Minolta DiMAGE 7iMinolta updates their revolutionary 5 megapixel electronic SLR with numerous enhancements, keeps the excellent lens.<<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & InterfaceReview First Posted: 6/15/2002 |
Image
Storage and InterfaceThe Dimage 7i uses CompactFlash Type I or Type II memory cards for image storage,
and a 16MB card comes with the camera. Third-party upgrades are available separately
to memory capacities as high as 512 MB using Flash Memory, and as large as 1GB
(1,024 MB) with the IBM MicroDrive. (Check Minolta's website for compatibility
info, it's likely that only the second-generation, 512MB and 1GB MicroDrives
are supported.) The CompactFlash slot is on the right side of the camera, covered
by a hinged plastic door that opens easily and latches securely. The card inserts
with the connector edge going in first, and the front of the card facing the
front of the camera. A small button beside the slot ejects the card by popping
it up slightly, letting you pull the card the rest of the way out (put the eject
button into a vertical position first by pulling up on its bottom edge).
Although individual CompactFlash cards cannot be write-protected or locked against
erasure or manipulation, the Dimage 7i lets you lock individual images or groups
of images through the Playback menu. Once protected, images cannot be erased
or manipulated in any way, except through card formatting. The Playback menu
also lets you delete images shown in the LCD display, format the number of images
in the Index display, create a custom slide show, set images up for printing
on DPOF compliant printers, and copy images to camera memory or a new CF card.
Four image resolution settings are available: 2,560 x 1,920, 1,600 x 1,200,
1,280 x 960, and 640 x 480 pixels. Files may be saved in any one of three JPEG
compression levels, as well as uncompressed TIFF (indicated on the camera LCD
as "SuperFine"), and a compact RAW format. The number of remaining
images that can be stored on the memory card appears in the lower right corner
of the status display panel, in addition to the selected Resolution and Compression
settings.
The table below summarizes the compression ratios and number of images that
can be stored on the included 16MB memory card with each Resolution / Quality
(JPEG Compression) combination. (Note the large size of the 640x480 files: If
you're planning on shooting small images for the web or email, you'll definitely
need to re-save these at a higher JPEG compression ratio.)
|
Resolution/Quality 16MB Memory Card |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Full Resolution 2560x1920 | Images | 1 | 1 | 5 |
|
|
| Approx. Compression/KB |
1.4:1 10.6 MB |
1:1 14.7 MB |
5:1 2.9 MB |
1.8 MB |
1.2 MB |
|
| UXGA Resolution 1600x1200 | Images |
|
|
|
|
|
| Approx. Compression/KB |
|
5.8 MB |
1.4 MB |
928 KB |
928 KB |
|
|
|
Images |
|
|
|
|
|
| Approx. Compression/KB |
|
3.7 MB |
1.0 MB |
727 KB |
593 KB |
|
|
|
Images |
|
|
|
|
|
| Approx. Compression/KB |
|
922 KB |
577 KB |
492 KB |
444 KB |
|
A USB cable and interface software accompany the Dimage 7i for quick connection
and image downloading to a PC or Macintosh computer. It appears as a "storage
class" USB device, meaning that no driver software is needed for Mac
OS versions 8.6 or later or for Windows Me, 2000, and XP. Given the 7i's speed
at shooting (and therefore obviously powerful data processing circuitry),
I was a little surprised to find that it wasn't very fast at all when downloading
files to the computer. Connected to my 500MHz PowerMac G4, I measured its
transfer rate at only 281 KB/second. This is less than half the speed of the
fastest-downloading cameras I've tested in the past. (Given the 7i's voracious
appetite for memory space, I'd highly recommend a fast card reader as an accessory
item.)
One
of the first things any new digicam owner will need is a larger memory card
for their camera: The cards shipped with the units by the manufacturers should
really be considered only One of the first things any new digicam owner will
need is a larger memory card for their camera: The cards shipped with the
units by the manufacturers should really be considered only "starter" cards,
you'll definitely want a higher capacity card immediately. - Probably at least
a 32 megabyte card for a 1.3 or 2 megapixel camera, 64 megabytes or more for
a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel one. (The nice thing about memory cards is you'll be
able to use whatever you buy now with your next camera too, whenever you upgrade.)
To help you shop for a good deal on memory cards that fit the Dimage 7, we've
put together a little memory locater, with links to our price-comparison engine:
Just click on the "Memory Wizard" button above to go to the Minolta memory
finder, select your camera model , and click the shopping cart icon next to
the card size you're interested in. You'll see a list of matching entries
from the price-comparison database. Pick a vendor &
Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it
when you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time
to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos
due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few
things more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen
with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff
happens," as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images
can be recovered with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though.
Given the amount of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph
in all my digicam reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by
DataRescue SA. Read our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now,
so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then
it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for
Windows or PhotoRescue for
Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the
PDF manual and quickstart
guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you
need it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when...
PhotoRescue is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital
photos I've seen. (Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of
the product, but I'd highly recommend the program even if we didn't.)
OK, now back to our regularly scheduled review...
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