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Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 4MP Digital Camera with Anti Shake 12x Optical Zoom | 
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| Brand: Konica-Minolta
Category: Photography
List Price: $599.99
Buy Used: $129.99
You Save: $470.00 (78%)
New (3) from $199.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  28 reviews
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Optical Zoom: 12
Display Size: 1.5
Maximum Focal Length: 69.9
Minimum Focal Length: 5.83
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 6.3 x 5
MPN: 2733151
Model: 2733151
UPC: 043325995958
EAN: 0043325995958
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 4-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 11-by-15-inch enlargements | | • | Konica Minolta GT APO 12x optical zoom with CCD-shift anti-shake system; combines with 4x digital zoom for 48x total zoom | | • | Fastest autofocus in its class (May 2004); captures movies with sound; PictBridge compatible | | • | Store images on Secure Digital (SD) memory cards; 16 MB SD card included | | • | Powered by 4 AA-size batteries (alkaline included, rechargeable NiMH recommended) |
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| Accessories:
| • | Konica Minolta Maxxum Flash 5600HS D Series for Dimage A1, A2, A200, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z5, 7Hi, 7i, 7D & 5D Digital Cameras | | • | Sony DPP-FP75 Picture Station Digital Photo Printer with 3.5-Inch LCD Tilt-Adjustable Display | | • | Viking 256 MB Secure Digital Flash Card (SD256M) | | • | SanDisk SDSDH-256-901 Secure Ultra 256MB (Retail Package) | | • | Konica Minolta CS-W20 Carrying Case for Dimage Z1, Z2, Z3 & Z5 Digital Cameras |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The DiMAGE Z3 is a high-speed, 4-megapixel digital camera with a 12X optical mega zoom lens. With a CCD-shift Anti-Shake System, the Z3 gives you amazingly steady and reliable telephoto shots even at the maximum magnification. Plus, Rapid AF ensures that you capture moving subjects clearly. The DiMAGE Z3's advanced, high-sensitivity 4-megapixel CCD combines with Konica Minolta's proprietary CxProcess II technology to give you images as beautiful as those you see with your own eyes.Despite its powerful 12X optical zoom, the Z3 sports a lightweight, compact body with a stylish, modern design. An ergonomic grip makes it easy and comfortable to carry and the large, intuitive button layout keeps you in confident control at all times.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 23 more reviews...
 Konica Minolta Z3 August 27, 2004
126 out of 127 found this review helpful
Having some experience with SLRs before the digital age, and having used a 2.1 megapixel Canon Ixus 300 for three years, I was ready for an upgrade. At the same time I was pondering whether to buy a digicam that can shoot stills, or a stills camera that can shoot video - thus covering both my needs with a single device. Carrying two devices, two AC adapters/chargers and potentially two different storage media was out of the question, although some manufacturers allow you to use the same storage medium and battery if you buy only their products. I decided for a stills camera, but demanded video capture of 30 frames per second. This requirement excluded almost all the cameras within my price range.
Another key consideration was speed. The Ixus is notoriously slow both during startup and shutter lag, too slow for my baby son.
Finally I imagined a camera with 5-6 megapixels and a fast lens (ideally f2.0), fairly compact and relatively light weight.
Exhausting research showed me that the ideal camera does not exist. However, some cameras do have 30 fps video: SONY W1 or P100, The Panasonic Z10 or Z20, Kyocera M410R, and Konica Minolta Z2. The three latter manufacturers offered large zooms as well. However only Panasonic offered a stabilized zoom, and on the other hand was so big tha I decided against it.
All the above cameras offer only middle-of-the-road resolution of 4-5 megapixels. On the other hand, friends with higher resolution cameras tell me that they never use maximum resolution anyway, so I decided I could compromise on the megapixel race and get some other useful features instead.
When the Z3 with stabilised zoom was released I took a chance and bought it here at Amazon although none of the established digital photography websites had yet reviewed it.
Having used the Z3 for a week and taken about a hundred photos, I am pleased with my decision. The photo quality is as good as I expected, as regards sharpness and colour. The optical 12x zoom is fantastic, and with 4x digital zoom you can shoot the moon and have it fill the entire screen in fairly good resolution. I could read the lisence plates of cars standing 200 yards away.
Additionally the camera is fairly compact but has an unusual shape, so get the Konica Minolta case for it.
Video is very good, as expected. You get a built-in loudspeaker for instant playback. Besides you need a fast SD card, I got a 512 MB Sandisk Ultra II and am happy with it. An additional plus with SD cards is that they fit into my Palm Tungsten handheld for direct downloading of photos.
The instruction manual is good as well, not too big but detailed. Unlike cameras like Olympus C-5060 and C-8080, that have received a lot of praise for their optical qualities but criticism for their complicated menu structure, the Z3 is very straight-forward with just the right repertoire of features. It is really easy to use. When we add quick startup and focusing, I feel most of my requirements are met.
