Konica Minolta has a new model DiMAGE Z6. This is a good semi-professional Digital Camera. I like the DiMAGE because it has most of the features found in high end digital cameras at a cheaper price. It also uses standard SD Memory and AA Batteries.
I also liked the earlier model Z5 and that has been on my shopping list. As compared to that Z6 has the following extras:
- 6 Megapixel vs 5
- better battery life
The Z5 support 640X480 movie mode but Z6 only supports 320X240.
So if these don’t matter to you, then you could still go in for the Z5. Z5 prices are expected (if not already) to come down as Z6 is available in the market in September.
Here is a detailed comparison of Konika Minolta DiMAGE Z6 and DiMAGE Z5.
| Konika Minolta DiMAGE Z6 |
Konika Minolta DiMAGE Z5 |
|
| Sensor | • 1/2.5″ Type CCD • 6.4 million pixels total * • 6.0 million effective pixels * |
• 1/2.5″ Type CCD • 5.2 million pixels total • 5.0 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 2816 x 2112 * • 2272 x 1704 * • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
• 2560 x 1920 • 2048 x 1536 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips |
• 320 x 240 Standard (15 / 30 fps) • All with audio • Limited only by storage space • Night capture mode available |
• 640 x 480 Fine (15 / 30 fps) • 640 x 480 Standard (15 / 30 fps) • 320 x 240 Standard (15 / 30 fps) • All with audio • Limited only by storage space • Night capture mode available |
| File formats | • Still: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) – Fine, Standard, Economy • Movies: MOV (Motion JPEG) |
• Still: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) – Fine, Standard, Economy • Movies: MOV (Motion JPEG) |
| Lens | • 35 – 420 mm equiv. (12x optical zoom) • F2.8 – F4.5 |
• 35 – 420 mm equiv. (12x optical zoom) • F2.8 – F4.5 |
| Image stabilization | CCD-shift ‘anti shake’ | CCD-shift ‘anti shake’ |
| Focus distance | • Normal: (wide) 0.6 m – Infinity, (tele) 1.6 m – Infinity • Macro: (wide) 10 cm • Super-macro: (wide) 1 cm |
• Normal: (wide) 0.6 m – Infinity, (tele) 1.6 m – Infinity • Macro: (wide) 10 cm • Super-macro: (wide) 1 cm |
| Focus modes | • Single shot AF • Continuous AF (with predictive focus control) • Full time AF • Manual focus |
• Single shot AF • Continuous AF (with predictive focus control) • Full time AF • Manual focus |
| Auto focus | • 5-point Wide Focus Area • Spot focus area |
• 5-point Wide Focus Area • Spot focus area |
| Digital zoom | Up to 4.0x (0.2x steps) | Up to 4.0x (0.2x steps) |
| Metering | • Multi-segment (256 segments) • Center-weighted • Spot |
• Multi-segment (256 segments) • Center-weighted • Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | • Auto • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 320 |
<• Auto • ISO 50 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 320 |
| Exposure compensation | • +/- 2.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
• +/- 2.0 EV • 1/3 EV steps |
| Shuttter speed | • Program AE / Aperture priority: 4 – 1/1000 sec • Shutter priority / manual: 15 – 1/1000 sec, Bulb (max 30 sec) • Scene modes: 2 – 1/1000 sec |
• Program AE / Aperture priority: 4 – 1/1000 sec • Shutter priority / manual: 15 – 1/1000 sec, Bulb (max 30 sec) • Scene modes: 2 – 1/1000 sec |
| Noise reduction | • Automatic | • Automatic |
| Exposure modes | • Programmed AE • Aperture priority • Shutter priority • Manual • Scene modes |
• Programmed AE • Aperture priority • Shutter priority • Manual • Scene modes |
| Scene modes | • Auto (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Sunset, Standard) • Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Sunset • Night portrait |
• Auto (Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Sunset, Standard) • Portrait • Sports • Landscape • Sunset • Night portrait |
| Exposure bracketing | • 3 frames • 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV steps |
• 3 frames • 0.3, 0.5 or 1.0 EV steps |
| White balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom (manual) |
• Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Flash • Custom (manual) |
| Self timer | 2 or 10 sec | 2 or 10 sec |
| Continuous shooting | • Normal: 1.8 fps (20 frames @ 2816 x 2112; Standard) * • Ultra High Speed: 10 fps (20 frames @ 1024 x 768) • Progressive mode: (stores last frames captured instead of first) |
• Normal: 2.2 fps (6 frames @ 2560 x 1920; Standard) • Ultra High Speed: 10 fps (20 frames @ 1024 x 768) • Progressive mode: (stores last frames captured instead of first) |
| parameters | • Contrast (3 levels) • Sharpness (3 levels) • Color mode (2 levels, b&w, sepia) |
• Contrast (3 levels) • Sharpness (3 levels) • Color mode (2 levels, b&w, sepia) |
| Flash | • Pop-up (electronic) • Modes: Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill flash, Slow sync • Compensation: +/-2 EV in 1/3 EV steps • Range (Auto ISO): (W) 3.6 m, (T) 2.2 m • Recycle time: approx. 7 sec • External flash: Hot-shoe |
• Pop-up (electronic) • Modes: Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill flash, Slow sync • Compensation: +/-2 EV in 1/3 EV steps • External flash: Hot-shoe |
| Viewfinder | • Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) • 0.3″, 114,000 pixels • 16.9 mm eye relief • Dioptre adjustment: -3 to +1m(-1) |
• Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) • 0.3″, 114,000 pixels • 16.9 mm eye relief |
| LCD monitor | • 2.0 ” TFT LCD • 114,000 pixels |
• 2.0 ” TFT LCD • 114,000 pixels |
| Languages | Japanese, English, Germany, French, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified character), Italian, Swedish |
Japanese, English, Germany, French, Spanish, Chinese (Simplified character), Italian, Swedish |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 (Full-speed only; USB 1.1 equiv.) • A/V out • DC-IN |
• USB 2.0 (Full-speed only; USB 1.1 equiv.) • A/V out • DC-IN |
| Storage | • Secure Digital • 16 MB SD card supplied |
• Secure Digital • 16 MB SD card supplied |
| Power | • 4 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (Alkaline supplied) |
• 4 x AA batteries • NiMH recommended (Alkaline supplied) |
| Print compliance | • Exif Print • PRINT Image Matching III • PictBridge |
• Exif Print • PRINT Image Matching III • PictBridge |
| Weight | 340 g (12 oz) | 340 g (12 oz) |
| Dimensions | 109 x 80 x 84 mm (4.3 x 3.1 x 3.3 in) |
109 x 80 x 84 mm (4.3 x 3.1 x 3.3 in) |
| Standard accessories | Neck Strap NS-DG7000, Lens Cap LF-243 set, Accessory Shoe Cap SC-1000, AV Cable AVC-700, 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card, USB Cable USB-2, DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM, Four AA Alkaline batteries |
Neck Strap NS-DG7000, Lens Cap LF-243 set, Accessory Shoe Cap SC-1000, AV Cable AVC-700, 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card, USB Cable USB-2, DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM, Four AA Alkaline batteries |
Also read the complete review at DP Review.
There is a mistake isn the comparison:
The longest Shutter Speeds for Z5/Z6 are 4 Seconds, no matter what mode is selected, and there is no bulb mode at all!
The Z3 has a shutter Speed of 15 Seconds and a bulb mode
Thanks for a very informative insight into the differences between the Dimage Z5 and Z6.