Rating: 
Summary: Excellent One
Review: This thing becomes better and better. Minolte Dimage is the only camera in market ( I guess ) with wide , long zoom combined with 5 mega pixels.
Rating:
Summary: Versatile high-end SLR-like digital camera
Review: Two cameras are at the top of the heap of "prosumer" 5 megapixel cameras -- Minolta 7Hi and the Nikon Coolpix 5700. (The Minolta 7i is a half-step below but less expensive; Sony's 717 is a full step behind but worth a look.) Minolta has it all if you're used to an SLR: a zoom ring rather than the motorized step-zoom familiar to users of video cameras; a manual focus mode that uses an SLR-like focus ring; and a very useful zoom range -- effectively 28 - 200 mm vs. the Coolpix's 35 - 280 mm. For landscapes and interior shots 28 mm is better than 35 mm and you'd need a tripod to get good shots with the Nikon's longest telephoto setting. The Minolta fits well in one's hands -- better than the Nikon 5700. Nikon has a flip-out LCD panel, but it's small. Though the Monolta's big LCD panel doesn't flip out, the viewfinder rotates up. (Be sure to adjust the diopter dial for the viewfinder to match your vision.)The controls are logically laid out and the important ones are easy to access from dials on the camera, without having to go through little menus on the LCD screen. But you need to familiarize yourself, because there are lot of options. Sit down with the manual and camera for a couple of hours and take some pictures with the various settings --contrast, saturation, manua focus, spot meter, etc. etc. The Minolta manual is pretty good, although there's no index. The resolution is very good - a close-enough replacement for 35 mm film. At the finest JPEG setting, 16 x 20 enlargements should be OK, even with a bit of cropping. There is "noise" (like graininess in high-speed film) if the camera is set to act like ISO 400 or 800 film, but if it's set at ISO 100 or 200 it's not a major problem. You can also shoot in "RAW", the Minolta-specific data format used by the camera before it creates the JPEG file. If you do that, spend an extra few $ and download a Photoshop/Photoshop Elements plug-in ...it lets you tune RAW images far more effectively than the ... software Minolta supplies with the camera, and it opens them directly into the Adobe software. Minolta uses standard rechargeable AA NiMH batteries (don't use alkaline!) and the camera comes with a good charger, but it takes few cycles of charging for them to reach full staying power and even then you'll need an extra set of batteries -- get 2000 mA rechargeables (or higher), which will outlast the 1800 mA ones supplied with the camera. Fortunately they're inexpensive compared to the proprietary batteries in Nikon and Canon cameras. You'll also want to buy a 49 mm UV or Skylight filter to protect the lens and you absolutely have to buy a CompactFlash card. Minolta gives you a 16 MB card that holds only a handful of high-resolution images. (Nikon's 32 MB card is only marginally better.) Buy a CF card with 256 or 512 MB -- preferaby SanDisk or Lexar because some other brands don't work with the Minolta. A 512 MB CF card will hold about 100 images at the higest-quality JPEG setting. You'll also want Adobe Elements or another good image editing software. When you add up the accessories you'll spend another 25%-35% over and above the cost of the camera (not including the cost of a printer), but you'll have a very versatile, light-weight, high resolution camera to enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: It makes me want to turn pro
Review: When John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, he took a Minolta with him. Forty years later, the quality and ergonomics are still there. When you're looking for a 5MP camera, there are really just two items for the non-pro to consider: this one, and the Nikon Coolpix 5700. I was a Coolpix nut before I moved up to 5MP, but this camera won out, for two reasons: the manual zoom and the processor. Even on the highest-quality setting -- one that will produce a picture of 20 by 25 inches with great resolution -- this camera will take three pictures per second. Think about your toddler son blowing out candles on his birthday cake or your grown-up daughter throwing a bouquet at her wedding and you'll want this camera. The manual zoom is much quicker, and quicker-responding, than the motorized zoom of the Nikon. When you looking for the-right-shot, this is a heckuva boon. I want a nimble camera, and this is it. As this isn't a perfect world, there is a caveat. To get full use of this powerful tool, you'll have to buy some more: Photoshop 7.01 AND the Adobe RAW plug-in. Once you've shelled out the shekels for those, though, you've got a picture-producing system that is just about idiot-proof. With the software you can screw up everything except the focus -- the exposure, the white balance, the lot. The RAW plug-in lets you use the raw (sorry) data from the camera and overcome bad color and bad exposure. I have had this camera for two months and I've taken about 600 pictures. Yes, I've saved only perhaps 150 of them, but that's why we use digital! All of those I have saved are near-enough to professional to satisfy me. Now, if only I can get a fire-wire card reader ... A last note: I bought this camera in Hong Kong, for rather less than what it seems to cost in the U.S. so you might want to look around for sale prices.
Rating: 
Summary: Cons
Review: You won't be disappointed by the quality photos the 7Hi will take. If you're still considering buying this camera, consider other options as there are newer models. Considering there are dozens of reviews on the product itself, here are the weaknesses that I've experienced:
- Drains batteries. The 7Hi uses 4 AA batteries. If you're going on a trip, plan on bringing 4-8 extra rechargable batteries (at least 1800 mAH) and a battery charger. One set of batteries should last at least 100 shots (without flash). Do not use regular alkaline batteries as the camera will go through them quickly (Maybe 50 shots).
- Does not utilize highspeed CF cards. I purchased a Lexar 512MB 40x CF Card, and did notice any increase in performance over the one included.
- Many digital cameras now have video capabilities. The 7Hi records videos in quicktime .mov format at a maximum length of 60 seconds. The videos come out grainy.
| 
