Minolta Dimage 7i

Minolta Dimage 7i ... silver / With a no-compromise image quality and performance that will satisfy even the most demanding photo and PC enthusiasts, the DiMAGE 7i is set to maintain Minolta's lead in the high-performance SLR-style digital camera segment. In spite of improved image quality, performance and professional-style features, the DiMAGE 7i comes at a competitive price to make it an attractive proposition for the enthusiastic amateur or professional photographer. When quality and control are the required qualities, the DiMAGE 7i comes into its own as a digital imaging center, controlling all the essentials of high-quality photography: sharpness, exposure, contrast, color and saturation. The DiMAGE 7i is built around a high-precision electro-optical system designed to maximize image quality. The system starts with a 5.24 megapixel CCD that delivers 4.95 million effective pixels for fine high-resolution images, e.g. A3+ in 150 dpi prints and A5+ in photo quality. Minolta's image-processing technology, CxProcess, controls image sharpness, color and contrast while minimizing noise to produce vivid, natural pictures with real depth. 12-bit A/D conversion and CxProcess ensure that what you see is what you capture. Minolta has introduced numerous improvements into the DiMAGE 7i. A choice of three selectable focusing screens gives you the same kind of flexibility as a SLR camera in framing your shots. There is standard AF frame, a matte field with grid, and a matte field with vertical and horizontal scales. Advanced technology gives the camera professional-style versatility, e.g. a 3-point wide AF system for fast, accurate focusing, Flex Focus Point for precise control over the focusing area and a Direct Manual Focus (DMF) feature normally found in professional-level film cameras like the award-winning Dynax 7. After the AF system has focused and locked on the subject, DMF enables the focus to be fine-tuned manually. The DiMAGE 7i is the first Minolta digital camera to incorporate Direct Manual Focus (DMF).

The DiMAGE 7i can record high-quality 16-bit audio with still and moving images. Along with standard QVGA digital movies, three new movie functions have been added. Night movies allow monochrome images to be recorded in low light; time-lapse movies capture the imperceptible motions of the world, and UHS continuous-advance movies show unfolding events. All these features are housed in a durable but feather-light and surprisingly compact magnesium-alloy body with an elegant silver finish and comfortable contoured grip. What's more, despite such sophistication the DiMAGE 7i retains the same simple ergonomic control layout of its predecessor. Numerous professional-style features and functions plus all the fun of a digital camera - that's the DiMAGE 7i from Minolta.