Minolta DiMAGE G400 Review

The DiMAGE G400 is equipped with an 5.6 - 16.8mm Hexanon zoom lens (equivalent to 34-101mm 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. This sliding cover is also the power switch for the camera.

The DiMAGE G400 employs Rapid Autofocus (AF) to ensure sharp images quickly. Rapid AF uses a passive AF sensor to instantly estimate the distance to the subject and the camera's CCD to determine the precise focus point. The camera can automatically focus and determine the exposure in approximately 0.2 seconds.

The focusing system works from 0.5m to infinity in wide angle and from 0.8m to infinity in telephoto. Macro coverage is 5cm (~2 in.) to infinity in wide angle and 0.5m (1.6 ft.) to infinity in telephoto. Super macro works in telephoto only and covers from 0.2 to 0.4m. The distance can also be manually set at 2.5m, 1.2m or 0.8m.

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 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 - 2.1m (Wide); approx. 0.8 - 1.2m (Telephoto). It has a 5 second recycle delay with a fully charged battery.

The controls on the back. Across the top is the PLAY mode button and the image DELETE button. 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 focus. 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.

To the right of the color LCD is the MODE button, it selects AUTO, SCENE, MOVIE/SOUND, MANUAL or SETUP modes - more detail on the next page.

The MENU button calls up and dismisses the menu system in record or playback mode. The SET button accepts mode and menu selections and functions as the DISPLAY button to turn the LCD on/off and control the amount of information overlayed on it.

The DiMAGE G400 has two card slots, one each for SD (or MMC) cards up to 512MB and Sony Memory Sticks up to 128MB. You can use a 256MB Memory Stick Select card which is really a double-128MB, a switch selects one of two 128MB memory banks. It is not compatible with the higher capacity Memory Stick Pro cards. Minolta supplies a 16MB SD card. Both card slots can be occupied simultaneously.

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 G400. The dedicated (and optional) AC power supply uses a battery substitute that fits in the battery compartment.

The DiMAGE G400 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 185 pictures with LCD on or 330 pictures with the LCD off (normal humidity and temperature, flash intensity 50%, shot every 30 sec. zoomed one direction once, 4 megapixel/normal mode.) And 200 minutes of continuous playback time.

The included BC-600 120-240V AC charger will replenish the battery in approx. 2.5 hours. The battery is charged out of the camera.