Minolta DiMAGE Z2

Introduction

Building on the success Minolta Konica had with the DiMAGE Z1, the latest in the series – the DiMAGE Z2 – sees resolution increased to 4 megapixels. The Z2 continues to support point-and-shoot novices with easily accessed automatic functions, but also offers a range of features and control that will appeal to the serious enthusiast.

Optics

The DiMAGE Z2 is equipped with a high quality 10x, 5.8-58mm lens, the equivalent of a 38-380mm lens on a 35mm camera. This ranges from a moderate wide-angle to a pretty substantial telephoto. Maximum aperture ranges from f/2.8 to f/3.5, depending on the lens zoom position. Focus ranges from 0.5m to infinity, with a macro setting ranging from 10 to 120cm. There is also a Super Macro setting, which gets as close as 4cm from the subject for impressive closeups.

Though the DiMAGE Z2 defaults on focus taken from a large area in the center of the frame, a Spot AF mode is also available, which focuses on one of three possible spot-AF hotspots positioned across the middle of the frame.

In addition to the 10x optical zoom, the Z2 also supports up to 4x digital magnification (40x zoom, in all). Note, though, that digital zoom inevitably decreases the overall image quality because it simply enlarges the central pixels of the image.

Composing Images

For composing images, the Z2 offers the choice between a 1.5-inch LCD monitor and an electronic optical viewfinder LCD display, selectable using the Mode switch on the rear of the camera. Full information and image displays are available on both, including the menu system.

Exposure Control

The DiMAGE Z2 offers a wide range of exposure options, controlled by the Exposure Mode dial on top of the camera. Main exposure modes include Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual modes, with five preset Scene modes and a Movie mode. The five Digital Subject Program modes include Night Portrait, Sunset, Landscape, Sports Action, and Portrait modes, for shooting in common, yet sometimes challenging, situations.

Aperture and Shutter Priority modes provide partial manual control, allowing you to adjust one variable while the camera selects the other. But in Manual mode, you have complete control over the exposure. Aperture settings range from f/2.8 to f/8, with the actual maximum and minimum values depending on the lens zoom position. Shutter speeds range from 1/1,000 to 15 seconds in Manual and Shutter Priority modes, with a Bulb setting permitting exposures as long as 30 seconds. For longer exposures, the Z2 features a Noise Reduction setting, which uses dark-frame subtraction to reduce the image noise that results from longer exposure times.

Other Features

The DiMAGE Z2 is so feature-rich that is it impractical to cover everything in a single review. But a few features do deserve special mention.

I particularly like the bracketing support. Depending on user-defined EV values, keeping the release depressed will capture three images, exposed normally, with under and over exposure brackets.

Continuous frame advance is also supported. The rate of advance depends on the image settings, but is around 1.5 fps. But UHS continuous advanced captures up to 10 images at 1280x960 resolution at 10 fps – enough for really high-speed action.

A similar feature is progressive capture. This will store images in buffer memory as long as the release is depressed. But when you take your finger off the shutter, only the last six images are written to the memory card. This is excellent for climax shots, such as at the finishing line of a race. Again, the rate of capture depends on the image settings (usually around 1.5 fps, but up to 10 fps for 1280x960).

Memory and Connections

The DiMAGE Z2 stores its images on SD memory cards, and a 16MB card is included in the bundle, but the camera does also support the slightly less expensive MMC cards. Connection to a host computer for image download is via USB, with the camera acting as a storage device (which means that it does not need specific drivers to be installed).

As always, I recommend picking up at least two sets of high-capacity rechargeable NiMH batteries and a good charger, and keeping a set freshly charged at all times.

