Rating: 
Summary: Have yet to find anything wrong with this camera
Review: I've been holding off buying a digital camera as I love my Olympus SLR camera but, whilst looking around my local camera store in February, I was introduced to the Z1 and was told that I should probably wait as new cameras were coming out soon. Well, the Z2 came out and I pre-ordered on the strength of what I'd seen from the Z1.
The Z2 has surpassed my expectations - I have some very good quality print outs of my first few images. I even managed to get an excellent close up shot first time that I'd previously wasted at least 2 films trying to get on my regular SLR. Focus is fast and accurate and the camera is light and very comfortable to hold. Definitely recommended.
Rating:
Summary: My Z2 seems better than other people's Z2s
Review: I've had my Z2 for about a week and I am very impressed with it. This is my fifth digital still camera (the last was a Sony DSC-S75). Other reviewers have complained of poor image quality and noisy zooming during videos. It almost seems as if they are talking about a different camera. My Z2 has produced very sharp and colorful images (flesh tones are a bit oversaturated even at the "natural" color setting) and the zoom is COMPLETELY silent in the videos I've taken. One reviewer said the videos cannot be edited, but that is not true. The camera comes with Arcsoft software to do some crude editing on the Quicktime (*.mov) files, but it also allows you to save the video in other formats such as MPEG, AVI, and WMV. In those other formats the Windows XP Windows Movie Maker will do additional editing. I recommend you use the AVI version since it seems to introduce the fewest compression artifacts. But you have to download the camera's firmware update (version 1.02, posted 04/23/04) at http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/CPGProducts?cname=dig in order to get the sound to transfer along with the video. When you are at the site you have to navigate to the Z2 page and then select "software." Another virtue I've discovered -- the camera is efficient in its use of energy.The deficiencies I've found have to do mainly with downloading images and dealing with them once they are in my computer. The Windows XP download wizard cannot rotate images that were taken in vertical format (as it was able to do with my Sony) unless I first rotate the image in the camera's playback display. Images come in as JPEGS, with perhaps a bit more compression than I would like in the "fine" mode - the file sizes for these 4-megapixel photos are about the same as they were with my 3-megapixel Sony. When I edit an image and then try to save it again as a jpeg, my Ulead PhotoImpact 6.0 software cannot compress the image as much as I may need. And my Printmaster 7.0 cannot see the image, though other JPEGS come in just fine. The workaround that I use is to save the Minolta's image as a Bitmap, close the bitmap file, then reopen it, and then save it as a JPEG at the desired level of compression -- and then Printmaster can see it. Perhaps Minolta has done something with the EXIF data that these software applications cannot deal with. With a camera that generates such widely differing reviews it might be a good idea to buy it where you can return it easily. I got mine at WalMart (Circuit City was out of them) for something like $50 more than the Amazon price, just so I could bring it back quickly. But I'm keeping mine.
Rating:
Summary: great for the enthusiastic beginner
Review: I've had this camera for a little over a month and so far, I love it. It's got the full-auto (point-and-shoot) mode for the casual photographer/beginner, but it also has a variety of manual modes and advanced features like aperture priority, shutter priority, program mode, and full manual, as well as manual white balance for those interested in learning the art of (digital) photography. The two built in macro modes (close and *really* close) allow for excellent close-up shots. Despite having almost no experience in photography beyond point-and-shoot cameras, I was taking pretty good macro shots my first day with it (at least that's what mom said ;). The 10x zoom is great for the long shots. The 16MB SD card is useless (pick up at least 256MB). I still carry the 16 for a spare, but at the highest image resolution, I doubt I could fit 10 pictures on it. Do yourself a favor and buy the lens adapter ring and a UV filter for the camera. The UV filter can be had pretty cheap, won't affect picture quality, and will keep your built-in lens safe from scratches, dirt, and UV rays (evidently pretty damaging to camera equipment). And having the adapter, you'll be able to attach other filters as your need/skill grow. Oh, and get a couple of sets of rechargeable NIMH batteries too. They'll save you a lot of money. I briefly looked into the Konika-Minolta LI battery pack that's made for the camera, but being more than half the price of the camera, decided it was more expensive than I needed. At least for now. So far, my only complaints are: the battery cover door seems pretty flimsy. I'd like to see something more substantial. And, I'm not sure the idea of the mechanical mirror used to select the view through the eyepiece or on the display screen is wise. It just seems like more mechanical parts to fail in the future. Also, the use of the eyepiece won't prolong battery life as it would in most digital cameras. So, it's few faults aside, I give the KM Z2 a solid 5 star rating.
Rating:
Summary: Great camera. I love it!
Review: I've only had my camera a few weeks, but so far I love it. Bought mine at a camera store. When I first got it I was a little intimidated by it, but quickly learned how to navigate through the menus. It's great! I've been able to take some excellent photos with it, and folks have commented what great photos they are. It has a fast shutter speed even without using the sports mode. My wife took some photos of kids playing ball and it caught them swinging the bat and the ball in mid air. I thought that was pretty good. She has took some excellent photos the first time she picked the camera up. It's easy to use. I really like the progressive and continuous capture modes. This makes taking photos of events that are occurring easy. I love the 10x optical zoom, plus I don't have digital zoom unless I turn it on. The only down side I've found so far is the photo software included is still a little intimidating to me. I really haven't learned to use it yet. That's not really a problem as I chose to use a different photo program that was included with my computer. This digital photography is great. No messing with film! All in all I'm very happy with my camera and am really enjoying it.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant camera--very few flaws.
