Rating: 
Summary: Minolta Dimage Z2
Review: Dimage Z2 feels good in your hands. The grip handle has well spaced and placed buttons. The neat LCD screen/viewfinder switcher option is very handy. The LCD screen does not fold out for odd-angle viewing. This camera will not fit into a pocket, but is surprisingly light.
The controls are pretty intuitive, but also extensive. They're a lot easier to understand than most VCR's. Of course, this might be faint praise...
Pictures look fine on my 17 inch laptop screen. Since I do not print out my pictures much, 4MP is more than enough. At half the price of the digital Rebel (and the like), I can live with half the megapixels of digital SLR's. The 16meg SD card that it comes with is completely inadequate. My 512 SD card might seem like overkill, unless you want to film movies. Then, the 512 seems just adequate.
The movie-mode is the best I've seen on a camera. If you pick your spots carefully, you can film a wedding in both still and movie modes, and be pleased by both results. However, the motor on the lense is very loud when employed during filming, and will be noticably picked up. In other words, DON'T zoom while filming. The 10X optical lense will make you forget the digital zoom. If you must go for the digital gusto, unless you've got nerves of steel and hands of granite, use a monopod. Z2's focus lock option allows you to properly compose your picture with your subject off center. The focus is fast (if not quiet) and pretty responsive. The flash is powerful (red-eye reduction), and there is a hot-shoe for a larger flash unit.
The 2 AA battery (with AC power option) allows a lot of flexibility. An optional battery unit is available that pretty much provides enough juice to run a small Irish village (excluding the pub).
If you can accept that it is what it is (a consumer camera with lots of neat features in a well-thought-out package), then Z2 deserves its 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional quality, good price
Review: First off, I am a first time digital camera owner. Have used some at work in the past. I looked at many cameras before settling on this one and have to say that in the 7 months I have owned this camera, the camera has not taken a bad photo yet, now my shot selection, that is a different subject. Here are the points that I think are important to know to a first time (and maybe veteran) user:
Ease of Development: The memory card slips right into you computer with the adapter that is provided with the camera, and better yet, the card can be taken to Wal-Mart or Costco to have prints taken straight from the chip just like you are taking in film (only cheaper). If you have an older computer without the proper ports (USB) then you can purchase an adapter to fit older machines.
Clarity: The clarity of the images provided by the 4.0 megapixles is truely amazing. You can zoom in and still have total clarity, better than any high quality film could ever provide. The color of the images is true to life. No more exaggerated colors like Kodak or Fuji films had... unless you want that which can be easily done on your computer, or where you have it developed.
Battery: In the past, some cameras that I have used burned through the batteries in minutes. The 1 megapixel camera I used 6 years ago used up 4 AA batteries every 12 shots. Not that way with this camera. The batteries usually last a couple months with normal use - 1 month with lots of use, and only takes 2 AA.
Video: While the video is not as versatile as my Sony digital camcorder, the quality of the finished product is better than than most television programs - not too many cameras offer this high a quality.
Ease of Use: This camera is perfect for the beginner and the most advanced users. From the simple point-and-click to advanced manipulation of the lens for exposure .
Overall this is a great camera and I am very happy with the operation. No glitches so far, and we love the shots we get at night with the use of a tripod. The camera must have some sort of image stability because the camera moves when you hit the button but that does not show up in the image.
Rating: 
Summary: Not automatic
Review: Having owned a Kodak 4Mp camera, we wanted to step up to a better lens and more zoom, so we bought a Z2. Although the pictures are good if everything is correctly set, this is a fairly rare coincidence. It took us quite a while to figure out that you must manually lift up the flash. We lost and still lose many pictures because we forget to do this. Also, this is not a camera that can be easily slipped into a pocket or purse. The 10x lens makes it bulky, and does not fully retract even when off. Because of these two things we have essentially abandoned this new Z2 in favor of our old Kodak. If you are looking for a point and shoot, to capture family moments and events, then this is not the camera for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Great feature set; lousy image quality
Review: I bought one of these based on the great feature set, the positive reviews, sample images from steves-digicams.com and positive experiences with previous Minolta products. Since it was sold out almost everywhere I assumed there must be a good reason for its popularity.Pretty much everything about the camera is good. EXCEPT... Except for the most important thing: image quality. I've seen better pictures out of cameras costing a fraction of the price (think Medion or Trust or anything). It's almost a waste to take pictures with this thing. I am assembling a bunch of images for comparison to complain to Minolta and maybe they replace it if I'm lucky (or a lengthy 'repair' if I'm not).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Camera Takes Excellent Pictures
Review: I have had a variety of kodak cameras but sadly never found one I really liked. The minolta dimage Z2 was just a guess, check and hope it worked camera...I LOVE it. Have had it for about 6 months now, and dont plan to ever get a different one. The pictures are beautiful and so close. I work with a tourist company watching wildlife and by the pictures, you'd think I was right next to the animals! For the pictures and movies you can get with this camera, it's the best price, completely worth it!!
