The Minolta DiMAGE X20 is
a another version of the DiMAGE
X reviewed here in May 2000.
The DiMAGE X20 is equipped with a similar vertical 3X zoom as the
DiMage X, and a 2 megapixel resolution.
The LEDs light up when the camera
is powered on, and cycle through a rainbow colours which is tied
to the camera sounds. In addition, the LEDs also serves as the
self-timer light.
The lens is protected by a sliding metal shutter, and a convex mirror to
its left serves to capture self-portraits, avoiding the need to hand the
camera to a stranger.
2-stage shutter
release, the On/Off power switch, and the Recording
Mode Switch, which selects the still image mode or the movie
mode. (See the Characteristics section of the review for more
details on the recording modes.)
The few other external controls are on the back of the X20.
Starting on the right, thebutton
acts to get in and out of the menus.
Below, another button ,
starts the Playback mode. This button can also start the
DiMAGE X20, by-passing the On/Off button, placing the camera
directly in Playback mode without opening the lens cover. In
addition, once in Playback mode, pressing the button a second
time switches the X20 to the recording mode.
The largest control is the Controller, composed of two half circular
buttons and an up/down rocker switch at the centre that can also be pressed
in like a mouse button.
The three parts of the Controller
serve to navigate the X20's menus, while the centre rocker also
serves to control the 3X zoom of the camera in the recording
mode.
In playback, the rocker button can magnify an image shown on the screen
when pushed up to [T], or display thumbnails (6 per screen) when
pushed towards the bottom [W].
Moreover, the Recording menu makes
it possible to assign any one of four functions to the right/left
buttons or none:
Flash Mode;
Exposure compensation;
Drive Mode;
White Balance.
The DiMAGE X20 does not have an optical viewfinder. The 1.6
inch LCD monitor is the only means to frame shots, and
it dominates the left side of the screen. To its right a raised
area contains the speaker to playback sounds recorded with
the X20 (the microphone is tucked away on the front of the
camera behind a series of little holes next to the flash).
In the recording mode, pressing and holding in the up/down rocker switch
of the directional control turns on or off the information overlay of the
LCD monitor.
The information overlaid on the
monitor shows:
Focus brackets;
Capture mode;
Flash mode;
Image size and Compression settings;
Exposure Compensation if any;
Drive mode;
Frame Counter;
and a white dot in the lower right to indicate autofocus.
Ergonomically, the weakest point in the design
of the controls of the X20 is probably the directional control,
and in particular the rocker switch in the centre. The deign
of the menu system starts with a screen that presents nine on-screen
buttons that are shortcuts to commonly needed functions and which
require the use of the rocker control to move up or down. Regrettably,
the control's shape makes it difficult to manipulate with precision,
and the result is that what should be a simple operation, moving
around on the shortcut screen, often requires more than one attempt.
The Minolta DiMAGE X20 is a simple,
compact camera that is light and avoids complicated features
conceived for users that want an easy to use and reasonably priced
camera.
Compare Prices for Minolta Dimage X20 Digital Camera Battery (B-160)
Introduction
button
acts to get in and out of the menus.
,
starts the Playback mode. This button can also start the
DiMAGE X20, by-passing the On/Off button, placing the camera
directly in Playback mode without opening the lens cover. In
addition, once in Playback mode, pressing the button a second
time switches the X20 to the recording mode.
