The KD400Z is equipped with an 8 - 24mm Hexanon zoom lens (equivalent to 39-117mm on 35mm camera.) This is an all-glass lens with 7 elements in 6 groups and has a maximum aperture of F2.8 (wide) - 4.9 (tele.) When powered down, the lens retracts and is protected by the front, sliding cover.

The focusing system works from 0.5m to infinity in wide angle and from 0.8m to infinity in telephoto. Macro coverage is 0.1m to infinity (wide) and 0.5m to infinity (tele.)

The real image optical zoom viewfinder is small with a very narrow viewing angle. It shows approximately 85% of the captured image. There is no diopter adjustment. The two LEDs indicate focus and flash status.

The builtin flash is auto-adjusting with modes for Auto flash, Red-eye reduction auto, Flash ON, Slow sync and Flash OFF. The working range: Approx. 0.5 - 3.5m (Wide); approx. 0.5 - 2m (Telephoto). It has a 5 second recycle delay with a fully charged battery.

One of the KD400Z's more unique features is the series of blue LED lamps across the front. When you first turn the camera on they flash momentarily. They also light up when you have the shutter half-pressed and serve as a visual cue to your subject that the picture is about to be taken. When using the selftimer these lamps light up and then cycle as the timer runs down. If you've seen the old TV series Battlestar Galactica   I'd say that these LEDs are similar to those on the Cylon robots when they cycle back and forth.

The controls on the back are minimal but effective. Across the top on the left is the PLAY mode button, the DISPLAY button (push once to clear LCD overlay information and a second time to turn off the color LCD) and the TRASHCAN button to delete the currently displayed image. On the right are the WIDE and TELE buttons which operate the zoom in Record mode and serve as the magnified image controls when the camera is in Playback mode. Below them is the builtin speaker. On the bottom is the MENU / SET button, it calls up the menu system and makes selection. The 4-way controller lets you navigate menu screens and options, select images for playback and in Record the "right" side selects the Flash mode and the "left" side selects Macro, Infinity and Selftimer functions.

This is the first digicam that we've seen (or even heard about) that has a dual card slot for SD/MMC and Memory Stick flash media. In fact, this is the first camera that isn't made by Sony that can use Memory Stick cards. With current capacity limitations you can put a 128MB SD and a 128 MS card in the camera and that makes for some decent storage space until bigger cards come out.

The dual card slots share the battery compartment on the bottom of the camera.

The only I/O connector is a USB 1.1 connection for data downloads to the computer. There is no DC IN or Video Out port on the KD400Z.

Like most of the "mini" cameras, the KD400Z is powered by a proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack. The ultra-slim DR-LB4 is a 3.7v 820mAh pack with enough power for 100 pictures with LCD on or 200 pictures with the LCD off (normal humidity and temperature, flash intensity 50%, shot every 30 sec. zoomed one direction once, 2304x1704 image size.) And 90 minutes of continuous playback time.

The DR-LB4 is the -only- battery that can be used in this camera so be sure to buy a spare and keep it with you -- or else your picture taking is over when the battery runs out!

The included DR-BC-K4 120-240V AC charger will replenish the battery is approx. 2.5 hours. Konica has an optional DR-AC4 AC power supply for the KD400Z.