Konica Minolta Press Release 12/02/04

DiMAGE Xg with the world’s fastest start-up time* and non-extended 3x folded optical zoom

Langenhagen, February, 2004

The new DiMAGE Xg digital camera, which offers the mobile user the chance to take high-quality pictures in any place and at anytime. With the proud heritage of the DiMAGE X Series built into a stylishly thin profile, the camera has user-friendly functions that enable you to capture images simply and easily for high-quality results.

The DiMAGE Xg’s compact (just 20mm thick), unobtrusive body stems from its proprietary, non-extended 3x folded optical zoom, which is a feature that will make this camera attractive among a wide range of users.

With the world’s fastest start-up time* of approx. 0.8 seconds, the DiMAGE Xg can realize a rapid shot with a highly reliable shutter, ensuring that you’ll be ready to take great pictures right away with no waiting.

The DiMAGE Xg can shoot both still images and movies beautifully. The Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection determines the conditions, and then selects suitable photo mode. The camera’s range of movie functions enhances the fun of making movies easily.

* As of January 1, 2004, for 3.2-megapixel, 3x optical zoom models.

Product Highlights
A stylish, thin profile-the camera is a mere 20mm thick even when zooming thanks to the non-extended 3x optical zoom-makes for the ultimate in portable digital photography.
The start-up time of the DiMAGE Xg is an incredible 0.8 seconds, the fastest in the world.
* As of January 1, 2004, for 3.2-megapixel, 3x optical zoom models.

The Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection is so simple to use, anyone can take beautiful pictures.
Users get superb images thanks to the 3.2-megapixel Konica Minolta proprietary 3X optical zoom and CxProcess? II high-quality image processing technology.
A variety of video shooting functions like Night Movie offer enhanced movie-making enjoyment.
Easy to operate.
Low power consumption.

Features
? Slim Design with Folded Optical Zoom
The DiMAGE Xg is a camera that you’ll simply want to take with you everywhere you go. It weighs only about 120g and, at just 20mm thick, boasts a compact body, even during zooming. That’s because the folded optical zoom keeps the lens from jutting out of the main camera body. You never have to worry about disturbing the subject of your photo with a moving lens-just coolly snap away. Sophisticated folded optics eliminate the standard protruding zoom lens and keep the DiMAGE Xg’s design ultra-slim. The 3X optical zoom is adjusted internally and quickly gets you extremely up close to your subject, while the 4X digital zoom lets you seamlessly extend your shooting range to 12X zoom.

? Fast Start-Up
With the world’s fastest start-up time* of approximately 0.8 seconds, you’ll never miss a moment of action. Just turn on the DiMAGE Xg and be ready to take great pictures right away.
* As of January 1, 2004, for 3.2-megapixel, 3x optical zoom models.

? Simple, Beautiful Photography
With the Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection function, the DiMAGE Xg automatically judges the situation and selects the most suitable photo mode, allowing you to shoot a variety of subjects in various conditions with optimal results. For example, the camera automatically controls color reproduction, contrast, and sharpness according to the scene. Use the Program Selection to choose from four scenes: portrait, sports action, landscape, and sunset. In addition, users can select night portrait/night view settings.

Portrait: For beautiful portrait shots with softer skin color reproduction; even hair and eyelashes come out sharp.
Sports Action: Faster shutter speed ensures that a moving subject stays in focus.
Landscape: The entire frame, from foreground to distant background, stays in sharp focus.
Sunset: Faithfully reproduces the subtle hues of red at sunrise and sunset.
Night Portrait/Night View: Night View is great for nighttime illuminated scenes such as city lights. Night Portrait effectively photographs people against a nighttime backdrop.

? Superbly Clear Images
The CxProcess? II image processing technology incorporates characteristics like smooth gradations, natural skin tones, and brilliantly clear colors for images that are more natural and lifelike. The DiMAGE Xg’s 3.2 megapixels capture fine lines and intricate details for stunning digital images, and unique folded optics maximize the capability of the CCD. The slow shutter speed and Dark-Noise Reduction combine to prevent graininess and give exceptional night photos with clearly contrasted dark tones.

