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Bringing The A Models Back Out

Started Apr 25, 2019 | Photos
Hike Pics
Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Bringing The A Models Back Out
5

I've been waiting for some spring color to pop out so I could work with my A2 and A200 again. The IS issue with the A200 hasn't gotten any worse, which is good. But the A2 seems to have gotten better, at least the autofocus is working much better.

First the A200. The first one is OOC JPG.

From RAW. I tried to tame the highlights on the right flower.

...and then the battery died! I have a new charger on the way!

The next ones are from the A2. It has been commented here that the A2 OOC JPGs weren't as good as the A200 and that it is best to shoot RAW. I am really inexperienced at RAW processing and think my results are worse than the JPGs. However, I gave them a go with Darktable ( I use Linux) and this is what I got. Please feel free to comment on maybe what I should have/have not done on these.

Comment & critique:
Please provide me constructive critique and criticism.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200
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ParangMehta
ParangMehta Regular Member • Posts: 128
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out
1

These are beautiful pictures! Love the colours. Thanks for sharing.

I don't know about the A2, but I used an A200 for many years. It had an excellent JPG engine, and I rarely got any pleasure through shooting RAW and processing the files. The out of camera JPGs were almost always better, after a miute with curves and sharpening in GIMP.

Regards,

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bduncan Contributing Member • Posts: 596
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out
1

I bring my A2 out every once in awhile.  It was way ahead of its time (at the time)..

-- hide signature --

Bill, Toronto, Canada

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felix from the suburbs
felix from the suburbs Senior Member • Posts: 1,557
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Nice work overall all and the second last one is my favorite.

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eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

They look great!

Just came across and bought the A2, like it very much. But only small cards, only ten images... Could this work in A2? Is 4 GB the limit?

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

eilivk wrote:

They look great!

Just came across and bought the A2, like it very much. But only small cards, only ten images... Could this work in A2? Is 4 GB the limit?

I'd have to check what's in mine but I'm fairly sure it's 4gb rather than 8gb .

I'm not sure if there was a firmware update to allow it to use larger cards than it could when it was released .

What firmware us it on ?

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Hike Pics
OP Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Congrats on your new A2 

Unfortunately the camera cannot use a 4GB card. I put one in and got XXX on bottom right where counter reads. When i went into review the screen read "Unable to use card". It can use a 1GB card at about 64 images at RAW+. I don't know about a 2GB card but I'm going to get one and try. I am using the latest firmware which is 1.14.

eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Hike Pics wrote:

Congrats on your new A2

Unfortunately the camera cannot use a 4GB card. I put one in and got XXX on bottom right where counter reads. When i went into review the screen read "Unable to use card". It can use a 1GB card at about 64 images at RAW+. I don't know about a 2GB card but I'm going to get one and try. I am using the latest firmware which is 1.14.

Thanks! First I saw this on the picture, actually two. Then I found one in a store, luckily did not buy, can try tomorrow. And I'll check the firmware. Also got one old Nikon, they share 48MB...

Checked the few images I got with A2, very sharp and good. Winter days with strong sun, I'll use ISO 64.

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eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

neilt3 wrote:

eilivk wrote:

They look great!

Just came across and bought the A2, like it very much. But only small cards, only ten images... Could this work in A2? Is 4 GB the limit?

I'd have to check what's in mine but I'm fairly sure it's 4gb rather than 8gb .

I'm not sure if there was a firmware update to allow it to use larger cards than it could when it was released .

What firmware us it on ?

Thanks, but I can't find firmware under Menu. So where is it? I hope 4 will go, but seems not to.

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

On Minolta's website there is a compatibility chart , see here .

https://www.konicaminoltasupport.com/fileadmin/camera_minolta/compatibility/en/da2_e.htm

These are cards that the A2 were tested with at the time , 2006 at the latest .

Amongst them is a 8GB Lexar card , 4GB Sandisc etc .

Less choice on size was available then due to price , as long as the card is first formatted in the camera you shouldn't have a problem .

Dimage A2 webpage ; https://www.konicaminoltasupport.com/index.php?id=2308&L=2Testbericht

Minolta camera and scanner page with links for information and to download the final firmware versions ; https://www.konicaminoltasupport.com/index.php?id=23&L=2%25%5C%27

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Final firmware also enabled the camera to use cards "Exceeding 4GB" ; http://download2.konicaminoltaeurope.com/openmind/technic/kmphdwl.nsf/ftsearch?openagent&ch=CAM&dist=BEU&ui=EN&dg=fw&prod=DiMAGE%20A2&dsg=&os=&lang=English&ml=0&rid=&sub=

Don't know of an upper limit , but 4GB is a lot of memory for these cameras , even when shooting RAW .

