New Pocket Camera

[JJW]

I have been using a Minolta Dimage Xi digital camera for about a month now, and I like it a lot.

It has a 3 mega pixel sensor, the lens is a 3x optical zoom with up to 4x digital zoom available.

I am more than pleased with the picture quality, and it's small physical size.

The only issues I am having to get used to are the slowness on low light shots and fast action shots. The shutter button delay can be a pain.

With its small size I rarely use its case, most of the time I slip it in any pocket and its quite quick to put into action.

Minolta Dimage Xi

JJW

 

[Jim Thompson]

Sounds like a good cam. I like you am most interested in size...along with pic quality and speed.

Glad you enjoy it.

Jim

 

[JJW]

The Xi dimensions are about 3/4 of an inch thick, 2 7/8 tall and 3 3/8 wide.
It is small enough to almost any pocket, it fits in my bluejeans pants pockets.

The size requires you to hold it a little different than most cameras.
At first I wanted to use two hands like you would a conventional camera,
and a finger would get in the picture.

Now I've learned to use one hand or if I need to use two hands,
the left hand supports the bottom of the camera, well out the lens area.

Picture quality has been pretty good.
It has miss focused a couple of times, mostly in low light shots.

On white balance and color accuracy I have been very pleased.

Menus and features are quick to learn.

I have compared operation and pictures with a friends Olympus 3 mega pixel camera.
I think the Xi is easer to use and battery life was longer.
Pictures were quite close in quality.

Give a shout if you have any questions,
JJW

 

[1SoCalHunter]

WOW! That's pretty small for the resolution/quality of it, sounds like nice camera to have! Congrats!

 

[Qbn Hunter]

JJW,

Whats the price range for a camera like that?

 

[JJW]

Howdy,
The Minolta Dimage Xi was around $499 at local camera shops.
At Cruxworks, Shopperwiz and other internet sites it was about $400.

I ordered over the internet for the camera, case (saved 1/2), a/c adapter, large SD memory card and a spare battery.

It was amazing how fast stores would get items in stock and then sell out.

Minolta first came out with the Dimage X first part of last year, Dimage Xi in September of 2002, now I have heard that the Dimage Xt will be released in April 2003 (no details yet on what they changed or improved).

See-Ya,
JJW