Rating: 
Summary: Great camera for the price
Review: ...I settled on the Minolta afer seeing so many excellent reviews here and on other sites. Amazon, as usual, came through with a fair price and excellent service. As for the camera I rate it higher then the Kodak, both on feature and on consistent quality of image. I have the following feedback for those of you just buying the camera. 1. Must have 2 sets of NiMH rechargable batteries. Standard alkaline just won't last.
2. Indoor shots are best with flash. Outdoor daytime shots are downright beautiful. Night time shots are the most difficult...
3. Additional accesories seem almost non-existent. I found a step-up ring adapter (also on Amazon) from the odd 35.5mm size on this camera to a more standard 43mm, from which I can buy other standard size step-up rings (52mm, etc)
4. Autofocus and the general auto settings are fine for most shots (I'm no pro - just love digital photography). Just getting into manual mode.
5. The video mode is fun but quite limited in both time (60 seconds max) and resolution (320x240) and at 15fps the resulting image is grainy and choppy. This seems more of a novelty then any practical value as a feature. File size is huge (~20MB).
6. Buy one or two large Compact Flash cards...are selling 256MB cards for < 50 cents per mb. Plenty of room for high-resolution pictures.
7. Don't bother with the digital zoom. As on most digital cameras this feature can be emulated by software and the image quality really drops when this feature is used. Consider a telephoto lens to preserve the quality this camera provides for long-distance close-up needs. All in all this has been a wonderful camera. No glitches at all, highly recommended. I would give it 5 stars but for a few issues. Accessories - hard to find, night-time shots (probably operator error), one call to service to ask about accessories resulted in no help (how can a company like Minolta afford to miss reselling to an existing customer?). Buy with confidence - you will love this camera. Look, feel and quality are all there.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent quality and features
Review: After looking at cameras made by Olympus, Canon, HP, Kodak and Sony, I settled on the Minolta S404. I've been using it for 7 months and haven't had any major problems. In fact, it takes excellent photos. The only problem to mention is that I had problems getting the colors adjusted on my PC for printing -- that's not a problem with the camera though. Running the photos through the included imaging software or another third-party photo software product made the printed photos look great. I would highly reccommend getting rechargable batteries (this one takes 4 AA size) -- two sets if you can -- as digital cameras can go through a lot of batteries. Also be sure to pick up a larger memory card -- I bought a 256MB card. Finally, and possibly the most overlooked, get a skylight filter for the lens. You'll thank me when the "cheap" skylight filter gets scratched and not your expensive camera lens. I have one and haven't noticed any difference in quality with the filter on.
Rating:
Summary: Going Digital Replacing Film Camera?
Review: After owning a Canon SLR film camera I finally broke down and bought the S404. I had been looking for at least a 4 megapixel digital because of the high resolution in printing 8x10's. Well I've seen 2 megapixels that print 8x10's nice. Camera is small like a 35mm point and shoot. However it is on the heavy side (not a bulky feel). Camera is well balanced. I particually like the glass lense and the photoelectronics it has taken from the more expensive Minolta Dimage digital line. This camera works in automatic mode and manual mode. I like to ability to use the manual mode to control both the shutter speed and aperture. I think you can change the ISO from 100, 200 and 400 but have not gotten that far with the camera other than automatic mode. After taking a picture you are able to look the histogram which displays plenty of info- shutter speed, aperture, ISO, luminance and so on. The camera can also take 60 seconds of movie mode. I guess this is some sort of MPEG movie or something (again I have not got there yet). With all these features and the price...I had to buy it. Where can you fnd a 4 megapixel for under $[money] with all these features and from a camera maker. I would not buy any camera from a company who does not make cameras. What you get: camera, strap, USB connection, RCA cables to plug into your TV, 4AA batteries (buy NiMH) and a 16meg CF card. I think a 16meg card is pretty cheesy but it is made by Luxar and is a 8x card. I guess this is ok but I went to Fry's and bought a 128meg card for under $40 and it works fine (some no name card made in China). You also get a couple of CDs for your computer and a manual. I got tired of reading the manual and started messing with the camera. Now I take pics like Ansel Adams. The good: all of the above. You get an excellent camera for a very good price. I still see 3 megapixels for over $500. Plus the camera is made by a camera maker. The bad: camera is small and a bit heavy. Zoom is in a funky position that can interfer if you like to look put the viewfinder rather than the LCD screen. In a nutshell, I would buy this camera again. I took to work to show coworkers and I could have sold 3 of them in 15 minutes. Don't go cheap and buy a plastic digital camera. You might regret it. This digital camera operates like a film camera. Go look around first before you buy. Look in a professional camera store, not a retail store. Camera stores know more. I give 4 out of 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Good Camera
Review: After using a digital camera at work for a couple of years and searching for my own I landed on the Dimage S404. It is a lot of camera for the price. Easy to use, easy downloading of the images to a computer. It doesn't use a proprietery battery so that is handy. I would suggest the purchase of rechargeble batteries if you go with this camera however.
