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Konica Minolta DiMAGE A200 Konica Minolta trims a little and adds a little relative to their top-end A2 model, delivering a strong contender in the 8-megapixel derby. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet A200 Sample Images A200 Imatest Results --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Comparison with other DiMAGE cameras 3. Executive Overview 4. Design 5. Viewfinder 6. Optics 7. Exposure & Flash 8. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 9. Operation & User Interface 10. Camera Modes & Menus 11. Image Storage & Interface 12. Video, Power, Software 13. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on A200 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 10:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 12/22/2004

Camera Modes and Menus

Still Capture Mode: Accessed by turning the Mode switch to the red camera symbol, this is the mode for all still-image capture operations. (Auto, Program AE, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, Memory Recall, Portrait, Sports, Sunset, and Night Portrait modes are set through the Exposure Mode dial.)

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

Movie Mode: Accessed by turning the Mode switch to the movie camera icon, enables capture of movie sequences with sound.

Still Picture Shooting Menu Basic Options
The following three menu screens are available in Record mode by pressing the Menu button:

• Record 1:
  • Image Size: Sets the pixel resolution of captured still images. Choices are 3,264 x 2,448; 3,264 x 2,176 (3:2); 2,560 x 1,920; 2,080 x 1,560; 1,600 x 1,200; and 640 x 480.
  • Quality: Specifies the compression level of still images. Options are RAW, RAW& JPEG, Extra Fine, Fine, and Standard. RAW is a proprietary format, for use with Konica Minolta's DiMAGE Viewer software only. (It captures the data directly from the CCD, and losslessly compresses it). RAW & JPEG simultaneously records both a separate RAW and JPEG version of each image as it is captured. (Note though, that RAW + JPEG mode is quite slow, as the camera apparently has to wait for each shot to write to the memory card before it can capture the next one.) Extra Fine, Fine, and Standard correspond to three different levels of JPEG image compression. Extra Fine compresses the image the least, resulting in larger files, but fewer compression artifacts. Standard compresses it the most, making smaller files but introducing compression artifacts in the process.
  • Spot AE Area: Selects either the Center Spot or Flex Focus spot when spot autoexposure mode is selected.
  • Flash Control: Selects the flash metering method. Options are Auto and Manual. The Manual option lets you control the flash output directly, by pressing the up arrow key to display the power menu. (As noted earlier in the review, Manual mode causes the flash to emit only a single pulse for each exposure, handy for synchronizing it with external strobe units, using a slave trigger.)
  • AEL Button: Controls the function of the AEL button on the camera's rear panel. Options are as follows:
    • AE Hold: Locks exposure while you hold down the button.
    • AE Toggle: Toggles exposure lock on and off with successive presses.
  • Reset: Resets the recording mode menu options to their defaults.
  
  
• Record 2:
  • Sharpness: Selects between varying degrees of in-camera sharpening: Low ("Soft"), Normal, or High ("Hard").
  • Date Imprint: Imprints the date and time on captured photos. Options are Year/Month/Day, Month/Day/Hr:Min, or Off.
  • Inst. Playback: Optionally enables an immediate playback of each photo, for either 1, 2, 5, or 10 seconds after capture, or turns instant playback off.
  • Full-time AF: Enables or disables Full-Time AF mode. Full-Time AF mode may track moving objects better, but conveys no advantage for stationary subjects, and increases power drain from the battery.
  • Direct MF: Enables or disables Direct MF (Manual Focus), which lets you manually adjust the focus while in AF (Autofocus) mode.
    
    
    
• Record 3:
  • Memory: Sets up the Memory Recall registers (as many as five), letting you customize the camera, based on the camera's current settings (you set the camera how you want it and save the settings here for quick recall later).
  • DSP Set: Assigns the Digital Subject Programs either to their specified places on the Exposure Mode dial or to the memory registers in Memory Recall mode. When set to "Memory Recall," the MR and Scene mode positions on the mode dial are assigned to memory registers one through five, useful if you often use the memory registers and not the Scene modes.
  • Noise Reduction: Turns the Noise Reduction feature on or off, which reduces the level of image noise resulting from longer exposures. (Not that this only applies to long exposures though.)
  • Monitor Amplification: Activates automatic monitor amplification, which controls the display of the live image. Options are:
    • Auto: Automatically intensifies the monitor image in low light conditions, turning the image black and white (though the image is still recorded in color). This is the default option. (Note that the focus-assist viewfinder magnification option isn't available when the monitor is operating in "amplified" mode.)
    • Normal: Does not brighten the image in low lighting.
  • Manual Exposure Setting: If shooting in Manual exposure mode, you can also set the monitor to Exposure Priority (image reflects exposure settings) or Display Priority (normal display). Normal display is helpful for seeing what's going on in the scene when you have the camera set to use a small lens aperture and fast shutter speed, for use in conjunction with an external flash; most displays dim to darkness in these conditions, rendering the display unusable. This is an extremely thoughtful option that most manufacturers do not offer.
  • Digital Zoom: Turns the 2x digital zoom on, or sets it to the 1-4x Interpolated mode. You can also disable digital zoom entirely.
    

