Home > Consumer Reviews > Minolta Dimage X 2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

GOOD THINGS:

You don't appreciate how small this thing is until you sit it next to any other real digital camera on the market. I have two Olympus models, a C-2040Z and a Brio D-150. I thought the D-150 was small, but the Dimage X makes it seem huge in comparison. It even makes the Canon ELPHs seem porky.

This camera is easy to use with simple menus and intuitive controls. I had it all figured it out in just a few minutes without looking at the manual. If you have Windows 2000, ME or XP, you just plug it into your USB port and it pops up on "My Computer"--no software drivers required.

It's very quick to turn on (no lens to extend) and is reasonably quick at taking pictures depending on the image size/quality and if you're using the flash. The flash can take about 6 seconds to recycle but that's typical. It has a "multiple shot" mode as well.

Commonly used controls like the flash mode, display on/off and exposure correction are accessible directly without using the menus. There are only 4 menus and they're really easy to navigate. You can choose from 3 image sizes and 4 quality levels including an uncompressed TIFF mode.

Battery life seems AMAZINGLY good given that the battery is literally the size of some postage stamps! I ran around for over an hour with the display on taking tons of pics, downloading them, messing with the menus, etc. before it gave me a low battery warning. The reviews say you can leave it on all day with the display off and take several hundred pictures all on one charge.

The case is nearly all stainless steel. It should stand up to a fair amount of use/abuse. The lens is covered by a sliding motorized door when it's off. There should be less to break/go wrong compared to cameras that have to extend the lens every time you turn them on.

BAD THINGS:

My biggest gripe is the picture quality. Other [more expensive] two megapixel cameras are significantly better. My Olympus C-2040Z takes sharper pictures with fewer artifacts under any conditions and completely blows the Minolta away in low light. With a much bigger (conventional) lens, however, that's to be expected.

The Dimage X images are a bit "soft"--especially in the corners and edges. You don't really notice it on most casual shots, but if there's fine detail in the corners and along the edges, it's a bit fuzzy.

Perhaps more annoying, there are "chromatic artifacts" visible in many pictures. These seem to be worse at the wide angle end of the zoom range. You get either a red, yellow or blue band next to sharp high contrast lines. This is likely due to the prism used to "fold" the lens and from keeping the weird lens design so small. It's part of the price you have to pay (at least right now) for a camera this compact. There are reviews on the net that have samples pictures that show this flaw quite clearly. ...

The lens has a smaller maximum aperture than many comparable lenses on bigger cameras so it forces the Dimage X to use slower shutter speeds to make up for it. This means camera shake is more of a problem in lower light. It also means it can't focus as well in low light and the LCD viewfinder doesn't work as well either.

The charger is a standalone unit and while fairly small, requires a plug in cord. It's just one more thing to travel with. You have to take the battery out of the camera to charge it.

There's no manual focus mode (there is a focus lock where you can focus on something else, hold the shutter button part way down, and then take the picture). In really low light, like most digital cams, it can't focus at all--at least it defaults to 6 feet.

The LCD display washes out more than some do in bright outdoor light. At least they give you a shortcut to the menu to adjust the brightness. You also have to push a button twice every time you turn on the camera if you want to turn the display off to greatly extend the battery life.

The flash is kind of weak (or the small lens is hurting it) as the flash is only good to about 8 - 10 feet or so and even then the edges are darker at the wide angle zoom setting.

There's no manual white balance, just presets. So if you're in tricky lighting, you're stuck. The auto setting also tends to be on the warm side under most conditions. This isn't a huge deal as you can always tweak the color later on your PC.

OTHER STUFF:

Extra batteries are still hard to find, ... . You'll want one. ...you might want to buy a cheap card reader instead [of an AC adapter]. MMC/SD cards are more expensive than SmartMedia and CF, but they make sense for this camera because they're much smaller. I doubt Minolta could have found room for the older flash cards. Besides, MMC/SD will keep dropping in price I'm sure--they're the newest technology right now. There is a note in the manual that MMC cards take longer to store pictures than SD (which is due to the card design).

CONCLUSION:

It's not perfect, but it's currently in a class by itself. The Canon ELPHs take slightly better pictures but are significantly bigger. If this is going to be your ONLY (or your best) digital camera, you hopefully put a much higher priority on size/portability rather than image quality and elaborate features. If it's going to be a second camera for more casual use, it's an excellent choice. I take this camera places I'd never take my C-2040 or even the D-150 Brio. What good is a nice camera if it always stays home?

I'm sure other manufactures will follow with their own ultra compact digital models. Minolta will improve on this one as well. But as a first effort, it's pretty amazing.

If image quality is a big priority, I'd look at the cheaper Olympus C-2040Z or Canon A20. If you want something that's small with slightly better quality than the Dimage X, consider a Canon ELPH. If small/light/easy are big priorities, the Dimage X may be well worth buying.

Let me start by saying I use to teach photography at college and an a critic as far as picture quality goes. A college of mind bought this camera and I was so impressed with the size and features I figured what the heck I'll give it a shot because my Cannon G1 is just to big to carry with me all the time.

One of the most important feature to me was size, I wanted something I could carry around. This covered it, it is small, wow is it small and light. It's slender body fits into my pocket and I forget it is there. As a result I shoot more pics. The other nice feature is the quick worm up time of about a sec. Cameras I have had in the past I missed shots because they were booting up. This camera has a exceptional exposure control in low light, it is hard to take a bad picture.

