Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom

by Konica-Minolta

Product Details

Product Manual [1.71mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 3.4 x 2.8 inches ; 4.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00008PVXA
• Item model number: xt
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,705 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 30, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Like the very popular Dimage Xi, the Minolta Dimage Xt is a 3.2 megapixel camera, but with more versatile features and packaged in an even smaller body. The new design eliminates more than 5 percent from the size and nearly 8 percent from the weight of the Dimage Xi. The exclusive folded optical zoom system allowed Minolta to recreate the world's thinnest (as of April 2003) compact, planar digital camera with a 3x optical zoom.

Optics and Resolution

Minolta's folded optics provides a 3x optical zoom within its slim design.

Featuring a 3.2-megapixel CCD sensor, the Dimage E223 delivers image detail up to 2048 x 1536 pixels for print enlargements up to 11 x 14 inches. This revolutionary non-extending lens is responsible for maintaining the camera's 0.8-inch thin profile either while recording or when stored. The 3x optical zoom, equivalent to a 37-111mm lens on a 35mm camera, is assisted by a 4x digital zoom giving a seamless zoom range of 12x. The lens focuses down to 5.9 inches at all focal lengths for close-up photographs without having to use a separate function.

Storage and Transfer
Images can be stored on either Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards; a 16 MB SD card is included. Download image files to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, including any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie and Audio Modes
The Dimage Xt is not limited to recording still images. Video with audio can be captured at either 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixel resolution. The length of movie clips is only limited by the memory card capacity. The new Direct Video function allows the camera to be connected directly to a VHS or DVD recording deck.

The Dimage Xt can be used as a remote camera for video conferencing. Simply use the supplied USB cable to connect the camera to a computer with a Windows operating system and a compatible application such as Microsoft Windows Messenger.

The audio recording mode records up to 180 minutes of audio. Voice memo allows up to 15 seconds of audio to be attached to an image when it is captured. The audio-caption function can attach an audio track to any recorded still-image. The audio tracks can be played back in the camera.

The included base serves as both a recharging station and camera stand.

More Features
The Dimage Xt is a fast, responsive camera. It is ready to use approximately 1.1 seconds after turning it on. This is the fastest start-up time of any digital camera with an optical zoom (as of April 2003). The fluid playback performance only causes a slight 0.2 second delay between frames regardless of file size.

An improved e-mail copy function allows a still image to be copied and resized to 640 x 480 or 160 x 120 pixels so that it may be attached to an e-mail message or posted on the Internet.

The Dimage Xt's charger stand can recharge the battery while it is still in the camera. It can also charge a single spare battery by itself. The charger doubles as a camera stand for when the Dimage Xt is used for self-portraits, a remote camera, or when connected to a computer.

• 1.5-inch TFT (transreflective) LCD monitor.
• Built-in flash with autoflash, autoflash with red-eye reduction, fill-flash, night portrait, and flash cancel modes.
• Extended shutter-speed range controls the exposure from 4 seconds for night scenes to 1/1000th of a second for brilliant sunlit landscapes.
• Spot metering and spot AF allows you to meter or focus on a specific subject.
• Multi-segment metering and five-point AF make taking beautiful, sharp images simple.
• Exposure control from 4 seconds for scenes at night to 1/1000th of a second for brilliant sunlit landscapes

Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery NP-200 (included). It measures 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.8 inches and weighs 4.2 ounces. This package includes the Dimage Xt digital camera, 16 MB SD memory card, battery and battery charger, USB and A/V cables, hand strap, and Dimage Software and Viewer CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

Manufacturer Product Description

The DiMAGE Xt is truly a "shirt-pocket" camera, measuring only 3.4(W) x 2.6(H) x 0.8(D) inches and weighing a mere 4.2 ounces. The DiMAGE Xt is so easy to carry; you won't know it's there until you need it. But when you do need it, it will be ready with a host of high-performance features.

The little DiMAGE Xt is big on performance. Images captured with the super-sharp aspheric zoom lens are formed with 3.2 million effective pixels, and enhanced by Minolta's CxProcess image processing technology -- the same technology used in Minolta's top-of-the-line DiMAGE 7Hi digital SLR camera. CxProcess produces clear, natural-looking images by optimizing sharpness, color, and contrast, while minimizing noise.

Although the DiMAGE Xt is thinner than any single focal length digital camera, it houses a revolutionary folded 3X optical zoom lens that can capture everything from scenic landscapes to macro close-ups. By using a high-quality prism that folds the optical path, the lens never extends from the camera body and zooming noise is reduced to a whisper. This exclusive f/2.8-3.6 lens provides a 5.7-17.1mm focal range (equivalent to 37-111mm on a 35mm camera). The high-performance lens optics include three aspheric elements to ensure crisp, detailed images with high contrast.