This is really all the camera I need. If it has a downside... I don't believe the macro works as well as other cameras I have used. It doesn't have quite the detail of several Sonys I had used. That said the macro still works well.
Other than that I don't think you can do better dollar for dollar.
Rating:
Summary: 4 MP? As a practical matter, a questionable claim.
Review: At highest resolution/size my S404 takes over 30 seconds to save the image, which is an 11 meg .TIFF file. I would venture that for most of us, the delay is a major or fatal issue, and for everyone I know the size of the file prevents any normal shooting at the top end. Accordingly, four megapixels is more theoretical than real, and perhaps this camera should be compared (especially as to price) with 3 MP boxes. As much noted, the flash does not have quite the range as claimed by the specs. It is a fine instrument, that having been said. I think it deserves a 3.75.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Camera for what I want to do...
Review: First of all know what you want from your camera... I wanted to be able to print at least 4x6 prints of every picture I took with this camera. That put me in the 4 mega pixel range. I was looking at the Canon G2, Canon S40, Olympus D60, and the Olympus C4040. I'd gone to the local retailers and tested them all out. Then the Minolta S404 came out and hit my personal price sweet spot ... All the other ones I was holding off on because I knew I would need to spend more money on extra memory and probably an extra battery pack. That put the others out of my price range.
I'm at best an amatuer photographer and this camera turns out to be a very good match for my skills. Most of the time I use the all auto feature, but I've many of the more sophisticated features including macro (real good close ups of plants and small animals), night shot, and portrait. I've worked with some of the more manual features such as black & white and the exposure settings. The camera is extremely easy to use including the menus one uses on the LCD. I'm a computer programmer, so using some of the features is almost second nature.
The photos have come out absolutely wonderful both on the computer screen and in print. I've had 4x6 and 5x7's made. There's an 8x10 on the way in the mail. I've taken this camera to a school field day, a company picnic, Baltimore (Inner Harbor and Aquarium), and Mount Vernon, Virginia. I've also taken it on tour of the neighborhood, where I used the macro function exclusively. I've kept the image settings mainly on 2272X1704 pixels (size)-fine (picture quality) and 1600x1200 pixels - super fine . From time to time I'll use 2272x1704 - super fine.
Using the biggest picture and the highest quality settings produces an 11 MB file. The image capture is excellent, but it takes 15-20 seconds to save the image to the compact flash. I thought I'd broken the camera the first time I took one of these large pictures. I don't consider this a draw back, just something to keep in mind.
The look and feel of the camera -- it's all there. It comes in a silver metal case and definitely does not feel ... light weight ... The brightness of the LCD can be changed by the user. All the way from off to super bright. When using the camera in bright sunlight don't expect to see the LCD too well. That goes for any machine with an LCD.
