Rating: 
Summary: Close enough to perfect.
Review: I was torn for a while between this model and the Konica KD-400Z. For a similar price and with similar features, only a few final things set me on the Minolta. I do not know how much this information will help others, but the criteria I used may help others in their decision.The two cameras take good pictures. There is no doubt about that. There is, though, one problem with picture quality (an ever-so-slight red tinting) with the Konica. In the age of digital photo editing, I do not think this is such a huge concern, though. The real clencher is in getting around to taking a picture. The Konica model makes you do almost everything save the most basic things (flash on/off, optical zoom, macro mode, etc.) through the display menu. It is colorful and easy to read, but the menus are many and stacked, making one slog through about two screens on average to execute any functions. The Minolta, however, lets a fairly large amount of things be done with a single push of a button, or a turn of the selector dial. I'll be frank: even in an age when everything digital is supposed to be a gift from the divine, it isn't always practicle or simple. Minolta shows they have the experience and know-how to make something usable and of high quality. Another factor is the power source. Both can use an AC adaptor, which can be nice if you are photographing something like pages of an old manuscript for study, or taking snaps of your children as they play on the carpet. Batteries are another matter. The Konica uses a rechargable (good) but specialized (bad) battery. The charger can apparently be used most anywhere in the world, but still: five years down the road, can you buy a new battery when the original is worn out? The Minolta, however, uses two AA or the new CR-V3 battery, designed for use with digital cameras. This means you can take it anywhere and be guaranteed of being able to use it. The only problem then is basic battery life, and honestly in this day and age I don't want to be filling up landfills any more than I have to. One clear advantage the Konica has is the lens cover/power switch, which completely hides the lens. The Minolta of course retracts the lens casing and folds an automatic shutter over it, but auto-closing lens protectors from days of old tend to get stuck after a while. Besides, I like the sense of security offered by having the lens completely tucked away under a large protective covering. The placement of the lens on the Minolta, that is, off to one side, should help keep fingers out of the way. In terms of bundled software, it is a tie, but the Konica comes with a simple version of Adobe Photoshop, if I recall, which some might prefer. One definate plus is that the Minolta comes with a remote control. Get a tripod and no more shakey hands bluring a photo! In the end, it was a close race, but the reputation of Minolta and the company's eye for design was what finally sold me. I hope this has helped someone out there. If you are trying to make a decision on this or a model with fewer pixels, all I can say is it is up to you and what you will use it for. Palm PDA users, though, may want to go the SD RAM road as new Palm devices all feature an SD slot. This was one of the main things that drew me to the Konica and Minolta in the first place.
Rating: 
Summary: Compared to the Sony P7 & Canon S230....
Review: I've have bought both the Sony P7 and the Canon S230 in the past 3 weeks, and took them both back. The Minolta F100 blows them away! If you are considering either of these cameras, be sure to check out the Minolta first. It way more feature-packed. The Sony had awful software (totally unusable) and the pictures were all fuzzy on the edges of the subjects - like I shot them with a softening filter. And having to charge the battery inside the camera with the bulky cords was a hassle. The Canon, for a $400 camera, has no date stamp imprint! You have to apply it with their software! Sometimes I print right from my printer and don't even involve my PC. Completely unacceptable. In comparison, the Minolta offers these added features: *It's 4 Megapixels instead of only 3! *A separate LCD display of camera settings and options, as well as having the option to display them in your main LCD too. Nice if you don't want your view to be cluttered with settings. *I happened to find it alot cheaper online from a reputable major retailer than at the major electronics stores nearby. It came with an extra 64mb card and leather case for less than either the Sony or Canon! :-D *It has a movie mode with sound, but you can also attach a voice message to any photo! *I like the CR-V3 batteries. My Kodak had them and they don't drain as fast as everyone complains they do. They are not expensive...so just keep an extra handy. *I have Windows XP, and had to download a software version updatefrom minolta.com to be able to transfer my photos, but it went smoothly. *There are all manual settings too, for those that might want to have that control. My pictures on auto are fantastic. *The only thing I don't like is that you have to have the camera in manual mode to have the date imprint. I don't really understand why, but it's a tiny tiny detail. I just put it in that mode but don't change any of the settings it already has - it works just fine. You really need to give this camera a look! You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Best Value in a 4 MP camera
Review: I've owned it for 4 months now and it's a very good camera, especially for the price... Normal compression @ 4M resolution results in about 1 meg JPGs. Compression artifacts are not visible unless you blow them up very large: >8x11. 4 resolution options w/3 or 4 compression options. Video w/sound works great. Compact enough for your shirt pocket. Quality aluminum body. Many features in a moderately easy to use menu; more features = more layers. Downloads fast, about 1 sec/meg so no need for a card reader. Win Me & 2000 auto installed it as a generic USB card reader, I never had to enter anything! Cons; shutter lag is about 1 sec. You can speed it up if you depress the shutter half way to prefocus. On/Off dial is too easy to turn on in your pocket. Eats batteries. I could not get it to work with alkalines, only rechargables or the supplied disposable lithium. Only comes w/16M SD card. Slightly awkward to hold. Weak flash.
