Original Review: Konica Minolta Dimage G500

This sleek digital camera is one of the first products to ship following the merger between Konica and Minolta in 2003. The Konica Minolta DiMAGE G500 is the Konica KD-510Z, a product developed by Konica before the merger took effect. With 5.0 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, and a compact, all-metal body with fully retracting lens, the G500 is a very attractive camera.

I picked up this camera because I have long been in the market for a new digital camera. The price was attractive ($280 after a $70 rebate) and it is compact enough for me to carry around wherever I go.

On First Look
I like the feel of this camera, though it is a bit weighty. The camera comes with a relatively small Secure Digital (SD) memory card, and can use SD and MemoryStick cards at the same time. The card included SD memory is good for 11 pictures at the highest level of quality, so you will probably need to get a larger memory card. It also has a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery which charges in no-time-at-all. The camera is also equipped with a usb port and cable for quick data transfers.

The Pictures
The pictures come out in great quality when the highest picture resolution is used, but can distort pictures at lower resolutions. Of course the distortion could have been my unsteady hands, but it still wasn’t much of a problem. The camera continues to refocus until the time you release the shutter button. This gives you the most accurate focus, as opposed to other cameras that stop focusing once you have pressed the shutter button.

While the camera isn’t as sensitive as other cameras, you want to try to keep your hands steady when you take a picture. Though the camera does have a place where you can screw it onto a tripod and take steadier pictures.

The Videos
The camera can also take videos, and with sound. I took a sample video and the quality was good, though my lighting conditions were less than desirable at the time. The sound quality was impeccable. Definitely a plus for this digital camera. The videos are saved as .avi files.

The Sound
As mentioned before, the sound quality is great. The microphone is located in the back of the camera, but that wasn’t much of a problem. You can still hear everything fairly well.

Conclusions
The Konica Minolta Dimage G500 is a great camera for general use, and is even good for most advanced user needs. It takes both good outdoor and indoor pictures. The camera offers great quality for its price, and it is a very attractive point-and-shoot unit. It’s definitely worth a look.

Originally posted on Infohuts.com, which has been folded into Shiwej.com.