Minolta Dimage 7Hi 5.2MP Digital Camera w/ 7x Optical Zoom

Optics and Resolution
The Minolta Dimage 7Hi is built around a high-precision electro-optical system designed to maximize image quality. The system contains a 5.24-megapixel, 2/3-type interline primary color CCD with 5 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images. The pixel resolution of the CCD will produce 13-by-17-inch, 150 dpi prints on an inkjet printer.

The Dimage 7Hi's new "extra-fine" mode creates JPEG files with a compression ratio of 1/2.5. This mode not only reduces the compression ratio, but also enhances image quality with nearly lossless JPEG imaging. The extra-fine mode can also be used for commercial purposes.

The image formed on the CCD is enhanced by Minolta's exclusive CxProcess image processing technology, which optimizes sharpness, color reproduction, tonal gradation, and noise to create clear and natural images. This wide dynamic range is provided by an improved electro-optical system with a 12-bit analog to digital conversion to ensure natural color and tonal reproduction.

With a focal range of 7.2-50.8mm, the Dimage 7Hi's fast 7x zoom apochromatic (APO) lens is equivalent to a 28-200mm on a 35mm camera. In addition, the Minolta Dimage 7Hi's optical zoom lens accepts standard 49mm filters.

More Features
The Dimage 7Hi incorporates direct manual focus, which can be found in professional film cameras like the award-winning Minolta Maxxum 7. It allows the focus to be fine-tuned manually, after the AF system has focused and locked on the subject.

The Dimage 7Hi has two displays for critical composition: grid and scale. The grid, usually found only in large-format view cameras, makes aligning the camera simple, via vertical or horizontal elements within the image. The grid confirms that the horizon or buildings are straight. The scale can be used in close-up photography to judge the relative proportions of the subject. The Dimage 7Hi is fitted with a 1.8-inch low-temperature high-contrast color LCD monitor.

A new built-in flash sync terminal allows the Dimage 7Hi to be connected to professional studio and location flash systems by plugging the flash's PC cord into the terminal. To capture images under varying natural and artificial lighting sources, white balance is controlled with nine settings: five presets, three customs, and one auto.

You can record audio along with still images with the voice-memo feature, which allows a 16-bit audio track of up to 15 seconds to be attached to an image after it has been captured.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the Dimage 7Hi produces digital videos in multiple creative formats, including standard QVGA (320 x 240) color movies and monochrome night movies up to 60 seconds with 16-bit audio. The night-movie mode can record movie clips under extreme low-light conditions, while the interval function can produce a series of still images taken at regular intervals, or it can combine the images into a time-lapsed movie at any image size.

Storage
Images are stored on CompactFlash memory cards and the memory slot is compatible with CompactFlash Type II cards as well as Microdrives. The included 16 MB card holds approximately eight images at 2,560 x 1,920 pixel resolution.

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by four NiMH rechargeable batteries, which are included along with a battery charger. At 4.6 by 3.6 by 4.4 inches and 18.5 ounces, the Dimage 7Hi is definitely not an easily pocketable point-and-shoot camera. The package includes the Dimage 7Hi camera, a 16 MB CompactFlash card, four NiMH rechargeable batteries, battery charger, neck strap, lens hood, lens cap with strap, USB and video cables, CD-ROM with Dimage Image View software and drivers, and a printed camera manual.