Minolta DiMAGE E323 Review
By: Steve's Digicams


Review posted 10/01/03
Click on the DiMAGE E323 to take a QuickTime VR tour
The Minolta DiMAGE E323 is an easy-to-use, compact 3.2 megapixel digital camera. Its 3x optical zoom lens has a focal range of 5.6mm to 16.8mm, this is equivalent to a 36 - 108mm zoom on a 35mm camera. It can range from wide angle for landscapes to telephoto for portraits. The camera's macro mode also allows small objects and details to be captured. The lens can focus down to 4.3 inches for close-up photographs.
The DiMAGE E323 could not be easier to operate. Exposure, focus, white balance, and flash are all controlled automatically for clear, sharp color pictures. By simply pointing and shooting, the camera will do the rest. And to transfer the data from the camera, a user simply connects the USB cable, and drags and drops the images into their computer.
The DiMAGE E323 is not limited to recording still images - movie sequences can be captured too. The length of the movie clip is only limited by resolution and the capacity of the camera's memory card. Clips can be shot at two resolutions: 320 x 240 pixels for large (QVGA) images or 160 x 120 pixels for frugal use of the SD memory card.
Captured still and video images can be played back in the camera or on a TV. Still images can be played back automatically like a slide show. Images can be rotated to orient them correctly so viewers don't need to twist their heads to the left or right to view vertically composed shots.
The DiMAGE E323's precision electro-optical system is built around a with 3.2 million effective pixels for high- resolution images. This resolution can produce 10 x 14-inch 150dpi prints or 4 x 6-inch size photo-quality prints. For those special occasions where users want to make big prints, the camera can automatically interpolate the data when it is captured to create a large 6-megapixel image. This will allow users to make up to 11x17-inch 150dpi prints or letter-size 300dpi prints.
DiMAGE E323 Major Features:
- Very compact and lightweight camera
- 3x 36-108mm optical zoom, 4x digital zoom
- Macro close-up focusing as close as 4 inches
- 3.3 megapixel primary-color CCD for images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels
- Motion video 320 x 240 w/out audio at 15fps, unlimited length
- 1.6-inch TFT color LCD monitor/viewfinder
- Minolta's CxProcess image processing provides clear and natural images
- 12-bit A/D conversion provides a finer tonal gradation
- Built in flash with Auto, Red-eye reduction, Night portrait and Fill modes
- Video output, NTSC or PAL selectable
- Removable flash memory cards (SD or MMC type)
- PictBridge and Epson PRINT Image Matching II compliant
- Powered by two standard AA type batteries
- USB 1.1 Mass Storage Compliant device
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Physical Views







The DiMAGE E323 compared in size to a standard CD.
DiMAGE E323 Specifications
No. of effective pixels |
Approx. 3.2 million | CCD |
1 / 2.7-type interline primary-color CCD | Aspect ratio |
4:3 | Lens |
5.6-16.8 mm (35mm - equivalent: 36 - 108 mm), f/2.8 - f/4.9; 7 elements in 6 groups | Recording media |
SD memory card and MultiMediaCard (MMC) support | File format |
JPEG, Motion JPEG (MOV), DCF1.0-compliant, DPOF (Ver.1.1) compatible, Exif2.2 | No. of recorded pixels |
2880 x 2160 (interpolated), 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480 | Storage capacity (approx.)* (with 16 MB SD card) |
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2880 x 2160 |
2048 x 1536 |
1600 x 1200 |
640 x 480 | Normal |
10 |
20 |
33 |
148 | Fine |
6 |
13 |
21 |
111 | Movie (15 fps) |
40 seconds (320 x 240), 2 minutes 38 seconds (160 x 120) |
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* Number of frames above may vary depending on the subject |
| Autofocus system |
Video AF, focus lock available | Focusing range |
0.11 m / 0.4 feet to infinity (from the front of the lens), | Macro mode (from the front of the lens) |
WIDE: 0.11 m / 4.3 inches, TELE: 0.46 m / 18.1 inches | Exposure control |
Programmed AE, AE lock available | Exposure compensation |
+-1.8Ev (with 0.3Ev step) | Metering |
256 Multi-segment metering | Camera sensitivity |
Auto (ISO 50 - 200 equivalent) | Shutter |
CCD electronic shutter / mechanical shutter, with 1/2 - 1/2000 seconds in full auto mode, 2 - 1/2000 seconds in Landscape and Night view modes | Self-timer |
Approx. 2 seconds / 10 seconds delay | Movie recordig |
15 fps (320 x 240 or 160 x 120), recording possible to full capacity of the memory card | Digital zoom |
4x | White-balance control |
Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Cloudy) | Flash mode |
Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Flash cancel | LCD monitor |
40 mm/1.6-inch digital interface TFT color, Total pixels: 84,960 | Printing output control |
Exif print, Print Image Matching II | PC interface |
Full-speed 12 Mbps USB, Video output PAL / NTSC (selectable) | Batteries |
Two AA batteries (N-MH, Alkaline), One lithium-ion battery CR-V3 | Battery performance* |
Number of recording: 80 (approx.) frames (Alkaline battery, Monitor On, 1600 x 1200) * Minolta measurement | External power source |
3.4 V DC (with specified AC adapter) | Dimensions (WxHxD) |
99 x 62 x 34.5 mm / 3-7/8 x 2-7/16 x 1-3/8 inches (excluding projected parts) | Weight |
Approx. 145 g / 5-1/8 ounces (without batteries and recording media) | Standard accessories |
Two Alkaline batteries, Hand Strap (HS-DG323), Video Cable (VIC-100), USB Cable (USB-700), SD Memory Card (16 MB) DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM |
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Specifications as represented by the manufacturer
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