Konica Minolta DiMage Z6

I got this DiMage Z6 used from a lady in Minnesota via ebay; I thought the price was a Great Deal!

The camera is used primarily for Beach and Surfing photos; its fast shutter speed 1.3 fps is great for getting those water action shots and the zoom lense are perfect for shooting from the beach. The 6 megapixels makes it easy to crop close ups of the action shots.

The best part beside the zoom is the photo stablization system which save some shots that I did not expect because of camera movement.

For what I brought it; I like it; I like it!

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The Camera its self is very light weight that makes carrying it around a snap. Its not so big as to be a problem in packing or just carrrying around your neck or even with a tripod attached. .Of course its only a hundred yards to my beach.

I like it no problems!

Kodak EasyShare DX7590 Digital Camera 5.0-megapixel

Never had to contact, but, since Sony has taken over expect it will be a problem if the time comes!

The Z6 is better than I thought it would be--my initial choice of a camera was a Nikon digital SLR, but cost constraints kept me from making that purchase. I am thoroughly enjoying my Z6, however--and am glad I bought one.

I bought mine literally the day before a five week trip around the US, and it was easy enough to use just out of the box. And (once I read through the manual) I discovered it has some very nice features on it. The automatic setting was the big lifesaver to start with, but taking advantage of the action or landscape settings have made for some nice shots.

The construction is not heavy duty--I admit to being afraid to drop the thing--but is solid enough, and the buttons are right where you'd expect them to be. (Compare the weight of the Z6 to an digital SLR and you'll know what I mean instantly.) I haven't had too much issue with the color of my telephoto pix, and have seen little pixelation. In fact, the colors are too good; the camera sees what I do--not what I wish it did! (I know I can adjust the color balance, but there are some minor issues there.)

The image stabilizer is pretty good and light weight to carry around for everyday use.

The biggest probelm lies not with the camera itself, but that there is no longer a Minolta. I hear that Sony will pick up the slack, but since the Z6 was among the last of the line to be introduced, there is a stunning lack of additional equipment for it. Once you have the wide-angle adaptor, and a Maxxum flash, that's really about it.

Nikon Digital SLR

none

The Dimage z6 is a mixed bag. It is a camera that the beginning photographer can use, as wel as an experienced photographer. It is very comfortable to work with and fits the hands well. The controls are in the right places, as far as I am concerned. I bought the camera as an every day carry aroiund camera. My serious camera is the Canon 20D, DSLR with a host of lenses. I needed something that I could put in a small, light bag and this camera fits the bill. Its optical zoom is excellent and it is fast and responsive. The SD cards are inexpensive to buy. Yes, it comes with only a 16mb card, but so does every one of its competitors. With 1gb SD cards selling for under $25, I don't even consider this an inconvenience. My first digital camera, a Polaroid 1.3mb camera that I bought in the 2000 came with a 4mb CF card, lol.

It is a 6mp camera, more than most of its contemporaries. It focuses fast and shoots fast, unless you are using the built in flash, of course. It takes time to re-charge the batteries. Its low light sensitivity is excellent for focusing as well. Its menu is easy to work with and can be accessed from either the viewfinder or the back LCD, as can every other visual function. The viewfinder is an LCD as well, so what you view is literally what you shoot.

Also, the stability function is a totally independent function, so it can be used in any mode, even manual photography!

It has a built-in hot shoe for a separate external flash. Most of its competitors don't. Definitely a plus for weddings, etc.

Yet there are some definite downsides as well. As you know, Konica-Minolta has dropped out of the camera business and sold its technology to Sony. K-M will service any problems, but I don't expect the updates that we are used to. An update it desperately needs is in firmware.

The shooting characteristics are built into the Firmware, which is the Operating System of the camera, and the Z6 has some definite upgrade needs. The photographs have visible digital noise problems at any ISO over 100. This is surprising, since its predesessor, the Z5 didn't have this problem. The programmed setting has troubles with bright scenes, even if the focus is set to the center area and many shots will be extremely underexposed. On the otherhand, I've taken a similar shot shortly afterwards and it has been fine. It may be the firmware or my camera itself. I do not know.

Most accessories will have to be bought after-market or at inflated prices for the brand name. Why the remaing accessories should be so much more expensive, I don't know. The camera's aren't.

Minor note: Like some of its competitors, it needs an accessory cone to screw in around the lens to mount filters, accessories lenses, etc. You can get both wide angles and telephoto lenses for the camera. It does have a wide angle lens setting in the menu, but not a telephoto setting.

Fast, comfortable, Good ergonomics, Stability setting for all program modes, even manual inexpensive now, external flash hot shoe

ISO Noise, Lack of firmware upgrades, possible brighness problem.

Canon G-2
Fuji FinePix S5200

the dimage Z6 is a good camera with the capacity for star shots with a mount :
( tri pod ) and has the advantage that under normal but dim conditions you can still take a photo without the flash which i love, ;-)

nice and comfortable in the hand ..
light in the hand ..
gives confidance in the hand ..
has sounds or even none

nice metering , system good darkness sesitivity
you can still take a photo without the flash under dim conditions
sharp closeups

nice adaptive focus

nice and comfortable in the hand ..
light in the hand ..
gives confidance in the hand ..
has sounds or even none

taking and locking a brightness takes fiddling
the bracket focus can be to sufisticated and i often find the unambiguos center focus on the olympus more likly to be focused on what your realy looking at !

olympus C-725uz

answers ! ( both )