Embargo broken! Get the A1 preview now!

[Emmanuel54656]

I would say that is highly likely. Minolta have always down this. Some of the features of the Dynax 9 initially appeared in lower end models to begin with. The features were later improved and implimented in the high spec camera.

Emmanuel

--I really don't think so. That makes no sense considering the new
SSM lenses. I think they're using the A1 (formerly the 7xx line) to
fine tune the feature sets for their forthcoming DSLR. And I
honestly feel it's just around the corner. (fingers crossed) )
Sol

Sometimes a photograph captures reality.
Sometimes a photograph captures the imagination.
Ultimately, a photograph simply captures a moment in time.
And then, . . . it lives forever.

 

[Ed Starkey]

I love the GT Lens system on the 7x series. My problem with the 7Hi
is a high rate of waste in low light due to blur, AF speed/accuracy
(and also the photographer himself). The new Anti-Shake and
improved AF will help immensely. I anticipate these 2 features
alone are worth the upgrade for enthusiasts like me.

Cheers,

• Max

These are the primary reason my D7i is going on Ebay this week!!!

Minolta's web site says you can go from (at 200mm) 1/200 to 1/25 and 80-90% of the time come out with a sharp picture. That's incredible.

A.F. in .2 sec at best, wonder what worst case is???

Aside from that, we all put high value on Phil's opinion - and when he says perfect design for a (prosumer) digital camera, I can't wait to hold it myself. i wonder how much of the camera body is metal??

 

[Sol]

I would say that is highly likely. Minolta have always down this.
Some of the features of the Dynax 9 initially appeared in lower end
models to begin with. The features were later improved and
implimented in the high spec camera.

--Absolutely Emmanuel. As a long time Minolta user, I too, have notice the same process in Minolta's past product releases.
Sol

Sometimes a photograph captures reality.
Sometimes a photograph captures the imagination.
Ultimately, a photograph simply captures a moment in time.
And then, . . . it lives forever.

 

[widman]

nobody talk about f11 on both wide and tele?
it should be nicer on taking milky waterfall or fireworks.

Hi guys,

Well having worked until the early hours of the morning I was a
little surprised this morning to see so much info on the A1
published more than 12 hours before the embargo time everyone had
been given. So as I now consider that to be void you can get our
preview now:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/minoltadimagea1/

(Annoyed - a little)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

 

[Emmanuel54656]

That is a valid point. As RAW has been reduced in size you can get more images on a CF and the transfer times are reduced. We'll have to wait and see how the camera performs.

Minolta have obviously put in a lot of effort into the A1. I would not be surprised if it was on the drawing board just after the D7i was introduced. I hope the DA1 encourages Canon and Nikon to produce better cameras than they currently have. There has been a lack of innovation in their products lately.

Interestingly, I have not seen any quoted performance figures from Minolta regarding the predictive AF capability and AF speed. If it worked as fast as that provided on the Dynax 7 would be something but I'm not hopeful it will. If the AF is fast enough not to be of concern and the predictive AF works well and tracks high speed movement, the A1 will surely be the number one choice amoungst prosumer cameras.

Assuming all the features work well and the picture noise is reduced, for me, all that is missing is a larger CCD for better control of DOF,

Emmanuel

Only 3 frames in a burst is a shame. I don't use the burst mode on
my D7Hi very often but when I do I'd usually need around 3 to 5
frames. For those wanting to shoot sports and make the most of the
high speed predictive AF capability 3 frames burst is quite a
limitation. What a shame!!

Emmanuel

Hi Emmanuel,
Maybe the thought here is that if you shoot photography that
requires 5 fps, then your probably a pro, semi-pro, or tweak, and
are probably going to shoot RAW images anyways. Just musing. : )
--
Sol

Sometimes a photograph captures reality.
Sometimes a photograph captures the imagination.
Ultimately, a photograph simply captures a moment in time.
And then, . . . it lives forever.

 

[simonsez]

I agree with most of what people are saying!

Tis annoying to get pipped to the review post, never mind Phil!
Yours is the better review!

I just want to nit pick really and ask, what is the grill on the left of the camera for? under the logo amongst the dials.

Is this for cooling? what is there to stop dust/humidity getting into the camera?

Just a thought?

Simon

 

[arnold2002]

Thanks Phil - excellent work once again

Just curious if the focus system is any better ? The spec sheet looks like the improvements are more based around following a moving subject. Is there anything you can say about general focussing speed / accuracy compared with the D7 series at this early stage ?

