This is the surprise announcement from Konica Minolta today; the 8 megapixel DiMAGE A200 bridge style camera, which incorporates the anti-shake technology and a swivelling LCD monitor. I think this is a new addition to the Konica Minolta range, rather than a replacement for the A2.

Konica Minolta Press Release 15/09/08

Unterfohring, September 2004

An 8.0-Megapixel SLR-type Digital Camera with Handy Vari-Angle LCD Monitor and Anti-Shake Function with CCD-Shifting

The DiMAGE A200 is a portable 8.0-megapixel SLR-type high performance digital camera that’s perfect for everyone from novices to camera enthusiasts. Equipped with Anti-Shake technology, a CCD-Shift mechanism that can reduce handheld camera shake. Easy to capture sharp images, even in low lighting and without the use of a tripod.

With the rotating 1.8-inch TFT Vari-Angle LCD monitor, the photographer has always got a clear viewpoint for shooting artistic angles or taking flawless self-portraits. What’s more, the DiMAGE A200’s simplified operation means that everyone can make use of its advanced specifications that maximise picture taking opportunities and the fun of photography.

The 2/3-inch CCD with 8.0 million effective pixels and the high-performance Konica Minolta GT APO lens combine to give incredibly faithful smooth-toned colours. With its new advanced LSI engine and CxProcess? III image-processing technology the DiMAGE A200 delivers high speed and stress free image processing with low power consumption. Its ability to suppress noise and give exceptionally accurate colour reproduction means that users still get high-quality images every time.

Even novice users can avoid blurry pictures thanks to the proprietary Anti-Shake technology that employs a unique CCD-Shift mechanism. This stabilising system is connected directly to a CCD sensor that quickly responds to camera shake thus producing finer images in dim light and with telephoto shots. Especially helpful when using the 4x digital zoom (maximum equivalent of 800mm) and high-performance 7x optical zoom (28 to 200mm). The DiMAGE A200’s Anti-Shake technology is activated with the simple touch of a button. Its three focusing areas; Wide Focus Area, 11-point Selectable AF Area, and Flex Focus Point, combine in the DiMAGE A200 ensure that the subject is always in perfect focus.

A newly employed Vari-Angle TFT colour LCD monitor can be rotated up to 270? vertically and 180? horizontally, allowing unrestricted shooting at high and low angles. The multi-functional wireless remote control included with the DiMAGE A200 makes it easier to take self-portraits and movies whenever and wherever. And because the LCD gives a high speed, real-time view 60fps, there’s minimal lag time between the on-screen display and the trigger of the shutter release. So there’s no need to worry about missing a photo opportunity.

The DiMAGE A200 allows the recording of movie clips in VGA mode (640 x 480 pixels at 30fps) for smooth true-colour playback that rivals TV quality. SVGA mode (800 x 600 pixels at 15fps) which is ideal for viewing movies or movie stills on large PC screens. This gives users the freedom to choose the screen size and frame rate that suits their needs. Recording high-quality movies is even easier with Anti-Shake technology constantly minimising image blur.

Product Highlights
? 8.0 Megapixel resolution and Konica Minolta all-glass GT APO lens give users the high-quality pictures they expect
? Newly advanced LSI and CxProcess? III image processing technology give high speed image processing and sharp, true to life colour images
? Anti-Shake technology with CCD-Shift mechanism enables even novices to capture clearly focused pictures without a tripod, and with an approximately 3-step slower shutter speed
? Vari-Angle LCD monitor allows you to easily take self-portraits as well as high and low angle shots with more interesting and easier angles
? A sure grip ergonomic body makes it easy to carry and use anywhere
? Wireless remote control adds convenience to both shooting and viewing
? 28X digital/ optical zoom and Anti-Shake technology make it comfortable to shoot high-quality moving pictures
? Optional extensive accessories; wide-angle converter, telephoto converter, close-up lens, and external flashes

Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200
An 8.0-Megapixel SLR-type Digital Camera with Handy Vari-Angle LCD Monitor and Anti-Shake Function with CCD-Shifting

Features
8.0-Megapixel 2/3-inch Interlace Scan CCD
The DiMAGE A200 has an 8.0-megapixel 2/3-inch interlace scan CCD. With 8 million effective
pixels the photographer can take subtle, expressive images that capture even individual hairs or the stitches of a suit in sharp detail. These incredibly detailed images can then be transferred and printed onto 27.6 x 20.7-cm (10.9 x 8.1 inch) paper at 300 dpi.

