Minolta Dimage F200

Minolta Dimage F200 ... megapixel CCD, Minolta GT lens, CxProcess, and 12-bit A/D conversion ensures beautiful images. The new F200 is also packed with functions that allow total control over image making. But this unique digital camera is not limited to capturing still images; it can also make digital audio and video recordings. The DiMAGE F200 is a powerful, easy-to-use digital camera. The DiMAGE F200 is striking, the perfect complement to any lifestyle. The compact body borrows the fine soft curves and intersecting planes of its predecessors, and adds distinctive rubberized grips and a new control layout. The rich aluminum exterior reflects the quality of the design.

The DiMAGE F200's improved Subject Tracking AF follows a subject through three-dimensional space as naturally as seeing and can be used with Area AF or Focus Area Selection. When combined with Area-AF, simply press the shutter-release button partway down and the camera evaluates the objects in the extra-wide focus frames and automatically locks onto the subject. If the subject moves, Subject Tracking AF will adjust the focus to ensure a sharp image; the active AF sensor is displayed in the focus frames and will follow the subject movement. No complicated procedures to lock the focus on off-center subjects are necessary. Simply point the camera at the scene and the autofocus systems do the rest. When Subject Tracking AF is combined with Focus Area Selection, the photographer can select a specific subject and the camera will then follow the movement of that subject.

In the past, photographers always had to make time-consuming manual adjustments as the subject and shooting environment changed. The DiMAGE F200's improved Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection analyzes the shooting conditions and selects among five subject programs and programmed AE to optimize the camera's exposure, white-balance, and image processing controls.

As well as the sophisticate Area AF and Subject Tracking AF system, the camera can be manually focused. During manual focus, the monitor image is automatically enlarged so image sharpness can be judged.

The DiMAGE F200 is not limited to recording still images, and new movie recording features expand its digital video capabilities. Two image sizes can be selected: 160 X 120 pixels and 320 X 240 pixels. The length of XR (Extended Recording) 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 only limit to recording is the length and speed of the tape or the capacity of the DVD. Direct Video uses both the NTSC and PAL format.

Two copy functions allow image files to be duplicated in camera. 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 standard copy function makes a direct copy of a file onto the same or another memory card.

Audio signals are used to make positive confirmation of button settings. A shutter sound effect accompanies the release of the shutter. As well as the electronic and mechanical shutter sounds, a personalized shutter effect can be recorded using the camera's built-in microphone.

Thoughts and comments can be recorded with or without a still image. 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.

With sophisticated automatic functions, a 4.0 megapixel CCD, Minolta's CxProcess, and 12-bit A/D conversion, beautiful photography has never been so simple. Whether you want total control over image making, or the ability to make audio and digital video recordings, the F200 has the tools. The Minolta DiMAGE F200, a powerful, easy-to-use digital camera that can go anywhere you do.