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Minolta DiMAGE 7i Minolta updates their revolutionary 5 megapixel electronic SLR with numerous enhancements, keeps the excellent lens. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet D7i 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 D7i Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 6/15/2002

Camera Modes and Menus

Still Capture Mode: Accessed by turning the Mode dial to the red camera symbol, this is the mode for all still-image capture operation. (Programmed, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Manual exposure modes are selected via the Function Dial, with five preset scene modes available via the Digital Subject Program button.)

Playback Mode: Indicated by the green arrow symbol, enables playback of previously captured images and movies.

Movie Mode: Enables capture of movie sequences with sound.

Setup Mode: Displays an LCD menu system allowing configuration of deeper camera operating modes, memory card reformatting, menu language choice, etc.

Computer Connection Mode: Activates the Dimage 7i's USB port for downloading images to a host computer.


Still Picture Shooting Menu Basic Options

• AF Mode: Controls AF mode operation. Options are Single, to focus once when the Shutter button is pressed, or Continuous, to engage the autofocus system continuously. (NOTE that the Continuous option is only active when the shutter is half-pressed. The camera never autofocuses unless your finger is on the shutter button).
• Image Size: Sets the pixel resolution of captured still images. Choices are 2,560 x 1,920, 1,600 x 1,200, 1,280 x 960, and 640 x 480.
• Quality: Specifies the compression level of still images. Options are RAW, Super Fine (TIFF), Fine, Standard, and Economy. RAW is a proprietary format, for use with Minolta's Dimage Viewer software only. (It captures the data directly from the CCD, and losslessly compresses it.
• Flash Mode: Choose from Fill-Flash, Redeye Reduction, "Rear F-sync," and Wireless. Rear F-sync is apparently a slow-sync option that combines slower shutter speeds with the flash. The "Rear-F" likely refers to what is commonly known as rear-curtain sync, in which the flash fires just before the shutter closes, rather than just after it opens. With rapidly moving subjects, this produces motion blurs that trail the sharp, flash-exposed image, rather than preceding it. The Wireless setting allows the flash to work with wireless and remote slave units, with four available channels (set in the next menu option below). Wireless operation with Minolta's excellent 5600HS[D] flash unit is very smooth.
• Wireless Channel: Sets the wireless channel, from one through four.
• Flash Control: Selects the flash metering method. Options are ADI Flash, which uses distance information from the autofocus system together with a pre-flash to determine flash exposure, or Pre-flash TTL, which uses only the preliminary metering flash to gauge exposure before the shutter opens. You can also set the flash power to Full, 1/4, or 1/16 manually, which results in the flash emitting only a single burst of light, handy for use with conventional slave flash triggers.
  

Still Picture Shooting Menu Custom1 Options

• Spot AF/AEL: Controls the function of the AF/AEL button on the camera's back panel. Options are as follows:
  • AF/AEL Hold: Locks focus and exposure while you hold down the button.
  • AF/AEL Toggle: Toggles the AF/AE lock on and off with successive presses.
  • AE Hold: Locks only the exposure when the button is held. (AF activated by Shutter button.)
  • AE Toggle: Toggles exposure lock on and off with successive presses.
• Mag Button: Controls function of the Magnify button on the camera's rear panel in Record mode. It can either toggle the 2x digital zoom on and off, or activate a 4x electronic magnification, to aid focusing in manual focus mode. The 4x magnification remains active until you press the Mag button again, or until you press the shutter button. It returns when the shutter button is released, until finally canceled via the Mag button.
• Interval: The Dimage 7i also has a built-in intervalometer, that lets you snap photos at preprogrammed intervals. This control sets the interval between exposures anywhere from one to 60 minutes.
• Frames: The second half of the intervalometer control, this option sets the number of frames to be acquired, from two to 99.
• Interval Mode: Sets the type of Interval capture to Still Image or Movie.
• UHS Movie: Turns the UHS Movie option on or off. If on, the camera captures a 640 x 480 movie with sound during the UHS Continuous Advance image sequence. (This is a simultaneous capture: You end up with both the individual frames of the UHS sequence, as well as a 640x480 movie file.)

Still Picture Shooting Menu Custom2 Options

• Data Imprint: Imprints information on captured photos. Options are Year/Month/Date, Month/Day/Hr:Min, Text, or Text with a numeric ID string. Selecting either Text option brings up a "virtual keyboard" display, with a complete alphabet and numbers, including a variety of special symbols and accented characters.
• Color Mode: Selects the color mode. Choices are Natural Color, Vivid Color, Black and White, and Solarization.
• Sharpness: Selects between varying degrees of in-camera sharpening: Low ("Soft"), Normal, or High ("Hard").
• Exposure Bracket: Sets the size of the exposure step between shots in Auto Exposure Bracketing mode. Options are 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 EV.
• Inst. Playback: Optionally enables an immediate playback of each photo, for either two or 10 seconds after capture.
• Voice Memo: Turns the Voice Memo mode on or off, which lets you record either five or 15 seconds of sound to accompany still images.
  

