Home > Consumer Reviews > Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Z1 3.2MP Digital Camera w/ 10x Optical Zoom

I'd never owned a digital before and have felt quite intimidated. But the more I've played with this little camera the more I'm lovin' it. I'm and American living in England and last weekend I traveled through the picturesque Cotswolds, a series of beautiful old villages. I got some very professional looking shots that I'm thinking of making into greeting cards. I've also been experimenting with the macro zoom feature and with the lovely flowers here in the English springtime, I'm getting some great pixs. I'm amazed at the clarity of even the tiny little forget-me-nots that I've zoomed in on. I've had the camera since January and I think it's a keeper.I'm happy with my choice.

In my previous review, I said that this wasn't a camera for professionals. After using the unit for about 2 months, I found that the Dimage is not even a camera for beginners.

1. The Auto focusing on the Z1 is horrendous; half of all your photos will be out of focus especially in low light situations. What is the point of taking pictures if they all come out blurred?
2. The shaking lens and the flipping LCD mechanism are poor quality and cheaply designed. This will definitely be an issue later on.

The problems I've highlighted might not be an issue to most of you, but I'm sure we all have one common goal, and that is we all want excellent picture quality. When the auto focusing works the photos are half decent (don't get me start on the purple fringing problem). This is the kind of camera that you would but for son or daughter in high school.

I've already returned my Dimage Z1 and upgraded to the Sony F717. (Now that's a camera!) One thing I've learned from all of this is; you pay for what you get.

Nuff Said!

I purchased this camera back in November. Yes, I had to buy a card, and batteries, but I was extremely happy with it. The LCD mechanism is different, but it didn't bother me. Takes beautiful pictures (and I am a beginner.)

But...this camera is built out of plastic, and after only a few months, I am having mechanical difficulties. I had to send it in. The mechanical switcher quit working, and there was a crack in the battery door hinge.

The optics are great, movie quality with sound (that the Olympus C740 didn't have) but the plastic construction leaves a bit to be desired. We'll just have to see how the warranty repair goes.

My husband bought this for me for Christmas. He was well intentioned and excited about my surprise, however I am the resident techie in the house and as soon as I picked it up, I thought "Uh oh".

It rattles and feels like cheap plastic.. You paid how much? I have a cheaper 1.3 mega pixel Olympus that has more stability and is a lot easier to use.

I wanted the zoom features. My daughter is in the chorus and getting a clear shot of her with my other camera was impossible. I am hoping that it will be better with this camera.. hoping.

The video clips are grainy and dark. The audio has a lot of clicking.

The software is complicated and insufficient. What ever happened to instant fix? Do I want to know about white balance, and hystowhatever? No.. just give me a damn camera that I don't have to spend hours editing the pictures through the computer. I tried to get images from the camera through the software and it can not read the camera. I am using my photo printer software and windows to upload the pics.

I have had the camera for 4 days, and have changed batteries 3 time already. The door to the compartment was originally easy to operate now has me scared to death that I will break it.

I have been reading the book and it sounds pretty easy, but when I try to implement the instructions for a clear picture or video, I am left with foggy out of focus video.

Tell me.. please.. those of you with glowing reviews.. how are you getting those nice "TV QUALITY" videos and Sharp crisp pictures? Sincerely.. advice would be greatly appreciated.

If you are looking for a simple point and click camera that will get you great pictures with ease, don't get this one.

I am going to stick with it because I just read the return policy for the store hubby purchased this at. It has to be Mint in box in order to be accepted back. Hello.. how am I supposed to know if this camera is functional unless I take it out and use it? If you are going to buy this camera, please make sure the store has a flexible return policy.

Let me begin by saying: I am not a professional photogragher, so some of the technical terms in the reviews I've read, are Greek to me. But I love taking pictures. When I pull out my camera, people say "wow, that's a nice camera" lol. Little do they know I bought it at that supercenter we love,,,starts with a -W- and paid only $175.00. I took pictures of my daughters at the lake and people thought I had hired a professional photographer. Absolutely, breathtaking photos. It's very simple to transfer pics to computer and print. I save all my pics to CD's to free up space on the disk. I purchased rechargeable batteries and they last a long, long time before having to recharge. I didn't read the manual (completely) and accidently formatted the disk and erased some pics one time. Darn!! Other than that, I think it's a great camera for beginners. Overall, my experience has been great. I bought (two) 5 mega. cameras (Kodak and HP) at Xmas for relatives, and they don't take pics half as nice as my Z.