Reviews for Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: 8mp, anti shake, lots of knobs, buttons and lights that will make an old lady faint

Weakness: the lcd screen does not bend and flex into enough places like my ex did.

i'll keep it short and simple. very good albiet confusing camera for amatuers. if you want complete control over your shots like fidel has over cuba, then this camera is for you, you dictator wannabe.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Good lens, fast startup and focusing, TTL external flash shoe, manual zoom and focus ring, easy controls, auto switching LCD-EVF, stabilizer, high-res video (focus +WB +zoom during recording)

Weakness: 3 fps continuous mode takes only 3 shots regardless of resolution. 7 fps mode has a joke: VGA images

Very good camera overall. Lens, noise, distortion, colors, features etc are very good for a camera this size and price.

Minolta could provide a meaningful continuous mode which can take more than 3 shots. The continuous mode lasts only 1 second... This is NOT CONTINUOUS! Minolta, please hear me! I know you can provide a firmware update with a better continuos mode. Replace 7fps VGA mode with something people can use.

I set the sharpening to "hard" all the time as by default A2 doesn't seem to do any sharpening.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Almost in all respects better than the already excellent Dimage A1, better low-light performance, faster autofocus

Weakness: battery meter, viewfinder streaks in strong light (but not the actual pictures!)

This is the best digital camera money can buy in terms of price performance. We compared the result to some multi-thousand dollar digital back for a Hasselblad camera, and while the Kodak back that cost about 10 times as much had a slight edge, the price performance, portability and anti-shake would still in many situations make this the better solution.
The battery meter unfortunately seems to have two states: full, and about empty, and not much feedback in between, which is particularly bad since the batteries last that long, which means you don't get into the habit of charging them...
Other than that, compared to the A1 only 1/4000s shutter, not 1/16000, only 12-bit ADC not 14-bit. Yet low-light performance is better with this camera as is focusing speed and of course resolution.
The viewfinder has a way of streaking in bright lighting, which doesn't happen on the pictures taken. This is a bit bad, because while viewfinder resolution was much worse in the A1, the visual impression of what the picture will look like was better in bright light. On the other hand, the A2 viewfinder is good enough to actually focus with.

For most situations the A2 is the better camera than the A1, but in bright-light action shooting the A1 may have the edge due to shutter speed and viewfinder.

Particularly with the Camera RAW plug-in in Photoshop CS this is a very strong tool for serious photographers.

(In regards to another review: in low light the viewfinder does go grayscale because that allows the camera to combine information from all color channels and keep a fluid viewfinder. It allows also framing when an optical viewfinder were too dark to show anything at all. You can't expect 30fps viewfinder images in full color when to take a picture you'd need 1/4 or longer exposure times!)

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Very Sharp Clear Lens Quality, Lots of menu items

Weakness: Poor image on distance,Off on Switch bad location.

Have used this A2 for a month and the image quality for close up, interior photo with flash , normal shooting is excellent and quality and sharpness is outstanding. The menu features are more than you could ask for.In comparison the normnal range photos are so vivid you find it hard to believe . The only problem is distance, No real zoom features . The minute you start zooming the picture quality goes haywire and all quality is lost. What a shame for such a great camera. I like every other feature but this problem has me thinking return..

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: All professional features,very good design,lense,camera,stabilizer,RAW,battery,EVF,Grip sensor,studio flash,Instruction Manual.

Weakness: Incorrect battery indicator,Weak Flash Range,Lense Aperture 2.8-3.5,not very sharp images (except RAW), redundancy drive mode for the same 3 images. Wide autofocus sensor should has center option.

I love almost every things of this camera. I think it is the best in its class of 8MB digital cameras and the best choice for the money in its class. I will give it the perfect 10 if the MinoltaKonica people would upgrade its tele flash range to 12 feet, lense aperture to f2.0-2.8, fixing its WRONG battery indicator; removing the redundancy drive mode 3 continuous images, adding the option to keep the sensor of wide focus range at the center.

For the design I also wish they will make its weight lighter and its depth thinner. I know only the real dSLR will have the optical viewfinder that I wish to have. The EVF is excellent but for me it is a redundancy design with EVF,LCD and rarely used Data Panel. Reduce it and reduce the weight + the money. FOR NOW DIMAGE A2 IS STILL THE BEST.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Feature Set-Most complete Ergonomics-especially with optional battery grip Image Quality System compatibility Size

Weakness: No optical viewfinder Slight focus "hunting" in movie mode

Greetings. As a prior user of the also excellent Sony DSC-F828, the Olympus E-10/20, and Olympus C-5050 cameras (and many non-digital systems as well), I think I have a firm basis of comparison. As for the superb A2, I can only voice my opinion that it produces some of the best images I have ever seen! (With the exception of large format, of course.) Sharpness and resolution of this GT APO lens is astounding, at least equalling that of the Sony Zeiss glass. Shutter lag is quite short, as I have successfully shot several of my son's soccer games without missing the action, as I did with the otherwise great Oly E-series cameras. As a photographer who values image sharpness above most other criteria, I am thus far very pleased with hthe performance of the A2, my first Minolta (read: "Konica Minolta") camera. As for noise, I think that too much "noise" has been made of this occurrence in these 8 m-pixel cameras, because, unless you need to shoot at higher ISO speeds, noise is most certainly NOT an issue, at least at 64 or 100. Also, CA and purple fringing issues are overstated, IMHO. I've taken images from the Sony F828 up to 16x20, and the resulting print is outstandingly sharp and noiee-free. To see the image I used (at reduced jpeg size), please see the following link:
www.totalqualityphoto....

For a sample shot from the A2, please see:
www.totalqualityphoto....

