Home > Consumer Reviews > Minolta Dimage Xi 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

I love this camera! It fits in a shirt or pants pocket and takes excellent pictures. I wanted a camera that was small enough to take anywhere without looking like a tourist . Other criteria was it had to be fast to use, user friendly in set up and download and take pictures that would make excellent 5x7 prints which are the biggest that i routinely print. It excels in all counts. I haven't used the Minolta software since I have a Mac and the iPhoto software on the Mac recognizes the camera without any action on my part.

I'm 64 and have been taking photos all my adult life. Starting with a Kodak Brownie, Argus C3, 4 x 5 press camera, Mamayiaflex, Nikons and Nikonmats. The Dimage Xi is my fourth digital camera and it is simply maverlous. I don't see how a camera can get any better. In one lifetime it's come to this.

It's a jewelbox, small as a compact. The first thing I did was test its capabilities, taking a flash photo in the back yard at night, a closeup of a credit card, a movie, a sound file attachment and a solo sound file.

The inclulded 16 meg memory card hold 45 standard photos, the 128 meg card holds 360. The optical viewfinder tracks with the optical zoom.

I connected the camera to the iPhoto program on my Mac and -zip - the photos were ready to look at. Excellent quality. This is a marvelous camera. I keep it in my pocket all the time, something I could not easily do with my very good Sony Mavica 83. A really fine little camera.

I am new to digital cameras and was worried about it. I was wrong. I have worn this little camera on my belt in the supplied and convienent case all over the USA from sea level to 12,000 feet of altitude taking all kinds of pictures and videos. It is easy, light, small, and the battery lasted me a looooong time before popping in the spare. I have recommended it to buyers that ended up as happy as me. I am glad I bought the 64mg chip. The accompaning PC software is worthless but so what. You don't need it and the camera is great.

The Minolta Dimage Xi is my first digicam I have. All I can say is this camera is just perfect! First of all it is so slim that fits right into your shirt pocket. You can take pictures anytime, anywhere.
Second, with 3MP this camera has an exellent resolution , very crisp and natural photos. You can see every single detail in the images you capture. The internal lenses with 3x optical zoom is another feature that makes this camera unique. The LCD Panel has antiglare protection so you can use this camera in any light source condition. The voice memo and short movie functions are nice features that give a PLUS to the camera. There are also some Manual Settings in the menu so that you can have more control in your photos quality. As some reviewers said before, the Dimage Viewer Software is somehow useless, but to me that doesn't affect the rating I gave to the camera. I recommend this amazing little camera to anyone ranging from a snapshooter to an amateur photographer.

Good job Minolta! Nice digicam!

Believe it or not.. I left the camera in the pocket of my shorts (it is soooo compact), and sent it through the complete wash cycle int he washer. To my complete amazement, the camera (including the battery and memory card) worked perfectly (after I let it dry for a day).