Customer Reviews

Minolta Dimage F300 5.3MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After much research, I decided to purchase the F300 because I was looking for more than just a "point and shoot" digital camera. The F300 offers a good balance between manual control and point and shoot or any combination of the two.

Most reviews I read (and Minolta's website, of course) said the camera's buttons ,menus, and function were very "intuitive"; while this is true for the Auto mode, I did have to read the directions for quite a few things--and the directions were not always that clear (see p. 68 then 73 then 54) but I managed to blunder my way to what I wanted after a few minutes of button- pressing.

The software that comes with the camera is cruddy compared to my Photoshop and luckily I didn't have to rely on Minolta's software. I have a Mac, though, so maybe the software looks/functions better on a real computer.

You'll definitely have to get more/ 256 MB SD memory cards since the 32 MB one provided only holds one high-quality picture ( I'm guessing you want a 5 mp camera in the first place because you want many good pictures). The photo quailty is really excellent in many modes and this camera is great at noise reduction.

Lastly, I know this is supposed to be a product review, but kudos to Amazon for not skimping on the accessories and trying to sell off things separately! Everything was included that the mfr recommends and everything was shipped to me EIGHT DAYS EARLY!!

the minolta dimage f300 is a solid camera but there are a few complaints that lead to this 4 star rating: no AF assist light, noisier images than competition, a slow moving lens, and all but useless TIFF mode (takes too long to save).

pros:
- 5MP resolution and 3X optical zoom.
- good photo quality, very sharp images.
- LCD on top of camera displays essential info (very rare in this camera class) - to be truly useful though, this should have included shutter speed and aperture.
- subject tracking autofocus performs well.
- good color balance.
- full set of manual controls - aperture/shutter priority, manual exposure, manual focus.
- intuitive user interface plus simple menu system.
- wide ISO sensitivity range for a compact (ISO 100 - 800).
- good macro performance.
- solid build quality, aluminium body.
- good shot to shot times.
- selectable AF points, reasonable AF speed.
- tracking AF workings for slow moving high contrast subjects.
- USB connectivity.
- non-proprietary AA batteries used.
- automatic lens cover.
- small and light: 4.4"W x 2.1"H x 1.3"D, weighing 7.8oz.

cons:
- more noise in images than competition.
- no auto focus assist light - makes focusing in low light difficult, if not impossible.
- slow moving lens - over 3 seconds to go from wide to telephoto!
- slow moving lens leads to slow startup time.
- shutter lag is noticeably worse than competition.
- noticeable barrel distortion from lens at wide angle.
- default tonal balance leads to lost shadow detail, clipped highlights.
- no flash power control.
- only TIFF format is supported, if you prefer RAW format, look elsewhere.
- saving a TIFF file means a virtual camera shutdown for about 30 seconds! this is a deal breaker for me.
- metal case scratches easily.
- doors for memory and battery feel flimsy.
- the included 32MB memory card is inadequate; be ready to shell out additional $$ for more memory.

as already mentioned, the f300 is a competent camera that is compact and quite stylish. if you don't plan to use the TIFF mode, the long save time is a non-issue. the shutter lag is troublesome though and the lack of an AF assist light is annoying. nevertheless, this camera has a lot going for it and is worthy of consideration. in the end, i would recommend the canon s50 over this.

i hope this helps your purchasing decision. peace.

The images I can produce on this camera in its plethora of manual modes is amazing. The controls are fast and intuitive. It's in the same class as the Canon G2 and other "pro-sumer" cameras - full manual features, large CCD. The only thing it (and others) lacks is a professional class lens. I'm absolutely happy with it, but if I were to object:

The camera works best indoors with a tripod (which I have) because the ISO 400 mode generates too much noise. Outdoors this isn't a problem, but night photography seems to suffer a tad.

Battery meter only has "full, warning and shutdown" so it's hard to tell how far you can go. I use up my 2 NiMHs in 40-50 shots, including post-view of the shots.

I wish the movie mode also had a time lapse mode (where you can set the time), because it's just something to add to software. This would make the camera so much more functional.

The autofocus indicator works well, but it's sometimes hard to get focus on indoor portraits.

I've been testing the F300 for a client and am happy to report this is one excellent digital camera. First of all it's an *affordable* 5+ megapixel digital camera that doesn't exhaust your retirement savings. Second, it sports top-notch picture quality, with well-saturated colors and well-defined clarity. (Fuji's cameras still have the "best" color richness.) Then there are tons of features for the geeky type to play with. 3X optical zoom works smoothly, and as you can see from the product photo it's the traditional telescoping type, not the periscoping kind on the X series. Battery life is about average, which is to say "not bad" for a 5+ megapixel camera.

The most amaing thing is the number of manual controls Minolta pakcs in with the F-series, which will make every SLR enthusiast at heart leap in joy. I didn't play with the manual controls much except the aperture mode, but I think if you want a digital camera with every imaginable manual adjustment you can think of, Minolta's F-series is the only product line that gives you this power.

If you want a dependable digital camera, the F300 deserves a very serious look, and perhaps your next paycheck. (Update: since I first wrote this brief review the F-series has been getting rave editorial reviews from "professional" reviewers. Hence I'm getting one myself when my next paycheck arrives.)

Update (9/10/03): The original review was written in May, not long after the F300 came out as successor to the highly acclaimed Dimage F100 3MP camera. Now I'm a proud of owner of an F300, I want to add some additional comments.

Starting last month Minolta added four NiMH AA batteries with a 16-hour compact charger, a case, and a bonus CD-ROM to the original camera kit, and also upgraded the included SD memory to 32MB (from 16MB). This move boosted the F300's value and competitiveness against other cameras in this class. Amazon now also has a great price, which makes the F300 cheaper than its competitors from Canon and Sony. The camera itself is made in Japan and exhibits the highest level of build quality.

