The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3's 4 megapixel RGB CCD image sensor offers a maximum resolution of 2272 x 1704 pixels, which is capable of a swift 2.5 frames per second (depending on resolution, the burst depth is limited to 2 or 5 frames at the maximum resolution), as well as an extremely speedy 10 frames per second burst mode for 1.5 seconds at 1280 x 960 pixels resolution. The new 12x Konica Minolta GT APO optical zoom lens, offering a 35mm equivalent focal length of 35 to 420mm, dominates a camera body that is very reminiscent of the DiMAGE Z1 and Z2 models, but with a more rounded-off style. The same CCD shift-type anti-shake system used in the DiMAGE A-series cameras makes its Z-series debut, and should help greatly in achieving useable photos at the telephoto end of the lens.

Other features of the DiMAGE Z3 include a new 5-point predictive video AF system powered by a dedicated ASIC, and capable of achieving a focus lock in 0.15 to 0.2 seconds, according to Konica Minolta, as well as a 1.5-inch LCD monitor and separate 0.3" electronic optical viewfinder, selection of auto, manual and scene modes, PictBridge compatibility for making prints without the need for a computer, VGA and reduced resolution 15 / 30 frames per second movie modes, and more. Pricing and availability for the new model haven't been announced at this time. Full specifications, product photos, press release and a "backgrounder" document courtesy of Konica Minolta all follow:

New Konica Minolta Z-Series Digital Camera:

The DiMAGE Z3

Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.'s new DiMAGE Z3 4.0 megapixel digital camera is the first Z-series camera to feature Konica Minolta proprietary Anti-Shake system. This new camera provides photographers with high-quality images and features a wide range of convenient and easy-to-use high-end functions.

Product Highlights

• 12x optical Mega Zoom with CCD-shift Anti-Shake System

• Fastest-in-class* 1 Rapid AF with Predictive Focus Control

• Konica Minolta GT APO lens

• 4-megapixel CCD and CxProcess™ II image processing technology

• High-resolution movies that look as good as television or video camera footage

• Easy operation in a modern design that's lightweight and compact

• High-quality images and a wide range of convenient and fun functions

Features

CCD-Shift Anti-Shake Function

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 is the first Z-series model to include Konica Minolta's Anti-Shake function. This gives photographers unprecedented control and accuracy when taking pictures in low light situations, as well as when fully-extending and hand-holding the camera's 12x optical zoom lens. The high-precision CCD-shift method employs the proprietary Smooth Impact Drive Mechanism (SIDM), in which angular velocity sensors detect the degree of shaking and move the CCD to compensate for and correct this. The SIDM enables compensation to minimize the effect of camera shake at 2-3 shutter speeds slower than on cameras without an Anti-Shake function* 2 (equivalent to 2-3 exposure increments). The DiMAGE Z3 can correct shaking without increasing shutter speed and raising ISO sensitivity, factors which increase image noise. In addition, users won't see the deterioration in image quality usually associated with electronic anti-shake systems. The CCD-shift method doesn't require extra correction lenses like optical anti-shake systems, so the DiMAGE Z3's body is compact and lightweight. The DiMAGE Z3's anti-shake system is effective in correcting both the fine movement of pressing the shutter-release button and the larger and slower movements of the user's body.

Further Advances in Rapid Autofocus (AF) with Predictive Focus Control

The DiMAGE Z3 incorporates an AF-dedicated ASIC to video AF system. Focusing takes a mere 0.15 seconds at wide angle and only 0.20 seconds at telephoto. And in Continuous AF, the DiMAGE Z3 includes Predictive Focus Control, which allows photographers to capture sharper images of moving subjects—like a child running at full speed.

The DiMAGE Z3 also features a faster focusing lens drive that moves the focusing lens more than twice as fast as the previous Z-series model. Its Quick Speed Image Readout in AF function reads images from the CCD at a rate of 100 frames per second from when the shutter-release button is pressed partway until the image is brought into focus, giving contrast information in half the time of normal mode (50 frames per second). With Optimized AF Sequence, in Video AF the DiMAGE Z3 uses AF Sequence Control to simultaneously determine the focus drive direction and drive the lens to the position of maximum contrast through repeated focusing. This means that focusing operations start as soon as the shutter-release button is pressed partway.

The DiMAGE Z3 also offers improved AF accuracy through several features. 5-point Area AF provides five focus areas that overlap horizontally and thus reduce AF failures that occur when subjects appear in between focus areas and cause a perspective conflict. A human subject sensor algorithm uses color information in an AF area to prioritize and focus on that area if it is more than 50% occupied by flesh tone. This reduces shots that erroneously focus on a background rather than on the person in the picture.

