Lightweight, Stills, Video with sound, Webcam, Email function and flashing lights on the front !
Disadvantages:
No case and only 8mb sd card included
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
This camera is reputedly the smallest 2mp 3x optical zoom camera on the market and it has certainly impressed everybody I have shown it to. It also has a facility to switch on digital zoom making it a 12x zoom. The clever thing is that the moving parts are inside the camera, so there are no lenses popping in or out of the front which saves on batteries. I used the 2 x AA batteries that came with it over about 10 hours when I first had the camera, so I use a set of rechargable ones now - much more convenient (2 in the camera and 2 spare). Although if you find yourself with flat batteries, AA's are easy to find wherever you are.
The minolta can be switched on and is ready to photograph almost instantaneously - brilliant for those pictures that would normally be missed while other cameras are still starting up or having settings adjusted.
Memory
The 8mb secure digital card will hold around 15 photographs at standard size 1600 x 1200 , 18 pictures at 1280 x 960, and 48 pics at 640 x 480.
Alternatively, 8mb will hold 19 seconds of video clips at 320 x 240 or 74 seconds at 160 x 120, or combinations of any of the above. Videos can record for as long as you have space available on your sd card - not time restricted. It would be worthwhile investing in 128 or 256mb cards if you are interested in recording clips or want to take numerous photographs.
Functions
Voice tags can be added to your pictures before or after the event. I had fun adding sound effects to some of my pictures before emailing them!
There is a comprehensive menu of functions. The below are all accessed through the menu button on the back of the camera and by using the sideways or up and down scroll buttons (which double up as telephoto and wideangle when in photographic mode):
Five types of flash including red eye, Normal colour photographs or sepia, b&w, mono red, green or blue tones, Portrait function White balance, Exposure compensation, Fine/standard/economy quality settings Drive settings - self-timer, single image, continuous, self portrait (using the shiny button on the camera front as a mirror) and multiframe to have 9 different images in one frame.
Other options include Film speed, Picture rotate, Slideshow playback and playback options ( this can also be used on tv screen - cables included), Favourites folder, Lock to prevent deletion of selected pictures and Email option which saves a smaller version for easier transmission.
Another quirky gimmick is the paste function which allows you to open a photograph and insert a new image into a selected cutout shape within it, I used this to show my husband 'dreaming' of his motorbike. Fun, but I'm not sure this function will be very useful to me after the novelty wears off.
The menu is easy to navigate, I had the camera and used it for about a fortnight before I got round to reading the instructions book, which is set out in a very straightforward manner. There is a more detailed instruction cd also included in the box.
There isn't an optical viewfinder on this camera, but the lcd screen on the back is a good size and so far I have not had any trouble lining up my pictures - it might be different in strong sunshine though.
Image quality
I printed one picture on a full sheet of A4 (used XP photoprinting wizard for speed). I know that 2mp is not enough pixels for a print of this size, but even so, the quality was really good, it had gone slightly 'soft and fuzzy' but had not pixellated - I can only assume that if I had selected a 7"x5" print or smaller, it would have passed as a 'normal' photograph.
On screen all of my pictures have been clear and sharp. I have not produced any pictures with camera shake (I tried just to see if it was likely to happen when full zoom was applied), however I did take some pictures at a school performance when the lights were off and curtains shut (stage spotlights only). The flash flashed on exposure, but the pictures were dark because I was about 20-25 feet away from the subjects.....but then I don't know of any camera that would have coped under those circumstances.
Connectivity
When the usb is plugged in, the camera shows as another drive on my pc - presumably this will happen on yours too. When I first connected the camera to the pc, I plugged it in via an external usb hub and it was not recognised, so I unplugged it and usb'd it straight into the usb on the pc and it was recognised immediately.
I bought this camera from Asda for £99 as a 'take it anywhere' substitute for those times when my Olympus C2500L digital SLR is a nuisance to carry. That was the first week in March 2004. So far the camera has been everywhere with me, I have taken hundreds of photos, and the Olympus has been left in its camera bag in the cupboard. A camera case or pouch would have been a welcome addition to this outfit, but a small makeup bag will protect it just as well.
I have not used this camera as a webcam yet, but if it is as efficient at that as it has been so far, I will be dead chuffed.
This camera is stylish looking, has pretty flashing lights on the front and does everything it says on the box. It is excellent value for money, and in my opinion, would make the majority of non pro photographers very happy.
More details
Durability
Excellent
Reliability
Excellent
Size
Very Small
Weight
Very Light
Instruction Manual
Excellent
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