Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom

by Konica-Minolta

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.3 x 4.3 x 3.2 inches ; 12 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000AOFVZK
• Item model number: 2806-301
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,774 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: May 28, 2006

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The DiMAGE Z6 is a superb all-round digital camera that offers a 12x optical Mega Zoom, a proprietary Anti-Shake system, 6.0-megapixel high resolution, fast overall response including Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control, and excellent battery performance. All of these features combine to ensure that you won't miss a photo opportunity and that the subjects of your photos are big, exceptional, and blur-free.

The DiMAGE Z6's 12x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom merge for a total zoom range of 48x. Konica Minolta's proprietary CCD-shift Anti-Shake system--the same one used on the top-of-the-line Dynax/Maxxum 7D, and DiMAGE A200 models--is particularly effective, even at such high image magnifications. It allows the photographer to shoot with shutter speeds four to eight times longer (2-3 stops) than when shooting without Anti-Shake. It also works to give 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 DiMAGE Z6 has everything you 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 you images as beautiful as those you see with your own eyes.

Thanks to its energy-efficient design, the DiMAGE Z6 lets you enjoy picture-taking longer with a set of widely available AA Alkaline batteries that power the camera for up to approximately 240 shots, as well as compatibility with high-capacity Ni-MH batteries for up to approximately 420 shots.

To ensure that you don't miss a precious moment, the DiMAGE Z6 offers ultra-fast, accurate Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control. Focusing in a mere 0.2 seconds at the wide-angle zoom position and only 0.3 seconds at the telephoto position, the Z6 is ideal for capturing any subject, moving or still.

In addition to high-precision Rapid AF, the DiMAGE Z6 has a fast startup and short shutter-release time lag. What's more, your chances of capturing that magic moment soar with the DiMAGE Z6's Progressive Capture drive mode, which records images continuously at approximately 1.8 fps regardless of image size or quality, and saves the last 10 frames simply by releasing the shutter button.

The Z6 fits its 12x optical Mega Zoom and large 2.0-inch LCD monitor into a compact body. With a design that's easy to hold and an LCD monitor that's easy to view, you'll have a secure grip and a clear view to beautiful pictures.

Product Highlights

• 6.0 effective megapixels, Konica Minolta GT APO lens, and CxProcess III image processing technology deliver images in amazing detail
• 12x optical mega zoom and 4x digital zoom for a total zoom range of 48x and supported with Konica Minolta's Anti-Shake system
• Superior battery performance
• Rapid AF offers great autofocus speed with Predictive Focus Control
• Progressive Capture mode ensures high-speed shooting of fast-moving subjects even at maximum resolution (2,816 x 2,112 pixels)
• Super Macro mode for shooting subjects as close as 1 centimeter from the lens
• A large, easy-to-view 2.0-inch LCD monitor

Features
6.0 Effective Megapixels for High-Resolution Images
Approximately 6.0 effective megapixels, 1/2.5-type CCD produces plenty of detail for creating photo-quality enlargements as big as 14 x 19 inches. In addition, the CCD's primary color filter gives high color fidelity.

CCD-Shift Anti-Shake System
The DiMAGE Z6 uses Konica Minolta's proprietary CCD-shift Anti-Shake system, convenient for telephoto shots and dimly lit situations. Anti-Shake compensates to minimize the affect of camera shake, allowing you to shoot with shutter speeds four to eight times longer (2-3 stops) than on cameras without an such technology. The DiMAGE Z6 can correct camera-shake without increasing the shutter speed, or raising the ISO sensitivity, which can increase noise. The CCD-shift method doesn't require extra correction lenses like optical image stabilization systems, so the DiMAGE Z6's body remains compact and light. The Z6's Anti-Shake system is effective in correcting both the fine movement caused by pressing the shutter-release button and the larger and slower movement from the user's body.

Konica Minolta GT APO Lens
The DiMAGE Z6 employs a high-performance lens system that supports a CCD with 6.0 effective megapixels. The lens system consists of 13 elements in 10 groups and includes two AD (anomalous dispersion) glass and two aspheric elements, a construction that adds up to sharp, high-quality images. Multi-coating on lens surfaces ensures minimal flaring and ghosting throughout its zoom range. And, a five-blade aperture beautifully reproduces near-circular images of out of focus specular highlights.

Incredible 48x Total Zoom Range
Combining the 12x optical zoom with the 4x digital zoom gives you a total zoom range of 48x, ideal for taking shots over long distances at sports events or when capturing far-away scenery. This incredible optical zoom delivers a focal range equivalent to a 35 mm – 420 mm lens on a 35mm camera lens. With the digital zoom, the total zoom range is equivalent to 35mm to 1,680mm on a 35mm camera.

Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control
The DiMAGE Z6 focuses in a mere 0.2 seconds (approximate) at the wide-angle zoom position and only 0.3 seconds (approximate) at the telephoto zoom position. In Continuous AF focus mode, Predictive Focus Control allows you to accurately capture moving subjects--like a child running towards you at full speed. When it comes to fast and reliable autofocusing, the DiMAGE Z6 is clearly ahead of the pack.

The DiMAGE Z6 also offers AF accuracy through 5-point Area AF, which arrays five focus areas horizontally and thus reduces the chance of focusing on the background mistakenly.

Superior Battery Performance
Your picture-taking fun lasts even longer with four Ni-MH batteries (2500mAh) that can power the camera for up to approximately 420 shots. Offering this extra dimension of choice, the Z6 is fully compatible with widely available alkaline batteries, which gives a shooting capacity of approximately 240 shots per battery set.

Progressive Capture
With the DiMAGE Z6 in Progressive Capture drive mode, the last several images in a sequence--as many as 10 images at 1.8 fps regardless of image size or quality--are saved when you stop pressing the shutter-release button. So when shooting fast-moving subjects, Progressive Capture ensures that they are recorded when you want them.

Get as Close as 1 Centimeter with Super Macro
Shoot amazing close-ups in either Macro or Super Macro modes. Whichever mode you choose, Konica Minolta's superior image quality will make your close-ups look stunning and powerful. In Super Macro mode, you can bring the lens as close as 1 centimeter from your subject.

Large, Easy-to-View 2.0-inch LCD Monitor
The DiMAGE Z6's 2.0-inch LCD monitor gives you the big picture. The large screen makes it easier to take pictures, easier to play back stills and movie clips, and easier to navigate menus.

Superbly Detailed Images with CxProcess III
The DiMAGE Z6 incorporates CxProcess III, the latest evolution of Konica Minolta's image-processing technology. This means the ability to capture the subtlest details of texture, resulting in photos that look as natural as the subject itself.

Noise Reduction
Noise Reduction gives exceptional night images by automatically controlling the graininess caused by long exposures.

PASM Exposure Control and Metering Modes
The DiMAGE Z6 offers incredible control over exposure. There are four modes: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual. The DiMAGE Z6 has three metering modes: Multi-segment, Center-weighted, and Spot. Multi-segment metering uses 256 segments to determine exposure.

Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically chooses the best recording mode for your images. You can also manually select from Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset and Night portrait modes. Either way, this convenient function enables you to take fabulous photos with ease.

Movie Capturing
The DiMAGE Z6 takes QVGA-size movies (320 x 240 pixels) at 30 frames per second for smooth video with sound. Anti-Shake also works to give shake-free telephoto movies. The movie function lets you record movie clips onto the camera's SD Memory Card. The length of a movie clip is only limited by the space on the memory card. Night Movies allows the DiMAGE Z6 to record in low-light conditions. The frame-capture function allows you to grab a still from a movie clip, while the Movie Editing function lets you cut unwanted parts from a clip. And, even while recording movie clips, you can take full advantage of the DiMAGE Z6's optical zoom.

Custom Key Function
For added flexibility and convenience, different functions can be assigned to the flash-mode button. This means that instead of going through the camera menus, you can use the flash-mode button to change settings like the drive mode, white balance, focus mode, color mode, or camera sensitivity.

PictBridge-Compliant
Forget all about complicated connections with a computer. Get fast, fun printouts directly from your camera by connecting the DiMAGE Z6 to a PictBridge-compliant printer. You can check which images you want to print on the Z6's LCD monitor and then print out your favorites there and then.

Useful Software
The Digital Camera Software CD-ROM in the kit includes the following software.

• Kodak EasyShare: Manage images with a convenient user interface that even beginners can navigate with little or no experience.
• DiMAGE Master Lite: Powerful but simple image-processing tools help you create stunning images. The color-matching feature ensures the image you see is reproduced accurately by your monitor and printer.

Optional Wide Converter (Wide-Angle Converter ZCW-300 Kit)
The optional Wide-Angle Converter Kit (not inlcluded--must be purchased separately) allows you to fit more of the scene into each shot. The converter reduces the focal length of the camera's zoom lens at the wide-angle position by 0.75x to give it an equivalent of a 26mm lens on a 35mm camera. That is ideal for capturing architecture and interiors as well as panoramic landscape shots. A 52mm diameter filter can be attached to the adapter ring supplied in the kit.

Compatible with Optional Flashes
The DiMAGE Z6 is equipped with a flash unit that will literally light up your pictures. But if you need even more flash power, consider the Konica Minolta Program/Maxxum Flash 3600HS(D), 5600HS(D), or 2500(D). All of these incredibly versatile and powerful flash units are compatible with the DiMAGE Z6.