Incredible 48x Total Zoom Range

Combining the camera's 12x optical zoom lens with the 4x digital zoom gives photographers a 48x total zoom, perfect for taking distance shots at sporting events or when capturing distant subjects. This incredible optical zoom lens delivers a focal range equivalent to a 35-420mm range on a 35mm camera lens. With the digital zoom, total zoom is equivalent to 35-1680mm (35mm equivalent).

Konica Minolta GT APO Lens

The DiMAGE Z3 employs a newly developed high-performance lens system that supports CCDs with 5 million effective pixels. The optical lens system consists of 13 elements in 10 groups and includes two AD (anomalous dispersion) glass lenses and two aspheric elements, a construction that adds up to sharp, high-quality images. Multi-coating on 14 lens surfaces ensures minimal flaring and ghosting in all zoom ranges. It employs a 5-vane iris diaphragm to beautifully reproduce a near-circular fading effect.

4-Megapixel CCD for Beautiful Prints

The 4-megapixel, 1/2.5-inch CCD produces plenty of detail for creating high-quality enlargements as large as 10 x 14 inches at 150-dpi print resolution. In addition, the CCD's primary color filter offers high color fidelity.

Superbly Detailed Images with CxProcess™ II

Konica Minolta's CxProcess™ II image processing technology incorporates characteristics like smooth gradations, natural skin tones, and brilliantly clear colors for images that are more natural and lifelike. The DiMAGE Z3's 4 megapixels capture fine lines and intricate details for stunning digital images.

High-quality Movies as Beautiful as TV or Video Camera Footage

The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3 takes movies in VGA size (640x480) at 30 frames per second for smooth video with sound rivaling TV programs or video camera footage. Users can choose from three movie image sizes: 640x480 (Fine), 640x480 (Standard), or 320x240 (Standard). Thanks to the camera's Anti-Shake function, users can take telephoto movies that are smooth and clear. The XR (Extended Recording) Movie function lets users record longer movie clips onto the camera's SD memory card. With Night Movie, the DiMAGE Z3 can record in extreme low-light conditions thanks to a CCD that's four times more sensitive than conventional sensors. And to ensure that movies capture only the sounds the user wants, the camera's Silent Zoom feature incorporates a newly developed Silent Zoom mechanism that greatly reduces how much noise from the optical zoom is picked up while shooting. In addition, users can also select their favorite scenes from a movie and save them as still images with Movie Frame Capture.

UHS (Ultra High Speed) Continuous Shooting

The DiMAGE Z3 captures 15 images at 10 frames per second at UHS (Ultra High Speed) continuous shooting.

Progressive Capture

With the DiMAGE Z3 in Progressive Capture mode, images are saved automatically when users stop pressing the camera's shutter-release button. Progressive Capture means that the last several images in the sequence get saved: as many as 6 images (in Standard continuous advance) or 15 images (in UHS continuous advance). So when shooting fast-moving subjects, Progressive Capture ensures that they are recorded when and where the user wants them. These functions are handy for shooting sporting events or for recording and improving your form in personal sports training situations such as a golf swing.

Real Motion LCD Monitor

The DiMAGE Z3 features the Real Motion LCD monitor, which delivers crystal clear images to the user at 50 frames per second. Conventional monitors on digital cameras use a 30-frames-per-second display format that sometimes results in a less-than-smooth display. The 50-frames-per-second Real Motion monitor rate provides smooth action that brings images to life.

Noise Reduction

Noise Reduction enables exceptional night images by automatically preventing the blemishes and graininess associated with slow-shutter shots.

PASM Exposure Control and Metering Modes

The DiMAGE Z3 offers incredible control over exposure. There are four modes: Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual. Select manual exposure to enable 30-second time exposure capability. The DiMAGE Z3 has three metering modes: Multi-segment, Center-weighted, and Spot. Multi-segment metering uses 256 segments to determine exposure.

Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection

Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically chooses the best recording mode for images. Users can also manually select from Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, and Sunset modes. The DiMAGE Z3 can also be set to Night portrait mode in the menu settings.

Get as Near as 0.4 inches with Super Macro

Photographers can shoot amazing close-ups in either Macro or Super Macro modes. In Super Macro mode, photographers can bring the lens as near as 0.4 inches from their subject.

Key Customize

For added flexibility and convenience, the camera's flash button can be customized to handle different settings. This means that instead of going through the menus on the cameras' LCD screen, photographers can use the flash button to change settings like the drive mode, white balance, focus mode, color mode, or sensitivity.

