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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 Konica Minolta trims a little and adds a little relative to their top-end A2 model, delivering a strong contender in the 8-megapixel derby. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet A200 Sample Images A200 Imatest Results --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Comparison with other DiMAGE cameras 3. Executive Overview 4. Design 5. Viewfinder 6. Optics 7. Exposure & Flash 8. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 9. Operation & User Interface 10. Camera Modes & Menus 11. Image Storage & Interface 12. Video, Power, Software 13. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on A200 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 11:Image Storage & Interface Review First Posted: 12/22/2004

Image Storage and Interface

The DiMAGE A200 uses CompactFlash Type I or Type II memory cards for image storage, but can also write to SD/MMC cards when the CF1 adapter is used. The camera ships without a memory card, saving the cost of the essentially useless cards bundled by most manufacturers with their cameras, which often can only hold a couple of images at the cameras' maximum resolutions. (Just remember to have your own CF card on hand when your new camera arrives, to save frustration.) Third-party CF cards are available separately in memory capacities as high as six gigabytes, either in the form of conventional Flash Memory, or as a rotating disc, as in the MicroDrives available from several manufacturers. Thanks to its support of the FAT32 file system, the camera will be able to fully utilize these higher-capacity cards. 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.

Although individual CompactFlash cards cannot be write-protected or locked against erasure or manipulation, the DiMAGE A200 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, view an index display, create a custom slide show, set images up for printing on DPOF compliant printers, and copy images via camera memory to a new CF card.

Six image resolution settings are available: 3,264 x 2,448; 3,264 x 2,176 (3:2); 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 a compact RAW format. (By its nature, the RAW format only saves the full-resolution image size.) The DiMAGE A200 also allows you to simultaneously save images in both RAW and JPEG formats, allowing you to have the convenience of JPEG files but the security of a RAW copy of your images should you desire the maximum quality later. 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.

The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images that can be stored on a 128MB memory card, with each Resolution / Quality (JPEG Compression) combination. (No card is provided with the camera, but 128MB is a common card size that's probably about the minimum you should consider for use with the A200.)

Image Capacity vs Resolution/Quality 128 MB Memory Card		RAW + JPEG	RAW	Fine	Normal	Basic
3264 x 2448	Images (Avg size)	7 16.5 MB	10 12.2 MB	19 6.5 MB	31 4.1 MB	62 2.1 MB
	Approx. Compression	2:1	1.5:1	4:1	6:1	12:1
2560 x 1920	Images (Avg size)	-	-	32 4.0 MB	50 2.5 MB	97 1.3 MB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	4:1	6:1	11:1
2080 x 1560	Images (Avg size)	-	-	52 2.7 MB	93 1.7 MB	162 884 KB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	4:1	6:1	11:1
1600 x 1200	Images (Avg size)	-	-	79 1.6 MB	122 1.0 MB	230 557 KB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	4:1	6:1	11:1
640 x 480	Images (Avg size)	-	-	391 327 KB	558 229 KB	782 164 KB
	Approx. Compression	-	-	3:1	4:1	6:1

A USB 2.0 "Full Speed" (the slow version of USB 2.0) cable and interface software accompany the DiMAGE A200 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. Downloading files to my Sony desktop running Windows XP (Pentium IV, 2.4 GHz), I clocked it at 894 KBytes/second, a good if not exceptional pace. (Cameras with slow USB interfaces run as low as 300 KB/s, cameras with fast v1.1 interfaces run as high as 600 KB/s. Cameras with USB v2.0 interfaces run as fast as several megabytes/second.)

When its USB interface is set to PTP mode, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 supports direct printing (no computer required) to PictBridge compatible photo printers. The extent of PictBridge support varies greatly between cameras, and the A200's support is more robust than many. Provide that it's connected to a printer that offers an equivalent level of support and control, you can select paper size, bordered or borderless, print quality, and date imprint options directly from the camera's menu system. (Very slick.)

Recommended Software: Rescue your Photos!
Since we're talking about connectivity and memory cards, this would be a good place to mention recovering images from damaged memory cards: Just as important as an extra memory card is a tool to rescue your images when one of your cards fails at some point in the future. I get a lot of email from readers who've lost photos due to a corrupted memory card. Memory card corruption can happen with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. 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...