Reviews for Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Quality of immage is incredable! Ease of use. works great with Windows XP with out software. Built-in Flash. Zoom lense is awesome (28-200) and 400mm digital effect. All Praise.

Weakness: Uses a lot of batteries if using large screen. Solution below. Use SLR eye piece to save energy. 16MB Compact flash is really a joke. Some online stores give 128MB included.

Quality of immage is incredable! After owning several Minolta 35mm SLR's this was a very easy transision. All of my Minolta Si & Xi accessories work seamlessly. For example the 5400HS flash, remote, etc.

For the battery issue I solved that by going to Walmart and purchasing the NiMH Rayovac 1850mAh recharge kit. It comes with a 110v and 12v adapters. With three sets of four AA NiMH you should be set for a full day or two of shooting constantly. Just recharge on the go in the car.

Find a 512mb - 1gb cf card and buy it at the same time. A 128mb cf card will hold about 45 immages in 5 mega pixels - fine mode(+/- 2.6mb each)this is my favorite mode. If you were to record in the 5 mega pixels - raw mode each immage is 15mb and a 128mb card will only hold 8-9 pictures. This is the price you pay to have such great quality in an immage.

It costs less than the other 5mp cameras. Don't settle for anything else.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: I am not rating the camera--see comments below

I have not yet gotten my camera, but I want to complain BIG TIME about DIRECTSOURCE, which I where I originally placed the order for camera and battery pack. They list in stock, but when I ordered, they said it was 6 weeks backordered, so I cancelled camera order. I forgot to cancel battery pack and they REFUSED to accept my return, even though their return policy says only that OPENED software, batteries, etc. are not returnable. I am SO angry about this. There are many disreputable and disrespective vendors out there. I was shocked and dismayed to find this.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: It is an incredible camera for the price. It is the first digital camera I used which come close to the 35 mm camera level. In both quality and ease of use.

Weakness: The much talked about battery usage. I find it difficult to focus correctly when using the manual telephoto settings. Somewhat bulky body coupled with the lack of a good leather ready case.

The camera is a joy to use if you discount the above mentioned difficulties. You can save batteries by not using the screen to record. The video part of the camera is excellent, but lacks sound recording which makes it a drawback for using. The 60 second limitation is also a disadvantage in video mode.

I have three Leicas, a Rolley and 2 Nikons and still use this camera 90% of the time.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Best lens on any digicam (APO, 2.8 - 3.5, 7 X optical zoom) Amazing array of features; you can take photos either full auto; or make the full range of manual adjustments. Love the EVF.

Weakness: Others have mentioned that this camera is a battery eater. I found that when using 1850 NiMH that I could take at least 200 photos. Noise: Not overly bad and certainly not a show stopper.

A long time photographer. I ordered a Dimage 7Hi; however, they were not in stock so the dealer gave me a 7i until he got the 7Hi's in (and that's another story). This camera is an absolute jewel and a steal at its low price. Photos at full resolution, even blown up to 11"x14", are superb. Frankly, you don't gain a lot by buying the 7Hi for about an extra $500, in retrospect, I should have kept the 7i.

Far better than the equivalent Canons and Nikons.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: 28-200mm Lens is the best deal at its price class. This single factor out weigh all other purchase consideration.

Weakness: The flash, screen eats up battery fast. Bulky. Video without sounds (with the original model, Dimage 7). The manual focus for close up is not very sharp, I had a hard time to photo my Opal Jewelry.

Please Get a Microtech CF card reader ($20) and U do not need the software, cables etc., comes with it from Minolta. Get a SanDisk 256 MB CF Ultra that is fast and save battery. Get the best NiMH battery and charger (Maha C204F charger, Powerex 2200mAh NiMH battery Oct. 2003). Get a set non-recharable Lithium Ion battery for back up (cost around $10 for a set of 4). I rarely use the 5M pixcel because it is too large to send over internet or Ofoto/Snapfish.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: I am an advanced/pro photog 35mm outdoors//nature for 10+years. I have a Minolta 7 and 4000 as well as many other brands. I do commend the mind of Minolta on this one Command dial are numerous and extensive. Histoagram real-time , diopters +5-5, floating

Weakness: Batteries-which are not a big deal initially buy rechargable 1800 not 1600 nima. Also plan on buying additional storage I find a 1 gig IBM microdrive far more than most would use because you edit literally on-the-run so you always have room for better pic

Minolta out did themselves with this lens and its great quality and range. Personally I believe in heavy glass f-2.8 across. its worth the back breaking s eat. This camera gives you 11 filters, 28mm-200mm f2.8-3.5 optical apo gt. Yoy can go to a four hundred 3.5 zoom. You have a 28mm macro and a 135mm macro.Are you beginning to get the picture? No fast big heavy and expensive glass breaking your back and wallet. Just you and your camera and a few extra batteries. Need an extra filter-49mm not 67mm or 72. No film to buy or process again. With bulk photo paper and ink supplies this pay for itself in no time. My other personal favorite is the view finder-YGWYS B&W color solarized flourescent or incandescent-you decide how it will look b-4u shoot.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Lots of Settings

Weakness: WAY TOO MUCH NOISE in the image.