PictBridge* 3 -Compliant

Forget all about complicated connections with a PC. Users can get fast, fun printouts directly from their camera by connecting the DiMAGE Z3 to a PictBridge* 3 -compliant printer. Users just check which images they want to print on the DiMAGE Z3's LCD monitor and then print out their favorites in no time at all.

New Ergonomic Design

The DiMAGE Z3's design is advanced yet familiar and easy-to-use. Despite its large 12x zoom range, it weighs just 11.8 ounces. It's also easy to carry and operate even for amateur photographers. The camera's ergonomic form makes it easy to hold and keep steady for those zoom shots.

ArcSoft VideoImpression™ 2 CD-ROM

ArcSoft VideoImpression™ 2, bundled with the DiMAGE Z3, offers a fun way to merge movie clips and still shots. Working through a step by step guide, users can add text, music, and special effects to their movies. The finished movie is recorded onto a video CD that can be played back in a DVD player and viewed through a television set. (Note: Only compatible with the Windows® operating system.)

Optional Wide Converter Wide-Angle Converter ZCW-300 Kit

The optional Wide Converter Kit allows users to fit more of a scene into each shot. The lens has a 26mm wide angle that is ideal for capturing indoor or outdoor architecture and panoramic landscape shots.

Compatible with Optional Flashes

The DiMAGE Z3 is equipped with a powerful built-in flash. But if even more flash power is needed, the camera accepts the Konica Minolta Program/Maxxum Flash 3600HS(D) 5600HS(D) or 2500(D) accessory flash units.

*1 As of May 20, 2004, for digital cameras with built-in lens system and 10X or greater zoom.

*2 Depends on the shooting conditions.

*3 PictBridge is an industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA).