Review: I've owned this camera for a few months now, and I must say, I am very pleased with the results from this camera. The picture quality is just fabulous; they're high quality, and the colors are very accurate. Even the simplest pictures taken have a professional aura to them.
I love the zoom function on this camera. It's very fast, in the past with other cameras I have always seemed to have trouble finding a camera with a fast zoom--but this camera has pleased me beyond words as far as zooming goes. Not only is the zoom fast, but it is very silent. A silent zoom always seemed like an important part of a camera, and I highly applaud this camera for that.
There's not much to complain about with this camera--however, there are a few things that I am going to have to complain about...
The batteries? You need four AA batteries! It's not so much that this bothers me because it makes the camera heavier--because the camera is so well built that you hardly notice the added battery weight--but what does bother me is that this means you have a lot more batteries that you have to carry around with you. Although, since the camera has so many features, four batteries is hardly a bad thing.
After months of owning this camera, and trying out every feature on it, I have only found two flaws. The first one I noticed was the battery door. I read plenty of reviews by other customers about the battery door being flimsy, but never did I think that it would be this flimsy! The battery door feels as if it's going to break in my hands if handled improperly. However, if you take caution while opening and closing the door, it should be just fine.
The second flaw I noticed, was much more conflicting. The positioning of the flash seems to be a little out of place. You won't be able to notice this camera defect unless you are taking a close up macro shot. When you take a shot too close, you will find that while the camera does take a stunningly clear photo--if you use a flash, a shadow from the lens will be left on your photo area. Even if you don't use any additional lenses or filters the original lens with the camera will still be in the way of the flash.
This flaw only occurs, though, when you are taking a Super Macro shot. Regular Macro will work just splendidly. It really is a shame, though, since the camera will allow for really close shots to be taken and still come out clear--it's just the shadow that appears when using a flash that ruins it.
Those were the only complaints I had about this camera, other than that, I am very much pleased. It's a great camera for the more advanced beginner to the intermediate photographer. The picture quality never ceases to amaze me--it's just brilliant to see the photos that this camera takes. Just splendid.
Rating:
Summary: the best camera ever
Review: this camera is great. it takes the best pics and easey to use!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: You will not regret the purchase
Review: This camera will do everything for you except hold it in place. The auto mode does it all. I was very impressed with the battery life and BRIGHT flash. The camera is just perfect, video mode is brilliant, no noise from the camera's AF feature. The zoom, well seeing is believing, you will not believe the details that you are missing on these 2x and 3x zoom cameras. Can't wait for the next generation. Get one!
Rating: 
Summary: not bad
Review: this is my 4th digital camra.A nice camra with lot of faults.frist picture quality is very bad and Bluer as compare to my last camera Olympus C-740 .U can not edit movie with sound. In movie recording if U use zoom the sound of lense motor comes in recording. Power button turn on easily accidently . I call customer services to ask the speed of camera read/write they have no idea they just said its compatible . In market there is 512md SD card available at different speed.Memory card cover can be break any time so cheap . Same as battery cover.soon I am thinking for olympus C-770.nice grip. battery is good.features very easy and doog.
bottom line picture quality barak my heart.
Rating:
Summary: Non pro taking pro pictures!
Review: This is the first digital camera I have ever owned and I hope it never breaks. I absolutely LOVE it. I admit I was intimidated by the very idea of a digital camera, but the pictures from the new 35mm that I purchased did not compare to the quality of my previous.
I am not a technical person at all, and know very little about the ins and outs of cameras and photography but I can read and this is a very high quality, user friendly camera that takes great pictures. I was amazed how easy it was to use and how the manual is so extremely easy to follow.
A salesman at one store tried to stear me away from this camera to a simpler one since I was a first time user.(and this was more for a serious user) Insulted, I purchased from another store and I'm glad I did not purchase the simple Kodak he tried to sell me. Don't be afraid of this camera!!! Read the manual to familiarize yourself with it and you are good to go!
Rating:
Summary: Great camera! Great price!
Review: This is the third digital camera I've gotten, to replace an aging 1 Megapixel Sony Mavica with a 16X optical zoom. I am VERY pleased with the results, having taken 1800+ pictures in the past three months with only a few minor glitches.
The pros:
- This is the first digital camera I've used that can take a sunset picture equal to any film camera I've ever used.
- Very speedy
- Awesome zoom.
- Good battery lifespan (Using Duracell Rechargable ACCU batteries w/ 1 hour recharger)
- Fairly light
The Cons:
- The camera has difficulties focusing if you use the zoom out on the water (if you go on a whale watch, don't use the zoom, or ignore the focus warnings - whales move much faster than you think!)
- A tendency to focus in on the 'wrong' things - like a background when you're trying to capture a small thing (such as a bird) in the foreground.
-The battery door is awkward to use - especially if you're rushing to change out batteries. Once the batteries are in place and the door is put back, it is solid. The best solution of course is to start out with fresh batteries.
Tips
-I have found that most of the 'jiggle' problems reported go away if you use the eyepiece - of course the further the zoom goes out, the harder it is to keep stable. The digital zoom portion of it, like most digital cameras, is not very good, so try not to use it unless there is no other option.
- I have gotten a 256 MB SD card for this - it can hold 200 images, although if you're taking pictures along the seashore, you can get 300 images.
- Keep in mind that this is good for outdoors - indoors, a smaller camera with a wide-angle lens does better (I still tote my 2MP Canon Powershot A40 around when I'm our on a 'major' photo shoot to get the wider shots)
If you're looking for a camera with a great zoom I would have to say this is one of the best currently on the market at an affordable price.
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