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Minolta DiMAGE F100 Minolta builds a compact, stylish 4 Megapixel model with sophisticated autofocus. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet DiMAGE F100 Photo Gallery! DiMAGE F100 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 DiMAGE F100 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software Review First Posted: 04/18/2002, Updated: 05/29/2003

Video Out

US and Japanese versions of the F100 include an NTSC video cable for connecting to a television set. European models will doubtless support PAL timing and connections, given the Video Output option in the Setup menu. All images that would normally appear on the LCD are routed to the external video display so that the television screen becomes an enlarged version of the LCD monitor and can be used both for image playback and composition.

Power

The F100 utilizes two AA batteries for power, either alkaline or NiMH types, or accommodates one CRV3 lithium battery pack. I strongly suggest picking up a couple of sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries, and keeping a spare set freshly charged at all times. A battery indicator in the status display panel reports the current charge level of the batteries. When battery power gets too low, a red battery icon flashes in the LCD monitor and the camera eventually shuts itself off. The F100 offers an Auto Power Save option through the Setup menu, which lets you specify how long the camera sits inactive before shutting itself off. Additionally, the inclusion of the status display panel on top of the camera means that you can easily operate the camera with the LCD monitor switched off, as several camera settings are reported there. Working without the LCD monitor active drastically increases the amount of operating time for a set of batteries. An AC adapter is available as a separate accessory, recommended if you plan to spend much time reviewing images via the LCD monitor or downloading to a computer. (Really though, in terms of bang for the buck, just get a few extra sets of high-power NiMH rechargeable batteries, and a good charger. Read my review of NiMH batteries for current information on who's cells have the most capacity, and my review of the Maha C-204 charger for a look at my favorite charger.)

 

Operating Mode	Power Drain (@ 3 v)	Estimated Minutes (1600mAh, 2.4v 2 NiMH Cells)
Capture Mode, w/LCD	1241 mA (high!)	62 min
Capture Mode, no LCD	16.5 ma (low!)	77 hours (!)
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD	1218 ma	63 min
Half-pressed w/o LCD	880 ma	87 min
Memory Write (transient)	(couldn't measure)
Flash Recharge (transient)	(couldn't measure)
Image Playback	683 ma	112 min

 

The Dimage F100 is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to power consumption. With the LCD on, battery life is painfully short, even when using high-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries. On the other hand, with the LCD off, the F100's power consumption is among the lowest of any cameras I've tested. The conclusion? High-capacity rechargeable NiMH AA cells are cheap enough these days that you should buy several sets, and always pack along a couple of sets of spares. Doing that, you'll get reasonable amounts of run time on outings, albeit with the hassle of having to deal with a few sets of spare batteries, and swapping them in and out of the camera. If you can manage to avoid using the LCD except when absolutely necessary though, you'll find that the a set of good-quality batteries will easily last you for a full day's shooting.

Included Software

Packaged with the F100 is a software CD containing an updated version of the Dimage Image Viewer Utility for both Windows and Macintosh platforms. The Dimage Image Viewer Utility allows you to download images from the camera, view them, and organize them. With the latest version comes a more effective image browser utility, an extended meta data display, better printing utilities, and a movie viewer with correction tools. Also included are the necessary USB drivers for connecting the camera. Overall, this is a pretty capable software package, with a lot of image adjustment power built in.

In the Box
Included with the Dimage F100 digital camera are the following items:

• Camera
• Hand Strap
• AV Cable
• USB Cable
• 16 MB SD Memory Card
• CR-V3 battery (buy a charger & a couple of sets of good batteries!)
• DiMAGE software CD-ROM (Mac/Windows compatible)