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z3
Number of effective pixels	4.0 million
CCD	1/2.5-type interline primary-color CCD Total pixels: 4.2 million
Camera sensitivity	Auto and 50,100, 200, and 400 ISO equivalents
Focal length	5.83 – 69.9mm (35mm equivalent: 35 – 420mm)
Lens construction	13 elements in 10 groups
Maximum aperture	f/2.8 – f/4.5
Minimum focus distance	Wide: 2.0ft (0.6m) from front of lens Telephoto: 6.6ft (2.0m) from front of lens Wide: 2.2ft (0.685m) from CCD Telephoto: 6.8ft (2.085m) from CCD
Minimum macro distance	� Super Macro Standard macro Focal length 10.45 mm* Wide Telephoto From front of lens 0.4 in. (1 cm) 3.9 in (10cm) 47.2 in (120cm) From CCD 3.7 in. (9.5cm) 7.3 in (18.5cm) 50.6 in. (128.5cm) * at 10.45 mm only
Maximum magnification	0.20x ( Equivalent to 1.2x in 35mm format)
Area covered at maximum magnification	1.2 x 0.9 in. (31 x 23mm)
Viewfinder type	Electronic viewfinder 0 . 3-type with a total of 118,000 pixels
LCD monitor	1.5 inch (3.8cm) digital-interface TFT color Total number of pixels: Approximately 78,000 Automatic monitor amplification
Field of view	Viewfinder: Approximately 100% LCD monitor: Approximately 100%
Diopter control	– 3 ~ +1m -1
Eye relief	20.8mm
Shutter	CCD electronic shutter and mechanical shutter
Shutter speed range	4 - 1/1000 second in programmed-AE and aperture-priority modes. 15 - 1/1000 second in shutter-priority and manual exposure modes. Bulb (maximum 30 seconds) 2 - 1/1000 seconds in auto-recording and Digital Subject Programs
Autofocus system	Video AF system
Autofocus areas	5 -Point Wide Focus Area Spot focus areas with Focus Area Selection
Focus modes	Single-shot AF, Continuous AF with predictive focus control, Full-time AF, Manual focus.
Focus lock	By pressing shutter-release button partway down.
Metering	Multi-segment, Center-weighted, Spot
Multi-segment metering	256 segments
Exposure modes	Programmed AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual
Digital Subject Programs	Automatic ( Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset, Standard) Manual ( Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset, Standard, Night portrait.)
Exposure compensation	±2 EV in 1/3 increments
AE lock	By pressing shutter-release button partway down
Flash metering	Pre-flash TTL
Flash range	Wide: Approximately 0.7 – 13.1 ft. (0.2 – 4.0 m) from front of lens Telephoto: Approximately 3.9 – 8.2 ft. (1.2 – 2.5 m) from front of lens (Camera sensitivity: auto)
Flash modes	Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill flash, Slow shutter sync. Autoflash not available with aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes. Flash cancel by pushing the built-in flash down.
Flash recycling time	Approximately 7 seconds
Flash compensation	± 2 EV in 1/3 increments
Flash-sync speeds	All shutter speeds
External flashes	Auto-flash metering with Program/Maxxum Flash 2500 (D), Program/Maxxum 3600HS (D), Program/Maxxum Flash 5600HS (D)
Continuous advance	- UHS (Ultra High Speed) continuous advance: Approximately 10 frames per second (1280 x 960 ) - Standard continuous advance: Approximately 2.5 frames per second (2272 x 1704) * Actual speed may vary depending upon the subject and camera settings. Approximate number of frames that can be captured at one time with the continuous-advance drive modes: UHS continuous advance 1280 x 960 Fine 15 frames Standard Economy Standard continuous advance 2272 x 1704 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 Fine 2 frames 5 frames 11 frames 60 frames Standard 5 frames 6 frames 50 frames 97 frames Economy 5 frames 51 frames 72 frames 115 frames * Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and camera settings.
Progressive Capture	Maximum number of images that can be recorded with the Progressive Capture mode: UHS: 15 frames (10 frames per second) Standard: 5 frames (2.5 frames per second-2272 x 1704, Standard)
Exposure bracketing	Three frame bracket in 1.0, 0.5, 0.3 EV increments
Self-timer	Approximately 10 seconds, 2 seconds
Movie	Recording time dependent on memory card capacity, image size, and frame rate. Frame rate: 15 frames per second, 30 frames per second Audio: monaural Optical zoom is ON in recording Movie frame capture Night movie (automatic selection or disabled)
White balance control	Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash), Custom
Digital Effects Control	Contrast compensation, Sharpness
Contrast compensation	Three levels (Low, Normal, High)
Sharpness settings	Three levels (Soft, Normal, Hard)
Color modes	Natural Color, Vivid Color, Black and white, Sepia
Noise reduction	User selectable dark noise reduction
Digital zoom	Maximum 4x in 0.2x increments
Copy function	To copy single or multiple images to the same or another memory card.
E-mail Copy function	Creates a compressed 640x480 JPEG image for transmission.
Date imprinting	Year/month/day (Format can be changed.) Imprinting can be disabled
Key customization	The function activated by the flash-mode button can be changed.
Image-quality modes	Fine, Standard, Economy
Number of recorded pixels (Still images)	2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 1280 x 960 in UHS continuous-advance mode
Number of recorded pixels (Movie clips)	640 x 480, 320 x 240
Storage capacity	Approximate storage capacity of a 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card: Still images 2272 x 1704 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 Fine 6 frames 14 frames 23 frames 50 frames Standard 14 frames 23 frames 38 frames 67 frames Economy 27 frames 41 frames 53 frames 100 frames Movie clips 640 x 480 Fine 640 x 480 Standard 320 x 240 Standard 30 frames per second 9 seconds 14 seconds 30 seconds 15 frames per second 19 seconds 28 seconds 58 seconds * Movie clips recorded with audio. *Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and memory card used.
File formats	JPEG, Motion JPEG (MOV): with audio DCF 2.0-compliant DPOF-compliant (Supported by printing functions in version 1.1) Exif 2.2
Folder name formats	Standard, Date
Printing output control	Exif Print, PRINT Image Matching II, PictBridge
Recording media	SD (Secure Digital) Memory Cards, MultiMediaCards
Computer interface �	Full-speed 12Mbps data transfer with USB 2.0 compatible computer
AV output	NTSC, PAL (selected on the camera)
Anti- shake system	CCD-shift Anti-Shake system User selectable
Batteries	Four AA batteries: Alkaline, Ni-MH
Battery performance (Playback)	Approximate continuous playback time: Approximately 220 minutes with alkaline batteries.
Battery performance (Recording)	Approximate number of recorded images: Approximately 170 Conforming to CIPA ( included AA alkaline batteries, included SD memory card )
External power source	6V DC with specified AC adapter (sold separately)
Dimensions (WxHxD)	4.3 x 3.1 x 3.3 in. (108.5 x 80.0 x 83.5mm)
Weight	Approximately 11.8oz (335g) without batteries or recording media
Operating temperature	32-104°F (0-40ºC)
Standard accessories	Neck Strap NS-DG7000, Lens Cap LF-243, Accessory Shoe Cap SC-1000, AV Cable AVC-700, 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card, USB Cable USB-2, DiMAGE Viewer CD-ROM ArcSoft VideoImpression™ 2 CD-ROM (for windows only), Four AA Alkaline batteries
Optional accessories	AC Adapter AC-1L, Camera Case CS-DG1000, Wide-Angle Converter ZCW-300 kit, Adapter ring for attaching filter/converter ZCA-300, PROGRAM FLASH 3600HS (D), 5600HS (D), 2500(D)
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