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Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60
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Quick Review
Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 Digital Camera
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Camera
QuickLook |
| Review Date |
10/04/2005 |
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User Level
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Novice - Amateur
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Product Uses
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Family / Travel
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Digicam Design
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Point and Shoot
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Picture Quality
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High, 5.0-megapixel
CCD |
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Print Sizes
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Good prints
to 11x17 inches or 8x10 with heavy cropping |
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Availability
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May 2005 |
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Suggested Retail
Price
(At introduction)
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$349.99
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Introduction
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 continues a long line of subcompact "X-series"
digital cameras from that company. Minolta really turned heads almost three
years ago, when they first introduced the diminutive DiMAGE X, a two megapixel
digital camera in the form of a square block of metal, just barely over three-quarters
of an inch thick. The DiMAGE X's clever "folded" optical system not
only enabled the super-thin design, but made for rapid startup times, since
there was no need to wait for the lens assembly to telescope out when the camera
was turned on.
This year, the latest model continuing the heritage of the "X"
line is the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60. While still closely related to its
predecessor the DiMAGE X50, the X60 does away with the optical viewfinder,
reducing the camera's size and weight, at the expense of a little versatility.
It also replaces the X50's essentially useless bundled SD card with 15MB of
built-in memory - much more useful since it is always in the camera in addition
to your own flash card. Although there have been a lot of hardware changes
made, the Konica Minolta X60 will feel very familiar to owners of earlier
X-series models. With each generation, Konica Minolta's "X" series
has continued to improve, and the images from the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60
offer high resolution, and good color as well. Read on for all the details,
but if you're looking for a super-portable, easy to use, and stylish camera,
the DiMAGE X60 deserves a close look.
Camera Overview
With its prism-folded lens design, Konica Minolta's DiMAGE X60, like the DiMAGE X50, Xg, Xt, Xi and X before it, has a tiny, extraordinarily thin all-metal body. As with the the X50, the DiMAGE X60's lens is horizontally mounted near the center of the camera's body - providing better separation between the front of the lens opening and your fingertips when in use than previous X-series cameras that placed the lens vertically at the very left-hand edge of the camera (as viewed from the rear). The new model is slightly smaller overall than the X50, measuring just 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches (83.5 x 56.0 x 22.0 millimeters). The Konica Minolta X60 is a tenth of an ounce lighter than the X50, though, weighing a light 4.9 ounces (139 grams) with the battery and SD memory card. With this extremely compact design, there's no excuse for leaving it behind, as the camera can tag along in even the smallest shirt pocket, or be quickly tucked into an evening bag or pants pocket. The unique "folded" optical design means that there's no wait for a lens to telescope out of the body when the camera is powered up, resulting in very fast startup and shutdown times. (It also keeps moving parts to a minimum, and protects the lens inside the camera's body - reducing both power consumption, and the risk of accidental damage). The sleek design includes a built-in sliding lens barrier which doubles as a power switch, eliminating any concern over misplacing a lens cap. The all-metal case is rugged and solid-feeling, and should withstand the wear and tear of daily use better than most cameras. The 3.0x zoom lens is just a little more powerful than the X50's 2.8x optical zoom, and combined with the fully automatic exposure control makes the camera suitable for most common shooting conditions. The 5.0-megapixel CCD produces high resolution images for printing, as well as lower resolution images better suited for email.
The DiMAGE X60 has a 3.0x, 6.3-18.9mm lens, the equivalent of a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera. That's a little less wide and a little more tele than the X50. The autofocus covers a range from 4 inches (10 cm) to infinity. A Super Macro scene mode reduces this to a minimum of just 2 inches (5 cm). Depending on the lens zoom position, the maximum aperture ranges from f/3.3 to f/4.0 (that's a little less light let in at wide, but more let in at telephoto than the X50 offered with its f/2.8 to f/5.0 lens). In addition to the optical zoom, the Konica Minolta X60 offers a 4.0x digital zoom, in increments of 0.1x. (Although I always remind readers that digital zoom decreases the overall image quality because it simply enlarges the central pixels of the CCD's image.) The DiMAGE X60 offers a large 2.5-inch LCD display on which to compose images - rather larger than the 2.0-inch display on the X50 model, and it's looking about 98% accurate. At 115,000 pixels, resolution is the same as the X50's smaller LCD - meaning that the display on the X60 looks rather more coarse than the previous model. Unlike the X50, there is no optical viewfinder on the X60 - most likely because there's simply not room to fit one without increasing the size of the camera significantly. For the record, the optical viewfinder in past X-series cameras was very tight, and not very useful, with the LCD reporting a far more accurate view. In playback mode, images can be enlarged up to 6x, as an aid to checking critical focus and framing.
