid color increases the saturation to produce vibrant color images. Sepia creates the feel of antique photographs with its warm tone.

Preset or Custom White Balance
White balance controls how the camera interprets the color of the ambient lighting. Auto white balance compensates for changes in lighting automatically. Five preset white-balance settings: daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, and flash, can be selected for specific light sources. For critical control over color, the custom setting allows the camera to be calibrated to the lighting conditions at the scene.

Fluid Playback
Part of the excitement of digital photography is being able to immediately see the pictures you have taken. With the flick of a switch, you can access the recorded images; playback is fluid from frame to frame.

Uses AA Batteries
Easy-to-find AA batteries power the Dimage Z1. Alkaline or rechargeable Ni-MH can be used. No matter where you are in the world, you will never have to worry about finding extra batteries.