Regards

Arnie

 

[Emmanuel54656]

Minolta have a tough job. They need to retain their current base of SLR users as well as attract new camera users. Their focus on the consumer market is helping them to rebuild their brand identity. However, at the other end of the scale, photographers like myself who have high spec SLRs with lots of lenses wonder whats happened to the SLR line. Why no DSLR? This is a tough situation for Minolta. If you look at all the 7 series SLRS they generally introduce some form of innovation. For digital, the risks are higher as more cash needs to be invested in R&D. Unlike the consumer and prosumer cameras, peoples expectations would be that any new technology would be effective and reliable. How does Minolta test this? They put slices of the technologies in the prosumer and consumer cameras. If you look at the DA1, is 3D predictive AF is know doubt an enhancement of what has been used (or such I say tested) in the F series digicams. The Anti-Shake mode will be closely watched by Minolta. If its successful they would not dare launch an DSLR without it. I noticed from Phils DA1 Preview that the AS mode provides feedback. It lets the user know whether it can produce effective stabilization based on current conditions. What current form of stabilisation system can do that at present? None!! A DSLR with AS built in means all existing lenses (if compatible) will benefit. This in itself would be an attractive feature for the exisiting Minolta user and those looking for their first SLR system.

Just my thoughts!!

Emmanuel

I would say that is highly likely. Minolta have always down this.
Some of the features of the Dynax 9 initially appeared in lower end
models to begin with. The features were later improved and
implimented in the high spec camera.

--Absolutely Emmanuel. As a long time Minolta user, I too, have
notice the same process in Minolta's past product releases.
Sol

Sometimes a photograph captures reality.
Sometimes a photograph captures the imagination.
Ultimately, a photograph simply captures a moment in time.
And then, . . . it lives forever.

 

[Bramante M Perkasa]

Considering 7Hi's loudspeaker is located where A1's EVF/LCD slider is.

I agree with most of what people are saying!

Tis annoying to get pipped to the review post, never mind Phil!
Yours is the better review!

I just want to nit pick really and ask, what is the grill on the
left of the camera for? under the logo amongst the dials.

Is this for cooling? what is there to stop dust/humidity getting
into the camera?

Just a thought?

Simon

 

[Ulysses]

Who do you think you're asking these questions? The digitalkamera.de guys??? :-]

heheheheh...

• Thus far, are you more impressed with the new ccd stabilisation

technology or the new faster/improved AF ?

• Can you state that image quality at the present stage looks

at least 'promising'?

thx. : )

Phil Askey wrote:
Hi guys,

Well having worked until the early hours of the morning I was a
little surprised this morning to see so much info on the A1
published more than 12 hours before the embargo time everyone had
been given. So as I now consider that to be void you can get our
preview now:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/minoltadimagea1/

(Annoyed - a little)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--

Ulysses

 

[Jawed49152]

That is a valid point. As RAW has been reduced in size you can get
more images on a CF and the transfer times are reduced. We'll have
to wait and see how the camera performs.

The RAW file size is 7.5MB. Not much smaller, sigh.

Minolta have obviously put in a lot of effort into the A1. I would
not be surprised if it was on the drawing board just after the D7i
was introduced. I hope the DA1 encourages Canon and Nikon to
produce better cameras than they currently have. There has been a
lack of innovation in their products lately.

This is one segment Canon seems uninterested in. The G5 and the D7Hi aren't really competitors. The S414 is more similar to the G5 (G3) in terms of resolution, though it has many less features.

Interestingly, I have not seen any quoted performance figures from
Minolta regarding the predictive AF capability and AF speed.

On the Japanese page it refers to 0.2s best-case AF. I think this is single-AF though, and you can bet that's at wide-angle.

The F300's subject-tracking AF seems like a bit of a joke to me - I've not used it, but it doesn't sound very useful. Minolta hypes it up though. So I expect the predictive 3D AF on the A1 will be marginally better than the continuous AF on the D7 series cameras which is frankly a joke at anything more than 50mm focal length.

If it
worked as fast as that provided on the Dynax 7 would be something
but I'm not hopeful it will. If the AF is fast enough not to be of
concern and the predictive AF works well and tracks high speed
movement, the A1 will surely be the number one choice amoungst
prosumer cameras.

People walking will be the limit I expect. The D7 can't really track people walking unless you keep the focal length wide, in which case you don't need to focus at all, just lock focus to 2.5m and shoot!

Jawed

 

[Jawed49152]

I notice that the rubber around the eyepiece is deeper than on the D7 series cameras. This should make it more resilient, i.e. less likely to tear.

Tearing with the D7 series cameras seems to occur if the rubber chafes on the inside of an inappropriately laid-out bag where the rubber is the main point of contact between camera and bag, along that side of the camera.

Jawed

 

[amtberg]

Thanks for the great preview Phil! IMO this is the most exciting non-SLR digicam announcement since ... the D7! One very small nitpick: you state that the D7Hi has only 3 memory slots, when in fact it has five just like the A1.

I'm just dying to see some sample images. Even with all the new stuff, I'd be hard-pressed to upgrade from my 7Hi unless the image quality and EVF are significantly improved. These would be the deciding factors for me, although the IS, smaller RAW files, additional stops, and improved ergonomics are very tempting. AE hold is a nice addition (as opposed to D7xx's spot-only hold).