Batteries... This camera eats the alkaline batteries it comes with. They last long enough for you to test it out and decide whether or not this camera meets your needs. Buy at least 8 rechargeable AA batteries (the camera takes 4, so you'll have two sets). Get the highest rating possible - I have 1600, but I've seen 1800 too.
When I bought the camera, I also bought a 128 MB compact flash card. If you take pictures like I do, you'll need it. I also bought a compact flash reader. I've found it easier to use than the camera when downloading pictures to my computer. Not to mention, it saves the camera batteries.
Rating:
Summary: Good Good and Better
Review: First off I am not a camera expert, go to www.steves-digicams.com, www.dcresource.com or www.dpreview.com if you really need all the techie details. I love it. Its point and shoot (for novices like me). USB image transfer is straightfoward. It uses regular AA batteries (no proprietary stuff). Images are very good (as long as I take the picture at the right time, as I said I am not such a great photographer... beautiful picutres of people with their eyes closed or looking away... In any case... its snappy (no real awful delays) its not too expensive, its easy to use, does mini-movies w/sound and just works. Not too small, has a nice grip. Doesn't weigh too much (I caried it around Renisiance Festival all day no trouble). I know it has a lot more features but I don't use them (I will tweak digitally on the computer a bit but not on the camera). Preview is a great but that is true of all good digicams. Resolution is great, color is great, and in general contrast is very good (a bit dark but I keep messing with the flash settings and I can fix it on the PC), when I leave it alone it seems to be much better). The zoom is easy to use but it can REALLY zoom (both optical and digital) so be careful. The multi-shot is great, the flash seem good and seems to reduce red-eye. Things to think about:
1. Get a large CFRam card (I have a 128) and get a few hundred shots.
2. My CFRAM card is a little slow (check the speed when you buy).
3. Get good rechargable AA batteries (2 or 3 sets). Spend a few more bucks on good ones, you won't regret it (and make sure to get a car charger for trips).
4. In "automatic" mode make sure you focus on what you want your picture focused on (its very easy but I miss the target once in a while and focus is out).
5. Watch the zoom (optical is great) but you can't see for sure through viewfinder with digital zoom (of course) so keep it in mind you need to look at LCD display when digital zooming.
6. You might want a stand (tripod) for family pictures and such. Overall 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: Great but I have had problems
Review: First off I really like the camera. I takes great pictures with excellent color quality. I have used the Sonys and I think the Minolta's colors are far superior. The time between shots is minimal with the 32 MB buffer. Unfortunately, this thing sucks down batteries like there is no tomorrow. I bought the 1800 mA PowerEx batts (which I'd recommend) and it even drains those fast. Not only that but it just died completely on me-- the lens stuck out and flashed "err"-- just dead. Minolta is fixing under warranty, but I'm still out of a camera for my vacation. Anyway, I still think this is the best deal around.
Rating:
Summary: Easy use, powerful, but a little clumsy.
Review: Generally this is a great camera, easy to use, nice pictures. Variety of resolutions to adjust your storage volume, and a nice zoom and scroll feature when viewing stored images. Makes nice movies too, max 60sec. each. Full auto or full manual settings if ya want. A little awkward at times- your R. thumb unwittingly opens the side access pannel. And it dosn't like high contrast shots.
Rating:
Summary: Minolta S404 Review
Review: Great Camera. I'd like to add, in addition to the other comments, the following pro's/con's: PRO: Good Bang-for-the-buck; 4x Optical Zoom; Lots of MegaPixels (4) allows for cropping of photo's and still being able to print out clean enlargements; Easy to navigate menus.
CON: Zoom speed is V E R Y S L O W. Full Zoom does not really 'feel' like 4x. Compared to my 35..115mm P&S Camera, the zoom on this does not seem to get as close and it takes forever to move; Xfer Speed - moving pictures from camera to computer via USB is slow. I highly recommend a separate CF card reader w/ USB2 interface. It takes ~20+minutes to empty a 128MB C/F Card using the cameras interface to USB.
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