Newly Advanced LSI and Konica Minolta CxProcess? III Image Processing
The advanced LSI engine reduces power consumption and suppresses camera noise, while optimising colour reproduction with exceptional accuracy. The CxProcess? III image processing technology helps reproduce shadows and highlights with outstanding accuracy, so images look natural and true to life. The DiMAGE A200 also introduces a new sRGB colour mode (Portrait sRGB) that brings out beautiful skin colours in portraits.

Konica Minolta GT Lens and Anomalous Dispersion (AD) Glass
Designed specifically for digital photography, the GT lens is an all glass apochromatic (APO) zoom lens. The benefits for the user are obvious; pictures come out sharp, clear, and absent of any colour aberration, even when using the large aperture applications. A camera has many uses; it has to capture shots of scenery, travel, sports, close-ups, and business settings. The lens is the heart of the camera and this GT lens has 16 elements in 13 groups. The anomalous dispersion (AD) glass contributes to things like suppressed distortion, and reduced flare and chromatic aberration, while aspheric glass elements work to make the lens compact. The camera?s improved optical low pass filter and the logical arrangement of the lens make for higher productivity and quality assurance in the manufacturing process, ensuring that the lens is well matched to an 8.0 Megapixel CCD.

CCD-Shift type Anti-Shake Technology
Konica Minolta Anti-Shake technology provides a highly effective way to combat handheld camera shake ? a major cause of substandard images, especially with telephoto and dimly lit shots. Users can expect better images in low light conditions without relying on a higher ISO setting or a tripod. The DiMAGE A200 features a CCD-Shift mechanism to stabilise images by offsetting the shaking pattern of the user?s hand. This gives unrivalled stability at up to 3 shutter speeds slower than on digital cameras without Anti-Shake technology. The CCD-Shift mechanism also allows for more freedom in the mechanical layout of the camera?s interior, which keeps it compact. Anti-Shake technology can offset two kinds of shake; high frequency shaking of muscles and low frequency movement of the body.

Vari-Angle LCD Monitor
The 1.8-inch TFT LCD monitor rotates 270? vertically and 180? horizontally, allowing the holding of the camera in a comfortable position at high and low angle shots while still viewing the LCD straight on. Self-portraits are easy using the supplied remote control. The DiMAGE A200 is great for taking shots from a variety of angles as the LCD provides continuous viewing of the subject.

Sure-Grip and Ergonomic
Despite its pro-level picture quality and features the DiMAGE A200 is compact and weighs just 505 g (17.8 oz.

Included Wireless Remote Control
This included accessory makes taking self-portraits or movies easy. The user can also connect the DiMAGE A200 to a TV and control the images with the infrared remote control.

Digital Zoom
The 4X digital zoom gives up to a 28X total zoom when combined with the optical zoom, providing a maximum focal length of 800 mm (35mm equivalent), which is perfect for distance shots or sporting events. And, even shots at a focal length of 800 mm can be free of movement due to Konica Minolta Anti-Shake technology. There is a choice of two digital zoom modes: Image Interpolation Digital Zoom (in which the number of pixels doesn?t change) and Normal Mode (cropped into 2 Megapixels).

The digital zoom can also be accessed from any point of the optical zoom using the handy digital zoom lever on the back of the camera.

High-Quality Movie Recording
The DiMAGE A200 incorporates a true VGA movie (640 x 480 pixels) mode. This allows users to
record high-quality movies at 30fps, giving images rivalling those one see on TV. And High-Quality SVGA (800 x 600 pixels) movies at 15fps, which look good even on a large PC screen. The DiMAGE A200 allows the use of both the digital and optical zoom when recording movies, allowing the capture images at a maximum focal length of 800 mm (35mm equivalent). And, the Night Movie function makes subjects highly visible even in dark conditions. The DiMAGE A200 also comes bundled with fun-to-use video software, Video Studio 8 SE by ULEAD, which lets users import and edit movies and then output them to DVD.

