Konica Minolta throws down 8 megapixel ultra compact DiMAGE X1
By Barb Dybwad 
posted July 15th 2005 6:00AM
posted July 15th 2005 6:00AM
Here's a new entry into the DiMAGE family — Konica Minolta's new X1 is an 8 megapixel ultra compact unit featuring the Anti-shake technology not seen in other ultra compacts besides the Lumix DMC-FX7/8. It's also sporting a 2.5-inch LCD, 3x optical zoom, an optional underwater housing and a docking station that charges while providing playback via TV, printing via PictBridge, or connection to a PC. It'll come in three colors: silver (to complement the "elegant, genteel nature" of the camera… right.), wine red and black, and should be available in September for £299 including VAT.
8 MP in an image sensor that size? Seems like it'd really have some serious noise issues at all but the lowest ISO setting, and even then it wouldn't be too clean.
I do like the red one, though...
It's not about the megapixels, Konica. The optical zoom is what matters, and this one is only 3x.
The optical zoom matters for SOME people, just like megapixels matter for some people. Most people using an ultra-compact neither want nor expect to shoot football games.
I've been thinking more and more that I want my camera to have a good sensor that takes lots of pixels fast.
I want lots of megapixels, a fixed focus, say 3 feet to infinity, and a fixed zoom level. I want this in a tiny camera that I can carry around everywhere.
I figure that if I've got lots of pixels I can crop or zoom on the picture once I've got it on my computer.
I've got a digital SLR for those times when I want a zoom LENS to create good photographs. I want a good snapshot camera that I can use to get snapsots instantly, instead of getting an out of focus image with the wrong zoom level.
My primary camera is a Canon PowerShot S400 and the SLR is an Olympus E-300.
It's not about the zoom, Nate. For a small, folded lens camera like this one, aperture is what it's all about, and it's f3.5. Not good. This means blurry pics in low light or even intermediate light.
it looks good..maybe ill ditch my sony t33 (which i favored more than my original t1). i'm about to buy the canon rebel xt after long wait and debate so that will be my first ever digi slr, this minolta, if i do decide to get it would replace my sony t33. i do agree with NATE though, when i first got the sony t1 i was fascinated with its small sleek size and internal zoom lens. it was fine but then the luster started to wear off when all the other companies made their own versions of that cam but my biggest gruff is that no one is increasing the optical zoom size, even if its only up one number to 4. lol is 5x optical zoom in something like that asking too much? ok i am done venting, hot cam though anyways :)
Also, the sensor size matters. A normal size for a 7 MP camera is 1/1.8". This camera also uses 1/1.8". Not good. Very likely, this camera will show darker results than it normally does at low light.