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Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 Review
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Review Summary
Reader Score: 8.67 (out of 10)
DPReview has just posted their review of the big hitting 12x zoom Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5. It is the latest in the range to feature Konica Minolta's unique CCD-shifting Anti-Shake system seen in the A2/A200 and Maxxum 7D digital SLR. The five megapixel has a love-it-or-hate-it design like the rest of the Z series. Find out if we think you should pack the DiMAGE Z5 in your suitcase for your summer vacation.
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Other Reviews For This Model
| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Imaging-Resource |
8.67 |
03-28-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Like its predecessors, the Konica Minolta Z5 offers a combination of ease of use, features, and retail price that are squarely aimed at the bulk of "point & shoot" users. At the same time though, the Z5 offers optional advanced exposure modes (including full-manual operation and a flash hot shoe) that appeal to more advanced users. As such, it makes a great camera for situations where users of widely varying experience levels need to share the same camera. It's also a great choice for novices who want a camera with features that they can "grow into" as their photographic abilities mature. The most important feature though, is its anti-shake technology. Long-zoom cameras are currently one of the most popular categories of digicams, but few people realize just how hard it is to hold a 12x zoom lens steady on a distant subject. Unless you're shooting in very bright light, or have the camera mounted on a solid tripod, it can be very difficult to avoid blurring caused by camera shake. By contrast, with its advanced anti-shake technology, the Konica Minolta Z5 is able to compensate for a surprising amount of jiggling, delivering sharp photos across a much wider range of conditions than would be possible otherwise. All in all, the new Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 delivers an amazing amount of technology in a very approachable package, at a very attractive price. Read on for all the details! |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| LetsGoDigital |
8.63 |
05-14-05 |
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| Surprisingly soon after introducing the DiMAGE Z3, Konica Minolta announced the introduction of the DiMAGE Z5. The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 now offers more Megapixels; it offers 5 Megapixels to be precise. One of the main changes is the monitor on the back of the camera; it has become a lot larger. Other than that there were minor changes in comparison to the previous model. Features that remained are the large zoom range and the image stabilisation in the form of the Anti-Shake system. The Z-series is a rather striking camera line within the Konica Minolta full range of digital compact cameras. It finds itself in between the real entry-level models and the semi-professionals of the A-series. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DigiCam Review |
8.25 |
04-22-05 |
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| The Konica Minolta Dimage Z5, is available for around £267 - and is a 5 megapixel digital camera, with an impressive 12x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35-420mm on a 35mm camera), and a large 2" TFT screen. The camera is enclosed in a silver or black plastic body. It records unlimited 640 x 480 / 30fps videos with sound. The camera's size is: 108.5 x 80 x 84 mm. (without protruding parts), and weighs 340g (without the battery and memory card). |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Trusted Reviews |
8.25 |
03-21-05 |
Read Full Review
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| I was first introduced to the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z series back in August of 2003 when I was shown an early production model of the Z1 by Minolta's PR crew. They talked about this 'new concept' hybrid camera, and then they unveiled it. They were obviously very proud of it, but I have to admit I was sceptical. The Z1 looked more like a prop from a sci-fi movie rather than the latest thing in digital cameras. Then I had a chance to play with it and I quickly changed my mind. That first model did feel a little flimsy, and I wasn't too keen on the monitor/viewfinder arrangement, but the handling simply blew me away. I’d never before used a camera that felt so natural in the hand. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Photography Blog |
8.14 |
04-25-05 |
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| The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 is the replacement for the popular DiMAGE Z3
digital camera and is currently Konica Minolta's highest-specced ultra-zoom
digital camera. The Konica Minolta Z5 offers a 5 megapixel CCD sensor and a
12x zoom lens that is equivalent to 35420mm on a 35mm camera. To help
ensure that your photos don't suffer from camera-shake, the Konica Minolta
Z5 features a unique CCD-shift anti-shake mechanism, which allows you to