Movie Shooting Menu Options

• Audio:Enable or disable audio recording for movies.
• Movie Mode: Options are STD Movie, Night Movie, or Auto. Night movie mode switches to a monochrome recording mode to achieve much higher light sensitivity with less image noise. (It's a pretty significant boost, making the 7i's Night Movie mode one of the most effective I've seen for low light levels.)
  

Playback Menu Basic Options

• Delete: Lets you delete the current photo, all photos, or only marked photos.
• Format: Formats the CompactFlash card, erasing all files (even protected ones). There is an option to cancel.
• Lock: "Locks" a captured image to prevent its accidental erasure. (NOTE: Protects against "delete" operations, but not against card reformatting.) You can lock the current image, marked images, all images, or remove protection.
• Index Format: Lets you choose between four- or nine-image thumbnail image displays.
  

Playback Menu Custom1 Options

• Slide Show: Initiates a slide show of photos on the memory card.
• Playback: Chooses whether to play all photos or only marked ones in the slide show.
• Duration: Set the duration for each "slide" in the slide show, from one to 60 seconds.
• Repeat: Chooses whether or not to repeat the slide show after all photos have been displayed.
  

Playback Menu Custom2 Options

• Print: Set up photos for DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) printing on a compatible standalone printer. This selection lets you choose whether to print the current photo, all photos, or only marked photos.
• Index Print: Chooses whether or not to include an index print of all photos in your DPOF order.
• Cancel Print: Deletes all print orders on the card.
• Copy: Makes a duplicate copy of either the current photo or of all marked photos.
  

Setup Menu Basic Options

• LCD Brightness: Adjusts LCD backlight intensity in five steps (arbitrary units).
• EVF Brightness: Adjusts EVF brightness in five steps. (Useful to preserve night vision when shooting in low light, or for being able to see the display clearly when in bright sun.)
• Audio Signals: Turns the camera's beep sounds off, or activates "electrical" (option 1), or "mechanical" (option 2) camera sounds.
• Shutter FX: Turns on an automatic audio confirmation when images are captured (or turns it off). Option 1 uses the AF signal from the Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 7, and the shutter sound from the Dynax/Maxxum 9 SLR. Option 2 uses an electronic AF signal and the shutter sound from the Minolta CLE.
• Volume: Adjusts the camera's playback volume. Choices are 1 (Low), 2 (Normal), and 3 (High).
• Language: Sets language for menus. Options are Japanese, English, French, German, or Spanish.
  

Setup Menu Custom1 Options

• File# Memory: Chooses whether or not to number images sequentially across memory cards. If set to "yes," the Dimage 7i will remember the last number used to name a file, even if a different card is inserted. (A common feature, but very handy to prevent accidentally overwriting images when they're copied to your computer.)
• Folder Name: Assigns the folder naming scheme to Standard or Date formats.
• Select Folder: As an aid to organizing large numbers of photos, the Dimage 7i lets you set up separate folders on the memory card. If you have more than one folder defined, this menu selection lets you choose which you want to use to save photos in.
• New Folder: Creates a new folder to save photos on the memory card.
• Display Mode: Controls the number of Record mode displays available through the i+ button. Options are Standard display, Focus Frame, Histogram, Grid, Scale, and Image only. Enabled display types will appear in rotation in Record mode with successive presses if the i+ button.
• Direct MF: Turns Direct MF on or off. When enabled, you can "tweak" the focus the camera has determined automatically by rotating the manual focus ring while the shutter button is half-depressed.
  

Setup Menu Custom2 Options

• Reset Default: Resets all menu choices to their factory default values. (Convenient for getting back to "square one" after making a number of settings changes.)
• EVF Auto Switch: Changes the behavior of the EVF and LCD when the Display Mode switch is in the "auto" position. Options are:
  • Auto EVF/LCD: Switches between EVF and LCD. (One turns off as the other turns on.)
  • EVF auto ON: EVF comes on when your eye is at the eyepiece, but doesn't switch back to the LCD when you pull your eye away.
• Date/Time Set: Sets the camera's date and time.
• Date Format: Choose between YYY/MM/DD, MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYY date formats.
• Video Output: Select either NTSC or PAL video timing for the video output signal.
• Power Save: Sets idle delay before the camera enters low-power mode. Options are 1, 2, 5, 10 minutes.
  

Computer Transfer Menu Options
The Dimage 7i connects directly to a computer as a "storage class" device. This means that on a supporting operating system (Mac OS 8.6 or later or Windows ME or 2000), no additional driver software is needed. What's a bit unusual about the interface is that you need to go to this menu, select the USB option, and hit "enter." The camera then says "Initializing USB Connection," at which point it will show up on the computer's desktop. No big deal, but most cameras you simply put in the computer-connect mode and plug them in. I'm not sure why the Dimage 7i's USB connection has to be "initialized."