Minolta Dimage 7Hi5.2MP Digital Camera w/ 7x Optical Zoom
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $1,499.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Get professional results with the Minolta Dimage 7Hi, which features 5-megapixel resolution and a 7x optical zoom lens. With the Dimage 7Hi, you can control all the essential elements necessary for high-quality photography, from sharpness and exposure to color and saturation. The Dimage 7Hi incorporates features found in its sister model, the Dimage 7i, and offers further enhancements. The 7Hi comes with a built-in flash synchronization terminal, making it a versatile digital-imaging tool in the studio and on location.

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. ... Read more

Features

• 5.24 megapixel (5.0 effective megapixels) sensor creates 2560 x 1950 images for prints at 13 by 17 inches and beyond
• 7x optical plus 2x digital (14x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• Included 16 MB CompactFlash card holds 5 images at default resolution
• 60 second movie mode records at 15 fps; built-in flash synchronization terminal
• Connects with Macs and PCs via USB connector; powered by four NiMH rechargeable batteries

Reviews (30)

Bad Quality
My Minolta Dimage 7 took great pictures, but it lasted for less than a year of very light use. The problem is the plastic body. It lets condensation build up inside the camera, and the result is electrical malfunction. Unfortunate, because if not for this problem I'd have really liked it.

Cons
You won't be disappointed by the quality photos the 7Hi will take.If you're still considering buying this camera, consider other options as there are newer models.Considering there are dozens of reviews on the product itself, here are the weaknesses that I've experienced:

- Drains batteries.The 7Hi uses 4 AA batteries.If you're going on a trip, plan on bringing 4-8 extra rechargable batteries (at least 1800 mAH) and a battery charger.One set of batteries should last at least 100 shots (without flash). Do not use regular alkaline batteries as the camera will go through them quickly (Maybe 50 shots).

- Does not utilize highspeed CF cards.I purchased a Lexar 512MB 40x CF Card, and did notice any increase in performance over the one included.

- Many digital cameras now have video capabilities.The 7Hi records videos in quicktime .mov format at a maximum length of 60 seconds.The videos come out grainy.

It's A Great Digicam
I've used a Minolta SRT 201 35 mm SLR since the early 80's and took the plunge with a Nikon Coolpix 2000 when I decided to try out digital photgraphy.It became obvious that the 2Mp Nikon was rather limiting and I got a Dimage 7Hi last spring.All of the positive points in the other reviews are accurate.This is not an entry level camera, and there is a learning curve, but the results are worth it if you use a decent photo editor, and print on high quality paper using a decent printer for your serious work.I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 2.0 (will be upgarding to 3.0) and print on a Canon i960.I still use the Nikon when non-serious photography is appropriate.

As for the negatives noted in the reviews, all Minoltas are notorious for draining batteries so at least one spare set of rechargeable high capacity NiMH AA's with a 15-minute battery charger are highly recommended.Regarding the USB down-loading issues, my PC came equipped with a card reader, so I just insert the CF card into the reader and there are no USB issues as far as I am concerned.

Eventually, when the technology reaches the 10Mp resolution stage, I'll upgrade for the last time, but until then, the 7Hi does the job very nicely. ... Read more

Asin: B00006K16A
Subjects:  1. Digital Camera (Cameras)    2. Photograph (Photography)   

Canon S9000 Photo Inkjet Printer
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $199.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With a combination of speed, precision, and brilliant color, the Canon S9000 brings professional-quality printing to home desktops. Enjoy print speeds as low as 37 seconds for a 4-by-6-inch border-free photo and about a minute for an 8-by-10.

A system of six ink tanks allows you to replace only the colors you need, cutting back on both cost and waste. The bubble-jet-style print head is equipped with 3,072 nozzles, which use Canon's Microfine Droplet technology to guarantee crisp, accurate detail and rich colors. With a resolution of 2,400 x 1,200 dpi and 49 levels of gradation, your photos will come out looking clean, bright, and true-to-life.

The border-free mode supports 4-by-6-, 8-by-10-, and 8.5-by-11-inch prints, resulting in professional-looking edge-to-edge photos you can be proud of. A large number of paper types and sizes are easily accommodated, including transparencies, fabric transfers, photo cards, banners, envelopes, letter, legal, A4, A5, and others, making this printer suitable for a wide range of professional and home applications. The input paper tray can hold 100 sheets of 17-lb. paper at a time.