Exposure is automatically controlled at all times, with only a few exposure
options available. The sliding lens barrier on the front of the camera powers
the camera on, and a Mode switch lets you select between fully automatic, scene,
and movie / sound modes. The Scene Mode function, which customizes exposures
for common photographic situations, offers a choice of
Automatic Selection, Portrait, Sports Action, Landscape, Sunset, Night Portrait, Text, Super Macro, and Auto settings. Thanks to the all-internal lens design, there's no need to wait for the lens to extend before you can shoot, so startup times are quite short - in my tests, the camera took about 1.6 seconds to capture the first picture after power-up, though the Konica Minolta still claims a 0.5 second startup time. Most exposure options are controlled through the LCD's on-screen menu system, which offers very straightforward navigation. You can control flash mode, lens zoom, wide / spot autofocus, drive mode, and your choice of either exposure compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity or color mode externally, via buttons and controls on the camera's rear panel. Shutter speeds range from 1/1,000 to four seconds, though the chosen value is not reported to the user. The right and left arrow keys on the camera's back panel control either the Exposure Compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity, or color mode, or are disabled in Record mode (depending on a menu setting). Exposure Compensation ranges from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in one-third step increments. Sensitivity is adjustable to values of 50, 100, 200, or 400, with an Auto setting as well, that varies the ISO between 50 and 160, depending on the current light level. White Balance is adjustable through the settings menu, with options for Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, and Fluorescent light sources. The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60's built-in flash operates in Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Forced, Suppressed, or Slow Sync modes (the latter being available only when using the Night Portrait scene mode).
In addition to the basic exposure options, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 also
offers a few extra shooting modes, controlled through the settings menu. In
Movie exposure mode, the camera captures 320 x 240-pixel resolution moving images
with sound, with duration limited only by the size of the memory card. Movie
frame rate can be selected from a choice of either 15 or 30 frames per second.
(The included 15MB built-in memory should hold approximately 20 seconds worth
of movies at the highest frame rate, or 38 seconds at the lower frame rate,
larger cards will store proportionately more.) A Self-Timer mode provides a
10-second delay between the time the Shutter button is pressed and when the
camera actually takes the picture, allowing you to get into your own shots.
For shooting fast action subjects, the DiMAGE X60's Continuous Shooting mode
captures a rapid series of images when you hold down the Shutter button, much
like a motor drive on a traditional 35mm camera. Provided that there's enough
space remaining on the memory card, the camera can capture up to four large/fine
images before having to pause to write the image data to the memory card. Details
like image size and shutter speed can affect the shooting interval, but it averages
approximately 1.6 frames per second. A Multi-Frame mode captures nine low-res
images at a rate of 1.5 frames per second, which are then combined as a single
image in a three by three grid. Finally, Audio Recording mode lets you record
sound clips as long as 180 minutes (without an image), although the maximum
recording time may also be limited by the amount of available memory card space.
(The 15MB built-in memory can hold about 30 minutes of audio.) The Konica Minolta
DiMAGE X60 also features a Voice Memo option, for recording short sound clips
(up to 15 seconds in length) to accompany recorded images.
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 stores its images on an SD memory card (or the
slightly less expensive MMC cards), or in its 15MB of built-in memory. There's
also a provision to copy images from the built-in memory to a Secure Digital
card or vice versa - or even to copy images between Secure Digital cards via
the built-in memory. Connection to a host computer for image download is via
USB. The DiMAGE X60 is a "storage-class" device, which means that
it doesn't require any separate driver software for Windows 2000 and XP, or
for Mac OS 8.6 and later. (Download speed is also good, I clocked it at 751 KBytes/second on my Sony VAIO computer, running Windows XP. - That's faster than USB v1.1 can support, so the X60 must in fact have a USB v2.0 interface.) The camera utilizes an NP-700 rechargeable lithium-ion battery for power, one of which is included with the camera, along with the necessary battery charger. Unlike the Konica Minolta X50, which allowed you to turn the LCD display off in favor of the optical viewfinder, the DiMAGE X60 offers only an LCD display. Fortunately, Konica Minolta seems to have improved battery life, as a fully-charged battery is good for about 78 minutes of continuous operation, 20 more than the X50 managed with the same battery. Still, my standard recommendation of picking up an additional battery pack and keeping it freshly charged applies for the X60. The optional AC adapter may also be useful for preserving battery power when using the camera as a webcam, for reviewing and downloading images, or when viewing images and movies on a television, via the supplied A/V cable.
Basic Features
- 5.0-megapixel CCD.
- 2.5-inch color TFT LCD monitor.
- Glass, 3.0x, 6.3-18.9mm lens, equivalent to a 38-114mm lens on a 35mm camera.