I also bought the 2500D external flash with vertically swivelling head, which came at a very competitive price compared to dedicated flashes from other manufacturers. The built-in flash is nevertheless quite strong in most indoor situations.
Such features for 499 dollars is a good deal. However Konica Minolta have chosen very cheap solutions to some other needs:
- the LCD at the back of the camera is very small, and it does not swivel. All other comparable cameras have larger screens, most of them swivel. If your eyesight is not 100%, get a different camera.
- the built-in flash does not pop up when needed, you have to push it up with your hand.
- The lens itself is not threaded, only the barrel around it. You have to buy a big adapter in order to attach the most basic UV filter. The camera will also not fit into the case with the adapter on.
- low light metering is poor, often impossible. A focus assist lamp should have been included.
- the body is plastic. It feels fairly sturdy but many competing cameras are made of metal.
- Konica Minolta did not bother to include NIMH batteries in the box. They are absolutely necessary but cost extra.
- it is a pitty that such a big lens is not f2.0, only f2.8-4.3. The older Olympus C-5060 and Canon G3 have it - why not newer cameras?
To sum it up: if you need a digital camera beyond the basic point-and-shoot type, video matters a lot to you, and you are willing to carry a somewhat bulky camera around in order to get a big zoom, the Z3 may be the camera for you. Unless you are willing to wait for a future Z4 or Z5 that has it all.
 Z3, not impressed October 13, 2004
37 out of 45 found this review helpful
I bought the Z3 because of the features, 12x zoom, image stabilization, 4.0 MP. The stabilization feature works very well, as does the macro modes. It does everything the literature says it will do. Except take a decent picture. I took a few and printed them off, the color was off and grainy, no matter what quality setting of the camera. Some pics even turned out yellowish. The image viewing software is rather difficult to manipulate, and kept shutting down my computer. It eats batteries. The LCD is VERY small, and hard to see in sunlight. The memory card door is also VERY flimsy and could be easily broken. If you decide you want an external flash, Minolta is proprietary, they range from $150-$450 for a flash. I'm pretty disappointed. I was hoping for a good out of the box camera that was easy to operate with good pictures as a result. Not so. Maybe it's just too complicated for me. So tomorrow it goes back, and traded for the Kodak DX7440. It's not nearly as advanced as the Z3, but at least it will take a GOOD picture right out of the box and easily manipulated.
 Five Stars... BUT September 27, 2004
29 out of 34 found this review helpful
There is a movie mode issue with this camera which Minolta are not making too clear: if you use a 'bog-standard' SD card movie will stop every so often - 30/90 seconds, it seems to vary - and the egg-timer will appear to save your clip.
You then have to re-start!
It seems Minolta actually recommend you use a type II card with a much faster read/write time to avoid this problem.
Good, but not great January 5, 2005
28 out of 28 found this review helpful
Plusses
-12X zoom with anti-shake lets you take pictures of things that are difficult to capture otherwise. For example, I take quite a few pictures of my animals, and when you get close to them, they tend to move. This camera lets you maintain your distance and get a good shot.
-Video mode is good. High res, and works surprisingly well in low light.
-Very good ergonomics as far as controls are concerned. Menus for various camera modes are well laid out.
-Exceedingly fast operation. Turn it on, and it is ready to go. Repeated shots are also very fast.
-Easy access to real time histogram of current image.
-Reasonably powerful flash.
-Great macro and super macro mode.
-Takes AA batteries and SD cards.
Minuses
-Small LCD display, but with some use, you'll be able to tell if you got a good shot or not.
-I think familiarity with some of the other picture taking modes of the camera is a must (i.e. aperture and shutter priority modes).
-Some purple fringing at high zoom.
-Noise in images, even at low ISOs.
-Some difficulty focusing in low light situations.
I haven't noticed any problems with capturing video to my SD card, like the other reviewer mentioned (I have a Kingmax platinum card). Nor do I think the SD card door is `flimsy'. It is thin to be sure, but I've never had a problem with it.
I think color saturation is fine. Color balance is very natural on normal setting. Vivid color setting produces rich color. Battery life seems decent to me, I use high capacity NiMH cells.
Overall, this is not a SLR, but you're not paying the same money either. Overall, I think this is a decent camera and worth the price.
Wonderful camera for the amateur enthusiast September 21, 2004
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
I have the Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 for about a week. Here are my comments:
positive aspects:
* the camera is very fast, it feels simply awesome to shoot some photos with it, altogether the handling is very good
* the best feature is definitely the 12x zoom with anti-shake. It may seem unbelievable but you can take perfectly sharp pictures at telephoto without the use of a tripod
* the UHS capture and movie mode are great
* a lot of manual features
* reasonable price
negative aspects:
* images are quite noisy
* the saturation is (below) average
* the camera does not fit into my pocket :-)
My conclusion is:
If you are an enthusiastic amateur like me, this is the perfect camera for you. Although the image quality is a little disappointing all of the other features make this a wonderful camera.
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