konica minolta dimage z3 review

• Overview
• Spec
• Reviews
• Write your review
• Ask a Question

By dragonlord 2004 on 13th Dec 2004

dragonlord 2004's Ratings

Time Digital Camera Owned	6 - 12 Months
Image Quality	8/10
Battery Life	5/10
Features	9/10
Ease of Use	7/10
Value for money	10/10
Overall value	8/10
dragonlord 2004's recommendation

Good Points

Seriously effective zoom lens with image stabilser. AA batteries for power. Ability to take multiple shots in a second.

Bad Points

General size. Battery life. Manual flash popup. Interior and low light use. SD card slots location and cover.

General Comments

The Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 has the most amazing 12 times optical zoom lens. As a general camera for outside use it is very hard for me to fault. The zoom lens is backed up by a very competent anti shake/image stabiliser that cuts in when you press the shutter release button half way, also locking the focus at the same time. The stabiliser is a true marvel here. When using maximum zoom (optical, I don't use digital), holding the camera in hand and not on a tripod, the results are still 99 percent perfect. I have used a friends 10 times zoom in similar conditions but lost almost all the images due to shaking hands at high zoom. I bought this camera mainly for zoom use, so on that front it is absolutely on the mark. However it loses out on other uses when compared to my Optio s4. When used indoors, where available light is provided by electricity, the camera has some noticeable limitations. Use of the zoom indoors under such conditions results in the camera struggling to focus, sometimes failing altogether, coupled with the electronic viewfinders slow refresh rate indoors it can be an irritation that lets down the rest of the unit's greatness. But it has to be said, that those buying a 12 times optical zoom are probably not looking to use it for general pictures and party snaps. Battery life is also limited, but again, with such a huge lens, battery drain is an obvious trade off.
Consequently, I use the s4 for use indoors as it gives faster and better results indoors than the Dimage.
Outside though, in daylight conditions, the Dimage wins hands down, sporting events and the like are the Dimage's hunting ground where the zoom and stabiliser do exactly what's asked.
It also has to be said, that in the time I used the digital zoom for testing purposes, the anti shake coped even at the 48 times settings and provided shake free images.
If you buy this for the correct purpose it is an excellent choice. If however you are buying a general all rounder, then all the megazooms should be avoided, a 3 or perhaps 5 times zoom being more useful for general purpose/all round use.



Current cameras in regular use are a Pentax s4 and the Dimage Z3.

Total Respect: 0