- 4.0x digital zoom.
- Automatic exposure control.
- Shutter speeds from 1/1,000 to four seconds.
- Maximum aperture f/3.3 to f/4.0, depending on lens zoom position.
- Built-in flash.
- SD/MMC memory card storage, plus 15MB built-in memory.
- Images saved as JPEG files.
- Power supplied by one NP-700 rechargeable lithium-ion battery or optional
AC adapter.
- DiMAGE Master Lite, Kodak EasyShare software and USB drivers included for
both Windows and Mac platforms.
Special Features
- Movie mode with sound.
- Continuous Shooting mode.
- 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
- Voice Memo mode for recording captions.
- White balance (color) adjustment with five modes.
- Scene mode with nine presets.
- Adjustable ISO.
- Both multi-segment and spot metering.
- DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
- PictBridge compatibility.
- USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included, can function
as a webcam).
Recommendation
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 is very small and compact. Its full automatic exposure control provides true point-and-shoot operation, although the user does have a few options for lightening or darkening the image, or adjusting the color balance. The 5.0-megapixel CCD delivers good quality images, with enough resolution to make good-looking prints as large as 11x17, or 8x10 with heavy cropping, and a low resolution option for email purposes. A 1.5 frames per second burst mode should help keep up with children, pets, or other subjects that just won't stay still. The DiMAGE X60's tiny size and rugged case design make it a natural for "anywhere/anytime" photography. With its point-and-shoot appeal and ease of use, the Konica Minolta X60 is perfect for novice users who simply want to take good pictures without getting too involved in the technicalities. Even sophisticated users will appreciate its exceptional portability and good picture-taking capabilities, making it a good "second camera" for enthusiasts too - although they may be the most likely to miss the presence of an optical viewfinder. All in all, a very appealing little camera, with good build quality and surprisingly good image quality for a subcompact model.
Design
Like the other DiMAGE X-series cameras before it, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE
X60 has an extremely thin, tiny case. With a stylish rectangular body and few
protrusions, the DiMAGE X60 is among the most portable cameras on the market.
Measuring just 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches (83.5 x 56.0 x 22.0 millimeters), the
DiMAGE X60 is somewhat smaller than its predecessor the X50, and fits just about
anywhere - including the smallest of shirt pockets. Matching its diminutive
size, the Konica Minolta X60 is also very light weight at just 4.9 ounces (139 grams) without the battery and SD memory card. The secret to the DiMAGE X60's compact design is its internally-mounted lens, which stretches horizontally in the center of the camera rather than protruding from the camera's front. An internal prism reflects light from the subject sideways into the lens itself, like a periscope. As well as providing protection for the lens mechanism, the internal lens mounting means that there's no wait for the lens barrel to extend when you power up the camera - making startup times quick. (Although at about 1.6 seconds from power on to the first shot captured, not quite as quick as the DiMAGE X50 was.) The design also offers protection for the lens, and reduces the number of moving parts - saving power and potentially offering better reliability, plus less risk of lens mechanism damage from the camera coming on while in a pocket or bag.

The front of the camera holds the lens window (normally covered by the sliding lens barrier when the camera is turned off), as well as the flash, four-holes for the microphone, and the self-timer lamp. The sliding lens barrier also functions as a power switch, bringing the camera quickly to life as it is opened (the Playback button, described later, can also power the camera on and off when the lens barrier is closed). A slight ridge at the edge of the lens barrier provides welcome purchase for your fingers when framing a photo.
The design of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 is well suited for either a one- or two-handed grip. The fact that the lens is horizontally mounted near the center of the camera reduces the chance of covering the lens opening with your left finger accidentally, something that was a risk with earlier X-series cameras until the X50 model. As an added bonus, the location of the flash in the X60 is approximately where the optical viewfinder window was in the X50's design. This places it further from the edge of the camera, where it is less likely to be blocked with a finger. The only downside to the location is that it is still very close to the lens, which can lead to problems with red-eye.

On the right side of the camera (as viewed from the rear) are the USB / AV
and power terminals, Secure Digital card slot, and a wrist strap attachment
eyelet. A sliding door protects the USB / AV terminal, with a small plastic
ridge on it to make it easier to open. The Secure Digital card slot is protected
by a spring-loaded plastic door that slides backwards slightly before swinging
open, and which features seven small bumps that help your finger gain grip.

The opposite side of the camera is featureless.

The Konica Minolta X60's top panel is sleek and smooth, with only a minor protrusion for the Mode switch and Shutter button. The Mode switch offers three settings - Still Image, Scene mode or Movie / Audio mode. To the left of the Mode switch is a small seven-hole grille for the camera's speaker.