Product Description

MD) CL) Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sorry Canon S2...., October 22, 2005

By 

Ms. Lacey "ShopAHolic" (Northern, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom (Electronics)

Well, I searched and searched and read every review possible--so I thought--during the summer once I decided to put down my Kodak dx4530 and graduate to something with a little more "umph". I made a decision on the Canon S2. Due to some confusion my order was cancelled and I had to pick something else quickly. I did--the Dimage Z6. This camera does everything imaginable! I am not going to rehash in detail the previous reviews. If you have the money and want fantastic pictures--this is a GREAT investment! The instruction manual is a little jumpy but with patience you will get it. The features on the Z6 are never-ending. Buy & Have fun!

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing zoom, October 17, 2005

By 

Samuel H. Parker (Palm Desert, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom (Electronics)

This camera literally blew me away when I started using its zoom feature. First of all let me start by saying I am a practicing amatuer astromoner, and quite familiar with quality..This camera posesses an APO lens..Apro chromatic for those who care. I took a picture of a distant mtn in NM, of a feature called "turtle back".
I was zoomed 12X and after examining the photo on my laptop, I discovered I had captured a pair of hawks in flight against the mountain. In the second photo, one of the hawks was framed perfectly aginst the turtle's front foot, and I was able to blow it up on my laptop further where I could actually see feathers on the wingline, and the hawk's beak with little or no pixel distortion..The 6MP really works. I would recommend this camera to any amatuer photographer

210 of 240 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible camera worth 3 times the money!, September 8, 2005

By 

Only review if I know (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 6MP Digital Camera with 12x Anti-Shake Zoom (Electronics)