Specifications

Number of effective pixels	Approx. 4 million
CCD	1/2.5-type interline primary-color CCD with a total of approx. 4.2 million pixels
Camera sensitivity	Auto and 50 / 100 / 200 / 400 ISO equivalent
Lens	6.3 - 63.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 38 - 380 mm), f/ 2.8 - f/ 3.7; 11 elements in 7 groups
Recording media	SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card / MultiMediaCard
File format	JPEG, Motion JPEG (MOV) with Audio, DCF2.0 compliant, DPOF (Ver.1.1), Exif 2.21
No. of recorded pixels	2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480
Image file size (approx. at 2272 x 1704)	Economy: 520KB, Standard: 1000KB, Fine: 1940KB, Movie (320 x 240 at 15fps): 350KB/s
Storage capacity (approx. number of frames* using 16 MB SD card)(2272 x 1704)	Economy: 27, Standard: 14, Fine: 7 Movie recording (30 fps, 320 x 240): approx. 21 seconds * The actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and the media used.
Autofocus system	A combination of a passive AF sensor and a video AF system
Autofocus area	3-point wide focus area: Wide focus area / Local focus area with Focus Area Selection
Focus modes	Autofocus: One-shot AF (with Predictive Focus Control), Continuous AF, Full-time AF, Manual focus. Focus lock available in One-Shot AF
Focusing range (from front of the lens)	Wide / Tele: 0.5 m (1.6 feet) / 2.0 m (6.6 feet) to infinityMacro: Wide: 0.07 m (0.2 feet) - 1.0 m (3.3 feet) / Tele: 1.2 m (3.9 feet) - 2.5 m (8.2 feet) Super Macro: 3 cm (1.2 inch) - 100 cm (39.4 inch)
White-balance control	Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash), Custom
Metering	Multi-segment (256 segments), Spot, Center-weighted
Shutter speed	A mode / P mode: 4 - 1/1000 seconds M mode / S mode: 15 - 1/1000 seconds, Time exposure (max. 30 seconds): Auto, Digital Program Selector mode: 2 - 1/1000 seconds
Exposure mode	Programmed AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual. AE lock available
Digital Subject Program Selection	Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset, Night portrait / Night view, Standard
Exposure control	± 2 Ev with 1/3 Ev step
Exposure bracketing	1.0 / 0.5 / 0.3 Ev increments; No. of bracket: 3 frames
Flash mode	Autoflash & Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Slow shutter sync. (in Auto/P/DSPS mode), Fill-flash, Fill-flash with red-eye reduction, Slow shutter sync. (in A/S/M mode). Flash cancel possible by pushing the built-in flash unit downward
Flash GN	(ISO 100 equivalent) 12.0 (m) / 39 (feet)
External flash units connectable	Program/Maxxum Flash 5600HS(D) / 3600HS(D) / 2500(D)
Diopter	-3 - +1m-1
LCD monitor	3.8 cm (1.5 inch) low-temperature, polysilicon TFT color, with total 113,000 (approx.) pixels
Self-timer	Approx. 10 seconds
Color mode	Vivid, Natural, Monochrome, Sepia
Movie recording	No. of recorded pixels: 800 x 600 / 640 x 480 / 320 x 240 / 160 x120 Frame rate: 30 fps* / 15 fps, Long recording until the memory card is full Audio: monaural * not available with 800 x 600
Sharpness / Contrast control	Adjustable in 3 levels
Noise reduction	User selectable
Printing output control	Exif Print, PRINT Image Matching II, PictBridge
PC interface	Full-Speed USB: 12Mbps data transfer with a USB2.0 compatible computer, Video output NTSC / PAL (selected on the camera)
Battery	Four AA Ni-MH batteries, AA Alkaline batteries, External High Power Battery Pack Kit (EBP-100)
Battery performance (approx.)	Continuous playback time: 300 minutes with Alkaline battery, Number of images recorded: 250, Konica Minolta measurement
External power source	6V DC (with specified AC adapter)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	Approx. 109.5 x 77.5 x 80.0 mm / 4-5/16 x 3-1/16 x 3-1/8 inches
Weight	Approx. 305 g / 10.8 ounces (without batteries and recording media)

Verdict

Minolta is famed for the quality of its lenses and the DiMAGE Z2 is an excellent performer, even at long zoom or in Super Macro mode. The colour balance and contrast are extremely good, with sharp images and very low chromatic aberration. Full control over white light balance means high quality images can be captured under any lighting conditions.

The setup and menu navigation is easy to learn and quick to use, which is essential in the field. In fact, the Z2 very successfully combines novice-friendly features with professional standard control for the keen amateur photographer. The physical design and feel is natural, especially to those familiar with 35mm SLR.

The surprising volume of features, ability to control, and superior lens and image quality, make the DiMAGE Z2 one of the best bargains on the market.