Review based on a production DiMAGE A200
In September 2004 Konica Minolta revealed a slightly surprising new DiMAGE A series digital camera, the DiMAGE A200. Based on the DiMAGE A2 (and predecessor, the A1), the A200 features a new, smaller and more rounded body design, simplified control layout and a flip-out and twist LCD monitor (compared to the A2's tilt-only unit). Otherwise the specifications reveal a slightly cut-back unit which loses some A2 features but improves on others.
Like the A2, the A200 offers a wealth of photographic features, mechanically operated 28-200mm equivalent zoom lens and Konica Minolta's proprietary Anti-Shake technology that employs a unique CCD-shift mechanism (also seen in the recent Dynax 7D digital SLR).
Here's some of the key new features and changes:
 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 |
 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 |
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|---|---|---|
| Price (street) | $699 | $830 |
| ISO sensitivity | Auto, 50,100,200,400,800 | Auto, 64,100,200,400,800 |
| Viewfinder | • 0.44 inch 320x240 pixels • –5 to +2 m-1 dioptre control |
• 0.44 inch 640x480 pixel • 0-90º adjustment • –3.5 to +1.5 m-1 dioptre control • eye sensor |
| Shooting modes | JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG | JPEG, RAW, TIFF, RAW+JPEG |
| LCD | • 1.8-inch, 134,000 pixels • Flip out and twist |
• 1.8-inch, 118,000 pixels |
| Motion tracking AF | No | Yes |
| Multi segment metering | 256 segments |
300 segments |
| Max shutter speed | 1/3200 sec | 1/4000 sec |
| Movie Mode (Max) | • 800 x 600 @ 15fps • 640 x 480 @ 30fps • Max 15 minutes |
• 544 x 408 @ 30fps • Max 6 minutes |
| Continuous shooting | • 2.3 fps (full size images), 5 frames • 10 fps (640 x 480 images) |
• 2.7 fps (full size images), 3 frames • 7 fps (640 x 480 images) |
| Bracketing options | • Exposure • White Balance |
• Exposure • White Balance • Contrast • Saturation • Hue (color) |
| Interval recording | No | Yes |
| Flash PC synch terminal | No | Yes |
| Optional battery pack/ vertical shooting grip | No | Yes |
| Top plate info LCD | No | Yes |
| Wireless flash | No | Yes |
| Wireless remote | Included | Not available |
| Digital Zoom (Max) | 4x | 2x |
| Image Processor | CxProcess III | CxProcess II |
| Battery | NP-800 | NP-400 |
| Weight (inc. battery) | 579 g (20.4 oz) | 639 g (22.5 oz) |
| Dimensions | 114 x 80 x 115 mm (4.5 x 3.2 x 4.5 in) | 117 x 85 x 114 mm (4.6 x 3.4 x 4.5 in) |
| Other differences | • New Portrait (sRGB) color space |
| Street price | • US: $699 • UK: £430 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Polycarbonate |
| Sensor | • 2/3 inch interlaced primary-color CCD |
| Image sizes | • 3264 x 2448 • 2560 x 1920 • 2080 x 1560 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 800 x 600 (15 fps) |
| Lens | • 28 - 200mm equiv. (7x optical zoom) |
| Focus | • Video AF • Auto and manual focus • Continuous and single shot AF • AF illuminator • Wide area, Spot (11 focus areas), Flex focus • 25cm closest focus (macro mode, telephoto) |
| Shooting mode | • Programmed AE with program shift |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 50,100,200,400,800 |
| White Balance | • Auto • 7 presets • Manual (2 custom settings) |
| Image parameters | • Contrast (10 levels) • Saturation (10 levels) • Color filter ((10 levels from cool to warm) |
| Color modes | • Natural Color (sRGB) • Vivid Color (sRGB) • Portrait (sRGB) • Adobe RGB • Embedded Adobe RGB • Black and white (neutral and toned) • Solarization |
| Continuous | • 2 fps, max 5 frames • 2.3 fps, max 5 frames • 10 fps, 640 x 480 pixels, limited by card size |
| Flash | • Built-in pop-up flash (manual activation) • Auto, Manual (fill flash), Red-eye reduction, Slow sync: on/off/rear • Range (Auto ISO): W:0.5 -3.8m (1.6 - 12.5 ft; T: 0.5– 3.0 m (1.6– 9.8 ft) • Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps |
| Storage | • CompactFlash I/II |
| Viewfinder | • 0.44-inch electronic viewfinder • Approx coverage 100% • Dioptre adjustment • 320 x 240 pixels • 235,000 visible dots |
| LCD monitor | • 1.8" TFT LCD, 134,000 pixels • 100% frame coverage • Vari-angle (Flip-out and twist) |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (12 MB/s) • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Power | • NP-800 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery • Battery charger included |
| Supplied accessories* | • Neck Strap NS-DG8000, |
| Other features | • 256 Zone Multi, Spot (center or focus point) and Centre-weighted metering |
| Weight (excl batts) | 505 g (17.8 oz) |
| Dimensions | 114 x 80 x 115 mm (4.5 x 3.2 x 4.5 in) |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help you understand some of the terms used).
Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2004 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
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