Things I'm not too keen on:

• The moving LCD--I rarely use the LCD, so I don't much care about it, and I actually prefer the D7xx inset LCD which protects the screen from nose/finger prints;

• Shorter bursts, although 5 is enough and I don't mind using RAW. Once you've shot the burst you can go back and delete the obviously bad pics;

• EVF magnification of 2x or 8x. Would have to try it, but it seems to me that 2x is too far and 8x is too close. Where's our good 4x setting? But maybe with the IS 8x will be fine. It would certainly be too shaky in the D7xx. Really wish they'd implement a center-only magnification so you could still have some idea of framing when zoomed.

Other observations:

• Seems like they could have made more use of the second command dial, although perhaps they have and it hasn't been fully described yet (or I missed it).

• I don't like the location of the EVF zoom button. It was bad on the D7xx, but seems even worse on the A1. I use this all the time and would really appreciate it if they put the button somewhere that wouldn't force me to change my grip on the camera.

Hi guys,

Well having worked until the early hours of the morning I was a
little surprised this morning to see so much info on the A1
published more than 12 hours before the embargo time everyone had
been given. So as I now consider that to be void you can get our
preview now:

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/minoltadimagea1/

(Annoyed - a little)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

 

[Jawed49152]

I'm just dying to see some sample images. Even with all the new
stuff, I'd be hard-pressed to upgrade from my 7Hi unless the image
quality and EVF are significantly improved. These would be the
deciding factors for me, although the IS, smaller RAW files,
additional stops, and improved ergonomics are very tempting. AE
hold is a nice addition (as opposed to D7xx's spot-only hold).

Teehee, some of us have been rewarded for waiting 2 years since we bought the D7 (it's the 2-year anniversary of my purchase on the 11th).

Things I'm not too keen on:

• The moving LCD--I rarely use the LCD, so I don't much care about

it, and I actually prefer the D7xx inset LCD which protects the
screen from nose/finger prints;

Mildly agree. I think I'll use it for some waist-level pictures though, because waist level is often a good height, especially if you're tall like me.

• Shorter bursts, although 5 is enough and I don't mind using RAW.

Once you've shot the burst you can go back and delete the obviously
bad pics;

Bad bad bad Minolta. This is truly dumb. Not as bad as the mistakes Olympus made with the E20's overall shooting and buffering performance, but not far off.

Some people will think, oh you only have to wait 1.5s if you're shooting JPEG, before you can shoot the next lot of 3. But that's not the point if you can shoot 9 or 10 pix in a burst with the D7Hi why can't you do the same on the A1 without any interruptions.

Perhaps Minolta is using such a different set of ICs (reduced power consumption being one advantage) that the design can no longer cope with large-buffering.

• EVF magnification of 2x or 8x. Would have to try it, but it

seems to me that 2x is too far

Yeah, doesn't seem particularly useful.

and 8x is too close.

No way, 4x is "erm, I think it's in focus, but..."

Where's our
good 4x setting? But maybe with the IS 8x will be fine. It would
certainly be too shaky in the D7xx.

True.

Other observations:

• Seems like they could have made more use of the second command

dial, although perhaps they have and it hasn't been fully described
yet (or I missed it).

The two dials are configurable. You can swap them and do other nice things with them. Pretty groovy I'd say. Read Phils' preview more closely!

• I don't like the location of the EVF zoom button. It was bad on

the D7xx, but seems even worse on the A1. I use this all the time
and would really appreciate it if they put the button somewhere
that wouldn't force me to change my grip on the camera.

Hey?! It's right under the tip of your thumb. Actually, I might find I keep pressing it by accident...

Jawed

 

[miklk]

I've got an A1 in my hand and can confirm that in JPEG mode you can
only shoot 3 images in a burst, in RAW mode you can indeed shoot 5
images in a burst. Crazy.

Does it mean we could use braketing in RAW mode with one touch of the button (instead of three wich means no real bkt with moving subjects) ? Would be nice.
--
mikl kacz
http://www.pbase.com/miklpb

 

[amtberg]

• I don't like the location of the EVF zoom button. It was bad on

the D7xx, but seems even worse on the A1. I use this all the time
and would really appreciate it if they put the button somewhere
that wouldn't force me to change my grip on the camera.

Hey?! It's right under the tip of your thumb. Actually, I might
find I keep pressing it by accident...

Not really. Your thumb is on the back of the camera, so you have to shift your whole hand to get to that button--unless you have an extra joint in your thumb. Give it a try on your D7 and see what I mean.

