Unofficial Minolta DiMAGE A1 Sample Images

#1 Sean McCormick

Oh for crying out loud! You'd think that after having two years to improve their CCD Minolta would have done so, especially when it comes to the noise at higher ISOs. There is NO DIFFERENCE in quality between these sample images and the images my original Minolta DiMAGE 7 turns out. The noise at higher ISOs is just as bad with this new model.

While my D7 was a great camera two years ago, it's overwhelmingly mediocre today. It was bad enough that Minolta is letting their lens development fall behind - now they're doing the same with their CCD.

There's no way I would consider purchasing this camera with the attractive new offerings on the market such as the new Canon 300D and the Sony 828. The A1 offers nothing new that I want - it looks like nothing more than restyled D7x leftovers.

9:40 pm - Wednesday, September 3, 2003

#2 Jon Read

Sean,

In many ways I agree with you - the A1 is disappointing in several areas, image noise being the biggest issue.

I do think that the A1 offers an improvement in this area, it's just not a very big one. Of course, the more obvious CCD advancements include a shutter speed of 1/16000sec and the anti-shake mechanism.

If you are after a camera that has a WA of at least 28mm equivalent, that leaves you with the Sony F828, the A1, or a DSLR. If you want a camera that you can take with you on holidays etc, without having to pay for and lug around large quantities of glass, that rules out the DSLR. Likewise, the F828 is a fair bit heavier, and it's not clear how well it's small 8mp sensor works yet.

At the moment, the A1 still looks good if it's a single-lens solution you require. *If* that's what you require.

And yes, I'm still trying to decide if it's the A1 or the 300D I want, because I can't get both.

Cheers,
Jon

2:15 am - Thursday, September 4, 2003

#3 Sean McCormick

Heh. I have an anti-shake mechanism - it's called a tripod.

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

6:51 pm - Thursday, September 4, 2003