Weighing about 18 pounds with a footprint of 22.5 by 13.1 inches, the printer is compact and easy to move. The software bundle includes appropriate drivers, a user's guide, PhotoRecord (PC), ImageBrowser (Mac), ZoomBrowser (PC), and PhotoStitch (PC/Mac). Installation is easy with a convenient USB port. A power cable and sample paper pack are also included. Canon provides a one-year warranty, with Instant Exchange, covering parts and service. ... Read more

Features

• High-speed, professional-quality, six-color, large-format photo printer
• Borderless 4-by-6-inch photo prints in approximately 37 seconds
• Produces large photo prints, up to 13 by 19 inches
• 2,400 x 1,200 dpi resolution; 3,072 nozzles for exceptional speed and quality
• Convenient USB interface; PC and Mac compatible

Reviews (30)

READ Before you get a Canon S9000!
That Canon would make a printer requiring the user to return the entire machine to be taken into an authorized service shop is astonishing.

Eventually EVERY owner will see their S9000 warn them about the ink overflow pad at the bottom of the printer, and soon the printer will stop functioning. You will have no choice but to spend about half the cost of the printer to have the printer torn down, the pad replaced and the printer reset, unless you can do it yourself and void the warranty.

Other problems with the S9000 include a tempermental print head, which requires regular cleaning (and ink waste).

On our S9000 the paper alignment bar is extremely sticky, worse than any bottom-of-the-line printer we've operated.

The paper handling is pretty bad, and the S9000 will occasionally pull in paper at an angle even though it has fed straight.

After a year-and-a-half, our S9000 is about dead except for B&W printing.

Never leave home to develop pictures again
I bought this printer from a reputable camera store in my town and used it once in the first two weeks.I only had Kodak printer paper and the results were bad.I had convinced myself the printer was going back and I decided to try Canon paper as a last ditch effort and I am so glad I did.
The pictures are amazing with Canon paper and its no more expensive then any other brand.With the initial cartidges I was able to print ten 13" x 19" photos, over ten 8 1/2" x 11" and numerous 4" x 6".I have only replaced two of the six cartridges.
I have a Canon 10D camera (6 megapixel) and the quality is stunning. I test printed 2 megapixel images at 13" x 19" and although pixelation was noticeable, the quality was still excellent.The color matching also was near perfect from what you see on the screen.The Easy Photo Print software that comes with makes it extremely easy and quick to create wallets, 5"x7"'s, 4"x6"s, 5"x5",8"x10", and true borderless prints and putting as many possible on the same page so not to waste paper.
I just got some Classic Pearl paper from Ilford (get from a camera store) and you can truly have professional prints at home.I have numerous photos of my daughter at work and have had colleagues ask where i got them printed and when i tell them at home with the S9000 they are truly amazed.

Wow - now I got my own photo lab
Let me start with the strength of this dazzling product:
FAST - SILENT - and most importantly BEAUTIFUL picture quality.
There are some more professional reviews out there for this product (http://www.steves-digicams.com/printers.html) so I don't wanna cover every aspect - just what came to my attention and hasn't been covered there.
First this thing about borderless printing. The follow up product is the S9100 where you pay 200 more for more options on borderless printing for certain paper formats. The higher resolution of 4,800 by 1,200 compared to 2,400 x 1,200 dpi for this model gives you theoretically an advantage. Everybody who compared them said that the differences are minute and only noticable with a lense. Now with the S9000 you can print borderless the following papers: A4, A3, Letter(8.5x11) and 4x6. Every other format up to 13x19 appears with border. You only get to those formats in the software if you uncheck the "borderless printing" box.
About the paper to use with this printer I can only talk about what I tried personally. The Paper Pro seems to be the best. Equally good the Ilford smooth gloss (way cheaper and comes in larger amounts of papers- up to 200 sheets per box). The Canon Matte didn't convince at all. Maybe they work if you transform your pictures with digital darkroom software to an artifical painting, other than that: don't use it.
Finally the tint. The seperated cartridge system (6 different colors) saves you quite some money here. The poto magenta and the photo cyan seem to be the most needed. Check around for best prices (www.asap-inkjet-cartridges).
I did some math and came out way cheaper on my printer than in the local photolab. Particularly with large sized pictures you end up saving a lot of money. Another important aspect is that you can be way more creative with your own printer than the lab can be. What dissapointed me the most with a professional lab was that the computer software would cut away a considerable part of the picture. Now with your own printing software you can control the actual outcome way better.
So get this product and have fun!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005YX4V
Subjects:  1. Inkjet Printer (Ink Jet Printers, Printing)    2. Photo Printer (Photo Printing)   

Delkin DDIMD-1000TK 1 GB IBM Microdrive
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $499.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Reviews (1)

Virtually unlimited digital photo storage
I bought a 1GB Microdrive Travel Kit (includes PC Card adaptor to allow use in laptops). I get over 650 high rez pictures when used in conjunction with the Nikon Coolpix 995 camera.

It also comes in very handy for transferring large files from laptop to laptop.

If you're after maximum storage for your dollars, then there can be only one choice, the Microdrive is a clear winner here. ... Read more

Asin: B00005JGFD
Sales Rank: 103224
Subjects:  1. Hard Drives (Drive)    2. Micro