Standard-Setting 5-Megapixel Digicam Gets Even Better It was exactly one year ago that we reviewed the Minolta DiMAGE 7, an innovative digital camera offering a unique combination of features, value and high resolution for a "prosumer" digicam. At that time there were professional 6-megapixel digital SLRs available (as well as digital backs for medium-format cameras with resolution as high as 16 megapixels), but the DiMAGE 7 was the first 5-megapixel consumer digital camera to hit the market. With an introductory price of $1500 the DiMAGE 7 wasn't exactly cheap, but it was within the means of most serious photo enthusiasts (unlike the pro cameras which cost several thousand dollars).
Now Minolta has raised the bar again, with the introduction of the DiMAGE 7i, an outwardly similar but significantly upgraded model that carries a street price of only $999. This new camera has retained the best features of its predecessor—most notably its superb 7X optical zoom lens, a 5.24-megapixel CCD, and exclusive CxProcess image-processing technology—and added a host of new features and capabilities which result in significantly enhanced performance and creative control.
If one had to choose one word to describe the enhancements Minolta has made to the original DiMAGE 7 (which, by the way, was a darn good camera), it would be speed. The AF system in the new DiMAGE 7i is significantly faster than that of its predecessor, the top shutter speed is 1/4000, as compared to 1/2000 in the original model, and the DiMAGE 7i also boasts a new Ultra High Speed (UHS) 7 fps continuous drive mode that's great for sports/action photography. In short, the new 7i is a much more responsive camera.
Other upgrades offered by the new model include a new movie mode for creating 60-second color and monochrome digital videos with 16-bit audio, improvements to the LCD monitor and electronic viewfinder, and increased creative control over color—enabling you to tone black-and-white shots and make color images warmer or cooler.
Owners of the DiMAGE 7 shouldn't dismay, since Minolta has thoughtfully introduced an affordable firmware and software upgrade for that camera with many of the enhancements of the new 7i. Key components of the DiMAGE 7 Upgrade Kit include increased focusing speed, faster continuous drive rate and the addition of a Direct Manual Focus Mode (read on for more details). The Kit also provides improved image processing and editing tools with Minolta's new DiMAGE Viewer software. Price for the Kit is $79. The firmware upgrade and the DiMAGE Viewer software are also available separately for $49 each.
Enhanced Focusing System
As mentioned above, Minolta has dramatically improved the focusing system of their flagship digital camera (engineers at Minolta say the DiMAGE 7i focuses twice as fast as its predecessor). For most serious shooters, focusing accuracy is at least as important as AF acquisition speed, and the DiMAGE 7i is a real winner on both counts. The camera features a three-point wide-area autofocus system that delivers very precise results, even under difficult low-light conditions. The camera utilizes one of the three AF sensors within the focus frames to locate your subject, and briefly displays the active sensor while confirming focus.
The DiMAGE 7i features a Direct Manual Focus (DMF) capability (it's the first Minolta digital camera to offer this feature) which enables you to fine-tune focus manually after the AF system has locked onto your subject. For added focusing precision, the camera's Flex Point System also lets you move a cross hair anywhere within the viewfinder to quickly focus on off-center subjects (eliminating the common but time-consuming procedure of accomplishing this task by positioning your subject in the center of the frame, locking focus by partially depressing the shutter release, then recomposing before taking the picture).
Great Optics
The DiMAGE 7i boasts a terrific f/2.8-3.5 zoom that's equivalent to a 28-200mm lens in the 35mm format. This fast apochromatic lens utilizes 16 elements in 13 groups (including two AD elements and two aspheric elements) to deliver outstanding results throughout its 7X zoom range. Unlike the DiMAGE 7, which only offered macro capability at the extreme telephoto end of the focal range, the new 7i offers macro focusing at both ends of the zoom range. With the lens set at the wide-angle 7.2mm position, you can focus on subjects as close as 8.3 inches from the front of the lens. A minimum-focusing distance of 5.1 inches is also available at the telephoto end of the zoom range, with the lens set anywhere between 42.7mm and 50.8mm.
All serious photographers appreciate the degree to which premium optics enhance their efforts. With digital photography, another key contributor to optimum results is the quality of the camera's image-processing system. The DiMAGE 7i utilizes a 5.24-megapixel 2/3-inch color CCD for a maximum resolution of 2560x1920 pixels. The camera's 12-bit A/D converter delivers smooth tonal gradations and very detailed highlights and shadows. Minolta's proprietary CxProcess image-processing system further contributes to a wide dynamic range, maximum sharpness and accurate color rendition.
