Looking for a compact, sexy little number, this is the camera! Seems to be the hottest thing first about this camera. The pictures are fantastic, but only a year later there are many advanced features newer cameras offer.
Strengths:
It's slip in the pocket. Feel like a private investigator when taking shots. The picture come quick and easy. The dials and menues are simple to use. A nice camera overall. Looks expensive in all it's shimmer.
Weaknesses:
Too many other manufacturers have copied this design and are making smarter features. The size diminshes better pictures. You'll experience quite a bit of "hand shake" when shooting. Sensors are a bit sensitive. Not a very good camera on flash or at night!
I've got the camera for a few months already. It's an excellent camera for portablity and ease of use. You can lock the camera settings (ISO, exp-comp, etc) by turning off the "auto reset" feature. Movie clips is certainly not DVD quality but enough for making VCD-grade production. I noted optical performance of the camera--the lens flare heavily and easily. But all you got to do is to try to block the light from hitting the glass directly (a piece of card / hand / camera pouch...). Another con is that the lens locked when you start recording clips--so you only get digital zoom.
All things considered, it's still a good buy.
Strengths:
Compact size
Easy to use
Weaknesses:
Lens flare heavily
No optical zoom when recording clips
I have really tried to use every feature on this camera to get an optimal picture, and I have to say that Minolta's ability to get true and accurate color is second to brands such as Sony and Canon. I own a Canon DigiEfl and a Sony Cybershot (in addition to my Xt), and I am far more impressed with my other two cameras. Like one review said, when light is optimal (outside), the picture is pretty good. But there in lies the problem, one should not search for optimal conditions with a camera such as the Xt. The great advantage of owning the Xt is its size, it is one of the smallest and lightest cameras on the market, however, while you may be more inclined to have this conviently small camera on you durring that priceless moment, you also need to have a camera which has picture quality comperable to its sexy looks.
Strengths:
Small and sexy? Yes. You can take it anywhere, you are not going to find a smaller camera with the same quality.
Weaknesses:
Picture quality suffers in this small package. You are going to sacrifice overall performance in Minolta's small packaging. I have not used other Minolta digital cameras, however, I was not impressed with its performace. You can take average pictures, but ligting has to be optimal for viberant colors.
Similar Products Used:
Sony Cybershot DC150
(great camera, great pictures and weatherproof too!)
Canon Digital Elf (good pictures too)
This is my daily camera. I mean, I take it with me everyday like my wallet. although it is a point and shoot camera, Metering (spot or multi-segment), shoot mode (1, multi, 10 sec timer), ISO (50, 100, 200, 400, auto) and white balance (auto and couple other profiles) are adjustable. Aperature, shutter and focus are not.The pictures it makes are good.
Image is sharp on when there is plenty of light that it uses a fast shutter. In other conditions, hand shake is one serious problem. For many of the pictures I take at night or with indoor lighting handheld, I can see a trace of blur when I zoom in the 2048 x 1536 image. so, get a tripod.
Strengths:
Compact, Quick startup, unlimited movie, internal focus. Flash is as weak as everyone in its class. View finder is too small to be useful.
Weaknesses:
prone to hand shake, movie is pretty space consuming (128Mb holds about 25 min. 15fps QuickTime), about a second delay from pressing the button to shoot (unless you half-press the button)
Similar Products Used:
Essentially none, but tested Casio Exilim S3 or Pentax Optio S, some other models before I decide on this camera.
I'm sorry, I MUST raise this camera's rating! If I could give it SIX stars, I would. If you're reading this review, you know you're not shopping for a D100. But if you want a sleek, sexy camera that will DISAPPEAR into your shirt pocket -- this is the camera for you. I have been taking this camera with me everywhere and taking excellent pictures. What I love is that it doesn't even LOOK like a camera -- it's not only a great conversation starter, but it's very easy to take surreptitious street shots. I must own at least 20 cameras (I'm a point-and-shoot junkie) and my little Minolta Dimage XT is my new favorite. Little surprise -- my previous faves were the Minolta CLE and TC-1. Big thumbs up to Minolta on this winner. I've been e-mailing my shots to friends and getting LOTS of "Wow"s! I shot a row of pumpkins (Halloween) and you could almost touch the skin -- the camera picked up every crease and the colors were reproduced vividly. I could not be more pleased with this purchase.
Strengths:
It's so SMALL.
It is EASY to use. I was able to begin using it right away without consulting the manual.
It's VERY easy to operate and has great controls that are readily available on the spot -- such as exposure compensation and flash control. Lots and lots in a small package.
Weaknesses:
None that I can think of.
Similar Products Used:
Canon Powershot Elph S400 (nice camera too, but bigger, heavier, and more complicated)
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