Strengths: this camera is awesome for that closeup flower picture perfect ,etc! I give it an A+ for close~ups! The colors come out very colorful and takes crispy clear pictures. the camera also has custom features, so you can play with it just in case you want more vivid colors or maybe you want less or more contrast etc.! I also took pictures from inside my jeep, as my husband was driving, and it still took perfect pictures, and im sure ya know how jeeps tend to be all over the place. This camera was worth my $186.00(clearance) wwas Now for outside distance, you might have to customize a few featuto get
Weaknesses: the only thing is, b4 taking a pic', you have to play with the shutter button;
you press it halfway down til the camera gets the image focused and clear,
and ready to take; " this tiny process takes a few seconds", when ready,
press down the shutter and release. Once you get use. to it, you will be very saisfied with the results... If you dont know how to work it, the pic' wont come out right. So give the camera and yourself a chance. It is hard and confusing at first but ina matter of time, you'll get use to it. as far as batteries, keep enough rechargeable batteries around. regular batteries is totally a waste of your money.
PS. MAKE SURE YOU GOT ALL UR ACCESSORIES SINCE I DIDN'T GET MY NECK STRAP Bbrenda
Bottom Line:
hi there im Brenda. I've had this camera for less than 1week. In my opinion this camera is good for beginners who want to take that next step into photography.
i say this 'cuz the camera is easy to operate. You rarely dont have to worry about wether if the picture is going to come out wrong since the camera adjust it's own features automatically to get the picture perfect right..
Strengths: Good size screen to view pictures, easy to use on auto setting.
Weaknesses: Heavier than a point and shoot 35mm camera, but not bad.
Bottom Line:
I purchased this camera in January, 2004. This is my first digital camera, I have never used any before this. Now that I have played with it I think it is great. It is very versatile in that it has settings for very close up shots, closer than 6 inches. And other settings for photographing text, settings for portrait, landscape, and night portraits. I usually just leave it set on auto and the pictures come out great. I can review the pictures right after I take them and either delete them or save them. It also comes with an Audio Visual cable to attach to a TV to review them on a big screen. The camera is compatible with the NTSC and PAL standards. This came in handy on a week long cruise. I took hundreds of pictures and reviewed them every day on a TV. I played slide shows on the TV for my wife and daughters using my camera. It is a complex camera for a beginner like me but I love it now. It is heavier than my 35mm point and shoot camera. The screen on the back to view what I am photographing is larger than I have seen on other cameras. This one measures just over 1 inch high and 1-3/8 inches wide. I also bought an accessory kit with lens cleaning brushes and cleaner solvent, and rechargeable Ni-MH batteries. I have never used the cleaning kit but the rechargeable batteries are the only way to go. They hold a charge 100 times longer than a regular battery. However, I have found that if I do not use the camera for a week or so that the batteries loose some of their charge. So now I charge them if the camera has been sitting for a while.
Submitted by
a Intermediate
from Fort Wayne, IN USA
Date Reviewed: January 20, 2004
Strengths: Solid body, smooth zoom lens operation, nice menu system. The top LCD setting display is a nice touch from the past.
Weaknesses: Poor focus issues in regular and macro mode. Slow display. Iffy battery and connection access doors. Image quality - even using a tripod, was always lacking either detail or was grainy.
Bottom Line:
Overall this camera was a major dissapointment. I expected a Minolta to be a stellar performer, but was very dissapointed in some key areas. The focus is slow and unreliable, the macro mode focus is very poor in particular. Also the flash is easy to cover with your finger (but to be fair, there is a raised area so you can avoid the flash by feel). The battery door is also an area that I feel will break - the connection access door isn't great either.
Maybe my biggest mistake was expecting too much from this camera. I've come to expect Minolta to be a good brand, yet this one came up short in too many ways. Ultimately I never did catch a decent shot before giving up and returning it. Yet I'd pull out my trust Sony 'F707 and get a perfect shot every time (I purchased the Minolta for a backup due to the fragile nature of this series of Sony). Overall I am dissapointed - and surprised in a dissapointing way.
Similar Products Used: Sony DSC-S70, Sony DSC-F707, Canon PowerShot A60, Olympus D600L and many more.
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
Rob
a Intermediate
Date Reviewed: November 20, 2003
Strengths: Shares a lot (lens and computer chips) with the very $$$ Minolta models; by far the best value I could find in a 4MP camera. Good auto shooting, with a nice mix of manual controls. Also, it has a wide range of cool features (good macro mode, nice telephoto, bulb setting, etc.).
Weaknesses: Just to be picky on a really nice camera:
- Slow lens (max f/3); needs lots of light
- Tripod mount placement
- Non-integral lens cap
- Only 2 f/stop choices
- Non-standard 35.5 mm. lens threads
Bottom Line:
Great camera! Durable body; very good (sharp and apochromatic) lens; very fast processing (up to 8 rapid-fire shots at high res).
Similar Products Used: Kodak DC260
Kodak DC3600
Canon S40
Overall Rating:
Value Rating:
Submitted by
DamienParadox
a Intermediate
Date Reviewed: September 15, 2003
Strengths: Lots of features and easy to use. Good feel.
Weaknesses: mode dial turns too easily and activates when being placed in pouch. Get a larger than standard CF card and rechargeable batteries. Keep spares handy.
Bottom Line:
This is my third digital camera and replaces an Olympus 320DL. I love it. It is a bit bulky, but I like the heft. The price was just too good for a 4 megapixel, which had me a bit leery. But I have taken some very nice art shots with it, as well as a ton of snapshots.
