The
Dimage A1 is the next evolutionary step of the Dimage 7, 7H, and 7Hi.
Although many of the design elements of the previous models are ported
to the A1 — such as an electronic viewfinder that can be tilted
up 90° — the A1 is a new model. It features many improvements,
not the least of which is an Anti-shake system which is a novel
type of image stabilizer. Indeed, the Dimage A1 may well be the
most complex camera Minolta has ever produced.
The grip of the A1 has 6 sensors embedded in the front part — the
little metal strips — that can be used to detect when the camera
is being held, and which then activate the Full-Time Auto Focus, thereby
lessening the drain on the battery when the camera is On, but not in use.
The
weight and feel of the camera is carefully thought out, and although smaller
than an SLR, the Minolta A1 has a well-designed shape and appropriate
weight that makes it comfortable to hold. The rubber grips areas —
there are two — on the front of the grip and where the thumb rests
on the back, are "sticky" enough to make it feel very secure
in hand.
Similarly, the controls are quite well laid out.
The
shutter release is directly above the grip, and angled towards
the front of the body at the centre of a slightly indented area that is
a perfect fit for the index finger.
The Front Control Dial is nearby, one of two dials that serve to
control numerous camera functions, along with a Rear Control Dial
positioned beneath the Exposure Mode Dial. Next, between the Front
Control Dial and the Exposure Mode Dial is a microphone, and to its left
is a Data Panel that serves to immediately see the current camera
settings.
The
Data Panel shows settings for most major functions that are in effect.
Exposure and Flash compensation along with any Digital Effect in use are
shown next to the shutter speed and aperture. Similarly, any setting other
than the default settings is shown for white balance and ISO. Other indications
include self-timer, continuous mode, and image size and quality.
Two
oval buttons are set into the back ridge of the camera:
Controls
the information displayed on the LCD monitor, or in the electronic
viewfinder, cycling through a display with overlaid information;
one with minimal info; and one with none.
Activates
the Digital Magnifier which can be used to magnify an image in playback;
or magnify an image during manual focusing, or activate the digital
zoom (2X). In Playback, the amount of magnification is dependent
on the recorded image size and format, but a magnification of up
to 8X is available for JPEG images recorded at full resolution.
The Dimage
A1 is powered on using the
button at the centre of the Mode Switch which selects the primary
mode of the camera:
Still
image recording mode.
Playback
mode.
Movie
Recording mode. Movies are recorded at a frame size of 320 x 240
pixels, and last as long as their space on the memory card. Sound
is automatically captured during recording, and since the A1's zoom
is manual, it can be used.
Two
other important controls are located on the upper back of the A1. The
Exposure or Flash Compensation button is below the Mode Switch,
and the Auto Exposure Lock is directly below the Rear Control Dial:
When
used in combination with the Front Control Dial, the button serves
to set Exposure Compensation. When used in combination with the
Rear Control Dial, the button set the Flash Compensation (±2
EV in 1/3 EV increments).
By
default this button locks the exposure when held in, but it can
also be customized to act as a toggle switch, On when pressed in
once, and Off when pressed again. In addition, it can be set to
lock the metered spot exposure instead of the entire frame.
A 3 position
slider switch, placed on the edge of the LCD monitor controls the LCD
monitor and the EVF (Electronic Viewfinder):
The
EVF is active exclusively.
Automatic
selection of the EVF or the LCD monitor. Sensors to the right of
the EVF's exit pupil detect when the user's eye is near the EVF
and activates it.
The
LCD monitor is active exclusively.
Next to the switch, a 4-direction controller is used for navigation while
the button at its centre serve to confirm selections.
Three
more buttons complete the groups of controls located on the back of the
A1:
Quick
View allows for single frame playback of the last captured image
in both the still image recording mode, and the movie mode.
In Playback the button can be used to delete one image at a time.
Calls
up the menu appropriate to the mode in use.
The
third and last button is for the Anti-Shake system. With the A1 Minolta
has employed a novel system that stabilizes the CCD, and not the lens.
The Anti-Shake button is lit green when the mode is in use, and the Anti-Shake
symbol is also displayed on either the monitor or the EVF. Four colours
are used to indicate the state of the Anti-Shake system:
The
AS system is inactive and the possibility of camera shake exists.
The
AS system is active, and in use.
The
AS system is active, but the shutter speed is too slow for the system
to be effective.
The
AS system is overheating because of ambient and operating conditions.
The system turns off and the camera should be left to cool.
Function Dial which
has six settings. With the Function Dial turned to the desired function,
the button at its centre can be held in while the Front Control Dial is
turned to get to the required setting. With some functions, the Rear Control
Dial can be used to make further adjustments:
Provides
settings for Auto (between 100 and 200 ISO), 100, 200, 400, and
800 ISO.
Sets
the white balance. Besides Auto white balance, 6 preset modes are
available (Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Shade, and Flash).
In addition, 3 Custom white balance are available to set the white
balance for specific lighting conditions.
Covers
seven separate functions:
Single
frame advance, the standard one-frame shooting mode.
Bracketing
over 3 frames, and which can be done for exposure (either in
1/3 EV increments or in 1/2 EV increments); or for contrast;
or colour saturation using Digital Filters (see further for
an explanation of Digital Filters).
