Minox announces DM 1 multi-function digicam
By
Mike Tomkins
(Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 10:41 EDT)
German camera brand Minox, which just recently split from partner Leica Camera AG to become an independent company once more, has announced a new digital camera that looks to be closely linked to a model we saw at PMA.
The "Minox DM 1 Mobi DV" is said to be a nine-in-one device that offers digital still and video capture, as well as a tethered USB web camera mode, plus audio recording, MP3 audio and MPEG4 video playback, USB flash drive / SD card reader functionality, and the ability to double as an LED flashlight. The device looks very similar to Concord Camera's DVx model, but with somewhat increased resolution and rearranged rear-panel control layout to accomodate a slightly larger LCD display. The Minox DM 1 derives its 3.2 megapixel resolution from a CMOS image sensor, and interpolates this to a maximum of 6.0 megapixels. The camera's lens is a fixed-focus, fixed-focal length type, and no optical viewfinder is offered - images are instead framed on a two inch LCD display. There's a 2x digital zoom feature, and what Minox confusingly refers to as a "simulated optical zoom" (actually a simple crop of the image sensor data when the camera operates at resolutions below the 3.2 megapixel actual resolution). Pricing and availability have not been publicly announced. The inclusion of a surprisingly generous 128MB Secure Digital card with the camera is one bright point in the camera's specifications, this being far in excess of the paltry 16MB cards offered in product bundles by many competing companies. | Minox DM 1 Mobi DV |  | | General | | Camera Type | Other | | Manufacturer | Minox | | Model Number | DM1 | | Dimensions | 4.1 x 2.5 x 0.7"
105.0 x 64.0 x 17.0mm | | Weight | 94.0 g
3.3 oz | | Image Capture | | Sensor Type | CMOS
3.20 megapixels | | Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | | Image Dimensions | 2816 x 2112 (5.9 megapixels, interpolated)
2592 x 1944 (5.0 megapixels, interpolated)
2304 x 1728 (4.0 megapixels, interpolated)
2048 x 1536 (3.1 megapixels)
1600 x 1200 (1.9 megapixels)
1280 x 960 (1.2 megapixels)
800 x 600 (0.5 megapixels)
640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels) | | Image Quality | 3 levels | | Image Preview / Review | | Viewfinder | No | | LCD | 2.0" | | Lens | | Image Stabilization | No | | Aperture Range | f/3.5 (fixed) | | Focusing System | Fixed Focus | | Focusing Range | Normal: 3" - infinity (8 cm - infinity) | | Exposure | | ISO Sensitivity | 4 settings (still) / 5 settings (video) | | Shutter Speed | 1/8 - 1/2000 second | | Exposure Compensation | +/- 1.8EV in 0.3EV increments | | White Balance | Image Sensor - 6 modes | | Creative | | Digital Zoom | 4x | | Self Timer | Yes, 10 seconds | | Movie Format | ASF (MPEG4) with audio
640x480 and 320x240
Max. frame-rate: 15 frames per second | | Storage | | Recording Medium | SD/MMC | | File Format | JPEG (EXIF 2.2) | | Connectivity | | Video | No | | Computer | USB 1.1 | | Power | | Battery Type | Lithium Ion rechargeable | | Battery Form Factor | Proprietary 3.7v 780mAh | | Product Bundle | | Battery / Charger | Proprietary Lithium Ion Rechargeable battery and charger | | Flash Memory | 128MB SD Memory card | | Other | | Internal Microphone | Yes | | Internal Speaker | Yes | | Remote Control | No | | Other | Functions as a Digital Video Camcorder, Digital Still Camera, MP3 Player, Voice Recorder, LED flashlight, USB SD/MMC Card Reader, USB Disk, Web Camera, and MPEG4 Video Player. | | |
|
Original Source Press Release:
| MINOX DM 1: A portable Multimedia electronic compendium. The new Minox DM 1 is crammed full of usable features which allow you to digitally record almost any occasion. A 3.2 MP digital still camera, digital video recorder and digital dictaphone comprise the recording capabilities and these are all fitted into a slimline body measuring just 17 mm thick and weighing less than 95 grams, which can easily fit into a shirt pocket or fashion handbag. In addition to the above features, an MP3 music player is included so you can while away long journeys and still stay entertained as it has an integrated speaker and headphones included with it. It has 128 MB of internal memory for storage and external SD cards (up to 1GB) can be used for recording on when this has been used up. The DM-1 will also play movies and photos you may have taken with another camera using an SD card so its oversized 2” TFT screen can be used to show friends what they have missed. It can double as a webcam when attached to a computer via the included USB cable and can also be re-charged from a computer using this cable or from the mains using the supplied adapter. The 3.2 MP CMOS chip can be interpolated up to 6 MP on the stills camera and the 4x digital zoom gives plenty of freedom for image composition. The digital video camera uses new technology to provide up to 12x digital zoom. The lens is housed in a rotating barrel assembly which gives plenty of opportunity for candid shots and self portraits but also ensures that the lens surface can be hidden away for protection from dust and scratches when not in use. The digital video function now stores the images using the latest MP4 compression so you retain the video quality on a much smaller amount of disk space than previously possible making it easier and quicker to email your videos to friends and family. The DM 1’s power supply is the same battery found in most recent Nokia mobile phones so they are easy to obtain and can be swapped between products in the case of a low-battery emergency on one or the other! Besides the Li-Ion battery, mains adapter and USB cable the scope of delivery of the MINOX DM1 includes an exclusive leather ever-ready case as well as headphones. |
Powered by Coranto
|
