Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600 Review

The DiMAGE G600 is equipped with an 8 - 24mm GT 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 fully inside the body 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 6cm (2.4 in.) to infinity in wide angle and 0.5m (1.6 ft.) to infinity in telephoto. The distance can also be manually set at 4m, 2m or 1m.

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 camera, focus and flash status.

The builtin flash is auto-adjusting with modes for Auto flash, Red-eye Reduction Auto, Fill Flash, Slow Sync and Flash Off. The working range: Approx. 0.5 - 3m (Wide); approx. 0.8 - 1.7m (Telephoto). It has a 3 second recycle delay with a fully charged battery.

One of the DiMAGE G600's most 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.

The controls are minimal but effective. Across the top 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 and accepts selections. 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.

The DiMAGE G600 has two card slots, one each for SD (or MMC) cards up to 512MB and Sony Memory Sticks (or Memory Stick Pro) up to 256MB. Minolta supplies a 16MB SD card. Both card slots can be occupied simultaneously.

Minolta USA has posted a G600 compatibility chart that lists the tested memory cards. There had been numerous reports of compatibility problems with the predecessor G500 and you'd be well-advised to verify compatibility before investing in memory cards for the G600.

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 DiMAGE G600.

Like most "mini" digicams, the DiMAGE G600 is powered by a proprietary lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack. The ultra-slim NP-600 is a 3.7v 860mAh pack with enough power for 160 pictures with LCD on (normal humidity and temperature, flash intensity 50%, shot every 30 sec. zoomed one direction once.) And 180 minutes of continuous playback time.

The NP-600 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 BC-600 120-240V AC charger takes over 1 hour to replenish the battery.