Rating:
Summary: been very pleased
Review: I have had the Z2 now for about a month. I have taken very many pictures low light, bright sun light, and about every other condition. It has performed very well. I pick this camera for myself because of price and the video function is the best but video is good only for those quick shots. Needs lots of memory. 512mb will get you about 5 minutes in high res. When using zoom near its peak you must have a steady hand. I usually brace my elbows but I have tripod as well. Outdoor light this camera is at its best. I think it out performs any in its price range. The video is perfect in this situation as well and I have not notice any zooming noise in my camera. With night pictures it is little harder to point an shoot. If you are automatic mode, it obivously more delay. It takes little more time to get a picture and video doesn't look very well. Night pictures can be performed well but with some time figuring out your controls. Cloudy days the camera still does very well. I have had no problems with using it with XP. I haven't tried it with a MAC. The flash is one of the brightest that I have seen on a digital camera in this price range. Lights up average size living room with no problem. I do a lot of wildlife photography and I must say that with the zoom I have been very pleased. I have also purchased addition lens but haven't try them in normal settings. The Z2 works very well outdoors with video and pictures. I do a lot of croping and my standard size is a 5x7. It has done better than I expected. Considering features and price, it is very good package and one the best camera in its range and is very lite. I tested for color hazing and it has a little, but it is not noticable to any professional that I talked too. However, this is not professional camera but you get some professional pictures out of it.
Rating: 
Summary: On the Virge of great
Review: I like this camera very much, it has many nice features and functionalities, in a very user friendly package. The digital zoom is great, the image quality is good, and the ease of use is well thought out. I would buy this camera again.
Rating:
Summary: MINOLTA Z2 GOOD JOB
Review: I LOVE IT. VERY EASSY TO USED, GREAT PITCHER QUALITY.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the color?
Review: I purchased my Z2 and couldn't wait to see the great images it could produce with 4 megs and 10x zoom. What a disappointment! I want my old Olympus 510 back. The color is horrible on the Z2. I could get the color ok by adjusting the white balance in the program modes (not using a flash), however it's not adjustable in the "Auto" mode, which also meant switching back to "Auto" for a flash shot. Also, this camera's size and shape make it totally impossible to just carry around in your pocket. I have missed way too many shots because I didn't have the camera with me.
Rating:
Summary: Light in weight not in quality!
Review: I was looking for a camera with a better optical zoom than the one I own. The Dimage Z2 fit the bill with its powerful 10x zoom. (I need the zoom for swim meets and candids of my kids and dog.) The Z2 zoom works well. I was worried about comments people wrote regarding blurred photos using the zoom. I find that if you hold still (keep your elbows against your body to stay steady and wait until photo appears on digital screen) there is no problem. The 4.0 megapixels are more than adequate for my purposes and any more would use too much space on the SD cards. I've enlarged to 8x11 with no decline in quality.
The positives about this camera are:
* Very light weight even with batteries (4 AA)
* 10x zoom is excellent
* Good optics (and this is what you need in a camera)
* the weird shape actually makes holding the camera
easier
* SD card is tiny and larger megapixel cards can hold
a lot of photos
* The camera is easy to use-all functions and buttons
are well planned and well explained in instructions
* the batteries last a long time and the monitor lets
you know when power is low
The problems are minimal:
* case is plastic not metal but this is why its light
* the SD card slot cover is flimsy
Overall I'm very pleased with this camera!
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