Minolta Dimage S304 3MP with the feature-packed and easy-to-use DiMAGE S304, which features a high-image-quality 3.34-megapixel 1.125-inch CCD. An all-glass lens, 7.15-28mm (35-140mm in 35mm equivalents), with 4X optical zoom, sets this camera apart from the competition with a combination rarely found in compact digital formats. An anomalous dispersion element and twin double-sided aspheric elements work together to minimize chromatic aberrations and reduce curvilinear distortion, giving you crisp, accurate, edge-to-edge imaging. Compose these images with the 1.8-inch, 122,000-pixel color LCD monitor or use the optical viewfinder for SLR-style shooting.
For professional results with the point-and-shoot style operation of the S304, you can choose from five pre-set modes: macro, portrait, landscape, night portrait, and text. For more creative shooting, use a wide variety of adjustable features, including manual focus, selectable ISO, custom white-balance controls, exposure compensation and bracketing, and a digital-effects control that allows adjustment of color saturation, contrast, and sharpening. A movable focus point allows for off-center compositions. Multisegment metering technology provides accurate exposures. Four resolution modes cover the range from film quality photographs to images for e-mail. Movie mode allows 60 seconds of live action and a voice-memo feature helps identify your work.
The DiMAGE S304 comes complete with 16 MB CompactFlash card, A/V cable, USB cable, Minolta Image Viewer Utility CD-ROM, four AA alkaline batteries, lens cap, and neck strap.
Helpful consumer’s review
This camera is awesome, what makes it even more spectacular is the price. I could not be happier with it. First, it has great zoom capabilities. Second it is 3.3 megapixels for under $…. What more could you ask for?! Well, you may not be able to ask for a lot more, but you sure get it.
Before I bought this camera I did a lot of research. I even visited some of the local camera shops and electronics stores to get a feel for the different cameras before I ordered one on the net. Boy, it sure paid off. There were some that had a body made of plastic. I don’t intend to spend $… on something that is made of plastic. Others were very small and were uncomfortable to hold. The Minolta is the perfect size and weight.
When I hooked it up to my system for the first time, I was able to upload pictures in minutes. Another nice feature is that you can take up to 60 Seconds worth of video, very nice. The video even loads up to the system easily.
In addition it uses a Compactflash card. These are pretty reasonably priced. A 16 MB card came with the camera. Most of the pictures I have taken so far are about 500K, so you can store quite a few pictures. I also purchased a 128 MB card at a good price here on …, so I have plenty of space to store pictures before committing them to CD via my system.
I only have one warning. You need to buy Ni-MH batteries. Then charge them for at least 24 hours, the first time. If you don’t the camera will keep coming back and telling you that your batteries are dead. When I called support they kept telling me that I had to buy a special brand of batteries. This wasn’t the case, you just need to fully charge the batteries.
