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Minolta Dimage RD3000 Unusual 2-CCD design produces a professional-level SLR digicam at an affordable price. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Dimage RD3000 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 --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index (Next): Executive Overview>> Page 1:Intro and Highlights Review First Posted: 5/23/2000

	*	True SLR with through-the-lens viewfinder
	*	2.7 million effective pixels for 1984 x 1360 images
	*	Removable lenses: Accepts most Vectis-mount lenses
	*	Type II CF slot for Microdrive compatibility
	*	ISO to 800, shutter speeds of 30 to 1/2000 seconds

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Manufacturer Overview
Minolta is a traditional camera manufacturer of long experience, making a slow but steady entry into the digital realm. They produce an unusually broad line of film scanners, ranging from inexpensive 35mm units to a high-end model capable of handling any film type from 8mm to medium formats. Some while back, they introduced the concept of a modular digital camera, the EX1500, now used as the framework for an amazingly effective 3D capture system, developed in partnership with software firm Metacreations.
At the high end of their digicam efforts, they've used some unusual technology to create a sophisticated SLR (single lens reflex) camera, using two 1.5 megapixel CCDs in combination with a prism optical system to produce a final resolution of 2.7 megapixels, and an unusually good tonal range. Taking advantage of the wide range of lenses they'd developed for their Vectis line of high-end APS cameras, Minolta built the RD 3000 to use the Vectis lens mount, giving the camera an optical capability ranging from roughly 25mm wide angle to 360mm telephoto 35mm equivalents. What's more, they offer the camera not only in the traditional body-only pro configuration, but also as a kit containing a complete set of 5 lenses covering the full focal length range, for less than the cost of other digital SLR bodies alone. For someone looking for a complete digital camera system with interchangeable lenses at an affordable price, the Minolta RD 3000 deserves a close look.
Highlights

• Two 1/2 inch 1.5 megapixel CCDs delivering a final resolution of 2.7 megapixels (1984 x 1360 pixel images)
• Minolta Vectis lens mount, accepting most Vectis lenses. (Vectis is Minolta's high-end APS camera line)
• TTL auto and manual focus options
• ISO 200 and 800 equivalent light sensitivity options
• Shutter speeds from 30 to 1/2000 seconds.
• SLR optical viewfinder with dioptric adjustment dial and information display
• External flash shoe and secondary PC sync terminal accepting most Minolta dedicated flash units
• Automatic, Daylight, Tungsten, Flash and Custom white balance settings
• Spot and 14 Segment Honeycomb metering systems
• Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority and Manual exposure modes.
• Continuous shooting mode capturing approximately 1.5 frames per second (up to five consecutive frames)
• Two inch, low temperature, polysilicon, color TFT LCD monitor for image playback
• 10 second self-timer and available accessory remote control
• Uncompressed TIFF and Exif 2.0 JPEG file formats
• SCSI-2 interface for connecting to a computer