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Frank Armetta

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Sure would like to see some discussion about the S304....so I'll start.

Note that this is my first digital camera, so no real basis for comparison other than using a G1 just one time and seeing others at the store. I am a photo novice, and have used minolta 35mm and APS in the past.

Maybe comments can help other novices decide. The reviews here and at Steves Digicam were a real help!

Have had the camera now for 3 days and only a little time for playing.

First....(and I hate to even bring this up) but you will need rechargable batteries right away......Akaline....well lets just say I couldn't even play for ten minutes. Thankfully, a set of 1600 Nimh were good, so that problem solved. Minolta does include a special note to that effect.

Camera does have a great feel. Grip is excellent and I have small hands.

Does get a little warm, not bad though, and I understand most do. I was concerned about the thickness. I think it just seems thicker because it is smaller in height than many, but the thickness actually gives it a good hold.
(If you're looking for a S300 size, than this probably wouldn't work for you.

The controls seem to be well placed and easy to use. I am pretty comfortable with a computer, so that probably helps. The controls seem very logical and were fairly easy to use, even without reading manual.....just on auto though and change of image size and quality and playback.

Colors seem really great. Again, no real basis for comparison and haven't printed any yet, but first impressions good.

I can't get technical...hope to in the future. So far have only used the Auto settings and the 4x optical zoom.....which is great.

As with most new "toys" it's hard not to like, but I did look at a lot of digital cameras in the last few months while I was waiting for Minolta to release this one...so far I am very happy with the purchase. I really feel this is a camera I can grow with and I like the size. A lot of features without a big package.....point and shoot and yet a lot of manual controls to grow into.

Hope this may help someone and also hope to see some S304 discussion.

Frank
 
Frank, Thanks very much for your first impressions of the S304. This is also a camera I've been seriously considering and have thoroughly read Phil and Steves-digicams review.
Would you be able to post some of your pictures?
Thanks in advance.

Harry
Frank said:
Sure would like to see some discussion about the S304....so I'll
start.
Note that this is my first digital camera, so no real basis for
comparison other than using a G1 just one time and seeing others at
the store. I am a photo novice, and have used minolta 35mm and APS
in the past.
Maybe comments can help other novices decide. The reviews here and
at Steves Digicam were a real help!

Have had the camera now for 3 days and only a little time for playing.

First....(and I hate to even bring this up) but you will need
rechargable batteries right away......Akaline....well lets just say
I couldn't even play for ten minutes. Thankfully, a set of 1600
Nimh were good, so that problem solved. Minolta does include a
special note to that effect.

Camera does have a great feel. Grip is excellent and I have small
hands.
Does get a little warm, not bad though, and I understand most do.
I was concerned about the thickness. I think it just seems thicker
because it is smaller in height than many, but the thickness
actually gives it a good hold.
(If you're looking for a S300 size, than this probably wouldn't
work for you.

The controls seem to be well placed and easy to use. I am pretty
comfortable with a computer, so that probably helps. The controls
seem very logical and were fairly easy to use, even without reading
manual.....just on auto though and change of image size and quality
and playback.

Colors seem really great. Again, no real basis for comparison and
haven't printed any yet, but first impressions good.

I can't get technical...hope to in the future. So far have only
used the Auto settings and the 4x optical zoom.....which is great.

As with most new "toys" it's hard not to like, but I did look at a
lot of digital cameras in the last few months while I was waiting
for Minolta to release this one...so far I am very happy with the
purchase. I really feel this is a camera I can grow with and I
like the size. A lot of features without a big package.....point
and shoot and yet a lot of manual controls to grow into.

Hope this may help someone and also hope to see some S304 discussion.

Frank
Click to expand...
 
Frank,

As you know from my previous postings, I am considering the S304 as my entry to Digital Photography. I especially appreciate your feedback on the feel of the camera. When ever I have been asked to help someone choose a camera, I have always told them you have to feel connected with the camera or you will never be able to get the most out of the photographic experience. You can read all the specs and pick the best compromise for your requirements (No camera is perfect!) but if it does not feel right, you will not be satisfied.

The other advise I give to people shopping for their first serious camera is to think as much about the lens they are buying as the camera. This is one area where the S304 seems to have an advantage over most similar cameras . I hope your images will verify this.

One concern that I have is price. At $700 U.S. it is not a bargain, but it seems to provide a lot of value. My real concern is the relative pricing of the D7 / D5 / S304 cameras. If some predictions of price drops for the D7 are realized, and if the D5 / S304 prices do not decrease proportionally, the D7 becomes a serious option that I would have to consider. Perhaps a veteran digital camera price watcher can contribute some insight. Again, the S304 seems ideal for what I want to do with digital, it is only if the price difference shrinks significantly that I would consider the D7 (or D5).

Looking forward to more reports of your S304 experience. Thanks for the input!
Frank said:
Sure would like to see some discussion about the S304....so I'll
start.
Click to expand...
 
Frank,

Thanks for posting S304 comments. I am seriously considering it. Few questions:

1. How serious is the "does get a little warm issue"? If all digital cameras get a little warm, then this is not an issue. Do you think Phil would have mentioned it in his review if it was an issue?

2. How are the pictures coming out using a printer without the Minolta Image Viewing Utility?
Final image quality is top priority for me, can you please comment?

Thanks.
 
Any more comments on the S304 from Frank or other early adopters? I am seriously considering one, Norman Camera has them for under $600. It seems like a pretty fair camera for the money...if it performs up to its specs.

alan.
 
