Editorial Review:Product Description:The DiMAGE A1 is the next generation SLR-type digital camera from Minolta. Taking the best from the DiMAGE 7 series, the DiMAGE A1 was redesigned for today's digital photographer. This is a camera for those who demand the highest imaging quality and versatility in a compact, easy-to-use package. The DiMAGE A1 exploits the power of digital imaging by providing the tools to express your creativity and solve visual problems. And above all, the DiMAGE A1 is a joy to use.
Amazon.com Product Description:Fusing high-quality digital imaging technology with versatile tools that help express your creativity and solve visual problems, the SLR-type Minolta Dimage A1 is built for the demanding digital photographer. It features a 5-megapixel resolution, 7x optical zoom lens, an anti-shake function, ultra-quick shutter speed, and many more professional features. It also has the world's fastest autofocus speed among SLR-type digital cameras with a non-interchangeable lens (as of July, 2003).
Optics and Resolution The Dimage A1 is built around a high-precision electro-optical system designed to maximize image quality, featuring a 5.3 megapixel primary-color CCD with 5.0 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images. It captures up to 2592 x 1944 pixel images for up to 13 x 17-inch enlargements (at 150 dpi). It also offers 1600 x 1200 (2 MP), 1280 x 960 (1 MP), and 640 x 480 (VGA) resolution modes.
The Dimage A1 features new image-quality and image-size settings. The extra-fine image-quality option joins the fine and standard settings to produce a high-quality JPEG file with little compression or loss of detail. The new 2080 x 1560 image size gives the photographer the ability to switch between 5 MP, 3 MP, and 2 MP images smoothly to match the final use of the image with the optimum resolution to maximize storage space on the memory card. A 640 x 480 (VGA) image size is also available for web images.
The f/2.8–3.5, 7x optical zoom is an apochromatic (APO) lens employing anomalous dispersion (AD) glass to minimize chromatic aberration at all focal lengths and produce sharp, high-contrast images. With a focal range of 7.2–50.8mm, it is equivalent to a 28–200mm zoom lens in the 35mm format. This lens encompasses the most used focal lengths in photography today, ranging from wide angle for landscapes and interiors to telephoto for portraits and details of distant landmarks. The 2x digital zoom gives the Dimage A1 a zoom ratio of up to 14x, equivalent to a 400mm lens on a 35mm camera.
Movie Mode In addition to taking digital still images, the Dimage A1 also captures video with sound in multiple formats:
- Standard QVGA (320 x 240) color movies and monochrome night movies up to 15 minutes with audio
- The night-movie mode can make recordings under extreme low-light conditions
- The interval function can produce a series of still images taken at regular intervals or it can combine the images into a 640 x 480 time-lapse movie (which can be played back at 4 frames per second)
More Features The new anti-shake function minimizes the blurring effect of handheld camera shake to provide the sharpest images possible. This system is especially valuable when shooting at long focal lengths or in low-light conditions without a tripod, enabling the camera to be handheld with shutter speeds eight times longer than usual.
The Dimage A1 is the first digital camera to employ CxProcess II, Minolta's new image-processing technology, which controls the image qualities of color, contrast, and sharpness while minimizing noise. Brilliant, saturated color remains vibrant without becoming unnatural or flat, while subtle contrast is rendered to retain the richness and depth of the subject and preserve details in the highlights and shadows.
The Dimage A1 has a top shutter speed of 1/16,000 second, a major advantage in sports photography. The continuous-advance modes make it possible to capture the action as it unfolds. Three JPEG or five 5-megapixel RAW images can be captured at a rate of 2 frames per second.
The 1.8-inch low-temperature, high-contrast color LCD monitor can be tilted from –20 to +90 degrees. It has an extended color gamut, contrast, and dynamic range, plus a wide-viewing angle so that the camera does not need to be held perpendicularly to clearly view the live image. The redesigned Digital Hyper Viewfinder gives the Dimage A1 the same feel as a 35mm SLR. It can be tilted between 0 and 90 degrees for comfortable shooting at low angles or in confined spaces. Because the viewfinder LCD is shielded, it provides clear images even when working under bright light.