The remaining camera controls are on the back panel, along with the 2.5-inch color LCD monitor. A single LED lamp above the top right corner of the LCD display reports the camera's status, such as when the battery is drained, when the flash is charged, when the Secure Digital card is being accessed, etc. To the right of the LCD are three buttons, which access the Playback mode (even if the sliding lens barrier is closed, if the button is held in), enable / disable the LCD's information overlay, and call up the Menu in any mode. The display button can also be used to call up the camera's LCD brightness adjustment screen by holding it in for a second or so. A rocker button at the top right corner of the camera's rear controls the optical and digital zoom, while a four-button controller with central OK button at the lower right corner navigates through the camera's menu system and selects options.
In record mode, the upper button of this group controls the Flash mode (Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill, or Off), while the lower button controls the drive mode (Single-frame, Continuous, Multi, or Self-Timer). In regular still image mode, the left and right buttons can be configured to control your choice of either exposure compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity or color mode, or can be disabled. In Scene mode, the left and right buttons select from among the available scene modes (Automatic Selection, Portrait, Sports Action, Landscape, Sunset, Night Portrait, Text, Super Macro, and Auto Recording). The central button, when held in for a second or so, switches between wide and spot focusing. In playback mode, the left and right buttons page through captured images, movies and sounds, while the upper button brings up the Delete menu, and the lower button rotates images counter-clockwise in 90-degree steps. The central button starts playback of movies or sound clips.

The bottom panel of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 reveals only the plastic,
threaded tripod mount - located off-center near the left hand side of the
camera - as well as the battery compartment. The tripod mount is quite close
to the front of the camera, so it may not provide the most ideal platform
to keep the camera steady, but it is at least fairly close to the center-line
of the lens, which will make it easier to shoot photos for a panorama.
The battery compartment door features a grid of nine small bumps that help your finger gain grip, and slides left towards the camera's side, before opening downwards on a spring-loaded hinge. Unfortunately it is located almost immediately next to the tripod mount, which means that if you need to change cards when using a tripod, you'll have to first remove the camera from the tripod. (The X60 is not a camera you're likely to use in a studio, however, so this is really only a minor quibble). Upon opening the card door, the battery drops out of the camera - making for quick and easy battery changes, but also making it easy to drop the battery on the floor if you're not careful, since there's no latch to hold it in place when the compartment door is open.
Camera Operation The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60's user interface is straightforward, as the camera employs automatic exposure at all times. While Scene mode, zoom setting, flash mode, drive mode, wide / spot autofocus and your choice of either exposure compensation, white balance, ISO sensitivity, or color mode can be adjusted via the top or rear-panel controls, all the other features and functions are controlled through the LCD menu system. In both capture and playback modes, the camera's menu system is divided into three pages, delineated by subject tabs at the top of the screen - almost identical to the earlier DiMAGE X50. To the right of the subject tabs, a "Setup" button takes you from the record or playback menus to the Setup menu. The Playback button lets you quickly switch to Playback mode, even if the sliding lens barrier is closed. Considering the camera's automatic exposure control and limited user options, most users should be able to become familiar with the camera's operation in 30 minutes to an hour.
Record Mode Display: In record mode, the LCD monitor displays the subject
with a minor amount of overlaid information, indicating operating mode, flash,
white balance, ISO setting, the current size/quality setting, metering area,
focusing area, drive mode, exposure compensation, color mode, date imprinting,
and the number of images that can be stored on the remaining memory card space
at the current size/quality. Pressing the Display button beneath the LCD once
removes the information overlay (except for the date imprinting indication,
and critical battery warning), and pressing it a second time restores the default
display. When you half-press the shutter button, a small dot appears in the
lower right-hand corner of the LCD indicating whether the camera is focused
(white dot) or not (red dot), and a "shaking camera" symbol appears
above the focus dot if the shutter speed is slow enough that you'll need to
be careful not to jiggle the camera during the exposure.
Playback Mode Display: In playback mode, the default image display shows the most recently captured image, video, or sound file, with an information overlay showing (as applicable) the resolution and quality setting used, the date and time of capture, the file number, and the sequence number of the image among those currently stored in the memory card. Pressing the Display button once dismisses the information overlay, and pressing it a second time restores the informaton overlay. With an image displayed full-screen, pressing the zoom control in the "W" direction shows a set of six thumbnails, letting you browse images quickly. Pressing the zoom control in the "T" direction zooms in on the image up to a maximum magnification of 6x. At any magnification level, pressing the center button of the multi-controller reverts to a full view of the image, while the four arrow buttons let you scroll around the magnified image. The screenshot above right shows all the available display options in playback mode.
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