In addition to the 3X optical zoom, the DiMAGE Xt provides up to 4X digital zoom; selectable in 0.1X increments. The resulting maximum 12X zoom capacity equals a 444mm super-telephoto lens on a 35mm camera.

Taking beautifully detailed close-ups is a snap with the DiMAGE Xt. It can make sharp, clear images of objects as close as 5.9 inches from the camera face, without the need for special macro settings.

Wide and Spot Autofocus Modes
Two autofocus modes give precise control over image sharpness. Wide AF uses a large autofocus area for quick, easy picture-taking. Spot AF uses a small focus area in the center of the image frame for singling out a specific subject or detail.

Multi-Segment Metering
The camera uses information about subject location from the AF system along with 256 metering segments to calculate the optimum exposure based on subject and background brightness. There is no need to worry that the subject will be lost in deep shadows or washed out in front of dark backgrounds. Additionally, the built-in flash is activated automatically in backlit or low-light conditions. For basing the exposure on a small area of the subject or scene, spot metering mode concentrates the exposure reading to the area covered by the spot AF sensor.

Extended Shutter Speed Range
The DiMAGE Xt's extended shutter speed range gives the camera greater control over exposure in difficult lighting conditions. The camera can control the exposure from 4 seconds for scenes at night to 1/1000th of a second for brilliant sunlit landscapes.

Remote Camera Operation
The DiMAGE Xt can be used as a remote camera for video conferencing. Simply use the supplied USB cable to connect the camera to a computer with a Windows operating system and a compatible application such as Microsoft Windows Messenger. The camera can be mounted on a tripod or placed in the included charger stand for hands-free operation.

Charger Stand Included
The DiMAGE Xt's charger stand can recharge the battery while it is still in the camera. It can also charge a single spare battery by itself. The charger doubles as a camera stand for when the DiMAGE Xt is used for self-portraits, a remote camera, or when connected to a computer.

Extended Movie and Audio Recording
The DiMAGE Xt is a versatile multimedia tool, allowing digital video with audio to be captured. The length of the movie is limited only by the memory card capacity and image size (160 x 120 or 320 x 240). You can also record a 15-second voice memo immediately after capturing a still image, or attach up to 15 seconds of audio caption to a previously recorded still image. Plus, up to 180 minutes of audio without image data can be recorded.

Compatible with SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCards
The DiMAGE Xt uses the popular SD Memory Cards or MultiMediaCards as recording media. These tiny cards are about the size of a commemorative stamp, and are widely available.

USB Direct-Print
This very convenient function allows images to be printed directly from the camera to a compatible printer using the supplied USB cable.

Easy Data Transfer to a PC or Macintosh
When the DiMAGE Xt is turned on, in record or playback mode, images and other data can be transferred to a personal computer through the supplied USB cable. Plug in the cable and simply drag and drop the images onto the computer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

246 of 247 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Sweet Micro, July 30, 2003

By 

Steven Thornton (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I've been looking for something to replace/augment my giant three-year-old Sony, which I love but is just too big and heavy to cart all over Europe and around town. Plus the shutter lag drives me nuts. I needed something that was shirt-pocket small, fast, but with enough features to be useful for more than the most basic snapshots.

Specifically, I wanted a bit of optical zoom. When I travel, I find I'm using the zoom constantly to frame up the shots a little better. Frankly, I don't care about resolution; 2 megapixels is plenty for me, and that's what I'll use my Xt for most of the time.

I compared all of the leading contenders (as of July 2003) -- various Canon ELPHs, Casio Exilim, Pentax Optio S, and even the new "lipstick" Sony DSC-U30. Everybody loves to rag on Memory Sticks, but if you already have a Sony camera and a Sony laptop and a good supply of big Sticks, they're a plus, not a minus; going with SD or CF was going to cost me a lot extra. But the Sony dropped out early because of the lack of zoom. The others, well, people like to pretend that making a decision like this is science, but it's not. I read everything I could and took a stab at it. Frankly, from what I've seen I would have rated the others just as high because they are all AMAZING. But I chose the Minolta. And I love it.

In short: Optio too slow, ELPH too heavy, Casio has no TV-out (and was out of stock in my local shop, or I might very well have bought it instead).

One thing I noted to my great relief with all of these, and which is usually stated nowhere on any of the manufacturer's pages even, is that they all have battery chargers that are small and 110-240 volt, which means you can charge batteries in Europe without a bulky converter -- just the right-size plug adapter, which you can get anywhere for almost nothing. So the problem with the battery isn't a problem at all -- buy a second battery and keep them both charged up overnight and you can snap all day with any of these cameras in any country in the world (unless you're camping or something).