take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than other digital cameras. In
addition, the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 offers a full range of semi-automatic
and manual exposure modes, futuristic body design, 2 inch LCD screen, rapid
autofocus, advanced movie mode and a macro function that that lets you focus
as close as 1cm from your subject. Currently available for less than £300 /
$500, is the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 the ultimate ultra-zoom camera? Carry
on reading my review to discover the answer. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Digital Camera Info |
8.00 |
03-29-05 |
Read Full Review
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| Konica Minolta released the DiMAGE Z5 at the Photo Marketing Association trade show in Orlando in February 2005. This digital camera aims for intermediate users that have grown out of compact cameras, but are not quite ready to make the jump to digital SLRs. The 5-megapixel Z5 bridges the two in shape and function. In a nontraditional frame, Konica Minolta packs 5.2 total megapixels on a 1/2.5-inch type CCD and puts it behind a 12x optical zoom lens with image stabilization. Coupled with a large right-hand grip and a nice layout of manual and automatic controls, the Z5 offers full usability in its 30fps movie mode. The DiMAGE Z5 will retail for $499.95. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Megapixel |
8.00 |
04-08-05 |
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| Konica Minolta's DiMAGE Z5 brings a 5-megapixel resolution to the Z series, until now limited to 4 megapixel with the Z3. The Z5 inherits the same 12X optical zoom and the Anti-Shake system, but gets an electronic viewfinder with a few less pixels, while receiving a larger 2-inch LCD monitor with a higher definition than the Z3 had. For the most part however, there are few external differences between the Z3 and the Z5. The Z series design features a pronounced grip that juts forward from the right side of the body. And, like the Z3, the Z5 is available in a silver finish, or a black finish with a light texture. Either variation uses a polycarbonate body with a metal trim on the lens barrel. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| DCResource |
7.74 |
03-09-05 |
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| The DiMAGE Z5 ($500) is an update to 2004's DiMAGE Z3 from Konica Minolta. For the most part, the new features aren't earthshaking. They include: 5.0 Megapixel CCD (versus 4.0 on the Z3), 2.0" LCD display (versus 1.5"), Improved battery life, Smaller shutter speed range, and no more bulb mode (okay, so this one's a step backward). Everything else is the same as the Z3. That means that there's a 12X optical zoom lens, Minolta's exclusive Anti-shake image stabilization system, full manual controls, a hot shoe, and a VGA movie mode.
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| CNET Reviews |
7.50 |
07-26-05 |
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| The Konica Minolta Dimage Z5, like compact megazoom cameras from Kodak, Panasonic, and others, targets the budget-minded photo enthusiast who wants a superbroad zoom range, manual controls, SLR-like viewing, and tons of extra features-without the expense and the size of a digital SLR.
With a 12X zoom, image stabilization, macro focus down to 0.4 inch, and a medium-res 10-frame-per-second ultra-high-speed burst mode, the 5-megapixel Z5 stacks up well against the competition, specwise. However, mediocre image quality and a large, coarse, and rather dim electronic viewfinder limit this diminutive digital's appeal as an SLR substitute. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| PC Magazine |
5.00 |
08-07-05 |
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| Like its sibling, the Konica Minolta DiMage Z20, the Konica Minolta Dimage Z5 has a striking design, balanced body, and rugged feel. With its 2-inch LCD screen and electronic viewfinder, you're able to see subjects in nearly any shooting situation, and the 12X optical zoom brings you close to the action. Unfortunately, compared with our two Editors' Choice superzooms - the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ15 - the Z5 just doesn't measure up in terms of picture quality, particularly when using flash. |
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| Review Site |
Review Score |
Date |
Link |
| Digital camera |
----- |
10-01-05 |
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| If you want the big 12X zoom and the terrific anti-shake feature of the Z3 but can't quite figure out why it has to come in a 4-megapixel package that, depending where you get it, costs more than the lesser DiMAGE Z20, the new DiMAGE Z5 is for you. It offers the same massive 12X optical zoom, has the anti-shape feature and all the other goodies of the Z3, but that's not all. It is a 5-megapixel camera and, perhaps even more importantly, it replaces the wimpy little 1.5-inch LCD of the Z3 with a higher resolution 2.0-inch display. The new and larger LCD makes a huge difference. You no longer have to squint to see what's on the screen. |
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