CeBIT 2002: 0800 GMT: Minolta has today announced the ultra-compact four megapixel, 3x optical zoom DiMAGE F100 digital camera. This is the first consumer digital camera to feature "Subject Tracking autofocus", the camera has a wide AF area and once the AF is locked the camera will automatically track the subject within the bounds of the scene. Another new feature on the F100 is automatic subject program selection (scene mode) which analyses the scene and decides which pre-defined exposure program to use. To my eye this camera has strong echos of Sony's DSC-P5 / P9.

Press release:

Minolta Introduces New 4.0-Megapixel Digital Camera:
The DiMAGE F100

The DiMAGE F100 offers:

• World's First Area Autofocus and Subject Tracking Autofocus
• World's First Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection
• Wide 7.5x zoom (3x optical/2.5 digital)
• Superior Image Quality with the Minolta GT Lens, Minolta CxProcessTM and 12-bit A/D Conversion

Ramsey, NJ (March 13, 2002) - Minolta Corporation expands its digital camera line with the introduction of the new Minolta DiMAGE F100, the world's first digital camera with Area autofocus (Area AF) and Subject Tracking autofocus (AF) and automatic digital subject program selection.

"The DiMAGE F100 is the first digital camera to offer Area AF and Subject Tracking AF", said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing for Minolta Corporation's Consumer Products Group. "We call it 'Bringing people into focus' because it finds the people in the scene, locks on them, and follows them across the viewfinder. You'll get images so sharp that you'll never want to delete any of them."

The DiMAGE F100 features a 1/1.8-inch type CCD with 4-megapixel effective resolution. The camera incorporates a 3x optical zoom Minolta GT LENS for color accuracy and three aspherical elements that, combined with a 2.5x digital zoom, provides a compact lens design with a wide image capture range.

The image formed on the CCD is enhanced by Minolta's exclusive CxProcess image processing technology to optimize sharpness, color reproduction, tonal gradation and noise to create clear and natural images. The wide dynamic range is provided by 12-bit A/D (analog to digital) conversion to ensure natural color and tonal reproduction.

Advanced technology makes focusing on the DiMAGE F100 simple and effective. The DiMAGE F100 is the first compact digital camera in the world to be equipped with Subject Tracking AF and also features Minolta's Area AF. These work together to locate and follow the subject through three-dimensional space within the camera's extra-wide focusing area, making the autofocus system ready to take a picture when you are. Simply activate the Area AF system with the shutter-release button and the camera evaluates the objects in the extra-wide focus frames and pinpoints the subject. If the subject moves, Subject Tracking AF will adjust the focus to ensure sharp image; the active AF sensor is displayed in the focus frames and will follow the subject movement.

The DIMAGE F100 is also the first digital camera in the world with Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection. This advanced feature automatically selects one of five subject programs - portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset, or night portrait - to optimize the camera's exposure and image-processing controls based on the subject and scene. This frees the photographer from having to evaluate the conditions and make camera settings for each new situation.

Its stylish, slim aluminum body features an easy-to hold, elegant grip and ergonomic control layout. A versatile camera, the DiMAGE F100 features the functions and controls essential for great image making. The DiMAGE F100 allows complete control over exposure, color, contrast, saturation, white balance, camera sensitivity and focus. It can also record movies and audio.

Minolta DiMAGE F100 specifications