60 fps High Speed Live View
Both the LCD and Electronic Viewfinder give a fast 60fps live view (for still recording; 30fps for
movie recording), allowing smooth viewing of the subject. It also reduces the time lag in tracking moving subjects.

Various Autofocus (AF) Modes
? Wide Focus Area Mode confirms focus points by illuminating the focused sensor point when
the shutter is pressed halfway down.
? Predictive Focus Control keeps moving subjects in focus.
? 11-Point Focus Area is perfect for switching the AF point instantaneously between positions in
the frame. Flex Focus Point is perfect for higher-precision autofocusing. These features are
very effective for capturing focus in unusual lighting.

Direct Manual Focus (DMF)
DMF allows you to frame your shot. By simply turning the focusing ring on the lens barrel while the of shutter is half-pressed, you can control the focus on a particular shot even when the AF is locked. Try using DMF during macro imaging when you want to be sure that a specific part of your subject stays in focus. When you target an image area, it is automatically enlarged for easy focusing.

Ultra High-Speed Continuous Shooting
When you really need to fire off as many shots as possible in a limited amount of time, select the UHS (Ultra High Speed) mode on the menu to set the camera to capture images at a continuous advance of 40 frames at 10 frames per second. For convenience these images can be captured in VGA format.

Real-Time Histogram Display
The LCD monitor is equipped with a convenient histogram function that will help the user see the overall brightness of the scene when it?s difficult to determine the exposure compensation within the image. The histogram supplies the information needed to adjust the exposure more accurately. It also incorporates a luminance limit display on the playback screen.

Easy Operation from the Rear Panel
The buttons used most often are positioned on the rear of the DiMAGE A200?s body, where you can access them easily without looking away from the LCD monitor. A digital zoom lever on the rear panel allows you to easily operate digital zoom from any focal point. A shift button provides operation shortcuts, while function buttons on the rear panel make it easy to adjust colour mode, metering mode, ISO, and digital effect settings.

Optional Converter Lenses for Additional Range (sold separately)
The 1.5X Telephoto Converter gives you an optical zoom range to 300mm and the 0.8X Wide-angle Converter gives you an optical zoom range of 22 mm. The Close-up lens renders even better pictures at close range. And, the Anti-Shake technology covers all focal lengths to ensure that you always get clearly focused pictures.

DiMAGE Viewer
Part of the award winning DiMAGE series of digital cameras, the DiMAGE A200 is equipped with the user friendly DiMAGE Viewer. This intuitive software makes it easy to manage, edit, and perform many other tasks. It displays thumbnails for quick confirmation, plus Exif data and any comments included. Images can be copied, moved, or renamed. Image compensation tools include tone curve and histogram for still images and flicker reduction for movie clips. RAW data can be imported, providing the option of making fine adjustments to uncompressed image data. The DiMAGE Viewer also of supports various colour spaces and Colour Management using an ICC Profile.

Direct Printer Connection
By directly connecting the DiMAGE A200 to a PictBridge*-compliant printer, printouts can be made easily without using a computer. The LCD monitor can be used to confirm the image to be printed.

*PictBridge is an industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products Association
(CIPA).

About Konica Minolta Photo Imaging
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Europe GmbH is a leading provider of consumer and commercial photographic materials, photographic equipment such as analogue and digital cameras, and measuring instruments. With operative bases in 14 countries in Europe the company covers the three business areas of photo imaging, cameras and measuring. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Europe is a subsidiary of Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. With a total workforce of 7,200 employees world wide, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging is aiming for net sales of ? 2.1 billion in fiscal 2006. Building on its strong core of optical technologies developed over many years as a camera manufacturer, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging aims to be a corporation offering products and services that are essential to all areas of digital imaging.

Website: http://www.konicaminoltaeurope.com/

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