You might have read my reviews of other digital cameras recently, I seem to be a bit obsessed with them! Anyway, this is my latest acquisition! Well, it was really a gift for my daughter, who requested a digital camera that was "small and cool looking" for Christmas. This was the choice that ... Read review
Advantages: Tiny, very cute, great pictures Disadvantages: Viewing screen size and quality
You might have read my reviews of other digital cameras recently, I seem to be a bit obsessed with them! Anyway, this is my latest acquisition! Well, it was really a gift for my daughter, who requested a digital camera that was "small and cool looking" for Christmas. This was the choice that I made for her.
In the interests of research for this review, I have used the camera on several trips and am now very familiar with ... ...is that this is a SMALL camera!! It makes my other cameras look and feel like bricks. It is the size of a pack of cards, but feels quite solid and substantial. Its small size doesn't make it feel cheap and lightweight.
The body is silver and mostly metal with a plastic sliding cover for the lens. The camera is supplied with a lanyard but no case/pouch, this annoys me about most digital cameras. Why can't the manufacturers throw in ... more
You might have read my reviews of other digital cameras recently, I seem to be a bit obsessed with them! Anyway, this is my latest acquisition! Well, it was really a gift for my daughter, who requested a digital camera that was "small and cool looking" for Christmas. This was the choice that I made for her.
In the interests of research for this review, I have used the camera on several trips and am now very familiar with how it operates. The first thing that I must mention is that this is a SMALL camera!! It makes my other cameras look and feel like bricks. It is the size of a pack of cards, but feels quite solid and substantial. Its small size doesn't make it feel cheap and lightweight.
The body is silver and mostly metal with a plastic sliding cover for the lens. The camera is supplied with a lanyard but no case/pouch, this annoys me about most digital cameras. Why can't the manufacturers throw in a suitable protective case? It seems such a small addition, but hey ho.
Despite its size, the camera is not too fiddly to use. The buttons are smaller than those on my Olympus and my Kodak, but then they have to be. They are still easy to use and aren't microscopic!
There is a zoom button and a review button on the back of the camera, the shutter button is on top alongside a sliding on/off switch that also has the video facility button. The on /off switch is quite tight and I haven't had any accidental "shit! the camera is on and I've used up all my battery" moments. It seems nigh on impossible to switch on by accident.
The viewing screen is small, again there is no getting around this. However, considering the overall size of the camera, good use has been made of space for the screen. Screen quality I am afraid, is mediocre.
Upon switching to camera mode, you get a live view of your subject but you can turn this off to save batteries and just take your snap through the viewfinder. There are lots of "snapping" options: landscape, portrait, night scene, black and white, sepia, posterized (just puts pictures into lurid colours!) as well as framing options. I think that these are a bit gimmicky but to be honest, my daughter really likes these faffy types of feature. You know teenagers!
The camera comes with excellent software but is also pict bridge supported so you don't NEED your own PC to get your pictures. You can take the crad into any photo shop or Boots and get your pics printed. The memory card supplied is small; I managed about 25 photos on a medium quality setting. If you want premium quality photos then you get about ten on this card. Buy a spare card with bigger memory is my suggestion!
The on board menus are easy to navigate, there is no jargon to decode and I think that it is suitable for a young user, or a technophobic user! Pictures are easily protected and simply deleted, and no, I haven't had any of those "Shit! I just lost all my pictures" moments either! Yet.....
The video option is excellent. There is no loss of quality and you get a good few minutes of videoing time depending on your memory card size.
The photos I have had from this camera have been excellent. Not as good as a top of the range camera, but certainly I have had some superb results in a few different conditions. The only bug that I have found (and I have found this with other digital cameras) is when using the "night time" setting shutter speed is slow and the resultant picture is blurred or grainy. I know it's not really shutter speed but whatever it is, my success rate with these shots is poor!
Indoor shots of my family, portrait shots and outdoor daytime landscape shots have been excellent. I am pleased with all of those.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this camera. I think it is a delight to use, fashionable enough for teens (and mums who want to look younger, ahem.) It is also a decent price at around the £120 mark. If you want a starter camera with some entertaining extras and a lot of street cred, buy this.
A little extra info!! Richada has kindly mentioned that he found it a bit TOO small. I think this is very fair comment and thought I'd add that those of you with big chunky hands might find this camera a tad too tiny to operate comfortably. However, my fingers are quite sausagy (!) and I don't have a problem at all. Maybe it's a man thing!!
Advantages: Quite good and compact design and value for money. Disadvantages: Software things, ie.defaults and dark pictures w/ flash.Broking after warranty (again).
...mind. I got a original Konica Minolta logoed leather case with the camera. But I haven't found the option to shut off the lcd, because this camera has no optical viewfinder. Supplied 16 MB memory card really is too small, but I already had a 256 MB card bought for my old PocketPC, and I've been using that with the camera.
Batteries lasted quite long. Video recording was ok, but I think video usually needs audio, and I would appreciate vga quality ... ...warranty, focus just started malfunctioning and eventually whole camera stopped working. Even case is quite durable, battery case seems to be the weakest link. And now after warranty I've had some problems. Maybe problems linked with the fixed problem, which solution was just replacing the circuit card. Or maybe casing just pushes some inner parts, because pressing or moving the casing helps sometimes. Now I haven't been able to use the camera for ...
arttuk 19.07.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31
Product Information for "Konica Minolta DiMAGE X31" »
Connections
Connector Type
1 x USB
1 x DC power input
Expansion Slot(s)
1 x SD Memory Card
Manufacturer's product description
The DiMAGE X31 boasts an amazing combination of fast startup speed, thin and stylish design, and intuitive operation in an affordable, 3.2-megapixel, entry-level class model. DiMAGE X31 is a user-friendly, compact digital camera equipped with a Konica Minolta proprietary non-protruding 3X optical zoom that keeps the camera thin, even when the zoom is on. The new release features 3.2-megapixel high picture quality and is one of the slimmest and lightest cameras in its class. DiMAGE X31 comes in a compact, 24.5 mm thick body, which weighs as little as 115 grams, fitting into your jacket or shirt pocket to follow you wherever you go. Slim and light, it sports high style. Innovative folded optics technology provides a non-protruding lens, so the DiMAGE X31 remains flat when the zoom lens is activated, keeping even your camera-shy subjects at ease while capturing their truly natural look. You can also use the 4X digital zoom in combination with the 3X optical zoom to take shots at up to 12X total zoom. Turn on DiMAGE X31, and the camera is standing by instantaneously, approx. 1.0 sec.-one of the fastest in 3-megapixel digital cameras. With only a 0.1 sec. shutter release time lag, you'll never miss a photo opportunity. The GUI (Graphic User Interface) icon-based menu has a launcher type quick-reference control panel, bringing users intuitively simple operation. When users get the urge, or the inspiration, to take those all-important impulse shots, the DiMAGE X31 delivers an easy-to-use snapshot experience in fashionable style. And, there's no waiting. The independent playback button lets you preview your shots instantly. As easy to use as it looks, the DiMAGE X31 takes users quickly and easily to a wealth of fun picture-taking functions with just a few buttons. You'll have even more with versatile image editing functions for adding frames (Framing features) or combining two photos (Side by Side). And, for even greater creativity, XR (Extended Recording) movie lets you record movie clips up to the duration of your card's remaining storage capacity. The DiMAGE X31 offers sound basic performance, and the ability to take photos as close as 10 cm to the subject without having to switch to a separate macro mode. With fast startup, ease of operation, and unprecedented enjoyment in a compact and stylish package, the DiMAGE X31 offers an affordable chance to jump into the exciting world of digital photography.
