Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Review

Click on the DiMAGE Z5 to take a QuickTime VR tour

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 features a 5-megapixel imager combined with a high-quality GT 12x optical zoom lens. The GT APO lens offers clear, high-contrast, high-resolution images thanks to Konica Minolta's G lens optical technology. The AD (anomalous dispersion) glass and two aspheric lens elements help correct spherical aberration and curvilinear distortion, factors that can cause problems at high zoom ranges. The high-resolution 5-megapixel CCD combines with the proprietary CxProcess II technology to give photographers images as beautiful as those they see with their own eyes.

The DiMAGE Z5 shares the innovative Konica Minolta CCD-shift Anti-Shake System found on the high-end Konica Minolta Maxxum 7D SLR and DiMAGE "A" series digital cameras. The CCD-shift Anti-Shake System compensates the effect of camera shake for hand-held dim light photography and telephoto shots - both of which are susceptible to the effects of camera shake because of their slow shutter speeds, photographers can now get steady, blur-free images without the use of a flash or tripod. Unlike an optical system, Konica Minolta's proprietary Anti-Shake System uses a unique CCD-shift mechanism. This keeps the lens compact and the camera lightweight.

With Konica Minolta's unique CCD-shift Anti-Shake System accompanying the camera's built-in 12x optical zoom lens, the Z5 provides photographers of all levels with very steady and sharp hand-held telephoto shots. Its speed also enables photographers to get those action shots right away with Rapid Autofocus (AF) - the fastest auto focus in its class. The camera's AF also has a Predictive Focus Control for unmatched high-speed focusing that gives you the ability to capture fast moving subjects.

The DiMAGE Z5 is fast, it's ready to go in just 1.9 seconds after powering it on and focuses in approximately 0.2 seconds at wide angle and approximately 0.3 seconds at telephoto. In Continuous AF, the DiMAGE Z5 includes Predictive Focus Control, which allows users to capture sharper images of moving subjects--like a child running in the backyard. The DiMAGE Z5 also offers improved AF accuracy through 5-point Area AF, which gives five focus areas that overlap horizontally and thus reduce AF failures that occur when subjects appear in between focus areas and cause a perspective conflict.

The DiMAGE Z5's 2.0-inch LCD makes it easier to take pictures, easier to play back and view stills and movie clips, and easier to navigate menus. The movie recording function allows users to take high-resolution movies that are as beautiful as TV programs or footage taken with a video camera. In addition to the VGA-size (640 x 480 Standard) mode that captures movies at 30 frames per second, Konica Minolta has added a high-quality-image Fine mode (640 x 480 Fine). Night Movie mode compensates for low conditions and lets you shoot color movies at night or in a dark room. The Silent Zoom feature employs a newly developed Silent Zoom mechanism that greatly reduces how much noise from the optical zoom is picked up while shooting movies with sound.

The optional Wide Converter Kit allows users to fit more of a scene into each shot. The lens has a 26mm wide angle that is ideal for capturing indoor or outdoor architecture and panoramic landscape shots. The Z5 is also equipped with a powerful built-in flash. But if even more flash power is needed, the camera accepts the Konica Minolta Program/Maxxum Flash 3600HS(D) 5600HS(D) or 2500(D) accessory flash units on the built-in hot shoe.

DiMAGE Z5 Features:

• 5.2 megapixel CCD for images up to 2560 x 1920 pixels
• 12x zoom (35 - 420mm equivalent 35mm coverage) with high-speed autofocus
• AS (Anti-Shake) system for sharp images at low shutter speeds or long focal lengths
• Large 2-inch color LCD with 114,000 pixels and auto-brightness
• Electronic viewfinder (EVF), 0.3 inch 118,000 pixels with dioptric adjustment
• Program AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority and Manual exposure modes
• Shutter speeds from 4 seconds to 1/1000 in Shutter priority and Manual exposures modes
• Digital Program modes: Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset, Night portrait
• Multi-segment, center-weighted and spot exposure metering modes
• 640x480 Fine/Standard, and 320x240 motion video at 15fps or 30fps with audio, length limited only by SD card capacity. Night Movie compensates for low light conditions.
• Automatic noise-reduction for one second or longer exposures
• Auto White Balance with 5 presets and Custom
• Sharpness and Contrast control, adjustable in 3 levels
• Color modes: Vivid, Natural, Black and White, Sepia
• ISO Sensitivity: Auto, 50, 100, 200, and 320 equivalents
• Playback/QuickView with histogram feature
• Data imprinting that records date, time and descriptive information on an image.
• Powered by four standard AA type batteries
• USB connectivity for Windows and Mac OSX
• PictBridge, Exif Print, and Epson PRINT Image Matching II compatible

Physical Views

The DiMAGE Z5 compared in size to a standard CD.

The 5-megapixel DiMAGE Z5 and the 4-megapixel DiMAGE Z3.
Almost physically identical, the Z5 sports a larger 2-inch color LCD.