Konica Minolta DiMage A2

It has taken me about 3 weeks of shooting to finally explore most of the features this camera offers. I like the Auto exposure lock feature to make quick exposure corrections especially on sunny days. The camera does nearly everything that I need it to do with my level of skill and the automatic modes still allow for simple point and shoot operation. The built in flash seems a little weak compared to other cameras I have used. The 49mm threaded lens allows me to use the same filter set with my Pentax ME. I have also taken several night time shots with the camera with very good results. Overall I would recommend this camera

8mp High res EVF Anti-shake 7x zoom + macro Manual focus Ring Manual Zoom Lots of flexibility

EVF. (SLR through lens is best) Easy to press WB button by mistake while manual focusing. Needs wireless remote like A200.

Canon S1 IS

none needed

I have a Damage A2. I LOVE THIS CAMERA!! I have had it for 7 months now, and had NO problems. I have taken night pictures, action shots, any mistake with the shot can be traced back to the operator...(me!) But I learn from it all, and that's what it's about for me!

Mu first digital was a Mavica 95, I loved it also at the time, but this is so much like 35mm, only instant gratification as far as seeing what you have.

I have the camera for about 6 months now. Generally I am very happy with the camera. Of course bear in mind that we can't make comparison with DSLR interms of image quality at high ISO. In terms of speed, It is not suitable for fast action shots unless you are familiar with the subject and be able to predict the "timing". Other than that it is very well control. AF is sufficiently fast, though low light it tend to "mis-focus", which happen to any camera in this class. AWB is very good. Might be a bit warm to my liking, but can be adjusted. AS is very effective, I have tried to hand hold it at 200mm (35mm equiv) at 1/10 second, getting very good result. I think that is the limit of my hand holdability as well as the effectiveness of the AS. Image quality, at ISO 64 and ISO 100, image is superb, ISO 200 is usable but if you use ISO 400 or ISO 800, you need program like noise ninja or neat image to take care of the noise. I have printed the image at ISO 64 to 12"x18" and the image is very very good at normal viewing distance. Battery performance is acceptable. Aveage getting 400-500 shots with 2 NP-400 batteries in the grip, with AS on 100%, LCD review 10 sec, checking image through LCD 30% and flash use 30%. BP-400 grip is usefull for portrait shot as well as the housing for 2 batteries. Size is well balance and fit into my palm nicely. Zoom range is excellent (28-200mm equiv). EVF, though not as good as optical viewfinder, is the best amongst this class, but it is impossible to 100% focus accurately. But 95% of the time, this is sufficient. Can't expect one camera to do everything. User interface is very useful, I found it is easy to use and everything fall into where it should be except for the custom WB, which sometime my finger accidentally press it while in portrait position. Maybe a on/off switch will be good. 2 thumb wheels is very usefull to control the aperture and shutter speed. Similar to one in Dynax 7. I heard people complaining about the soft image from the camera. Actually, my setting is always on soft (instead of normal), then I will sharpen it on Photoshop, this will give me more control and this is only way I think to achieve best image quality. This camera is design for photographer who needs control and do post processing to get best result, and don't want to carry extra weight of a DSLR.

AS is very effective EVF is the best I have seen, not for critical focussing though. Handling speed is excellent, though not for fast action. But prefocus will help. Battery life is excellent Image quality is excellent. Built quality is excellent Lens range is very good Custom WB is very useful

Shutter lag is there, but negligeble. In-built flash is ok for snap shots and any subject within 3m from the camera.

