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Minolta Dimage S304 Minolta packs Dimage technology & optics into a compact 3.3 megapixel prosumer camera! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Dimage S304 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 Dimage S304 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software Review First Posted: 9/13/2001

Video Out
The S304 provides a video output jack with an accompanying video cable. The signal timing can be set to NTSC or PAL via the Setup menu. An adapter cable terminating in a male RCA plug is included with units shipped to the U.S. European models will presumably include cabling appropriate to PAL systems. The Video output duplicates the contents of the LCD in all modes, permitting it to be used as an auxiliary viewfinder.

Power
The S304 is powered by four AA Alkaline, Li-Ion, or NiMH batteries (four alkaline batteries are shipped with the camera). We suggest investing in several sets of rechargeable NiMH batteries and a battery charger, as most digital cameras are power hogs. Minolta offers an optional AC Adapter for running the camera in the studio or for downloading images to a computer, as well as an External Battery Pack Kit EBP-100, which provides a portable source of power in the form of a high-power lithium-ion battery holder and charger. The below shows the power drain numbers we measured, and the projected run times in various operating modes.

Operating Mode	Power (@ 6.0v)	Est. Minutes (1600 mAh)
Capture Mode, w/LCD	790 mA	97
Capture Mode, no LCD	360 mA	213
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD	810 mA	95
Half-pressed w/o LCD	580 mA	132
Memory Write (transient)	900 mA	n/a
Flash Recharge (transient)	1130 mA	n/a
Image Playback	560 mA	137

 

Overall, the Dimage S304 is a little power-hungry in its worst case mode, but overall isn't too bad, with 100 minutes of estimated run time in that mode, and 200+ minutes with the LCD turned off. Playback time is a bit over 2 hours of continuous operation. (All numbers based on 1600 mAh of capacity from high-capacity NiMH rechargeable cells.)

About Batteries
We've gotten so many emails about power issues for digicams, that we're now inserting this standard notice in the reviews of all AA-powered cameras on our site: Don't even *think* about using alkaline AA batteries in a digicam! Despite their being packed in the box with many cameras, they simply don't have the juice to handle typical digicam demands. (Even the "high power" ones the battery manufacturers say are designed for devices like digital cameras.) Spend the $35-40 or so it takes to get a set (or two) of high-capacity NiMH rechargeable batteries and a good charger! The few dollars up front will save you literally hundreds of dollars in the long run, not to mention the hassle of wimpy batteries running out in the middle of the action. We suggest you buy two sets of batteries, so one can always be in the charger, ready to go, and so have two sets available for longer excursions. Good brands of batteries include Maha (our favorite), GP, Kodak, and Nexcell. Also, buy the highest capacity AAs the manufacturer makes, the few extra dollars for the extra capacity is usually well worth it. Getting a good charger is critical though, almost more so than buying good batteries. We recommend the Maha C-204F (see the photo at right), the charger we use the most in our own studio. - Read our review of it for all the details. Or, just click here to buy one, you won't regret it.

Software
The S304 ships with Dimage Image Viewer Utility and ArcSoft PhotoImpression 2000 software programs. Dimage Image Viewer allows you to open, sort, and delete thumbnail images, perform color matching, adjust tonal curves, set white and black points, and correct individual RGB channels. PhotoImpression provides minor correction tools, plus a large selection of calendars, cards, frames, textures, and album effects for enhancing your images.

Like the other recent high-end Minolta cameras (the Dimage 5 and Dimage 7), the S304 captures images in its own proprietary color space. The good part of this is that the S304 can capture a broader range of colors than conventional cameras based on the sRGB standard. The downside though, is that most computer software and consumer-level printers assume sRGB as the default color space. This means that you'll need to convert essentially all your images from the S304's color space to the sRGB standard. (Losing some colors in the extreme reds and blue/greens in the process.) The Dimage Image Viewer utility program can batch-convert images from the S304's color space to sRGB and several others. The process isn't terribly onerous, and we support Minolta's efforts to break out of the limitations of sRGB. It is an additional step however, that potential owners need to be aware of.