Certainly, the feature set of the A2 is unmatched in any digital camera under $3000, as one could hardly ask for more in terms of image and file manipulation and adjustment capability. In addition, with a dedicated flash such as Minolta 5600 HS(D), one can use wireless remote TTL automation out of the box! Not to mention the ability to use external strobes via the Sync connection!
Therefore, I conclude that when used carefully and (with the requisite post-processing when shooting RAW), the A2 can produce quality images rivalling any 35mm film system! I also think that 99% of photographers (myself included) using this camera will be hard-pressed to eek out all the functionality advantages that the Konica Minolta A2 provides!

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Rapid RAW shotting, wonderful EVF, greatly improved battery olife over the Dimage 7 series, great lens, IS

Weakness: Ideally I would want a 24 to 300mm equiv - I can dream can't I?

I have owned a Dimage 7 since 2001 including the ug version.
This is a huge improvement. The EVF rivals the clarity of my Canon DSLR viewfinder! (and I wear glasses and this is really a huge improvement). The battery lasts and lasts, the continous 3 shot mode allows RAW shots almost as fast as I can take them. The focus is ever so slightly slower than my Canon Rebel D 300 and the EVF is more than good enough to allow one to check the focus. This is a fantastic travel camera.
I can see no increase in noise over the Dimage 7 in 8x10 prints (ASA 64 & 100) and a couple of crops (equiv 11x14) responded to Dfine filter in Photoshop and printed up essentially noise free. No purple fringing on the hundreds of RAW shots so far.I only shoot RAW on both Canon and Minolta cameras.

At the very least, try this camera for a weekend.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Manual zoom like SLRs; easy to follow menus; manual focus ring; automatic switch between EVF and LCD; antishake; great photos; very easy exposure

Weakness: clear manual but moderate learning curve none the less; no other weaknesses discovered so far

For openers, this camera matches or exceeds the features of its two main rivals, the Nikon 8700 and the Canon PowerShot 8 megapixel. Zooming is a breeze with the large manually operated ring. If you want manual zoom, there is a ring for that too. Photos are superb -- sharp with good color. Very easy exposure and flash compensation. Automatic switch between EVF and LCD. Very bright EVF that is not daunted by dim light. Like all of EVF cameras, using it in bright light, eg high noon, makes the LCD useless and reduces the visibility of the EVF too. This is where one whould wish for an optical viewfinder. Menu system far superior to that of the Nikon 8700 and equal to that of the Canon.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: ALL possibilities - no missing function - no deep-level menus - easy to use AND custom settings incl. settings memories

Weakness: not found any - even the objective cover is to get and put with sun blind on! Easy but efficient - without blind to put like all others aswell!

This is my no. 7 digital camera - my first dimage and my first 8 MPixels. I read reviews telling that there are too much switches, buttons... but now I found, that all these buttons are easy to understand, (otherwise I don't need to touch them) and clearly defined with figures and in the wonderfull manual in pdf format - the best format to search expressions and to print no matter what printer. The second LCD screen on top is very good for informations. There is a automatic switch (possibility to switch manual) if my eyes come close to the viewfinder. It switches from Viewfinder to LCD monitor and back. I never saw a viewfinder like this! I am really able to get control of sharpness, even if its a digital viewfinder. And if not, I have to push two buttons and I get a movable field 3,3 times bigger. Even in this mode, I can scroll around. If I touch the release butten half the way, I get the total picture, if I leave it I get the zoomed one with the blind set to get the full control of sharpness - deep. If I take the camera in my hand, form and settings of buttons is the comfortable I have ever seen. With the automatic grip contact at the right hand, the manual zoom ring (dynax - greetings) and the very "normal" ring for manual focus. Oh dear this focus functions!! One slider at the left hand to switch from autofocus, manual focus AND the incredible continuous focus. let me tell you, that in this mode (don't worry about the battery: it lasts and lasts and lasts..) you get a four arrow-point at the exact point on the picture, where the focused point is. With the release button touched, this point tries to stay at the focused thing even at moving or zooming the picture. Here I will come to the final point: Zooming with one Hand combined with the grip at the lens - best point for this very urgent function. No button to push and then to wait (it is too fast or annoying slow) but to turn "the objective" and from 28 .. 200 mm (35 mm equivalent) is really enough.

I never go to get a picture but with this lightweight camera in a professional quality with all (even built in AND ext. flash, and and and) but with not more than 8 one level deep menu hierarchy. Don't need to search in the deep-levels for anything.

I have already made the most incredible pictures with this brandnew camera!
Buy it now, you will not find anything better in this weight nor in this price category - I know what I am writing of, but I am not allowed of course to tell you the make of the three other cameras I had the last year..

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 8 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Wonderful features!

Weakness: VERY, VERY NOISY IMAGE!!!

This camera has an excellent and thoughtful featureset. Its only weaknesses is its image noise. Also, though the image seen in the viewfinder is of very high resolution, it has weak color saturation. Viewing a scene in weak light makes the viewfinder image look like greyscale.
Too bad...
Returned this camera to the distributor.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 digital camera gives every satisfaction in practice. A high resolution of 8 Megapixels, still a bright high quality lens with a large zoom range and an excellent image quality are a perfect combination for everyone who is looking for a versatile camera. The Dimage A2 camera from Konica Minolta leaves all photographic frontiers wide open to be explored. Read our review...

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE A2 is the last of this year's crop of 8-megapixel uber-cameras that I've reviewed, but in many respects, it's one of the best. Good optical performance, very fast shooting (even in RAW mode), an excellent anti-shake optical stabilization system, and flexible creative controls make for an impressive offering. Each of the current crop of 8-megapixel digicams has its own...

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