Minolta Dimage F200 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

Optics and Resolution
Employing the technology from the top-of-the-line Dimage 7Hi, the F200's high-precision electro-optical system is designed to maximize image quality. The system is built around a 4.1 megapixel interline primary-color CCD with 4.0 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images and print enlargements up to 11 x 14 inches.

The sophisticated eight-element, seven-group 3x optical zoom lens design is only 24mm long--less than an inch when retracted. With a focal range of 7.8-23.4mm, it is equivalent to a 38mm-114mm on a 35mm camera. It can range from wide angle for landscapes and interiors to telephoto for intimate portraits and details of distant landmarks. The zoom lens also employs three aspheric elements to ensure sharp, contrasty images at all focal lengths.

The Dimage F200's digital zoom seamlessly takes over from the maximum focal length of the optical zoom without interrupting the monitor image. The digital zoom can extend the optical zoom's performance by four times in 0.1x increments giving the F200 an equivalent a 456mm lens on a 35mm camera. The combined optical and digital zooms give this compact camera an amazing 12x zoom range.

Storage and Transfer
Images can be stored on either Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards; a 16 MB SD card is included. Download image files to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, including any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie and Audio Modes
The Dimage F200 is not limited to recording still images. Video with audio can be captured at either 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixel resolution. The length of movie clips is only limited by the memory card capacity. The new Direct Video function allows the camera to be connected directly to a VHS or DVD recording deck.

The audio recording mode records up to 180 minutes of audio. Voice memo allows up to 15 seconds of audio to be attached to an image when it is captured. The audio-caption function can attach an audio track to any recorded still-image. The audio tracks can be played back in the camera.

More Features
Two copy functions allow image files to be duplicated in camera. An improved e-mail copy function allows a still image to be copied and resized to 640 x 480 or 160 x 120 pixels so that it may be attached to an e-mail message or posted on the Internet. The standard copy function makes a direct copy of a file onto the same or another memory card.

White balance controls how the camera interprets the color of the ambient lighting. Auto white balance compensates for changes in lighting automatically. Four preset white-balance settings, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, and fluorescent, can be selected for specific light sources. And for critical control over color, the custom setting allows the camera to be calibrated to the lighting conditions at the scene. All the camera's white balance controls are available for movie recording.

• 1.5-inch LCD monitor.
• Built-in flash with auto, red-eye reduction, and fill flash modes.
• Three metering modes: multi-segment, center-weighted, and spot.
• Four exposure modes are available: program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual.
• Camera sensitivity can be set to auto or to one of four ISO equivalent levels: 100, 200, 400, or 800.

Of course, there are some netagive issues, as with every photocam:
- No AF Assist lamp
- Higher than average noise from ISO400.
- LCD gets grainy on low-light situations
- A bit slow start-up time and zoom

Despite of the lack of an AF-assist lamp, the flash is quite strong! I don't really need that lamp. On my S400 the camera took the same quality photos without the lamp as with the lamp.

The photos are REAL sharp! I made comparisons between F200 and S400 photo qualities:
- F200 is much sharper and detailed
- The colours on F200 are more natural then the ones on the S400
- However, S400 took a bit better pictures in low-light. But the F200 is still better than average. Much better than the Sony P-series.

I was afraid from the slowness of the lens. Doesn't really a matter, believe me! It is acceptable, don't let you fooled by some negative reviews about how slow the F200 is. This is NOT THAT BIG PROBLEM, believe me.

Reviewing images is fast and a pleasure.
Slideshow has many settings, it is very useful if you plug it onto the TV.
I can record about 15-20 mins at the 320 res. and 40-45 mins at the 160 res. movies on my 256 Mbyte SD-Card. A REAL PLEASURE!

One of the big problems was that the F100 get turned on accidentally. This is not with the F200. It's build quality is strong as it can be!

All in all: a great camera, I just simply cannot give it a lower mark than a five.
It's not only good for point & shooters, it is a super choice for serious amateurs also since it has aperture, shutter priorities, manual white balance and EVERYTHING.

A HIGHLY RECOMMENDED CAMERA!
The price is low, I think this is the BEST BUY compact camera of 2003!


This is the best camara I have tested.   December 4, 2003
MAURICIO A PENAFIEL (USA)
9 out of 14 found this review helpful

I have been testing diferent digital camera like Kodak, Fujifilm, etc. and the Dimage F200 is the best I have tested.
I have not tried completely the camera, but this camera has many options that don't have other conventional digital cameras. I dont finish to read the manual.
It has unlimited movie time (limited only by the memory)
Slideshow is very useful if you plug it onto the TV, and you can record a 15 seconds commentary for a picture.
It is a very great choice if you are finding more that a symple digital camera. It is a highly recommended camera.


A camera for an enthusiastic traveler   January 26, 2007
A. T. Maze (Texas USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Easy to use, useful menu system for personal settings which are easy to set, a comfortable size to hold, a quick response to the telephoto, excellent image quality, especially at fine or above setting.