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Minolta DiMAGE A1 Minolta updates their revolutionary five-megapixel electronic SLR with faster shutter speeds, an Anti-Shake mode, 14-bit A/D, and a tilting LCD monitor, among other improvements. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet A1 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on A1 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 08/08/2003, Updated: 11/10/03

Image Storage and Interface
The DiMAGE A1 uses CompactFlash Type I or Type II memory cards for image storage. The camera ships with only a 16MB card, clearly inadequate for the file sizes produced by the A1. (A token gesture by Minolta to enabling purchasers to use the camera straight out of the box, with the recognition that any serious user will immediately purchase a high-capacity card on their own.) Third-party CF cards are available separately in memory capacities as high several gigabytes, either in the form of conventional Flash Memory, or as a rotating disc, as in the IBM MicroDrives. The CompactFlash slot is on the right side of the camera, covered by a hinged plastic door that opens easily and snaps shut crisply. The card inserts with the connector edge going in first, and the rear of the card facing the back of the camera. A small button beside the slot ejects the card by popping it up slightly, letting you pull the card the rest of the way out (put the eject button into a vertical position first by pulling up on its bottom edge).

Although individual CompactFlash cards cannot be write-protected or locked against erasure or manipulation, the Dimage 7i lets you lock individual images or groups of images through the Playback menu. Once protected, images cannot be erased or manipulated in any way, except through card formatting. The Playback menu also lets you delete images shown in the LCD display, format the number of images in the Index display, create a custom slide show, set images up for printing on DPOF compliant printers, and copy images to camera memory or a new CF card.

Four image resolution settings are available: 2,560 x 1,920, 2,080 x 1,560, 1,600 x 1,200, and 640 x 480 pixels. Files may be saved in any one of three JPEG compression levels, as well as uncompressed TIFF (indicated on the camera LCD as "SuperFine"), and a compact RAW format. (By its nature, the RAW format only saves the full-resolution image size.) The number of remaining images that can be stored on the memory card appears in the lower right corner of the status display panel, in addition to the selected Resolution and Compression settings. (A minor quibble: With very large memory cards and the smallest image size/compression settings, the counter tops-out at 999, a minor annoyance.)

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images that can be stored on the 16MB memory card that ships in the box with the camera in the US, with each Resolution / Quality (JPEG Compression) combination. (Note the large size of the 640x480 files: If you're planning on shooting small images for the web or email, you'll definitely need to re-save these at a higher JPEG compression ratio.)

 

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 16MB Memory Card		Raw	TIFF	Fine	Normal	Economy
Full Resolution 2560x1920	Images	2	1	3	6	10
	Approx. Compression/KB	2:1 7.5 MB	1:1 14.7 MB	3:1 5.0 MB	6:1 2.6 MB	10:1 1.5 MB
High Resolution 2080x1560	Images	N/A	1	4	9	15
	Approx. Compression/KB	N/A	1:1 9.7 MB	3:1 3.4 MB	6:1 1.8 MB	9:1 1.1 MB
Medium Resolution 1600x1200	Images	N/A	2	7	14	23
	Approx. Compression/KB	N/A	1:1 5.8 MB	3:1 2.0 MB	5:1 1.1 MB	9:1 673 KB
VGA Resolution 640x480	Images	N/A	15	37	49	64
	Approx. Compression/KB	N/A	1:1 922 KB	2.2:1 422 KB	2.9:1 321 KB	3.7:1 250 KB

 

A USB cable and interface software accompany the DiMAGE A1 for quick connection and image downloading to a PC or Macintosh computer. It appears as a "storage class" USB device, meaning that no driver software is needed for Mac OS versions 8.6 or later or for Windows Me, 2000, and XP. Download speed was quite fast, as I clocked it at 751 KBytes/second on my Windows XP machine. (A Sony VAIO 2.4 GHz, with 512 MB of RAM.)

Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobodies immune. "Stuff happens," as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now, so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for Windows or PhotoRescue for Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF manual and quickstart guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen. (Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly scheduled review...