Review of the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 Digital Camera

Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z6 features the impressive 6 Megapixel resolution, 12x optical zoom, 2 inch LCD screen, high-resolution electronic viewfinder, pop-up flash, Anti-Shake image stabilization system, and video capability. The camera can be used in full Auto mode that basically lets you just point-and-shoot, full Manual mode where you can experiment with all the settings, and pre-programmed scene modes like Landscape and Portrait.

Although the camera is made mostly of plastic, it has a sturdy and heavy feel. It is rather large, too, definitely not a pocket-size camera. The camera is available in two colors, silvery and black. The back panel hosts menu controls and the 2 inch LCD screen. The mode wheel and shutter release button are located on top. The camera has is almost no shatter lag; you press the button, and the picture is snapped instantly.

The anti-shake feature works very well, making sure your pictures are not blurred. The camera gives you an option of having the image stabilization on while you are preparing to shoot vs. only while the picture is actually being taken.

The camera has automatic and manual focus. It focuses very fast, but only in good light. In poorly lit places the focusing slows down a little. The two color modes are Natural and Vivid, the first one is somewhat dull, the latter is overly bright and vibrant. There is no intermediate mode.

The built-in pop-up flash has the disadvantage of actually not popping up. It is not powered or spring-loaded, so you have to pull it out manually, which is rather odd and inconvenient.

The photos are stored in the JPEG format (Motion JPEG or AVI for videos) on a Secure Digital memory card. A small starter SD card is included. Also included are 4 AA batteries that can be replaced with rechargeable ones, USB and AV cables, lens cap, neck strap, software CD-ROM, and user manual.

If purchased from Konica's website, the camera costs $399.95.