? Wide 5-Point AF (Autofocus)
A Wide 5-Point AF area allows for flexible, accurate focusing. The wide AF area is composed of 5 local focus areas, and you can switch between wide focus area and spot focus point, which allows you to focus on a central area. Macro lets you get up close and personal with your subjects. In fact, you can get as close as 15cm (5.9 inches) at all focal lengths, without changing shooting mode, for crisp, detailed shots.

? Versatile Movie Shooting and Editing
In Movie mode, the DiMAGE Xg can record longer movie clips, at resolutions of 160 X 120 or 320 X 240 pixels, onto the SD memory card for as long as its capacity will allow. Added to the standard frame-rate of 15 fps is a 30 fps mode for smoother moving images. The Night Movie function allows you to video even in dimly-lit locations. The DiMAGE Xg boasts a Movie Editing function, meaning you can both shoot and edit your digital movie on the camera. You can also cut out unwanted parts of a video clip, as well as extract stills.

? Easy to Operate
The DiMAGE Xg has a number of convenient, easy-to-use functions. The Mode Dial allows easy, stress-free still, movie, and audio recording operation. The Quick View/Delete button allows you to play back or delete images you’ve just taken. Key Customization lets you register your most frequently used settings by setting from 4 features on the recording mode menu for right and left key operation during shooting.

? Low Power Consumption
The DiMAGE Xg is designed to be power efficient, so you can take up to 220 frames* or up to approximately 2300 frames** in continuous advance speed on a single battery charge.

* Based on CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) measurements, when using standard batteries (lithium-ion) and a memory card (SD, 16 MB).
** Based on Konica Minolta’s standard test method:
Drive mode: Continuous
NP-200 lithium-ion battery, LCD monitor off, 640 X 480 image size, Standard image quality, no instant playback, no voice memo, no flash.

? Direct Camera-to-Printer Printouts
The DiMAGE Xg can printout photos directly to a PictBridge*-compliant printer without having to go through a personal computer.
* PictBridge is an industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

? More Functions for More Ways to Enjoy
To give your photos that nostalgic touch, simply select either vivid black & white images or delightfully eye-catching sepia pictures. On top of that, enjoy the enhanced functionality of Image Pasting for overlaying selected parts of a recorded image in your choice of 9 picture frames, and Multi-Frame Shot for transforming 9 consecutive multi-frame images into one.
Voice Memo and Audio Caption can record up to 15 seconds of sound: Voice Memo immediately after a shot has been taken and Audio Caption simultaneously during playback. You can also record 180 minutes of audio. With Remote Camera Function, you can use standard Windows? programs like Microsoft NetMeeting to teleconference with users anywhere in the world by simply connecting the DiMAGE Xg to your PC with a USB cable. Use the DiMAGE Xg to convert high-resolution images to a lower resolution, either 640 X 480 or, for e-mail attachments, 160 X 120. You can also reposition and enlarge part of a captured image and save it as a separate file using Crop Frame.
The Date Imprinting feature eliminates the need to turn on the date code by automatically imprinting the date that pictures were taken. You can use the DPOF* settings to choose whether to have these dates on the photo prints.
* DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) is a standard developed by Canon, Kodak, Fuji Film, and Matsushita Electric, intended to record information such as images to print in memory media.

? Upgraded Optional Accessories
The water- and dust-proof case-the smallest and slimmest* of its kind-makes the DiMAGE Xg perfect for taking climbing, fishing, camping, or skiing. With the Marine Case MC-DG300, you can take the camera down as far as 30m (98 feet) underwater.
* As of January 1, 2004, for a water- and dust-proof 3x zoom digital camera good for depths as far as 30m.

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 analog and digital cameras, and measuring instruments including 3D-scanning. With operative bases within Europe the company covers the three business areas of photo imaging, cameras and industrial instruments. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Europe is a subsidiary of Konica Minolta Photo Imaging, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Building on its strong core of optical technologies developed over 130 years, 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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