Now for the down side. The picture quality is OK. I find it a bit smooth and not crisp enough for my taste, but nothing photoshop can't fix. I miss a volume control on the shutter it is either on or off and there are no shortcuts to the menu items to quickly toggle features or delete frames. The view window on the back is fixed and a bit small and dark sometimes, mostly in low light. Also when shooting movies the mic is on the top of the camera rather than the front so if you are in a busy room it pics up everything else as loud as the people you trying to shoot.

Over all for the size it is awesome. I would call it a excellent party, snapshot type camera. If I lost it I would go out and buy another one without hesitastion.

I have been looking for a digital camera for a month or so now. When I saw the first comments on the DIMAGE X I really wanted this camera badly. Then I found a couple of extensive reviews that rate the camera only average. A special concern with these reviewers was the "poor picture quality", especially the "softness". I became quite skeptical and started to lean more towards buying the Canon S 110. Then I learned that the Canon (although receiving recommended and highly recommended ratings) produces pictures that suffer from very noticeable "chromatic aberrations". I looked at sample images and decided that this was a much worse flaw than the allegedly "soft" images of the X. So when the X became available I bought it from a store with a generous return policy and decided to test it on my own and, if unsatisfactorily, return it. Well, it is a keeper. Here are my reasons:

First and foremost: Design. Oh my God, especially in Manhattan it is not easy to make people turn their heads, but when you elegantly pull the X out of your pocket, they will. Guaranteed. The aluminum and steel case is very sturdy. Only the little lens protector that moves up so boldly to protect the lens when you turn the camera off is a little flimsy. Also you have to get used to holding the camera a little differently with your left hand than you would naturally, or you will get in contact with the lens and block the picture.

Secondly, operation. Everything about this little thing is well thought out. Read the manual and you are in control in an hour or so. I only have some minor concerns about the ease of use. The position of the important enter button requires you to take your fingers of the scroll buttons or use both hands, which is rather awkward and makes navigating the menus a bit more cumbersome than necessary.

Thirdly, picture quality. Sorry professional reviewer guys. You really got this one wrong. Again, dear fellow non professional picture takers, read the manual and experiment a little bit. After maybe an hour of trying or so I was able to make perfectly sharp, nice pictures. If you use the zoom to reduce or enhance perspective and play a little with the exposure times, you can even get some dramatic photographic effects. So for me it is not only a little snap-shooter, but a camera that truly satisfies not only my photographic needs, but also the most hefty cravings for attention...at least for the next few months, until everybody will have one of those little sweet X fellows. Get it. It's good. ...

Having had many other small cameras in the past -- from tiny Minoxes to the latest Kyocera S3 -- I was really looking forward to having a small digital camera I could keep with me at all times.

The Dimage X is a stunning little package; anyone who sees it wants to pick it up, hold it, and play with it. The design and finish are first-rate. The size, though -- that's what this camera is all about. It's the first digicam to use an internal zoom mechanism, which allows the X to be ridiculously slim. Other cameras might have a slightly smaller "footprint" but the X wins where it counts -- it is so slim you forget it's in your pocket. As a result it is very easy to keep with you at all times.

The Dimage X works very well in daily use. The most important convenience is its' speed. Many other cameras simply take too long to turn on, or have very long wait times as they record an image. The little Minolta is among the swiftest of cameras in these regards. It also allows you to fire off several frames in rapid succession; it appears to allow around five pictures, then pauses to record them to memory. This is very handy when your trying to capture something elusive -- children, for example.

The X's lithium-ion batteries give what I consider very long run-times before expiring. In comparison to another small digicam, the Kyocera S3, the Dimage X offers approximately double the battery life. It gives ridiculously long run times with the LCD display switched off; the camera's internal electronics seem very well designed and appear to operate very efficiently. The camera never feels hot to the touch (or even warm, for that matter); I noticed this was a problem with the Kyocera, which may account for it's short run-times.

The only thing I dislike about the Dimage X is its' image quality. To keep the zoom mechanism inside the camera required the use of a prism. This limits the camera from being as sharp, ultimately, as a conventional camera, and also leads to slightly less contrast and color saturation in the images.

To qualify this review I should admit to being a perfectionist who is reluctant to EVER compromise on image quality. In this case the size and packaging of this camera have won me over. With further refinement the Minolta Dimage X could approach perfection; as it stands it's one great little camera that will accompany you everywhere.

I just bought the Dimage X 2 weeks ago and I can't put it down! I love it! When I set out to buy a digital camera for my trip to Europe, I wanted something very small that printed like Walgreens minus the pesky dust. I found it. I don't even have a photo quality printer, but it looks like I do.
All my friends have seen it and they're in awe. I'm even reluctant to let people hold it because I'm afraid they might drop it, so I make them wear the wrist strap at all times. I teach a photography course, so I know a lot about SLR cameras and photography in general. I know a good print when I see one. And the Dimage X is anything but "soft" as some of the other reviewers have said.
But I'm just getting in to the digital revolution. Compared to my big, bulky SLR, the Dimage is a needle. I'm even finding it hard to go back. The little 35 second movie mode is an added bonus. Plus you can record voice clips to your pictures. It also takes either SD memory cards or MultiMedia Cards (MMC). The SD cards are also used in other devices as well, so you can alternate back and forth. I upgraded to a 128 SD card so I have enough space. The battery has a long life. The software is easy to use and the pictures transfer quickly. The menu is easy to navigate and I've found that it takes amazing, true to life pictures without even having to alter anything on the computer.
I reccommend that you buy the carrying case because you will be very protective of the little X. I've had no trouble whatsoever with this camera. It's definitely the life of the party! Get one today. You won't be disappointed!