I have a digital SLR camera in a different and higher class than this camera. We bought the Z5 for my son and I found myself drooling over some of the functions in his camera. Don't let the term son fool you. Although 10, I was brought up by a photographer who never cut the corners on photo for him nor the family despite not being well off. My son has taken fabulous pictures on the Z% and the new six has very few if any changes. It did not need them.
The new Z6, is an absoloutely incredible machine with for me, only one major drawback, which is the manual need to lift your flash. As a semi or part time pro I have my flash attachment on all the time and even though this camera can change, by a convenient push of a button, thru several flash modes, the manual pulling up of the flash would be hard for me but may be due to habit. You would just have to always have it up and rember to turn off your flash if you ever want to. Fill flash is measured with the ambient light in the Z^ so the heavy shawdows are removed or the shade of darkness of he face by the brim of a baseball cap or the shade of tree branches in some of a person's face is gone. Right there your picur will be much more pro looking. There is a hot shoe for a flash attachment if desired. The perfect next step up from the pocket cameras and even if boasting 7 or 8 megapixels the optical zoom of this camera and the speed of the compressor chip are far more important.
The zoom is to 420 (yes I said 420 and in old film talk) and an automatic feedback as to whether you just took a picture within the correct ecposure. Also a little camera icon shows when you are zoomed to far out on your subject or to little light, showing you you need a tripod or do not take. The macro and fine macro modes are fabulous allowing you to take that flower or anything from your puppies face close up. No lens filters make it so your lens is suseptible to scratching but is well incased in the lens covering. The features of this camera including the use of the histogram, the editing features within the camera will probably never be used by some but who cares at this price.
Smaller cameras will never match this in terms of optical zoom and also the portrait, landscape, and sports functions all work while still in automatic focus. This means you can hold your finger on the button and take one shot after another of your kids stealing first base and be in focus. I took my daughter jumping from a high dive on rapid spots fire and the water splashing back up is just gorgeous and in perfect focus as is she and her varring expressions as when climbing the ladder and coming down. The camera will stop if it does not detect enough motion and will chage back to a more normal state of autofocus which in most cases means you have to keep hitting the button versus holding your finger down on it.. Perfect for the multi use camera shooter. Can zoom in from a distance and can take moving so perfect for sports filming, portrait filming and landscape as well. Only those of very high calibder photography experience or ones activley photographing architecture or landscape may feel they need a wider angle lens and yet if this is a move up for you, this is not and will not be a problem. Most people feel a 28 lens to be wide angle to begin with and it may start at 17 I am not sure. I just dont shoot wide angle. Don't let Dimage fool you, even I a Cannon loyalist would never buy the Cannon in this league over this camera.
The camera uses print image matching so works great with almost every photo printer which for those newer to digital means the information on the s-disk talks to the printer when you are printing so your shots are clearer, moe detailed and the colors more accurate to what was taken or seen on the screen. Don't let the featrues scare you. They are there but a very great point and shoot camera as to the quality and the abilty for the camera and a photo printer to do it for you.
If buying the camera consider the best charger and best recharageable batteries as more expensive but better on batterey life and yet if you aare one to swear away anything but lithiom batteries this camera does extremely well when my husband's dimage of 3 years ago is an energy hog. If picking up in a store, remember you can take pictures through the large two inch LCD screen or the veiv finder. The veiw finder has vision adjustment so if it does not look good at first please adjust this. The Z6 gives one more megapixel than the z5, basically incresing you cropping ability as you probably wont be printing 24 by 24 posters. The processor somewhat faster then the z5 as well making what you snap your finger at what you take as no delay of notice. The z6 is about 1/5 more efficient battery wise which in some cases can save you. Not much better than the z5 as the z5 was and is a wonderful camera and was acually $100 more. It did not need changing.
The z6 has a Sleek new disign with the same size but looks gorgeous. Try not to use as a garbage can as it will use more energy and yes, there is a reson that some disks are cheaper than others. Do not go cheap on you disks. Nice battery feature in which the camera shows no batterey when plenty of juice, then a battery when about at the half way mark and one more with a little juice left. Draws your attention to it as it appears vs. changes. Stop at the last symbol of closly after that. A digital will never work it's best when low on power nor getting completley full on a card. At the highest shooting level at which all people should be on or buy a two megapixel to begin with a 516 chip has room for around 320 pictures. No case is made specifically for the camera and yet we found a great promaster for $35 that is cushioned and can be worn as a fanny pack or over the shoulder. MY moms smaller credit card canon fits in the front part of the case as altough this a "small camera to me" she feels otherwise and wants to take both on her upcoming cruise so she can slip the other in her evening bag. I myself would love this camera for a second one of lighter weight and yet under many situations could get the same as my SLR of much higher price,features and therefore quality. Although it hurts me to say it, computer leary people could add to this with the epson picture mate 4 x 6 printer with the lCD could never use a computer and still get bettter than costco processed disks. The HP and ohers would also work and yet he new epson at $250 but $200 onlin with a rebate has many more ediining functions. IF a previous camera uses a compact flash and you have to change over adding to the expense so be it. They are better, the way of the future and will last mush longer.
I can not say enough about this camera and I would never thought I would be suggesting anythig over a canon. Anoher nice feature which sounds like a gimic but is not is the anti-shake mechanism. It actually does help to lower the effects of a less than steady hand and so your pictues wiil be more likely to have the just right focus. If planning for an event please buy early and practice however whether you have experience or not. Due to the incredible zoom power you do need to have practice keeping your eye on things as the camera will not beep if a not a good shot and yet this camera wll tell you why so easy corrections can be made. The beep the camera makes when the camera locks into focus when pressing half way down is quiet and a good guide. It can easlily be shut off say at weedings, plays etc. Beep, solid white circle, press down, look at LCD for proper exposue OK and a glance at the picture and within a couple of seconds on to the next.
The camera has a playback mode to check pictures with magnigication to check for focus at the molecular level practically but a waste of time as you may be missing the next shot. Rapid fire is available and 3 consecutive quick shots so getting 3 but each slightly different. As with all cameras and with all kids, dont use the red eye reduction. This means the flash puts out usually 3 small flashes and then takes the pictue wih a bigger flash. You wiil have the kids in the next room and far to long for candid and making people look at you insread of getting that perfect side portrait veiw. Although a fine camera and a tendency of many of us to tend towards protection plans due to chips and complexity keep in mind the cost. The best of warranty plans and some worse than this do not cover theft and althogh they will tell you for even dropping the camera you must have a significant part of the broken up camera and must have the serial number intact. If you drop over the edge of the ocean, off the side of a cruise ship or inside indiana jones at disneyland are you actually going to go back and get the camera or jump off the cruise ship?
Using the stap is a much better insurance policy! You will be more upset about the pices than the camera so consider that when puchasing your s-disks. Better to have all shots on one card in the camera but if you lose the camera all gone or better for a few smaller so that all is not hopefully lost.? Depends on the person. JUST GET GOOD ONES. Also take a ton of pictures. This is what digital is about and at the hightest setting. Do not try to get more pictures by setting the camera at a lower resoluton. If you feel conscious of not having enough memory consider buying some thing like an IPOD with the capability of carrying pictures for you whille on a trip. This way you just have a great time with your camera and then can clean out on computer as should be when you get home. If intimidated get a hired person for $89,00 an hour in California to come, set up your system between your camera or card reader, your computer then to your photo printer. IF you use a printer for regular documents then this is your... Read more ›