The DiMAGE G600 is a refresh of the existing DiMAGE G500 model, increasing the sensor resolution from five to six megapixels. The body styling has also been slightly refreshed, and PictBridge support has been added. Konica Minolta's DiMAGE G500 was itself a variant of the Konica KD-510Z, a model from before the two companies merged. The cameras are noteable for their support of both Secure Digital / MultiMediaCard and Memory Stick storage. Most other features of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600 seem to mirror its predecessor. Pricing and availability have not yet been announced. Courtesy of Konica Minolta, we have full specifications and a backgrounder document for the new model:

The DiMAGE G600

Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.'s DiMAGE G600, a new addition to the DiMAGE digital camera line, features Rapid Response with a 1.3-second start-up time, an ergonomic and easy-to-use design, and this new digital camera is packed with features that appeals to both beginners and advanced amateurs alike.

Product Highlights

• High Definition 6-Megapixel CCD – Detail sufficient for enlargements on 11x14-inch paper.
• Hybrid Adaptive A* Image Processing System (A*IPS) image processing
• High Quality GT HEXANON lens
• Rapid Response – Rare among digital cameras with protruding zoom lenses, the DiMAGE G600 is ready to shoot in a mere 1.3 seconds.
• Direct Printing – Capable of directly printing from the camera (without using a computer) thanks to industry-standard PictBridge* support.
• Dual-Card Slot System – enables simultaneous use of both SD (SecureDigital) and MS (Memory Stick) type cards. (The DiMAGE G-Series cameras are the only non-Sony cameras that utilize the Memory Stick.)
• User-Selected Metering System with both center-weighted average metering and spot metering.
• Easy close-ups - The camera's macro mode focuses on subjects at a minimum distance of 2.4 inches on the wide-angle setting.

Features

High Definition, 6-Megapixel CCD
The new Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600's precision CCD provides high resolution and superb picture quality. It captures images with sharpness and detail not possible with 2-5 megapixel cameras. The DiMAGE G600 is powerful enough to render extremely fine details and delivers stunning results in up to 11x14-inch size prints at 150 dpi.

Advanced Electronics
The newly developed Konica Minolta A*IPS image processing further enhances the high quality images produced by this camera. Using an original Konica Minolta algorithm, the best exposure, focus, and white balance are determined by the camera in an instant. Quickly and effortlessly, these balanced images are captured and in turn, enable high quality prints.

Quality Optics
The camera's high performance zoom lens incorporates a GT HEXANON lens system (7 elements in 6 groups) with 3x built-in optical zoom. Images come out sharp and clear with minimal flaring and peripheral aberration thanks to original internal reflection processing and optical design. The zoom range is equivalent to a 39–117mm lens on a 35mm camera. This range is perfect for wide-angle landscape photography and telephoto portraits.

Quality Display
The LCD monitor of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600 uses a 1.5-inch low-temperature polysilicon TFT color LCD with approximately 118,000 pixels.

Rapid Response
Rare among digital cameras with protruding zoom lenses, the DiMAGE G600's is ready for action in a mere 1.3 seconds (including readying the AF and AE). The rapidly deployed camera enables users to photograph subjects as soon as they pull the camera out of their pocket and slide back the lens cover.

Ergonomic Layout
With the most frequently used features easily accessible on the camera's top panel, the basic operating cycle of record-playback-delete is simple. Even first-timers will find this camera comfortable to hold and easy to operate.

Short Intervals Between Shots
Efficient image processing and storage provides short intervals between shots so the DiMAGE G600 is always ready for its next shot.

Quick Focus Check
By using the camera's quick enlargement and positioning feature, sharp focus of recorded images can be instantly verified before seeing the result on a computer screen or as a printed image.

Customizable Settings
Adjustment of camera settings is facilitated by color coded menus for easy navigation. Custom modes provide users with the ability to save their favorite shooting settings. Complicated exposure and white balance settings are simplified by the 4-way cross key from which adjustments can be made – including AE locking, AF locking, exposure compensation and white balance settings.

Locked Focus Recording Mode
The camera's locked focus recording mode enables the user to lock in focus at 13.8ft. or 3.28ft., ideal for those difficult-to-focus shots such as moving objects, scenes in dark places, and backlit scenes.

Manual Shutter Speed Settings
Shutter speeds and f-stops can be adjusted according to photographic conditions and objectives. Shutter speeds can be set in the 15 to 1/2000 second range, with noise reduction automatically triggered for shutter speeds of 1/2 second or longer, producing less noise for night photography.

Black & White Mode
Two Monochrome modes (B&W, Sepia) provide a greater range of expression for creative photographers that want to record images in black-and-white or sepia tones.

Audio and Movie Recording
The camera's Audio Caption function enables users to add audio notes (recording time up to 30 seconds) to pictures after they are taken. Voice Memo enables recording of individual audio recordings of up to 30 seconds each. Movie Mode records movie clips up to 30 seconds with sound at 320 x 240 pixels.

Image Adjustment
Color adjustment adjusts vividness of colors from Rich to Plain. Contrast adjustment increases the contrast of low contrast scenes or decreases the contrast of high contrast scenes. Sharpness adjustment emphasizes contour of buildings and landscapes (+) and captures people and details (-). Tone adjustment – applicable to the three colors (red, green and blue) – produces effects mirroring those created with color filters, creating endless possibilities for creative expression through color. To help users better handle tricky lighting conditions, users can also adjust ISO-equivalent sensitivity and flash compensation.

