Minolta DiMAGE F300 > Reviews > Minolta F300 - Digital Camera & Video

Author's product rating:   

Picture Quality	Excellent
Range & Quality of Features	Excellent
Ease of Use	Easy
Overall Look & Design	Excellent
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Easy to use,Fantastic Photographs,Video Capabilty
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I purchased my F300 a year or so ago,was lucky enough to purchase a brand new Boxed Camera from Ebay for £210.Do keep a look out on ebay for this and other cameras,as they do occassionally pop up at Great Prices

All the Numbers,Ranges etc have been mentioned before,so i will just talk about my Practical Experience with the Camera.

Whenever i get a new piece of Modern Technology io am always aware of the mass of Information in the Thick Instruction ManualsThankfully this is mainly because of the 20 or so different Languages.My Recommendation is to have a browse through the Instructions,but by far the best way to learn each Function of a new Camera is to get on and use it,make mistakes and learn 'Hands On'.

My main reason for Buying was the fact that there is a Audio Video Capabilty within the Camera,and with the Imminent arrival of a new member of the family,this was an important Factor.This was simple to Operate,turning the Main switch to the correct marker,and clicking start.There is a limit to the amount of Video you can take,according to the Hard Drive Card Size.My Middle Range Card enabled me to take 40 Minutes of Audio Video,but i was shooting 20/30 seconds pieces of film,downloading onto the laptop and then deleting from the Camera,opening up the space again.

The Other Main use of my Camera is to take Excellent Quality Digital JPG Photography for my Ebay Site.There are 6 settings in the 'focus' range,enabling Photography of Landscapes down to the minutest detail on a stamp.This range is perfect for me,and after a little use,i found myself setting the focus,by a couple of clicks.The Camera though,is so advanced,that from a Facial Shot upto Landscape Shot,the Camera adjusts the Focus itself.The Final Focusing of the Subject is done automatically,and the photographer is given a red square and clicking sound to let us know the subject has focused correctly.Then Click Away.

I use the Camera on the 'Fine' setting of Quality and am able to take around 200 photographs in one session.

There are lots of other Features to the Camera,the ones i have found useful to me is the ability to adjust Photogaph Quality through 4 Levels,Lock certain Photos so they are not removed,watch a Sideshow of your Photos,watch a Playback with Audio of your Video,Listen to Audio Playback and of course simple uploading to your PC or Laptop.

I have now taken over 5000 photographs and 40 pieces of Audio/Video with the Camera,lots of usage for both Business and Social.

One problem i did have with the Camera,all of my own doing i may add,was that whilst the lead was connected from the Camera to my Laptop,the Camera was knocked to the floor and damaged the Camera part that accepts the Lead.We were going on oliday in 4 days and was desperate to get the Camera repaired.After some enquiries,i found that Minolta has a repair Service Centre in Milton Keynes.You can send the camera to them at your expense but as the situation was urgent i took the 45 minute drive to the Service Centre.The Staff were very friendly,but told me there was a 2 week wait for the repair.I explained my situation and they were happy to twist the rules for me,and i was able to pick up the Phone on our way up to Scotland for our Holiday.Included in the Flat Repair price of
£113,the outer casing which had taken the brunt of the fall was also replaced and the Camera was given a 'Service'.It was like i received a new Camera.

I fully Recommend this Camera,ideal for Mid Price Users,it has all the Features that i need,is compact and light and most Importantly the Quality of Photographs is A1.

I recently used the AOL Picture Service which will turn your Digital Pictures into Photographs to hold,rather than look at on the PC.I was able to choose the number of a particular Photograph to print and also the size.The Quality again was A1,as good,if not better than Reeeled Film Prints.