Minolta DiMAGE A1 review updated to full production-level status!
By
Dave Etchells
(Tuesday, November 11, 2003 - 14:21 EST)
I was very impressed with Minolta's new DiMAGE A1 flagship digicam model back when I first looked at it back in August, and now that I've had the chance to put a production model through the wringer, I'm even more so: This is arguably the best digicam Minolta has made to date, and one of the best on the market, made by anybody.
A continuation of the model line that first began a couple of years ago with the original DiMAGE 7, the A1 shows the benefit of years of refinement. Virtually all the issues seen in earlier models have been addressed, and the camera's performance improved across the board. The A1 has some of the best color we've seen from Minolta to date, the various exposure and image tweaks (such as contrast and saturation adjustment) work just right, and the lens continues to be one of the best on a "prosumer" digicam at any price.
If you're looking for a five-megapixel digicam with a long (7x) zoom, great optical quality, and superb creative control, the A1 could be the model you've been waiting for. An easy "Dave's Pick," and a great achievement by Minolta's engineers. Highly recommended, check it out!
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