Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5By: Dave Etchells & Mike TomkinsKonica Minolta existing Z3 model gets an updated sensor, larger LCD and slightly updated control layout. <<Camera Overview / Field Test :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 4:DesignReview First Posted: 03/28/2005 |
Design
Konica Minolta's DiMAGE brand name carries with it a tradition of quality and technological innovation, covering an array of digital cameras designed to suit a wide range of experience levels and price points. The newest addition to the pack is Konica Minolta's DiMAGE Z5. Like the Z1, Z2, and Z3 models before it, the Z5 offers a strong feature set, pared down only moderately from those of Konica Minolta's higher-end models like the A2, but still offering a full range of exposure control and a long-ratio 12x zoom lens, with an easy to learn user interface, all at an affordable price. Compared to the DiMAGE Z3, changes in the Z5 include a higher resolution five megapixel CCD image sensor, larger and higher resolution LCD display, and the return of the movie editing feature found on the earlier DiMAGE Z1 and Z2 models. There are also a handful of minor design tweaks, mostly related to the higher resolution imager, such as a reduction in the longest shutter speed and maximum ISO sensitivity.
Shaped much like a miniaturized 35mm SLR, the Z5's body is very similar to that of its predecessor, though with the rear panel controls rearranged slightly to accommodate the larger LCD display. Other design changes include a new SD card access lamp at the bottom of the rear panel, and a new brushed metal finish for the top of the Exposure Mode dial. Made up mostly of the lens and a tall, stylized hand grip, the plastic body is understated and sophisticated, and sports only a few external controls. Measuring 4.3 x 3.1 x 3.3 inches (109 x 80 x 84 millimeters), the DiMAGE Z5 is a little too bulky for shirt pockets, but should slip into larger coat pockets and purses without trouble. The camera's plastic body helps keep the weight down, despite the large 12x zoom lens, weighing in at 16.2 ounces (460 grams) with the batteries and SD memory card - ever so slightly more than the Z3, likely due to the larger LCD display. A neck strap accompanies the camera for easy toting, but I'd recommend picking up a small camera case to protect the matte finish of the plastic body panels when traveling.
The front of the Z5 is dominated by the large lens and handgrip. When powered on, the lens extends just under 1.25 inches from the camera front. A plastic lens cap clamps onto the lens for protection, and tethers to the camera body with a small strap. A set of filter threads around the inside lip of the lens barrel on the body of the camera accommodates Konica Minolta's accessory lenses via an accessory adapter. Konica Minolta's optional accessory lenses extend both the camera's wide angle and telephoto capabilities. Also on the front panel are the Self-Timer LED lamp and the sloping, oblong Shutter button which angles down from the top of the handgrip. A substantial handgrip provides a firm hold on the camera, with plenty of room for your fingers to curve around the grip. While it offers plenty to grab onto, the handgrip is also small enough to be comfortable for users with smaller hands.
The right side of the Z5 (as viewed from the rear) is blank apart from one of the neck strap attachment eyelets and a rubbery textured panel that wraps from the rear of the camera.
The opposite side of the camera is curved to echo the shape of the lens barrel, and features the second neck strap eyelet. The camera's USB/AV and DC-In connector terminals are located on this side of the camera, in a compartment protected by a rubbery, flexible flap that remains tethered to the camera.
On the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5's top panel is the pop-up flash compartment and external flash hot shoe, as well as the Shutter, Macro, and Flash buttons. The pop-up flash does not have a release mechanism. Instead, you simply pull up the flash from both sides (which automatically places the flash into Auto mode). A three-hole speaker grille and tiny microphone are side-by-side behind the Shutter button, which slopes downward toward the front panel. The camera's Exposure Mode dial is also located on top of the camera, and features a new brushed metal finish on its top surface.
Most of the changes from the Z3 are found on the rear panel, which contains the remaining camera controls along with the electronic optical viewfinder (EVF) eyepiece and 2.0-inch color LCD monitor, somewhat larger and higher resolution than in the past model. Directly to the right of the LCD monitor are the Four-Way Arrow pad and Menu, Quick View/Erase, and Information buttons. The Power button and Mode dial are just beneath the LCD monitor, and are now located side by side, rather than the design of the Z3 which featured a Power button centrally located in the Mode dial. At the very top of the right side is the Zoom lever. The EVF - which is also slightly higher resolution than in the previous model - is centered above the LCD, and has a diopter correction wheel to the right. It has a noticeably shorter eye relief of 16.9mm (the Z3 had a 20.8mm eye relief), meaning that your eye must be closer to the image to see the whole image. In my own case, I found that I had to really press the lenses of my glasses up against the viewfinder bezel to be able to see the whole viewfinder frame. Finally, a new addition is located at the very bottom right of the camera just inside the protrusion at the rear of the handgrip - the Access lamp, which lights when the SD card is being accessed.
The Z5's bottom panel is fairly flat, with a plastic threaded tripod mount centered under the lens (a good position for people interested in panoramic photography), a battery compartment at the base of the handgrip, and an SD card compartment between the two. The SD compartment door could be made a little more secure than the current spring loaded design (with no latch), but it works well enough. The tripod mount is just far enough away from the battery compartment to allow quick battery changes while working on a tripod, but is too close to the SD card compartment to allow a card change. While I am glad that the battery slot is accessible while working on a tripod, I would like to maintain access to the SD card slot as well, as I change memory cards more frequently than batteries while working in the studio. The previous Z2 model had this capability, so I'm at a loss as to why the camera's designers would have moved the SD slot from its previous location on the left side panel to the new location of the Z3 and Z5.
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