Konica Minolta announced its latest Z series digital camera, DiMAGE Z6
it features a six megapixel CCD sensor, twelve times optical zoom lens and a two inch LCD monitor.
Other than a slight increase to six megapixels the Z6 also features improved battery life. This expands the choice in the ever growing compact-long-zoom segment of the market, buyers can now choose from five, six or eight megapixel, twelve times optical zoom digital cameras all with image stabilization. The Z6 should be available in mid-September with a street price of around $399.
This high performance 6.0-megapixel digital camera features a built-in 12x optical Mega Zoom lens, Konica Minolta?s anti-shake system, rapid autofocus (AF), and excellent battery performance
"The combination of advanced imaging features within the new DiMAGE Z6 digital camera allows photographers to take exceptionally crisp, sharp photographs in virtually any picture-taking situation," said Paul Zakrzewski, Director of Product Management for Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 incorporates its 12x optical Mega Zoom lens and large 2.0-inch LCD monitor into a compact and easy to hold camera design. The DiMAGE Z6?s built-in 12x optical zoom lens and 4x digital zoom capability combine for a total zoom range of 48x.
In addition, Konica Minolta?s proprietary CCD-shift Anti-Shake system?the same system used in Konica Minolta's top-of-the-line Maxxum 7D digital Single Lens-Reflex (SLR) camera, and first featured in Konica Minolta?s DiMAGE A series of digital cameras?allows photographers to shoot with shutter speeds four to eight times longer (2-3 stops) than when shooting without an Anti-Shake system. The system also provides steady, shake-free images in twilight or other dimly lit situations, which are susceptible to blurring because of the slow shutter speeds used. This means significantly sharper images even without the use of a flash or tripod.
The new DiMAGE Z6 has everything photographers need to take high-quality pictures: 6.0 effective megapixels, high-performance GT APO lens, and Konica Minolta's proprietary CxProcess III image processing technology, which gives users images as beautiful as those they see with their own eyes.
Thanks to its energy-efficient design, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 lets users enjoy picture-taking longer with four widely available AA Alkaline batteries that power the camera for up to approximately 240 shots, as well as compatibility with high-capacity rechargeable Ni-MH batteries for up to approximately 420 shots.
To ensure that photographers don't miss a shot, the new DiMAGE Z6 offers ultra-fast, accurate Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control. Focusing in a mere 0.2 second at the wide-angle zoom position and only 0.3 second at the telephoto position, the DiMAGE Z6 is ideal for accurately capturing any subject, moving or still.
In addition to high-precision Rapid AF, the DiMAGE Z6 features a fast startup time and short shutter-release lag time. In addition, the camera?s Progressive Capture drive mode records images continuously at approximately 1.8 frames per second regardless of image size or quality, and saves the last 10 frames simply by releasing the shutter button.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 specifications
* New or changed compared to the DiMAGE Z5
This high performance 6.0-megapixel digital camera features a built-in 12x optical Mega Zoom lens, Konica Minolta?s anti-shake system, rapid autofocus (AF), and excellent battery performance
"The combination of advanced imaging features within the new DiMAGE Z6 digital camera allows photographers to take exceptionally crisp, sharp photographs in virtually any picture-taking situation," said Paul Zakrzewski, Director of Product Management for Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 incorporates its 12x optical Mega Zoom lens and large 2.0-inch LCD monitor into a compact and easy to hold camera design. The DiMAGE Z6?s built-in 12x optical zoom lens and 4x digital zoom capability combine for a total zoom range of 48x.
In addition, Konica Minolta?s proprietary CCD-shift Anti-Shake system?the same system used in Konica Minolta's top-of-the-line Maxxum 7D digital Single Lens-Reflex (SLR) camera, and first featured in Konica Minolta?s DiMAGE A series of digital cameras?allows photographers to shoot with shutter speeds four to eight times longer (2-3 stops) than when shooting without an Anti-Shake system. The system also provides steady, shake-free images in twilight or other dimly lit situations, which are susceptible to blurring because of the slow shutter speeds used. This means significantly sharper images even without the use of a flash or tripod.
The new DiMAGE Z6 has everything photographers need to take high-quality pictures: 6.0 effective megapixels, high-performance GT APO lens, and Konica Minolta's proprietary CxProcess III image processing technology, which gives users images as beautiful as those they see with their own eyes.
Thanks to its energy-efficient design, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 lets users enjoy picture-taking longer with four widely available AA Alkaline batteries that power the camera for up to approximately 240 shots, as well as compatibility with high-capacity rechargeable Ni-MH batteries for up to approximately 420 shots.
To ensure that photographers don't miss a shot, the new DiMAGE Z6 offers ultra-fast, accurate Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control. Focusing in a mere 0.2 second at the wide-angle zoom position and only 0.3 second at the telephoto position, the DiMAGE Z6 is ideal for accurately capturing any subject, moving or still.
In addition to high-precision Rapid AF, the DiMAGE Z6 features a fast startup time and short shutter-release lag time. In addition, the camera?s Progressive Capture drive mode records images continuously at approximately 1.8 frames per second regardless of image size or quality, and saves the last 10 frames simply by releasing the shutter button.
Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 specifications
| Sensor | 1/2.5" Type CCD 6.4 million pixels total * 6.0 million effective pixels * |
| Image sizes | 2816 x 2112 * 2272 x 1704 * 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 |
| File formats | Still: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - Fine, Standard, Economy Movies: MOV (Motion JPEG) |
| Lens | 35 - 420 mm equiv. (12x optical zoom) F2.8 - F4.5 |
| Image stabilization | 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 |
| Focus modes | Single shot AF Continuous AF (with predictive focus control) Full time AF Manual focus |
| Auto focus areas | 5-point Wide Focus Area Spot focus area |
| Digital zoom | Up to 4.0x (0.2x steps) |
| Metering | Multi-segment (256 segments) Center-weighted Spot |
| ISO sensitivity | Auto ISO 50 ISO 100 ISO 200 ISO 320 |
| Exposure compensation | +/- 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 |
| Noise reduction | Automatic |
| Exposure modes | Programmed AE Aperture priority Shutter priority Manual Scene modes |
| Scene modes | 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 |
| White balance | Auto Daylight Cloudy Tungsten Fluorescent Flash Custom (manual) |
| Self timer | 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) |
| Image parameters | 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 |
| Viewfinder | Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) 0.3", 114,000 pixels 16.9 mm eye relief Dioptre adjustment: -3 to +1m(-1) |
| LCD monitor | 2.0 " TFT LCD 114,000 pixels |
| Languages | 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 |
| Storage | Secure Digital 16 MB SD card supplied |
| Power | 4 x AA batteries NiMH recommended (Alkaline supplied) |
| Print compliance | Exif Print PRINT Image Matching III PictBridge |
| Weight | 340 g (12 oz) |
| Dimensions | 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 |
* New or changed compared to the DiMAGE Z5