Other features include:
- Direct Manual Focus (DMF), which is found in professional-level 35mm film cameras like the Minolta Maxxum 7, enables manual fine-tuning of the focus after the AF system has locked onto the subject
- With continuous autofocusing, the Dimage A1 uses the new 3-D Predictive Focus Control to track the subject right up to the moment the exposure is made, ensuring optimum focus
- The real-time histogram shows the luminance distribution of the image before it is captured
- Data imprinting allows the date or time to be printed on the image as well as text and serial numbers
Storage and Transfer The Dimage A1 is compatible with both Type I and II CompactFlash cards, which means that you can also use MicroDrives. A 16 MB CompactFlash card is included; it will store approximately 10 images at 2592 x 1944 at standard resolution. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB 1.1, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Power and Size The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (NP-400). It measures 4.6 by 3.3 by 4.5 inches and weighs 19.8 ounces excluding the batteries or 22.5 ounces when loaded with the battery.
What's In The Box Dedicated Lithium-ion Battery NP100, Lithium-ion Battery Charger BC-400, Neck Strap NS-DG4000, Lens Cap (49mm) LF-1249, Lens Shade for DiMAGE A1 DLS-A1,Accessory Shoe Cap SC-10, Ferrite Core FRC-100, AV Cable AVC-400,USB Cable USB-500,DiMAGE Software CD-ROM (Includes DiMAGE Viewer), CF (CompactFlash) Card (16MB)
Accessories:
see more
Accessories:
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
-
Very happy with this camera.
I purchased this camera a year ago. I love the fact that a lot of the settings can be changed without going into the menu. The anti-shake feature is very helpful as I am a senior citizen with severe arthritis of the shoulders. Holding a camera steady is a challenge at times. This was the main selling point for me.
I have used the camera for scenic shots, portraits, weddings and flowers with insects. The pictures are fantastic.
Highly recommend.
Rating: -
wonderful camera
This camera is my favorite. The pictures have outstanding clarity, and the camera is easy to operate. It can practically take pictures on its own!! I use it alot for puppy pics, and I can't tell you how easily I can capture the pups in motion...there's not the normal lag time of a typical digital, so I can capture the moment as it really happened instead of the formerly seen blank view...or the view of a puppy's tail!! It's a Minolta...of course!!
Rating: 
-
I'ts like carrying an electronic tripod.
I was looking for another digital camera to supplement my pocket digital (Optio 330rs). The Optio has served me well and will always take with me because of its portability. I wanted a camera with more functionality and overall quality and was willing to sacrifice some portability.
I've narrowed down my choices to these: Nikon 5700, Panasonic Z10 and Minolta A1. After much research and going to retailers to "test drive" the cameras, I finally settled on the Minolta. Actually, I did purchase the Nikon first but returned it to Amazon un-opened because of my concern with it's slow autofocus and low light performance. The Z10 was a strong contender, it has a great lens plus optical stabilization but it was too bulky and had a smaller sensor. Big camera, big lens with a tiny sensor hmmm, somehow I did not feel comfortable with this combination.
The Minolta A1 has a decent lens, good size stabilized sensor. It didn't have the long range zoom of the Panasonic but instead it had a wider angle which I find much more useful.
What I like most about this camera is it's image stabilizing feature which was just a afterthought when I bought it. It soon proved to be invaluable. For example, on a trip to Lake George NY I was photographing a canon(not the camera) firing demonstration, the bang was so loud that I jumped and triggered the shutter involuntarily. Yet the end result was a sharp photo at peak action See http://www.pbase.com/image/31903396 ,notice the ear protection worn by the soldier.
Another shot that was helped by the image stabilizer was a portrait taken at a museum, indoor, no flash and very tight, almost macro. Amazingly even the brushstrokes appeared sharp on the photo. I think the shutterspeed went down to 1/20th.
Having this camera is like carrying around an electronic tripod! I've taken hand held shots of fireworks, street lights, buildings at dusk and full zooms in low lighting.
As far as the megapixel count, 5MP is plenty. Although the 8mp Minolta A2 is out, it's almost $1,000. The A1 is a real bargain at around $550, It is basically the same camera as the A2 except for the MP count. Besides who needs 8MP unless you crop heavily or print posters. I even turn it down to 3MP sometimes to fit more shots and a quicker shot to shot performance, still 3MP is big enough to print 8x10's.