What sold me on the Xt was the folded prism lens. Less mechanicals is always good with miniature things, and less fragile things poking out of the front is good too. The Minolta's not as small as the Optio (which is the clear frontrunner in the micro-coolness stakes -- that phrase "fits in an Altoids tin" is very tempting. But the Minolta STAYS small even when you're shooting, and because it doesn't have to run a motor so much, it takes faster pictures. Which was probably my #2 criteria after size.

I haven't had any trouble at all with the small controls; they're extremely well-designed and you can figure out 90% of what it does just by fiddling with it -- I read the manual but I don't have to carry it with me! If anything, and this is a general complaint with all cameras in this range (and others), there's TOO MANY features, most of which can be found in PhotoShop later. "Digital zoom" is a con and could be left out, and who really uses the "sepia" setting? But the stuff I DO want is all there, within reason (no f stops, but ISO and Exposure Level controls). I do like the many presets in the Casio, but realistically I know I'll never use them. I'm pretty adept in PhotoShop/PaintShopPro. Note that I have horrible eyesight, thick specs, and big stubby fingers and have no trouble. You might want to trim those nails, though; fortunately I don't have any.

Picture quality is excellent. I believe it's a little better than the contenders. The flash is very good, better than I expected; in fact it's a little TOO good if you're at the close end of the scale; I'm going to try the "square of white paper" trick on it. Is it the best camera on earth? No. But it's better than the other sub-micros.

The coolness factor isn't as high as the Pentax, but then how could it be? But it's faster-shooting. And, really, if the Pentax is a "10" for coolness, the Minolta is a 9.6. It doesn't fit in a tin, but it's smaller than you can believe, and the engineering is just as amazing (just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not amazing -- quite the opposite, I'd say). And, of course, I have a friend with an Optio (and another with an ELPH), so you'll understand I had to have a different one!

One unanswered question: is it "DIMM udjge" (like "image") or "dim AJZH" (like "DiMaggio")? Another one: why does Amazon "recommend" batteries that don't work in this camera?

Bottom line: it does everything my big camera does and more, and when I put it in my shirt pocket it doesn't even sag. Comes on fast, shoots fast, enough for no-look street candids. Easy to use. Flat-out amazing. What else are you looking for?

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the competition has caught up with this camera series, September 28, 2003

By 

jemaerca (River Forest, IL, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

the Dimage Xt is the third generation of minolta's X-series ultracompact cameras. the first X was a hit because it was ahead of its competition. but that competition has not stood still and today, there are other (better) cameras at the same price point with the same capabilities.

pros:
- 3MP resolution, 3x optical zoom.
- smaller size than the Xi (this camera's predecessor) with dimensions of 3.4 x 2.6 x 0.8 in, weighing in at 4.2oz.
- colors are vivid and natural-looking.
- automatic white balance performs well.
- has spot metering.
- AF locks rapidly and decisively in good light.
- short shutter lag in good light.
- fast startup.
- fast shot-to-shot speeds.
- ability to record in movie mode until memory card is full.
- supports TIFF mode.

cons:
- above average noise at ISO 400.
- frequent underexposures.
- some purple fringing.
- corners are soft.
- some vignetting.
- above average barrel distortion.
- some redeye occurrence.
- no manual controls.
- RAW format not supported.
- no AF illuminator - this would really help shutter lag when using this camera in low light.
- so-so battery life.
- 16MB SD card provided is inadequate so add $$ to your budget to buy more memory.
- uses proprietary batteries so again, more $$ for a spare.

the Xt is a great looking ultracompact camera but the quality of the images you take could be better. as already mentioned, there's more competition for the dimage X-series these days. i would recommend the optio s or casio ex-z3 over the dimage Xt. for even better image quality (in a slightly bigger package), also consider canon's sd100.

i hope this helps you with your buying decision. peace.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Totality, December 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Remanufactured Minolta Dimage Xt 3.2 MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom (Electronics)

I lost my X and immediately bought the XT. This is my 4th digital camera. I love this camera warts and all. I bought my original Kodak because it took gorgeous photos (still does) but was so clunky and slow I never used it (still don't).I always have the XT with me. I often audio record 90minute lectures and they only use 40mb (but one full battery). Video is great and you can even zoom while you are taking movies and are only limited by memory. I also use it for storing and swapping computer files.

The photo quality is good nottops, as many reviewers have noted. However I always have it with me and have taken almost 2k shots in six months.I never approached a thousand photos with any of my other cameras. So I have lots of great photos. Start-up is lightening fast I catch photos I thought I would never get. For those who have said thay have missed shots focus lock can be slow. Set shutter to continuous, Lock on somthing big. Then let her rip, you will a catch great animation like series. I have a great Casio wire neck chain for it so when in the woods, at exhibitions or at family gatherings I am always catching great shots. Close-ups are great. The battery will take hundreds of shots (I almost never use flash) and charges in just over an hour! Previously a camera was something I only used for special events. Now I use my camera practically everyday! Who would have guessed.