Continuous
advance captures images at a rate of 2 frames per second.
The number of images that can be captured in the series depends
on the mode in use (5 with RAW mode, 3 with all other formats).
High-speed
continuous advance captures images at a rate of 2.8 frames
per second.
Interval
allows capturing images at a selected time interval, and
a selected start time (from 2 to 249 frames).
Interval
and Time-lapse movie captures 640 x 480 images one at a
time with adjustable parameters as above, and is played back
at 4 frames per second.
Self-timer
can be selected to have either a 10 or a 2 second delay.
Metering
mode selection:
Multi-segment
averaging which uses 300 segments to measure luminance (brightness)
and colour. Distance information is combined to arrive at the
best exposure.
Centre-weighted
provides an overall evaluation of the subject with special
emphasis at the centre of the frame.
Spot
concentrates the reading at the centre of the frame and can
be tied to the focus point.
Custom
is a setting that will display a commonly used function. Which function
the CUST position will display is determined by a selection made
in the camera's Setup menu (See the Interface and Software section
of the review for an overview of the extensive options offered in
the Setup menu).
The
MSET position serves to record sets of preferred camera settings
in up 5 memory locations.
Although
the Dimage A1 has accessory shoe with Minolta flash units (see the
list of compatible flash further) it also provides a standard external
flash synch terminal (PC type), which is positioned immediately below
the Function Dial. With it, the A1 is able to trigger a wide variety of
flash units in the Manual mode.
The Digital Effects controller, just below the flash synch terminal,
serves to adjust image contrast, colour and saturation. Any change made
with it is immediately visible on the LCD monitor, or the EVF:
Filter:
When the camera is set to capture a colour image (Natural Colour,
Vivid Colour, or Adobe RGB) the filter effect either warms, or cools
the colours of the image. ±5 steps are possible, with the
positive side warming the image colours, and the negative side cooling
them.
With the camera set to capture a black and white image, the filter
cycles through Neutral, Red, Green, Magenta and blue returning to
Neutral.
Colour
Saturation: can be varied over a range of ±5 increments,
increasing or decreasing saturation gradually.
Contrast:
can be varied over ±5 increments, hardening or softening
the image.
There are
2 other controls on the left side of the A1, the first on the left
is to set the Custom white balance; the other is the Focus Mode Switch,
which serves to select Single Shot AF, Continuous AF, or Manual Focus
Mode. The A1 is manually focus using the focusing ring — nearest
the body on the lens barrel — which electronically controls the
lens focus. During manual focusing, the digital magnifier can be used
to display an enlarged image to adjust the focus.
In addition to the flash hotshoe, the Dimage A1 is equipped with a manually
released pop-up flash. Flash modes are selected in the Recording menu,
and apply to A1's built-in flash.
Alternatively, the flash shoe is compatible with a number of Minolta flash
units:
•
Maxxum/Program Flash 2500 (D)
•
Maxxum/Program Flash 3600HS (D)
•
Maxxum/Program Flash 5600HS (D)
•
Macro Ring Flash 1200 with Macro Flash Controller
•
Macro Ring Flash 2400 with Macro Flash Controller
Although
the EVF of the A1 is similar in external appearance to the ones that had
been used with the Dimage 7, 7H and 7Hi, the LCD display is different.
The microdisplay is a 0.44 inch TFT screen, with 235,000 pixels that provide
as good an image sharpness as can be had with any electronic display currently
in use.
The EVF is equipped with a diopter corrector on the left side, and can
be inclined smoothly from the horizontal up to +90°.
The LCD monitor can be tilted down –20°, allowing it to be seen
when the camera is held overhead. From this position, the screen can be
raised for an angled view that is well clear of the EVF's housing. Furthermore,
from its position flat on the back of the camera, the screen can be raised
up to +90° while the secondary hinge remains flat on the camera's
back.
Using
either the EVF or the LCD monitor, the display can be configured as needed.
By default, the wide area brackets are shown overlaid on the screen, but
alternative overlays can be used for composition.
By holding the centre button of the Function Dial, while pressing on the
button, a composition grid is overlaid first. Pressing the
button again then replaces the grid by a scale, while another press of
the button return to the wide area brackets display.
The
ergonomic design of the A1 is quite good. In comparison to the design
of the Dimage 7/7Hi, the A1 has more external controls, which make it
more functional. While this easier access to controls is a positive element,
it also limits the space available to grasp the camera. In fact, we often
noted that, short of grabbing it by the lens, simply picking up the A1
could accidentally turn it on. In use however, the controls are well positioned,
making the camera practical, once its many functions and controls become
familiar.
button at the centre of the Mode Switch which selects the primary
mode of the camera: 
is to set the Custom white balance; the other is the Focus Mode Switch,
which serves to select Single Shot AF, Continuous AF, or Manual Focus
Mode. The A1 is manually focus using the focusing ring — nearest
the body on the lens barrel — which electronically controls the
lens focus. During manual focusing, the digital magnifier can be used
to display an enlarged image to adjust the focus.
button, a composition grid is overlaid first. Pressing the 
