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Minolta Dimage S304 Minolta packs Dimage technology & optics into a compact 3.3 megapixel prosumer camera! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Dimage S304 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on Dimage S304 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 9/13/2001

Design
The Dimage S304 is similar in design to traditional 35mm point-and-shoot camera, with a rather large hand grip on the right side, and a telescoping zoom lens on the left. The camera measures 4.7 x 2.4 x 3.2 inches (113.5 x 64.5 x 58.5mm) with the lens at its shortest position, and weighs approximately 16 ounces (450 grams) with batteries and storage media installed (the majority of the weight is centered over the right side of the camera). Its brushed aluminum alloy body is of very sturdy construction, with a champaign color surface and silver highlights and details. The S304 is a little too large to fit comfortably into a pocket, but it comes with a wide neck strap, and an optional camera bag is available from Minolta or other camera accessories vendors.

 

The camera's front panel houses the Minolta GT 4x Zoom lens, Self-Timer light, and Remote Control Receiver. (The remote control unit is an optional accessory.) Above the lens is a built-in flash unit on the left, and the optical viewfinder window on the right. A set of 35.5mm filter threads is provided on the inside lip of the zoom lens to accommodate filters and lens conversion kit accessories. (We'd advise caution in attaching auxiliary lens units or filter there though, as telescoping lens mechanism provides the only support. Be careful not to attach too heavy an accessory here, and to not over-tighten lenses or filters!) The right hand grip is very large in the front (to accommodate the four AA batteries and memory card stored on the inside) with a long silver ridge that runs vertically along the right edge, to give fingers a place to grasp the camera.

The camera's right panel holds the CompactFlash memory card slot, covered by a hinged plastic door, and a small black latch on the bottom that is used to eject the card from the camera. Next to the memory card slot, covered by the same plastic door, are USB and AV-Out jacks for connecting the S304 to a computer or television (respectively). On the outside of the CompactFlash compartment, located below the plastic door, is a small gray rubber cover that protects the AC Adapter connection. And at the top of the right panel is one of the two neck strap attachment eyelets. One design gripe here: The S304's right neckstrap eyelet is just above the memory card-I/O jack door, and will flop down in the way as soon as the door is opened, if no neckstrap is attached to hold it up out of the way. Definitely annoying!

The camera's left panel contains only the audio playback speaker holes and the second neck strap attachment eyelet.

The top panel accommodates the Mode Dial / Main Power switch, with Auto-Record, Multi-Function, Playback, Movie-Record, Setup, and Data-Transfer modes; a Shutter button in the front; a small Data Panel display in the center that shows battery status, camera settings, and the number of images remaining; and a Subject Program button (directly adjacent to the Data panel) that allows you to choose from one of five specialized shooting presets: Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, and Text.

The remaining controls are on the camera’s back panel, along with the viewfinder eyepiece, 1.8-inch LCD monitor, and Five-Way Controller pad. Three of these controls are lined up horizontally along a sloping panel, directly below the Data display. They include (from left to right): Flash Mode / Magnification, Self-Timer / Drive Mode, and Exposure Compensation buttons. Below these buttons, at the top of the camera's back panel is the Five-Way Controller for scrolling through and selecting menu options, followed by a Menu button, a QuickView / Delete button, and a Display button for turning the LCD monitor on or off and controlling the amount of information shown. On the far right side is a set of raised bumps where the thumb grips the camera, and small release latch that opens the storage compartment door. A tiny red light below the thumb grip indicates when the camera is accessing the memory card. (Do not open the compartment door when the light is on.) Two LED lamps are positioned on the right side of the optical viewfinder. The top one glows green when the image in the viewfinder is focused and flashes when the camera has trouble focusing. The bottom lamp glows red / orange when exposure is set and flashes if it has difficulty determining the correct exposure.

The bottom of the camera is relatively feature free, with only a battery compartment door and sliding latch on the right side, and a metal, threaded tripod mount on the far left. The uneven tripod mount placement is necessary to make up for the concentrated weight on the battery compartment side, but it also serves to separate the tripod mount from the battery compartment door, so you can change batteries while the camera is mounted on a tripod.