Minolta's user's guide is the best I've seen in a long time. Printed on nice paper and written clearly, it comes in only English, so you don't have to pay for a user's guide in Spanish or French. Lots of high-quality illustrations, and they use a big font. I wish every manufacturer would print their manuals like this. A+!

The best features of the F300 are (1) 5.3 megapixels for a great price, (2) lots of manual controls -- great for prosumers, (3) easy control - unlike Canon, Minolta makes it easy for you to adjust resolution and compression level, (4) uses 1 CR-V3 lithium non-rechargeable battery, or 2 AA NiMH batteries, to achieve good battery life -- and NiMH batteries are dirt cheap nowadays. In short, this is a powerful camera with lots of likable features, plus excellent image quality, in a compact, carry-anywhere package.

My wish list for Minolta: increase the optical zoom power! 3X is standard, but you guys can win over even more buyers if you go to 5X or 6X. It can't be hard for you guys, can it? :)

This is my first digital camera after years of using old school film cameras. I purchased it when it first came out, having ready solid review of the F100 which was its predecessor. The F300 is stylish reasonably compact, and it can take regular AA batteries which is very convenient (though I recommend purchasing Powerex rechargeable 2200mAH AA batteries; this camera will drain regular AA batteries with alarming speed). Its feature set is solid--5MP, 3X optical zoom, solid macro performance--and my photos have turned out fairly neutral in color balance.

However, the one thing which frustrates me to no end is how sluggish the camera can feel. Turning the camera on and off leads to a several second wait for the lens to emerge or retract. The lag time when trying to get the lens to go wide or to zoom causes me to overshoot, so framing the subject properly can be an ordeal. The time to get an autofocus lock renders this camera unusable for all but stationery or very slow-moving subjects. And shooting at the highest resolution leads to long waits while the image is written to the memory card. I'm not expecting Nikon or Canon 35mm camera body responsiveness, but the F300's sluggishness removes some of photography's capture-the-moment joy.

I have become addicted to the convenience of previewing and sharing photos with a digital camera, but if I had to do it all over again I'd buy a nimbler 5 megapixel digital camera.

I own the mighty Dimage 7i, which for my money is still the best 5MP camera out there. But the 7i requires a lot of support and accessories to lug around. I needed a little camera for those unexpected opportunities or places where I really don't want to advertise I have a camera with me.

My first solution was the very good Canon Powershot A200 which I have reviewed favorably. The biggest problem is that once you get used to the bigger formats that higher MP brings, 2 MP gets real old, real fast. So when Minolta came out with this 5MP point and shoot with a reasonable price, I sold the Canon and bought the F300.

First this camera has a lot of features and controls. But it is not a Dimage 7. The F300's controls are less intuitive and clunkier owing to its small size. Secondly, the lens cannot compete with the 7. But again this is basically a souped-up point and shoot. It is designed for the automatic modes.

My advice is to forget the contols and rely on photo-editing software. At the larger image sizes you have plenty of opportunity to edit without picture degradation.

This is a wonderful addition to my camera bag.

After having the F100 and loving it I just HAD to upgrade. This camera builds on the many great features of the F100 and adds a few new ones. I find picture quality to be truly outstanding. I will admit that almost all small digicams have tiny, underpowered flashes and the F300 is no exception. I use an auxiliary flash when taking pictures inside a large room. Full auto and fully manual and everything in between. There are so many features you can do almost anything with this camera. Bottom line - nothing compares with the F300 at the price you can buy it for.

You guys convinced me to get this camera last week, and I'm very happy with it. There are so many features that they will please everyone in the family, from kids to pro wannabe's. It's image quality is superb! I compared with Canon and Sony and while those were also *great* cameras, they don't offer as much value and "fun factor" as the F300, so I think I made a totally right choice. I also want to thank Minolta for choosing the 2 AA battery path; it really saves a lot of money down the road because prop Li-ion batteries are real costly, and they die after 8-14 months.

IN a nutshell, this is a highly enjoyable camera. No more film photography for me!

After weeks of research, online and in stores, I picked up the F300. What drew my money in the end were 5 megapixels (5.3 on CCD but 5 efective), fast and bright LCD viewfinder, highly rated picture quality, 3x optical and 4x digital zoom, and finally, the ability to use AA batteries. On this last point, the F300 only needs 2 AA batteries, but you must use the NIMH type, which can last a long time and are real cheap at Walmart, etc. Minolta throws in a lithium battery, which cannot be charged, but lasts forever. And they give you 4 AA NIMH so you get two sets to rotate through, very thoughtful of them indeed. So power shouldn't be a problem. Picture taking is as easy as turning the knob to "automatic", point and shoot. There are tons of controls if you are so inclined, but the automatics do a great job for me. The elongated shape makes the camera easy to take out of the free case and to hold, another browny point for Minolta. Zoom lens is a bit slow, that's my only gripe. Overall the VERY BEST value for a 5MP digital camera that does not compromise quality and convenience at all. A total winner.

In many was this is the best digital camera I have ever used, in other ways the worst.

It is S-L-O-W, forget it for active kids and sports!
The pictures it produces are properly exposed and the lens is sharp.

Some of the pictures I have taken with this camera are BREATH TAKING!! Some of the pictures I have MISSED because of the slow system MAKES ME SICK!! The movie mode works well and is handy.

I picked up a refurbished unit cheap and have been using it for a month. If you can put up with the slow operation it is an awesome camera.

I haven't had any of the software issues others have complained of (who knows what bugs their computer had!) and it is way better on batteries than my last HP camera. If you can live with it, it's a steal.

Mark