I'm very unhappy with the camera. I bought it for the 5 Mega pixels and 7 X zoom. But the reality is that there so much noise in the image that is very annoying.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: I love this camera's ease of use. It's compact, light and comfortable to hold. It's well designed for the average photographer as well as the more advanced photographer.

Weakness: I don't like the computer software that comes with the camera, and the camera should come with a leather case, but doesn't.

Overall, I love this camera. The resolution is great as is the color density when set on vivid color. The ability to focus on a specific object in the picture is another very useful feature. I urge Minolta to improve on the computer software they supply with the camera. And the manual should be clearer. I have Windows XP, and the manual doesn't tell how to download the camera's pictures into the computer accurately. I had to cal Minolta to find out how to do this. I recommend buying the SanDisk Compact Flash card reader, as this makes connecting the camera to the computer unnecessary. It takes awhile to figure out how to use the camera's features, but once you do this, you're on your way. I like the switch that allows you to turn on or off the LCD display/viewfinder as this uses a lot of battery power. But an extra set of batteries is all you need. And you need more Compact Flash memory cards. Minolta supplies a card with 16MB and that is only enough for one picture if you have the camera set on SuperFine image quality. I recommend this camera to anyone who is interested in high resolution images. It's a real bargain compared to other 5 megapixel and higher resolution cameras.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Lens - resolution/zoom range, in camera features, logical, intuitive layout, magnesium alloy body, accepts up to 1GB CF & microdrive, 7 frame buffer, AF system, flexibility - feels more like an SLR

Weakness: Black grip really is cheap/plasticky feeling, no selection in between fine and superfine quality, remote & ac adaptor not supplied with camera, no photoshop (or equiv) w/camera

I purchased this camera after pouring over reviews of all the 5MP cameras including the interchangeable lens SLR's. I also used friends cameras (all lower MP ratings though), and handled the other direct competition models "in store". Settled on this one over other brands and it's big brother due to price/features considerations - as a friend said - this is the "sweet spot" in digital SLR right now... No previous digital cameras owned.
To start with, it FEELS more like an SLR than some of the competition to me - I found the controls to be logical, intuitive, and easy to select, master - very much like your standard AF SLR today - SLR users should have no issues adapting to a camera like this. I like that the body is a magnesium alloy and not all plastic - although it does LOOK kinda that way.
In camera features are outstanding, saturation, contrast compensation, white balance, histograms, everything is in camera - no wonder they don't package with Photoshop - although it would be nice to have!
AF is fast (though not as fast as my N80) - the lens it sharp and smooth - exposure controls are excellent in program or any of the manual modes. Aperture is a little limited only going to f11 but Minolta assures us that with a CCD this is actually great depth of field.
It does CHOW alkaline batteries - get an extra set but no charger - the camera is supplied with a quick charger!
All in all - I do not believe you will find a better camera!!

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Exceptional picture quality; amazing results

Weakness: Batteries need recharging

3 days after bought, found lottery ticket and won $78 million. Joan C from Chicago declined, chose Nikon 5700 and fell into trash compactor that evening. Advise that you buy with extra batteries.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: User friendly controls, great picture quality, great capacity on a single media card (512 Mb), fast shooting between shots, great zoom. Nice options vaailable for focal selections.

Weakness: Poor battery life when using built in flash, Macro control for close ups could be a bit better.

This camera has a great feel in the hand and is relatively light. The battery life when using the built in flash is poor, but then again, I dont think any other camera has broken this barrier. When linked with the 5600 inteligent flash, the camera performs like a champ. For the money, I'd be hard pressed to think that any other camera in todays market can even come close. This one's a keeper.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Super sharp, large film format quality images. Lots of flexibility and features.

Weakness: Takes time to learn autofocus and features.

I was a professional photographer and thought I would never give up my 35mm film camera. That changed when I bought the DiMAGE 7i. This camera takes large format quality images. It does take some time to get use to the focus and EVF, but after a little practice the 7i gave me better shots than my Minolta 400i film camera could dream of. I took shots of people and the skin tones were right on the money and sharp as a razor. I highly recommend this camera.

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: fast accurate autofocus, 7x optical zoom, manual controls for nearly everything, lots of settings, great macro modes

Weakness: some touted features were turned off by default, but a little research in the manual will show you how to enable them (specifically 'direct manual focus' was disabled)

Incredible camera at the pricepoint. Yeah, it eats batteries, but no more so than any other similar digital camera, just get some NiMH batteries and the ray-o-vac 1 hour charger.
So far, so good!

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE 7i 5 Megapixel Bridge Camera

Strengths: Amazing camera!

Weakness: Eats batteries and costly.

It beats many pro digital cameras for much lower (but still high) price. Take a good look on this camera! Yes, it eats batteries, but if you prioritize all important camera features, this one will probably far below lens, speed, resolution, zoom, image quality and they are just perfect.

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Minolta DiMAGE 7i

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