The look may be the same, but the resolution isn't. The Minolta Dimage
F300 looks identical to the Dimage F100 — same elongated metal
body and compact shape — but Internally however, the F300 provides
a 5-megapixel image size and improvements in a number of areas.
Minolta designed the Dimage F300 as a point and shoot, but also included
some more advanced modes. The Mode Dial with the shutter release in the
middle, provides access to all modes including the On/Off:
Auto:
is a fully automatic program mode which also features Automatic
Scene Selection. With Automatic Scene Selection, the camera
analyses the shooting conditions and subject, and attempts to select
the best Digital Subject Program to matches these. Failing that,
it defaults to the Programmed Auto Exposure (AE), or the
user can select the Scene mode manually.
Portrait:
optimises skin tones.
Sports:
is designed to stop action and uses full-time AF.
Landscape:
optimises saturation.
Sunset:
enhances the colours of the sunset.
Night
Portrait: uses a slow shutter speed to capture the background
and the flash to record the foreground.
Multi-function
recording mode: is the access for the Program mode, and
the priority — Aperture and Shutter — modes. In addition,
a full Manual mode is available with a maximum exposure time of
15 seconds, and a Bulb mode for added flexibility.
Movie
mode: is to record movie clips with sound.
Voice
Mode: is to record voice memos, or ambient sound.
Playback:
serves to review pictures, movies, or playback a sound recording.
is a menu access to set the basic configuration of the camera.
To
the left of the Mode Dial, a status screen indicates all the most important
settings of the F300 without having to use the LCD screen. The screen
shows the shooting modes, the number of photos remaining, flash mode,
image quality and size, and the battery state. In addition, it also indicates
if either the ISO setting, or the white balance, are set to something
other than auto.
Astride the back edge of the F300, two buttons provide for:
Flash
Modes: Auto, Auto with red-eye reduction, Fill Flash, Forced
Off, Fill Flash with Red-eye Reduction.
In addition, the same button serves to show a histogram and the
shooting data in Playback (Info).
Exposure
compensation: ± 2EV in 0.3EV increments. The exposure
compensation button also serves to toggle back and forth between
aperture selection and shutter speed selection when the camera is
used in the Manual shooting mode.
A 1.5 inch LCD screen with 110,000 pixels is embedded into the
left side of the F300's back, with four buttons aligned on its right side:
Subject
Program: also activates the macro mode which sets the lens to
the maximum telephoto position and provides a focus range of 20
to 60 cm (7.9 to 23.6 inch). In the Auto Mode, the button
can serves to manually select a specific Subject Program.
calls
the menu appropriate to the mode in use.
serves
as a fast access to the Playback without having to change the position
of the Mode Dial. This same button can also be used to delete a
photo.
controls
the display, cycling through LCD screen On with information overlay,
image only (no info overlay), LCD screen Off.
The
upper right side of the F300 is fitted with a 4-direction controller used
for menu navigation, and confirming a selection with its centre button.
The up and down arrows also serves to control the 3X optical zoom, while
the right and left arrows provide additional functions depending on the
recording mode.
In
the Manual, Aperture and Shutter Priority modes, the right and left can
be used to select speeds and apertures.
The Minolta F300 is a very compact and beautifully finished camera. Its
controls and their positions make it very easy to adjust, even when the
more advanced modes are used.
