Konica Minolta Dimage Z2

The battery cover breaks easily and in 3 different stress points. The replacement cost for the battery cover is more than half the cost of a newer camera with more features, more zoom, more megapixels. This camera will last about 3 - 4 years with normal use. The battery pressure on the battery cover will be an inescapable issue. If this model is even still around, skip it in favor of something more up to date.

I got my Minolta Dimage Z2 mid Sept 2004 and have taken hundreds of photos. I take it every where I go and never fail to use it.

The camera is quick to take photos from switch on (unlike my old Kodak). It is as flexible as an SLR without the bulk or complexity. My wife can just pick it up and snap away and I can do a bit more of the fancy stuff. The macro is great and the detail amazes me every time. I, like most people who have one recommend it. Two people I know have bought one after seeing mine.

I have had the Minolta Dimage Z2 camera for a month now. I have been taking great images with this camera. It has a high quality lens for razor sharp images and a 4 megapixel CCD that enables prints up to A4 size with great detail.

It has 10 optical zoom (38-380mm) and also 4 digital zoom and when combined together you have 40X. The movie mode is awsome it allows you to capture movies at 800X600 (SVGA) @15 frames per second untill you fill your memory card.

I bought a 256mb sd card which enambles me to capture 128 photos with the highest resolution and also about 5 minutes of movie recording with 800X600.

The only thing I hate about this camera is the EVF/LCD switch. It makes you feel that the camera will explode in your hands but I that does not worry me beacuse I prefer the LCD screen.

Minolta Dimage Z2

I already own a Canon 300D which my wife hates and refuses to use. So was given the task of buying a small, light and easy to use digicam. She had already expressed an interest in the Canon A75 (we used to own the A40 and liked it). Or the Nikon CP3200 which her parents owned and liked.

However the Z1 (and Z2 but beyond budget) had caught my eye. I found an online shop offering it for £170, roughly the same as the A75 and CP3200. It has the same Mp plus a much better spec. In fact it's easily the best spec camera under £200 and by a massive margin. No camera in this price bracket offers 10x zoom, 3.2Mp and VGA 30fps movie mode.

In the hand the camera doesn't disappoint. Looks great, feels great and works great. It's fast, accurate and produces superb pictures. The buttons are oversized and better for it. Making the camera even easier to use. Everything seems to be in the right place. The menu system is intuitive, really easy to whiz round and find what you want.

The movie mode is a real boon. I have two young kids and it's perfect for capturing those growing up moments. Best movie mode I've seen on a digicam.

The only downside for me is I like to use my digicams for astronomy. And a remote control is essential. The Z1 doesn't come with one and nor is it offered as an extra. Which rules out planetary imaging. On the upside it does have full manual overrides and a bulb (30secs max) option.

The best thing of all though is my wife loves it. I really thought I would be for the high jump. But she finds it easy to use and adores the design. Can't be bad!

Mission accomplished!!!!!