Rating: 
Summary: Good size and price but disappointing picture quality
Review: I've owned a Fuji F401 for over a year and been very happy with it. I decided to get another digital camera and picked this one due to it's even smaller size and the fact that the video length is only limited by the size of the memory card. Also, it uses SD memory, which I prefer due to it being cheap and available in sizes up to 512MB. I've found that in spite of it's small size I have no trouble operating it. I am very happy with it's features and quick response time when navigation menus and managing (reviewing, deleting, etc.) photos and videos. I don't mind the small LCD and I manage not to get my finger in the way of the lens. My only major disappointment is the picture quality. I find it very challenging to take a nice picture. I get blurred, dark or poorly colored shots much of the time. While the Fuji doesn't have the control over Exposure, White Balance, etc. this one has, I could just fire away with it and get pictures that were brighter with better color and in focus more of the time. Many of the pictures I take are indoors, which seems to be a particular challenge with the Dimage Xt. The video quality is worse than the photo quality in low light situations. Much worse than my Fuji in the same conditions. Also, althought the startup time is short, there is a long delay between when you push the button and the picture actually takes, at least when using the flash. This has caused me numerous missed shots of my rapidly moving 2 year old. Maybe I will learn the best settings for each type of shooting I do and improve the percentage of good photos I take, but I'd prefer not to have to do this. I will only use this 3.2MP camera as a backup to my 2MP Fuji.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Camera (for the Great Outdoors)
Review: If you're looking for a small camera that takes great pictures OUTSIDE, this is it. The mix of reviews this has received is due, in my humbre opinion, to the fact that some people have mostly used it outdoors (the high scorers), and some other people have mostly used it indoors (the low scorers). The reason for this discrepancy is that the flash is not that good. If you're shooting indoor, you really need some other source of light for the picture to be of good quality, if you just use the built-in flash, you'll get a decent snaphsot, but nothing to brag about. Everytime I see indoor pictures I get disappointed at the quality (unless I remembered to use other lights) and everytime I see outdoor pictures I'm awed at the clearness and level of detail.
Rating:
Summary: The Minolta Dimage...a handy camera
Review: I bought the Dimage about 6 months ago. For the most part I have been very pleased with its performance. It is very easy to use....The controls and settings are very self explanatory and doesn't require a computer science degree to figure out. In fact, I didn't even open up the manual to learn how to use it. The construction quality is sound and seems to be pretty rugged. (Yes I have dropped it at least twice and it still works). The image quality is decent. On the TIFF mode, you can't beat it, but at other settings...well let me say I have seen better. I call it my "snap shot camera" I wouldn't use this camera if I were a professional.
I choose this camera primarily for its size. It is awesome! Put it in your jacket pocket and go. Its light and small. (almost too small if you have big hands) For those of you that remember the Kodak disc cameras...the Dimage is very similar in feel. For the "on the go" folks or outdoors types, I highly recommend this camera. If you are interested in "professional" or "artsy" photos...this is not the camera for you. Here are the pros:
light, easy, decent quality shots, rugged (and it always seems to be a conversation piece because of its size, if that is impt to you). Battery life...I have taken a number of long weekend trips without difficulty. The battery does gripe a little when its cold out...but what battery doesn't.
Cons:
--the viewfinder..useless. Use the LCD--mayber for smaller hands it might be more useful, but the mits I have always block the lens when I bring the camera to my face.
--The Flash...works great in low or medium light...not great in very low light situations. The images come out blurry. If you plan on taking shots in darkness, take a pen light so the camera has something to focus on.
--Shutter delay...seems long. I have had to redo a number of pics because the subjects thought they had waited long enough and walked away mid-shot. The true test would be to ask if I would buy this camera again? I would!
Rating: 
Summary: Super compact camera with great user-friendly menus!
Review: Strengths:
Small size, light weight, user-friendly, videos for full length of memory card, built-in speaker. Weaknesses:
Memory card (secure digital) is more expensive than most others, camera mode selector not easy to move, takes longer than expected to actually take pictures (but quick start up). Comments:
...
Anyway, this camera is GREAT! Compared to my previous camera which I bought about 2 years ago, they have DEFINITELY come a LONG way in digital camera technology. First off, the 3.2 megapixel quality is more than sufficient for everyday photos. This camera is also great for close-ups (up to 15cm).
The user menus are super easy to use as well. Love the sound that comes along with it! The camera makes sounds when turned on/off, picture taken, and when a picture is focused. You can even CUSTOM record your own sounds to some of these features! You can also preview the pictures without actually having to switch to preview mode too. That saves a lot of time!
The start up time is also amazing. My old camera took forever to take picture after picture. This one is quick.
The downfalls are that the memory card is pretty expensive compared to other makes and taking pictures takes a little longer than I had expected. The camera takes a while to focus the image(s). The camera also sometimes hangs when using the USB connection (I have to pull out and put in the battery).
The biggest problem I have is moving the camera mode selector (from image shooting, preview, movie/audio mode, and setup).
Overall, however, I would HIGHLY recommend this camera!!!