A few minor issues:
One thing the camera can improve on is it's dimensions, I would like it to be a little bit smaller, maybe like the Nikon 5700, and the proportions are a little awkward, it's almost as wide as it is deep and tall. Somehow this makes it a little tedious to carry around, I've permanently removed the lens hood to make it easier to carry (But the camera won't look as Cool!). So this not a carry everywhere camera, but it complement nicely with my pocket camera.
Another issue I have with this camera is that the viewfinder is electronic, basically it's a tiny second LCD that replaces the traditional glass viewfinder. Using electronic viewfinder is not very satisfying, you get a pixelated image with awful colors and when panning it feels like the LCD can't catch up to what your eyes are trying to follow.
Lastly, many people may find it dissappointing when they first see the photos right off the camera. The default settings for this camera is very neutral, therefore the images may look very flat. This is because as a high-end camera, minolta wanted to leave room for post-processing for advanced users. For photographers who do not want to do any post-processing the camera must be set at a higher contrast, saturation and sharpening.
Pros:
Larger sensor than similar cameras
Great lens
Wideangle zoom
Image stabilizer
Fast autofocus
cons:
Slightly too big to carry anywhere, anytime.
Flimsy CF door
Electronic view finder hard to get used to.
Rating: -
Awesome
Got this camera a month ago. Beats my friend's two-year-old Nikon 5700. Most impressive is the manual control. Very easy to use despite the number of knobs. I was able to get 80% of the functions without reading the manual (no experience with Minolta digicams before). Satisfied with the quality though people have been complaining about the noise in Minolta cams for a long time. Would definitely recommend to anybody who wants a decent camera but doesn't want to spend big $ on a DSLR.
Rating: -
I love this camera!!!! But........
I bought this camera and read the manual and loved all the feathers It was awesome.I spent two days going over the book and taking shots and I remember when it first came on a warning came on and after that I would take pictures of the DVD player Two Towers movie and they were awesome and all the pictures I took were awesome but then it started rolling when I pointed it at my tv screen and the LED got bright and dim and for no reason and there was nothing about this in troubleshooting in the users manual and then the battery went dead and so I recharged it and went to bed and in the morning after only a few pictures taken the battery went very low again and only after 4 or 5 pictures and I was so sad because I am not a pro by any means but I own a 3.2 nikon and it did not do any weird stuff and I have had it for almost 2 years and I loved that camera upgrade and I could have bought the nikonD100 or the top of the line cannon SLR and have all the lenses it would ever need/flashes too. But I loved this camera and all the features making it my perfect upgrade.
I am not a pro by no means but I felt it must be defective when I charged it and went to bed and got up and took some more yet,only 4 or 5 and the battery was shot again????!! I would buy that camera again because I loved it so much and I never owned a minolta but I loved everything about it . I took pictures only inside and at night and in the day and they were fantastic. But the rolling on the tv shots and the light and dimming on the LCD and then last but not least a battery going dead after charging it only after 4 or5 shots made me conclude it was defective. This was also in auto mode and I checked my other digital nikon and it did not do any of these things and as sad as I was to return it,There was no answers in the manual for these problems. If anyone reads this and has some kind of answer please speak out to me because I loved that camera and have missed it ever since the return also I if it was defective and does not eat batteries I would most definatly purchase it again. I do not no the difference between camera shake and built in stabilation but I would take the chance on re-ordering that camera again Since the problems I listed were nowhere in the manual whih I spent two full days on what else could I do but I still love it and would love to have one without the problems I have stated above. Lastly, Does this camera eat battery power that fast?? I love that camera and I have read them all so please let me know if that is a real problem. AS for the rolling pictures of the Two TOwers DVD it only happened on the minolta and my nikon was fine. If there is any help out there I want to buy this one again. GREAT CAMERA. Last what are the silver metal things on the front side of this camera for> I forgot I hope some one reads tis because I am with the possitive reviews I think this camera and all features ROCK! I loved it and I as I said looked at all the camera's on site and this is the one. JosieRyder@aol.com