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

eilivk wrote:

Thanks, but I can't find firmware under Menu. So where is it? I hope 4 will go, but seems not to.

Follow the instructions to check here ; http://download2.konicaminolta.eu/openmind/technic/swfw/mswdipho.nsf/7C6619B56C09B97D492570A8000A1B0E/$file/A2_FIRMWARE_114_E.PDF

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eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

neilt3 wrote:

eilivk wrote:

Thanks, but I can't find firmware under Menu. So where is it? I hope 4 will go, but seems not to.

Follow the instructions to check here ; http://download2.konicaminolta.eu/openmind/technic/swfw/mswdipho.nsf/7C6619B56C09B97D492570A8000A1B0E/$file/A2_FIRMWARE_114_E.PDF

Thanks! Maybe I read wrong in another link, but can you put an adapter with SD card in the camera?! And will it work...

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Minolta did make an SD to CF adapter , so yes .

Though it might depend on the adapter you buy .

Sometimes the combination of the card adapter , the SD card and the camera don't always seem to get on .

Your better sticking with a CF card .

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eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

neilt3 wrote:

Minolta did make an SD to CF adapter , so yes .

Though it might depend on the adapter you buy .

Sometimes the combination of the card adapter , the SD card and the camera don't always seem to get on .

Your better sticking with a CF card .

Thanks! I'll update the firmware and try the 4 GB card.

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Hike Pics
OP Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

neilt3 wrote:

Final firmware also enabled the camera to use cards "Exceeding 4GB" ; http://download2.konicaminoltaeurope.com/openmind/technic/kmphdwl.nsf/ftsearch?openagent&ch=CAM&dist=BEU&ui=EN&dg=fw&prod=DiMAGE%20A2&dsg=&os=&lang=English&ml=0&rid=&sub=

Don't know of an upper limit , but 4GB is a lot of memory for these cameras , even when shooting RAW .

Have no idea why my Transcend 4GB CF won't work in the camera. You would think by the time the last update came out compatibility would be better. I'll try the card in the A200 and see if it takes it. It currently also has a 1GB CF card.

By the way I have tried the card in my Canon G6 and it works great

neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Try formatting via a card reader , then put it in the camera and format in camera again .

I use Transcend cards in my cameras without issue .

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Hike Pics
OP Hike Pics Senior Member • Posts: 2,917
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

Formatting didn't work. So I ran GParted and deleted the partition then rebuild the partition and formatted to fat32. The A2 was then able to format it. Almost 500 jpgs are ready to be shot.

Now I just need to find the time to get out and shoot. I'm working too much overtime right now!

eilivk Senior Member • Posts: 2,580
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

neilt3 wrote:

eilivk wrote:

Thanks, but I can't find firmware under Menu. So where is it? I hope 4 will go, but seems not to.

Follow the instructions to check here ; http://download2.konicaminolta.eu/openmind/technic/swfw/mswdipho.nsf/7C6619B56C09B97D492570A8000A1B0E/$file/A2_FIRMWARE_114_E.PDF

Found it, firware 1.14! So now I just try the 4 GB card in the shop. He talked about formatting the card. But maybe I should do it in the camera? If it is possible. Sure is large enough!

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neilt3
neilt3 Veteran Member • Posts: 3,008
Re: Bringing The A Models Back Out

eilivk wrote:

neilt3 wrote:

eilivk wrote:

Thanks, but I can't find firmware under Menu. So where is it? I hope 4 will go, but seems not to.

Follow the instructions to check here ; http://download2.konicaminolta.eu/openmind/technic/swfw/mswdipho.nsf/7C6619B56C09B97D492570A8000A1B0E/$file/A2_FIRMWARE_114_E.PDF

Found it, firware 1.14! So now I just try the 4 GB card in the shop. He talked about formatting the card. But maybe I should do it in the camera? If it is possible. Sure is large enough!

Yes , you need to format the card in the camera .

When I copy images to a computer I always format the card ( in camera ) rather than deleating images off the card as it keeps everything in good order .

Formatting does more than just deleting .

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