 

[Emmanuel54656]

Hi,

I have the F300. Its easy to dismiss the subject-tracking because its not perfect but it has its uses. I'm glad the camera has it. It has not caused me any great problems and its easy enough to disable it when you want the more conventional. Its definately a step in the right direction. I would expect the DA1 track a lot faster than the F300. Minolta have been the only manufacturer to even attempt having some kind of decent continuous or tracking focus. With each upgrade the feature should get better. Minolta are pushing the boundaries of what video AF can achieve. These systems have to evolve just like they have in the Film SLRs. If you look at the early AF SLRs their subject tracking were pretty poor.

Canon is more concerned with its DSLRs. However, there are many photographers who would be happy with the all in one concept as long as it produces the goods. Who in there right mind likes to lug around lots of heavy lenses and camera bodies? Canon may do well initially with their DSLRs but they may have to consider developing other products too.

I do like the Canon products. I'm tempted to purchase the 10D at the end of the year but it will mean for me investing in a whole range of lenses. The main reason for me getting the 10D is because you have more control of the DOF, reduced image noise and fast camera response. If the DA1 performs well all it will be missing is a larger CCD.

At the end of the day, with all this improving technology, its us consumers who benefit because of improved cameras, more (useful) features and lower prices.

Emmanuel

That is a valid point. As RAW has been reduced in size you can get
more images on a CF and the transfer times are reduced. We'll have
to wait and see how the camera performs.

The RAW file size is 7.5MB. Not much smaller, sigh.

Minolta have obviously put in a lot of effort into the A1. I would
not be surprised if it was on the drawing board just after the D7i
was introduced. I hope the DA1 encourages Canon and Nikon to
produce better cameras than they currently have. There has been a
lack of innovation in their products lately.

This is one segment Canon seems uninterested in. The G5 and the
D7Hi aren't really competitors. The S414 is more similar to the G5
(G3) in terms of resolution, though it has many less features.

Interestingly, I have not seen any quoted performance figures from
Minolta regarding the predictive AF capability and AF speed.

On the Japanese page it refers to 0.2s best-case AF. I think this
is single-AF though, and you can bet that's at wide-angle.

The F300's subject-tracking AF seems like a bit of a joke to me -
I've not used it, but it doesn't sound very useful. Minolta hypes
it up though. So I expect the predictive 3D AF on the A1 will be
marginally better than the continuous AF on the D7 series cameras
which is frankly a joke at anything more than 50mm focal length.

If it
worked as fast as that provided on the Dynax 7 would be something
but I'm not hopeful it will. If the AF is fast enough not to be of
concern and the predictive AF works well and tracks high speed
movement, the A1 will surely be the number one choice amoungst
prosumer cameras.

People walking will be the limit I expect. The D7 can't really
track people walking unless you keep the focal length wide, in
which case you don't need to focus at all, just lock focus to 2.5m
and shoot!

Jawed

 

[Jawed49152]

Yes, I did in fact try with my D7 before I responded.

My thumb rests on that slanted bit of the back, right between the EVF/LCD control and the main mode dial. So bending my thumb a bit, it seems to me it would press the magnifier button.

When I bend my thumb now, it touches the top LCD panel.

Jawed

• I don't like the location of the EVF zoom button. It was bad on

the D7xx, but seems even worse on the A1. I use this all the time
and would really appreciate it if they put the button somewhere
that wouldn't force me to change my grip on the camera.

Hey?! It's right under the tip of your thumb. Actually, I might
find I keep pressing it by accident...

Not really. Your thumb is on the back of the camera, so you have
to shift your whole hand to get to that button--unless you have an
extra joint in your thumb. Give it a try on your D7 and see
what I mean.

 

[koo22]

I guess some people like lugging around a large, heavy bag with lenses, etc. I don't. I have a D1X that I never use. The idea of a versatile, "one-piece" camera appeals to me now much more than any DSLR, for my uses, and well worth the money for that convenience. Just my opinion. K.

I don't think so, Daniella, remember what is to me, the feature
number 1 of the 7 series, the 28-200 mm lenses.

Ok but with a DSLR you can have a much wider variety of lenses.
Althought I like the 28mm lens, I really miss a 300 or 400mm with
the D7.

--
Manuel Guerra
http://www.pbase.com/mguerrat

--
Daniella
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/userphotos?id=26918
http://www.pbase.com/zylen
C7OO FORUM: http://www.c700uz.com
c7OOuz, Dimage-7, Tcon14tele, C210tele, Cokin-173, Grad-ND,
Hoya-red-Intensifier, Hoya_R_72.

--
Galleries: http://www.koo22photos.com/-/koo22photos/default.asp

 

[Mark Pernal]

Phil,

Do you have any idea if the ccd will capture infrared imaging like the original D7?...or is it more like the D7i and D7HI, wherein they apparently put in a stronger hotfilter?

Thanks.

--
Mark Pernal
Lk Mary, FL
http://www.photosig.com/go/users/view?id=21985