Superb Macro Images
The DiMAGE G600's macro feature enables shooting from as close as 2.4 inches from the subject on the wide end, taking pictures in the 1.8 x 2.5-inch range.

Dual-Card Slot System
The DiMAGE G600 has a dual card-slot system for flexible image storage. Both Memory Sticks and SD Cards can be used alone or in combination. When both memory card types are used with the camera at the same time, up to 640MB of data can be saved depending on the capacity of each card

Computer-less Printing
By directly connecting the DiMAGE G600 to a PictBridge*-compliant printer, printouts can be made easily without using a computer. The user can check which image they want to print on the camera's LCD monitor.
*PictBridge is an industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

Long Lasting Battery
Super long-lasting lithium-ion battery, in conjunction with a design that conserves power, enables extensive operation on one charge.

Email Photo Creation
The camera's re-sizing feature converts images to an ideal size for e-mail attachments or cell phone posting. Two sizes are available: 640x480 pixels (VGA) and 320x240 pixels (QVGA).

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Konica Minolta DiMAGE G600
Number of effective pixels	6.0 million
CCD	1/1.76-type interline primary-color CCD Total pixels: 6.40 million
Camera Sensitivity	Auto, ISO 50, 100, 200, 400 equivalents
Focal Length	8 - 24mm (35mm equivalent: 39 - 117mm)
Lens Construction	7 elements in 6 groups
Maximum Aperture	f/2.8 - f/4.9
Minimum Focus Distance	Wide: 1.6 ft. (0.5m) from front of lens Telephoto: 2.6 ft. (0.8m) from front of lens
Minimum Macro Distance	Wide: 2.4 in. (6cm) from front of lens Telephoto: 19.7 in. (50cm) from front of lens
Viewfinder Type	Optical real-image zoom viewfinder
Monitor LCD	1.5 inch (3.8cm) TFT color monitor Total number of pixels: 117,000
Shutter	CCD electronic shutter and mechanical shutter
Shutter Speed Range	Programmed AE: 1 - 1/2000 second Manual exposure mode: 15 - 1/1000 second
Autofocus System	Video AF
Metering	Center-weighted average, Spot
Exposure Modes	Programmed AE, Manual
Exposure Compensation	+/-1.5 EV in 0.3 increments
Flash Range	Wide: Approximately 1.6 - 9.9 ft. (0.5 - 3.03m) Telephoto: Approximately 2.6 - 5.7 ft. (0.8 - 1.7m)
Flash/Shooting Modes	Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-in, Off, Slow-sync, Macro-photo, Distant view, Self-timer, Fixed Focus
Continuous Advance	Available
Self-Timer	Approximately 10 seconds, 3 seconds
Movie Recording	Recording time: Maximum 30 seconds with monaural audio Frame rate: 15 frames per second
Audio Recording	Maximum 30 seconds of audio can be recorded with and without an image. Audio can be recorded and attached to a playback image. Monaural audio only.
White-balance Control	Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent)
Contrast Compensation	Five levels
Color Saturation Compensation	Five levels
Sharpness Settings	Five levels
Color Balance	Five levels for each RGB channel
Color Modes	Color, Black-and-white, Sepia
Digital Zoom	2x, 3x
Copy Function	To copy images and audio between memory cards
Resize	To VGA (640x480) from 2816x2112, 2272x1704, or 1600x1200 size images for transmission. To QVGA (320x240) from 2816x2112, 2272x1704, 1600x1200, or 640x480 for transmission
Compression Modes	Fine, Normal
Number of Recorded Pixels (Still Images)	2816 x 2112, 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480
Number of Recorded Pixels (Movie Clips)	320 x 240
Storage Capacity	Approximate storage capacity of a 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card: � 2816 x 2112 2272 x 1704 1600 x 1200 640 x 480 Fine 5 frames 8 frames 16 frames 66 frames Normal 8 frames 16 frames 32 frames 133 frames Movie clip 30 - second clips * Movie clips recorded with audio. * Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and memory card. �
File Format	JPEG, Motion JPEG (AVI), WAVE DCF 1.0-compliant DPOF-compliant (Supported by printing functions in version 1.1) Exif 2.2
Printing Output Control	Exif Print, PictBridge
Recording Media	SD (Secure Digital) Memory Cards, MultiMediaCards, Memory Stick
Computer Interface	Full-speed 12Mbps USB
Battery	One NP-600 lithium-ion battery
Battery Performance (Playback)	Approximate continuous playback time: 180 minutes
Battery Performance (Recording)	Approximate number of recorded images: 160 frames Conforming to CIPA (included AA alkaline batteries, included SD memory card)
External Power Source	4.2V DC with specified AC adapter (sold separately)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	3.7 x 2.2 x 1.16 inches (94 x 56 x 29.5mm)
Weight	Approximately 6.88 oz. (195g) without batteries or recording media
Operating Temperature	32-122°F (0-50°C)
Standard Accessories	Neck strap NS-DG130, USB cable USB-800, 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card, Lithium-ion Battery NP-600 Lithium-ion Battery Charger BC-600U, DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM
Optional Accessories	AC Adapter AC-8U
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