On
the heels of last month's review of the Dimage 7, we turn to the Minolta
Dimage 5, the 3.3 megapixel version of what is ostensibly the same
camera. Indeed, the differences between the Dimage 5 and 7 don't exactly
jump out. With one next to the other, the only noticeable difference is
the colour of their grips, light-grey for Dimage 5, dark blue-grey for
the Dimage 7.
Yet the difference in their image size translates into a 35 to 250mm
equivalent focal length for Dimage 5 as opposed to the 7's 28 to 200mm.
The
grip supports a 2-stage shutter release and the Control Dial, a
small wheel which, in combination with other controls, serves to make
changes to most of the camera's settings. Behind these are two other buttons.
On the right is the Pro-Auto [P] button, which immediately
engages the variable Program mode, and to its left a round button used
to select the Subject-Programs in combination with the Control Dial.
Nearby,
the top mounted display indicates all the current camera settings, and
is backlit automatically when the shutter release is half pressed.
The status display includes critical details such as the aperture, shutter
speed, and program in use; it also includes information about a host of
other settings ranging from the image size and mode to the ISO, white
balance, exposure compensation, shooting mode and the number of frames
remaining.
The primary control of the Dimage 5 is the Mode Dial, located on
top of the body near the back. It has 6 positions:
Power
On/Off is equipped with a locking mechanism that prevents the camera
from being turned on accidentally.
Still
image recording mode.
Playback.
Movie
mode.
Basic
camera Setup.
USB
Connection mode.
The
second most important dial is on the top left side of the Dimage 5. It
is called the Function Dial and provides access to the most commonly
needed settings of the camera.
Image
Size,
Image
Quality,
Priority
Program Mode,
Drive,
White
Balance,
ISO
setting.
By
turning the Function dial to the desired option, and then holding
down the button at its centre, the setting can be changed by simply rotating
the Control dial next to the shutter release.
Effect is used — once again in
conjunction with the Control Dial — to make changes to exposure
compensation, contrast, or colour saturation.
A button close to the back of the camera allows switching between Manual
focus and Autofocus, and the lens barrel has a switch to engage the Macro
position when the lens is at its maximum of 250mm.
The
Minolta Dimage 5 uses a newly developed LCD EVF [EVF = Electronic ViewFinder]
which provides an image comparable to what would be achieved with 220,000
pixels. The display is bright and yields as good an image as can be had
with an electronic viewfinder. It also has a diopter correction positioned
next to the left of the rubber eyepiece.
The
viewfinder is designed so that it can be titled up vertically to 90°;
useful for shots that require the camera to be close to the ground and
would not allow the LCD screen to be visible.
The
remaining controls of the Dimage 5 are all on the back of the camera,
grouped on the left of the 1.8 inch LCD screen. First, near the viewfinder,
is a rotary switch that controls whether the EVF or the screen
is
used. It also has an Auto setting that lets the camera select automatically
either the viewfinder or the LCD screen using a sensor (the dark rectangular
areas on the right of the viewfinder's exit pupil) to detect the fact
that the user has brought the camera's viewfinder up to the eye.
Immediately
below is the Menu button; and further down the 4-direction control
that serves to make selections in the menus, or review photos. Again,
further down, is the Quick View control — to review a just
captured photo without having to resort to the Playback mode — and
which also allows deleting. Last and lowest on the back, is a square button
[]
that can either magnify an image under review (3.2X) or turn on the digital
zoom (2X). The digital zoom is simply an image cropping device that captures
a central portion of the image frame.
Finally,
completing the user controls on the back of the camera, is the AF/AE
Lock button, placed directly below the Mode Dial. Its function can
be configured in the camera menu to be either a straightforward AE Lock,
or an AF/AE Lock.
The
viewfinder is designed so that it can be titled up vertically to 90°;
useful for shots that require the camera to be close to the ground and
would not allow the LCD screen to be visible. 
used. It also has an Auto setting that lets the camera select automatically
either the viewfinder or the LCD screen using a sensor (the dark rectangular
areas on the right of the viewfinder's exit pupil) to detect the fact
that the user has brought the camera's viewfinder up to the eye.
]
that can either magnify an image under review (3.2X) or turn on the digital
zoom (2X). The digital zoom is simply an image cropping device that captures
a central portion of the image frame.