Movie Shooting Menu Options

• Image Size: Sets the pixel resolution of captured movies. Choices are 800 x 600; 640 x 480; or 320 x 240 pixels.
• Frame Rate: Sets the frame rate of captured movies. Choices are 15 or 30 frames per second. (Note that only the 15 fps option is available in 800 x 600 resolution mode.)
• Movie Mode: Options are Standard Movie or Night Movie. Night Movie mode switches to a monochrome recording mode to achieve much higher light sensitivity with less image noise.
• Reset: Resets Movie mode to its default settings, adjusting Exposure Compensation, Contrast, Color Saturation, Filter, White Balance, Image Size, Frame Rate, Movie Mode, and Anti-Shake.

Playback Menu Options
The Playback menu offers three pages of options, all accessed by pressing the Menu button.

• Playback 1:
  • Delete: Lets you delete the current photo, all photos, or only marked photos. Does not delete photos which have been "locked" with the Lock option below.
  • Format: Formats the CompactFlash card, erasing all files (even "locked" ones). There is an option to cancel, in case you select "Format" accidentally.
  • Lock: "Locks" captured images to prevent accidental erasure. (NOTE: This protects against "delete" operations, but not against card reformatting.) You can lock the current image, marked images, all images, or remove protection from all frames.
  • View Folder: Selects the folder on the memory card to view in Playback mode.
  • Folder Name: Lets you rename a folder.
  • Edit Movie: Lets you cut a section from a movie clip.
  
  
• Playback 2:
  • Slide Show: Initiates a slide show of photos on the memory card.
  • DPOF Set: Sets 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.
  • Date Imprint: Chooses whether or not to print the date on all photos in your DPOF order.
  • 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, or in the current folder.
  
  
• Playback 3:
  • Copy: Makes a second copy (at the same resolution size) of images or movies, with an option to store the copy on another memory card.
  • E-Mail Copy: Creates a 640 x 480-pixel copy of the selected image, leaving the original image undisturbed.
  • Mag Setup: Designates the amount of digital enlargement initially shown in playback mode when you hit the "telephoto" side of the zoom rocker control. Options are 2x, 4x, and 10x.
  
  

Setup Menu Options -
The following menu options are available in any exposure mode, and are accessed through the Setup tab at the top of any menu screen.

• Setup 1:
  • LCD Brightness: Adjusts the brightness of the EVF or LCD display, with eleven steps of brightness adjustment available for each. (This screen is not available for shooting when the video cable is plugged in. Because that's how we take these shots, you won't find a screen for it in the animation to the right.)
  • Lens Acc.: Specifies whether a lens accessory is in use. Options are None, Wide converter, and Teleconverter.
  • Transfer Mode: Designates whether the camera acts as a storage-class device ("Storage" option) or a remote camera ("PTP" option) when connected to a computer, or sets the camera up for remote control by a computer running Konica Minolta's control application. The PTP mode also enables direct printing to PictBridge-compatible printers without the use of a computer. The A200 offers very robust PictBridge support.
  • Date/Time Set: Sets the camera's date and time, with options for different display formats.
  • Video Output: Select either NTSC or PAL timing for the video output signal.
  • Language: Sets the language for menu screens to Japanese, English, German, French, Spanish, Chinese, Italian, or Swedish.
  
  
• Setup 2:
  • Shortcut Help: Displays the available shortcuts associated with external camera control buttons.
  • File # Memory: Chooses whether or not to number images sequentially across memory cards. If set to "On," the DiMAGE A200 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: Selects the folder naming scheme as either Standard or Date format. Date format integrates the current date into the folder name, to help keep track of images on your computer later.
  • Select Folder: As an aid to organizing large numbers of photos, the DiMAGE A200 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, with a name of your choosing.
  
  
• Setup 3:
  • Reset Default: Resets all menu choices to their factory default values. (Very handy for getting back to "square one" after making a number of settings changes.)
  • Audio Signals: Turns the camera's beep sounds off, or activates "electrical" (option 1), or "mechanical" (option 2) camera sounds.
  • Focus Signal: Turns the audio signal that indicates when focus has been set to off, or activates two different indication sounds.
  • Shutter FX: Turns on or off an audio confirmation sound when images are captured. Option 1 uses the AF signal from the Minolta Dynax/Maxxum 9, 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 volume for playback of recorded sounds and other audio signals, from zero (off) to three (high).
  • Power Save: Sets idle delay before the camera enters low-power mode. Options are 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.
  
  
• Setup 4:
  • Anti-Shake: Selects whether the Anti-Shake System is activated only during the exposure itself or any time the Shutter button is halfway pressed. (If you select "Exposure Only," Konica Minolta cautions to wait a moment after half-pressing the shutter button before snapping the picture, so the Anti-Shake system has time to take effect.)
  • Delete Confirmation: Turns the delete confirmation screen on or off.