Rating:
Summary: Teriffic small digital camera
Review: The little Minolta really shines as an "easy carry" camera. Picture quality is very, very good at "fine" quality (but - see below). Video quality is not good, but the ability is there, and can be useful. Sure, it takes practice to keep your fingers out of the FOV (a problem that happens w/ small 35mm's too) and to use the focus/exposure lock when you've got backlighting, high contrast, or a foreground subject. Low light needs a steady rest because it operates at about 100 film speed equivalent, so if you're used to a 35mm w/ 400 film, you'll be disappointed. And like all small things, the controls are not easy to use if you've got fingers like bratwurst. And, do invest in extra memory cards, the 16 meg card it comes with is much too small. I've been using mine at work for 4 months in the field as a documentation tool, and just got back from the Galapagos where it really got a workout. I also bought the dive-rated case, which produced great results while snorkeling out there (Dimage and dive case: $450. Underwater video of Green Sea Turtle: priceless). Inside the case, it's still coat-pocketable, and protected from rain, sleet, snow, dust, etc. This is a great compact camera. I like it better than any point 'n shoot, film or digital, that I've used before. But it's still a point 'n shoot. Size matters.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome camera
Review: I am still amazed at this camera every time I take it out. Untill I saw this one, any digital camera's remotly close to this size where VGA or would lack every feature I wanted. But somehow, they cramed a 3.2MP camera with a 3x zoom in this tiny case. And it actually works. Also, unlike other micro camera's(or at least my Fuji A101) you have plenty of menu options for manual settings. Of course, some quality has to be cut for such a small camera, but the pictures are still stunning. Low light does create some noise in the pictures, but colors are still quite good. The flash seems to overpower the image at times, but I'm probably just getting too close to the objects... But with any camera, there are some problems. THough the size is wonderful, it is hard to keep it steady, say if you where going to take a pic without the flash. It's also easy to get your hands in the way/on the lens. Another problem I had was it locking up on me once when I was going though a movie I'd recored. I just had to pop the battery out and back in to correct this. Speaking of which, this thing usings a special battery. It's live isn't too great... Never actually calculated it, but so far I've not had a problem. All in all, definetly a camera to consider.
Rating:
Summary: Very convenient, a few flaws
Review: I love this camera's easy portability: tiny size fits in any pocket, which was my main criterion. I'm not very organized, so any camera that needs its own bag, supplies, etc., is just going to get left at home. This one is currently in my jacket pocket--I take it everywhere, and snap anything I want whenever the idea pops into my head.
I'm mostly a snapshot taker, so the quality is fine with me, although I have taken some nice nature pictures that came out very well. Mostly I use it for taking photos to email, which it does just fine, and the occasional video. I like the video feature: it has audio included, and the video can be as long as the memory card can handle (I did upgrade to a 256 MB card right after buying this, as the included 16 MB card is very small--a common problem with digicams). Obviously the picture quality for videos is not razor-sharp--but you can capture some nice baby playtime or surprise parties or whatever. By contrast, I used a friend's Optio for a weekend, and the video feature has a set length limit; a real drawback, in my mind.
I also like the four compression options, so you can choose rich detail for artsy landscape shots, or more compressed file sizes for taking huge numbers of snapshots.
Problems: As others have noted, the viewfinder shows a smaller frame than what is actually captured; no big deal to me. My lcd screen did get scratched also, which is a bigger annoyance but not crucial. I do think Minolta should include a fabric drawstring bag or something, just to slip over the camera and prevent this type of scratching.
Otherwise I love it. I have taken it skiing, where a bulky camera would not work, and like I said it goes with me everywhere without any special forethought. It's just what I wanted.
Rating:
Summary: Nice quality & portability
Review: The small size of the camera makes it ideal for sticking it in a shirt pocket or jacket pocket. Quality at 3.2 megapixel is as good as any. Realistically, needs a larger sd card than the 16 mb that comes with it. The weak point appears to be the lense cover that is suppose to drop down to open when you turn the camera on. It stuck one time where I had to push it down and it sometimes does not fully drop down until you shake it down. It ALWAYS closes properly. A minor problem since you see the lens cover's edge when looking through the view finder if it has not dropped completely down, so you can make sure it is down before you take the picture. Overall, based on utility, durability, and ease of use, it is a very good digital camera.
Rating:
Summary: "its great !!!"
Review: 90% of the complaints about this camera, are based on the fact that the people didn't take the time to read the manual from front to back
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed with the Dimage XT Digital Camera
Review: I have had the camera for about two months and I find that it has three big faults. Wush I hadn't bought it. 1. The viewfinder is nearly useless since it does not show the anywhere near the full area of the actual picture taken. So when it is too bright or inconvient to use the display on the back of the camera, framing the subject is guesswork; I nearly always end up cropping the image. 2. The automatic exposure for flash is at least one f-stop too little, but OK for non flash exposures. So when taking flash pictures I have to keep going into the custom1 menu to set the exposure compensation to +1.0. I often forget to set or reset that setting, so I have a lot of badly exposed pictures. 3. The little wrist strap that they stongly advise one to use has a plastic fastener which scratches the display window, with the result that I was unable to return the camera to Amazon as I wished. Should have bnever used it! The small size and the fast action are delightful. I will continue to use the camera but experence frustration every time I get a bad exposure or have too crop a third of the picture area away.
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