Dynax 7, Canon Pro1, Sony F828

None needed

I've got widely varying interests, from insect macrophotography to F1. So I wanted something that would bridge the gap while I save up for a DSLR. I'm very impressed with that this does for the price. Having bought the A1 just before Christmas and then seeing the A2 coming three months later I nearly didn't buy this - but the ugrade is definitely worth it. The increased resolution is accompanied by more noise when shooting at ISO 400 and 800, but the noise is "better" than the A1. It's more consistent, more even in colour distribution. Also it doesn't seem to have the strong rowc/column shift artefacts I found with the A1. At 64ISO it's better than the A1 at 100. I found a side by side comparison from the A1 to A2 interesting, the metering on the two at 100ASA was different. The A2 appeared slightly greener on the external LCD. White balance seems better on the A2, in Adobe colour space the images. The colour saturation seems higher on the A1, even when both cameras are set at all 0, no sharpness, no colour adjustment etc. But the A2 looks "right" when you see them side by side. The LCD silts down 20 degrees and up to 90 degrees, effectively a waist level finder. Great for my insect macro shots at low level as I don't have to bend so far. The eye level finder also adjust up 90 degrees, like an SLR right angle finder. But they're not quite as flexible because the adjustment doesn't rotate to portrait, it's only really usable landscape. I'd like the LCD to flip to 90 degrees up and down, and to 90 degrees to each side. With the digital eye level finder (EVF)you have the option to switch it to auto-sensing, EVF on or LCD on. Saving batteries using EVF all the time gave me a whole day's shooting (280 pictures) on two batteries, with reviewing after each photo, on 1GB Microdrive. With memory instead of rotating disk you may get even better performance. Flex focus is very widely variable, the AF point can be set almost anywhere in the central 60% or so of the viewfinder. Spot metering and AE lock is good, either centre spot metering or following the flex focus point. I have to say my hands are smaller than average, so if you have large hands it's well worth handling it to see if it fits YOU, but the controls all fall to hand very easily for me. Overall? Yes I'd wholeheartedly recommend it.

Anti-shake !! How about 1/10th second at 200mm zoom? High resolution viewfinder. External flash connector as well as hot shoe. Surprisingly good on board flash when set to +2. Very good set of controls, well placed. Key functions fall to hand immediately. Half-press the shutter and the camera switches from review mode to shooting immediately. All viewing functions including zoom are available in review mode. Two control wheels, one for shutter speed one for aperture in manual mode (that's why I hated using the 300D in comparison). Works with the Minolta Dynax system, so it can use 3600H(D) flash (and others from the range), remote release, close up diffuser and other accessories.

SLOW to write to standard cards. 3x RAW images at 11MB each took over a minute to IBM Microdrive or standard Sandisk CF. Not compatible with Dimage A1 capture software, so you'll have to buy that anew if like me you're upgrading from an A1. I find I'm pressing the custom WB button while trying to feel for the AF/Manual switch on the body. But that's only when shooting portrait mode when the camera is almost resting on the WB button as it ends up on the bottom with the shutter relase on the top. Autofocus freezes the finder image momentarily, which makes panning with racing cars difficult. Three-shot burst in RAW mode makes the sceen go totally blank while shooting, which makes panning with cars rather hard. Despite claims of fast autofocus, and 3D prediction, it only got about 50% right with F1 cars around a 2nd gear corner and on the start/finish straight. But for "normal" use I think it'll be great. If I ever use it normally I'll have to edit the review.

Canon Digital Rebel Minolta A1 Minolta Z1 Casio 2800 Sony Mavica FD

Online customer service was not very helpful. Seems they didn't know much about the camera and came up with stock answers that avoided difficult questions.

This is my second 8MP digital camera after Sony F828. First impression will is light, lots of functions and great handling. The AS will surprice you. After using for 1 month I found its strengths and weaknesses, read below. I am comparing it to Sony F828 and other 8MP, C-8080 and Pro1, which I had tried in my shop. On my personal exprience I rate A2 the best 8MP follow by F828. My main aim is get many good quality photo than one chance super quality photo.

The weight & size of A2 are just right very well balance in one hand or two. I will say the best currently. Pro1 come next but maybe too small for some hands. AS this is something you wish as minimum standard for all prosumer DC. Low light and long tele you do not need the monopod any more. I got great shot at long tele that surprice my friends. Buttons lots of them and in right place. Minolta you done it again. Learn them fast and you will never miss great composed shots. I can get a number of shots with different setting than with F828. F828 & C8080 are rather limited in function. AF is faster than A1 and Pro1. Only shuttle lag is behind F828 but do you know F828 shuttle lag is faster than S2pro?

Of all those great functions and handling, Minolta still weak in image quality. This is something that may put people off. I found its image is soft compare to all others 8MP. You can put focus to hard and contrast + for better result. The buildin flash is weak. F828 is better for this infact very good. I expect good strong flash for A2 but this is disappointing. Of all those buttons I found flash mode button and focus assist missing. Minolta may consider a preflash AF assist like short 2 small pulses of flash for AF to lockon.

Minolta Dimage 7 Sony Cybershot DSC-F828 Fujifilm S2Pro