Rating: 
Summary: Good product, bad details
Review: In general, I like this camera, but I have one major complaint. (You can read about other complaints in the rest of the reviews.) The file memory feature is sub-par on this camera. Basically, if your batteries die, your file memory function will reset itself, and the numbering gets screwy. It seems minor, but it's a real pain if you like to have all of your pictures numbered nicely, and honestly, Minolta should have designed their camera with this simple thing in mind.
Rating:
Summary: Good product, but did not have "Time Stamp" option
Review: It is a pretty good camera. But I am just wondering, it did not have "time stamp" option which will allow customer to put date on picture automatically. It will be very important when you try to have family photos.
Rating:
Summary: Trouble free-Perfect colors-
Review: It is small, light, fits in my pocket or my wife's purse. I have owned mine 5 months and it has been trouble free. The autofocus works perfectly if you remember that the subject can move , not the camera AND the subject. Great flesh colors free of magenta or purple and as a matter of fact it is the first digital that I have owned that gives me great colors without going through Photoshop.At that price it deserves 5 stars.Caveat:The control button turns so easily that the camera turns itself on in your pocket or even in its case.
Rating:
Summary: For Tin Liu
Review: No, Tin Liu, I don't have any problems like you are experiencing. My camera is noiseless when I'm not snapping a picture and the LCD is as crisp as they come. I remember when I was in Superfine mode, the load times to view my picture was incredibly long and the camera made noise to access my picture. Are you in superfine mode by chance? Tonia Clifford
Rating:
Summary: Minolta quality tradition continues
Review: Once I got a hold of this camera, I was in love. Its easy to use, great design, and the quality of the pictures is superb. I waited a little while before jumping into the digital camera race, and this one was worth the wait! I would recommend it to both a beginner and a more experienced photographer.
Rating:
Summary: Great camera but be careful
Review: outstanding quality photos, even action shots, awesome features, but drop it once on the hard floor and its toast. It's the retracting lens and cover that can get screwed up.
Rating:
Summary: Small in size, large on features
Review: Overall, a small, easy to carry feature packed camera. Subject Tracking AF and Area AF make it easy to stay locked onto a subject that's moving so you can take a clear picture. The 110,000 pixel LCD display provides a crisp clear image. The optional RC-3 remote control allows you to tripod mount the camera and take self-portraits--if you think being able to do that is worth the [money]for the remote. A customer from San Diego, CA USA claimed that the F100 'did not have "time stamp" option which will allow customer to put date on picture automatically'. Actually it does. Under Manual mode, Menu->Custom 2 tab, there's an option called "date imprint". Turning it on sticks the date on the photo automatically. This option applies to manual mode, but you can still configure manual mode with the menus to be mostly automatic anyway. Why so many complain about features a device doesn't (appear to) have without bothering to read the manual first, eludes me. Besides, why ruin a good picture with a big DATE STAMP when the camera records all of the image details in the jpeg file? With the software included, it's very easy to see the time, date, capturing device settings and dozens of other jpeg properties after the fact without compromising the photo. The fact that Minolta doesn't include an AC adapter is a kicker because the AC-6 adapter costs a hefty [amount]. If you happen to have a card reader which is a better option than the USB cable anyway (go ahead and buy the 6-in-1 type so you can read anything), the adapter really isn't that important unless you like putting up slide shows on TV with the included A/V adapter cable. Minolta was one of the few companies who considered customer convenience in this design--they wisely chose to use AA batteries. Olympus is one of the few manufacturers to use AAs in most of their models. Most cameras I reviewed in the 4MP range use those ridiculously overpriced proprietary Li-Ion batteries. If you happen to be overseas without a charger that supports alternate voltages (a situation I'm in frequently), you'd better take a spare, and plan on paying around [money], or foot the bill for a dual-voltage charger if you can even get one. On top of that, you'll be lucky if you get 2 years out of the stupid things, and then you're out another [money] or so if the manufacturer even still makes them by that time. Minolta eliminated all of this pain by using standard off-the-shelf good old [inexpensive] AAs in the F100. Buy a few NiMH to carry around and keep a couple of lithium AAs with you to use if you run out of charged NiMH batteries. Worst case, stop at a gas station and load up on Alkaline AAs. They'll have a shorter life, but at least your camera still functions! If you're looking at cameras that use proprietary batteries, think long and hard about how you might wind up without the facilities to recharge before you buy. Sooner or later, it will be a problem. The LCD is recessed which helps protect it from sharp objects sliding over the back of the camera--an unfortunate oversight on another brand which now has several scratches across the screen. The lens retracts into the camera and a cover automatically closes to protect it. No lens cap to lose, no slide cover to forget to close. This lens cover design may not protect quite as well as a heavy sliding cover on other models, but given the price, I have no intentions of using my camera as a football anyway. Keep it in a padded carry bag. One last pleasant surprise from the Minolta is the F100's ISO capability. Most cameras I've seen go up to 400, amd nearly all use 100-200 when left in auto--including the Minolta. In manual mode, the Minolta can go as high as ISO 800. This allows the camera to take photos in surprisingly low-light situations--often without the flash! There is a tradeoff though: just as with film, the higher ISO settings result in "granier" images. Still, if it's grainy or nothing, I'll choose grainy.
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