Hi Frank,

Well thank you very much - I have been looking the net for ages and have not found a novice review on this camera. I am going to buy one today, and hope to be as impressed as you have been. I too am new to the digicam arena, but after having looked at many cameras have settled on this one. I am a bit concerned about the colour issues highlighted in the net review and the autofocus, so I shall comment on these from a user perspective as soon as I have some experience on it!

Anyhow cheers for now.

Guy
Frank said:
Sure would like to see some discussion about the S304....so I'll
start.
Note that this is my first digital camera, so no real basis for
comparison other than using a G1 just one time and seeing others at
the store. I am a photo novice, and have used minolta 35mm and APS
in the past.
Maybe comments can help other novices decide. The reviews here and
at Steves Digicam were a real help!

Have had the camera now for 3 days and only a little time for playing.

First....(and I hate to even bring this up) but you will need
rechargable batteries right away......Akaline....well lets just say
I couldn't even play for ten minutes. Thankfully, a set of 1600
Nimh were good, so that problem solved. Minolta does include a
special note to that effect.

Camera does have a great feel. Grip is excellent and I have small
hands.
Does get a little warm, not bad though, and I understand most do.
I was concerned about the thickness. I think it just seems thicker
because it is smaller in height than many, but the thickness
actually gives it a good hold.
(If you're looking for a S300 size, than this probably wouldn't
work for you.

The controls seem to be well placed and easy to use. I am pretty
comfortable with a computer, so that probably helps. The controls
seem very logical and were fairly easy to use, even without reading
manual.....just on auto though and change of image size and quality
and playback.

Colors seem really great. Again, no real basis for comparison and
haven't printed any yet, but first impressions good.

I can't get technical...hope to in the future. So far have only
used the Auto settings and the 4x optical zoom.....which is great.

As with most new "toys" it's hard not to like, but I did look at a
lot of digital cameras in the last few months while I was waiting
for Minolta to release this one...so far I am very happy with the
purchase. I really feel this is a camera I can grow with and I
like the size. A lot of features without a big package.....point
and shoot and yet a lot of manual controls to grow into.

Hope this may help someone and also hope to see some S304 discussion.

Frank
Click to expand...
 
T.Saka said:
Frank,

Thanks for posting S304 comments. I am seriously considering it.
Few questions:
1. How serious is the "does get a little warm issue"? If all
digital cameras get a little warm, then this is not an issue. Do
you think Phil would have mentioned it in his review if it was an
issue?
Click to expand...
Hard to say if Phil would have mentioned it in his review or not since this is a somewhat subjective ting. But I will say that Phil did mention this in the D7 review and would hope that he was on the lookout for it in subsequent Minolta camera reviews. Since he didn't mention it in the S304 review, I'd guess that it wasn't much of an issue.
T. Saka said:
2. How are the pictures coming out using a printer without the
Minolta Image Viewing Utility?
Final image quality is top priority for me, can you please comment?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
just purchased one, this is my first Digital Camera. I'm on my 5th set of alkalines. they last about 20 minutes.. I now know this is normal but I need to know how long a set of 1600 nimh batteries last. do they last an hour? two? does anyone have an estimate of how long a 1600 will last when using the camera to zoom, flash and focus? compared to my SLR camera and compact auto's this is ridiculous.
 
The page says GP (the brand) 1600mAh nickel metal hydride rechargeables. You can buy rechargeable batteries in a wide variety of capacities, from utterly rubbish (e.g. 1100mAh) to really excellent (1800mAh).

How the battery is marked isn't a totally fair indication of the capacity of the battery. Or if you prefer, "different brands of batteries at the same capacity rating appear to perform differently in the D7".

Jawed
 
Frank said:
Sure would like to see some discussion about the S304....so I'll
start.
Note that this is my first digital camera, so no real basis for
comparison other than using a G1 just one time and seeing others at
the store. I am a photo novice, and have used minolta 35mm and APS
in the past.
Maybe comments can help other novices decide. The reviews here and
at Steves Digicam were a real help!

Have had the camera now for 3 days and only a little time for playing.
Click to expand...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frank Armetta said:
First....(and I hate to even bring this up) but you will need
rechargable batteries right away......Akaline....well lets just say
I couldn't even play for ten minutes. Thankfully, a set of 1600
Nimh were good, so that problem solved. Minolta does include a
special note to that effect.

Camera does have a great feel. Grip is excellent and I have small
hands.
Does get a little warm, not bad though, and I understand most do.
I was concerned about the thickness. I think it just seems thicker
because it is smaller in height than many, but the thickness
actually gives it a good hold.
(If you're looking for a S300 size, than this probably wouldn't
work for you.

The controls seem to be well placed and easy to use. I am pretty
comfortable with a computer, so that probably helps. The controls
seem very logical and were fairly easy to use, even without reading
manual.....just on auto though and change of image size and quality
and playback.

Colors seem really great. Again, no real basis for comparison and
haven't printed any yet, but first impressions good.

I can't get technical...hope to in the future. So far have only
used the Auto settings and the 4x optical zoom.....which is great.

As with most new "toys" it's hard not to like, but I did look at a
lot of digital cameras in the last few months while I was waiting
for Minolta to release this one...so far I am very happy with the
purchase. I really feel this is a camera I can grow with and I
like the size. A lot of features without a big package.....point
and shoot and yet a lot of manual controls to grow into.

Hope this may help someone and also hope to see some S304 discussion.

Frank
Click to expand...
What's the verdict? Richard
 
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