This information is strictly embargoed until 7th August The new 3.2 megapixel 10x Mega-zoom

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Heather Daniel
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1 This information is strictly embargoed until 7th August 2003 PRESS INFORMATION The new 3.2 megapixel 10x Mega-zoom The DiMAGE Z1 is the first in a series of easy-to-use powerful SLR-type digital cameras. Designed around Minolta s new 10x Mega-zoom, the DiMAGE Z1 possesses advanced technology and Rapid AF so you can capture images in virtually any situation. High quality 30fps VGA movies expand its capabilities even more. This compact, stylish digital camera has the imaging tools to capture the pictures you want. The DiMAGE Z1 is the first Minolta digital camera to be equipped with the new 10x Mega-zoom lens. With a focal range of 5.8mm to 58mm, it is equivalent to a mm 35mm camera lens. When combined with the seamless 4x digital zoom, it has an amazing 40x zoom range, equivalent to a mm lens. The 10x Mega-zoom is a fast f2.8 f3.5 lens allowing fast shutter speeds for sport or natural light photography. The ten element seven group design employs two aspheric lenses to minimise aberrations and produce sharp images. Close-up photography has never been easier. At the press of a button, the Super Macro mode lets you focus down to 4cm from the front of the lens. This opens up a whole new world for you to explore. The DiMAGE Z1 with its incredible 10x mega zoom lens will astound, especially given the tiny proportions of the very stylish body in which it is housed. The digital camera to suit all occasions, for use by the whole family. Minolta (UK) Limited Rooksley Park Precedent Drive Rooksley Milton Keynes MK13 8HF Phone Fax Press Contact Carole Trillian ctrillian@minolta.co.uk

2 Such powerful optics combined with a high resolution 3.3 megapixel 1/2.7 interline primary-colour CCD requires a powerful autofocus system. The DiMAGE Z1 employs Rapid AF to ensure sharp images with minimum delay. Rapid AF uses a passive AF sensor to instantly estimate the distance to the subject and the camera s CCD to determine the precise focus point. A high speed drive focuses the lens quickly and smoothly. The CCD uses a 60fps sampling rate to determine the optimum focus, twice the rate of most digital cameras on the market today. All this translates into a 0.3 second focusing time at a focal length of 5.8mm and 0.4 seconds at 58mm, giving the DiMAGE Z1 the world s fastest AF among digital cameras with a built-in 10x or greater optical zoom.* Although the DiMAGE Z1 uses complex AF technology, focusing the camera could never be easier. Simply place the subject anywhere within the focus frames and the camera will do the rest; an AF sensor is briefly displayed so the subject can be confirmed. The DiMAGE Z1 is equipped with Minolta s unique Switch Finder. This unique system allows the camera s LCD monitor to be viewed directly or through the viewfinder. Since a single monitor is used, you need not worry about the colour, contrast and resolution difference between separate rear and viewfinder monitors. Because of the viewfinder s large apparent angle of view, the monitor image is large and clear. The Real Motion LCD monitor uses a 60fps frame rate. This Real Motion frame rate brings the live image to life by the ability to show action smoothly compared to the slower 30fps rate of conventional monitors. Minolta s new drive mode, Progressive Capture, makes sure you never miss the action. When the shutter release button is pressed and held, Progressive Capture begins saving images in the buffer memory. Simply watch the action on the monitor and when it is over, release the shutter button and the images in the buffer memory will be saved to the memory card catching the moment. Six frames are saved when using standard continuous advance and 10 frames when using UHS continuous advance. Standard continuous advance records at approximately 1.5 fps at any image size or quality setting. UHS (Ultra High Speed) continuous advance records 1.2 megapixel images at 10 fps. With such powerful optics, the affect of camera shake, a slight blurring of the image when the camera is handheld, can be a significant problem. Minolta engineers have developed an advanced program exposure line to maximise shutter speeds by controlling the aperture and camera sensitivity based on the subject program and focal length in use. Every aspect of the DiMAGE Z1 s performance is pushed to the limit. Start-up time is 2 seconds and shutdown time is 2.4 seconds. After focus has been locked, the shutter release time lag is 0.06 seconds, comparable to an SLR film camera. The camera will be ready to capture another image in 1.2 seconds after the exposure.

3 The DiMAGE Z1 packs our most powerful flash built into a digital camera yet. With a guide number of 12 in metres, the flash can illuminate a subject up to approximately 6m away when used at the wide angle position with autoexposure and auto camera sensitivity. The DiMAGE Z1 is compatible with the Minolta Program Flash 3600HS (D) or 5600HS (D) units as well as the latest addition to the line, the Program Flash 2500 (D). These powerful flash units can be used directly on the camera. The 3600HS (D) and 5600HS (D) have a zoom head that automatically adjust as the camera s lens is zoomed in and out, and their heads can be tilted for bounce illumination. The 5600HS (D) also has a swivel head and the flash output can be controlled with power ratios. The new 2500 (D) is a compact, automatic flash unit with a tilting head and an affordable price tag. The DiMAGE Z1 is not limited to capturing still images. High quality VGA (640 X 480) movies at 30 fps can be recorded. Image size and frame rate can be selected to balance image quality with file size. Three image sizes are available: 640 X 480, 320 X 240, and 160 X 120. Because of the high frame rate of the CCD, movies may be shot at 30fps to create natural flicker-free images, or 15fps to maximise recording time. The length of the movie is only limited by the memory card capacity, image size and frame rate. Because the DiMAGE Z1 can capture large, high quality VGA (640 X 480) movies, image sharpness and brightness is very important. During recording the DiMAGE Z1 will continue to focus to provide the sharpest possible image. The night movie mode can make colour recordings under extreme low light conditions. The DiMAGE Z1 design reflects the sophistication and future of digital technology. Significantly smaller than a compact 35mm SLR camera with a built-in flash and zoom lens, this powerful imaging system can easily slip into a small bag and weighing only 305g, it will not be a burden. The controls and dials are laid out for clear, intuitive operation. The large exposure mode dial and zoom lever are located on the top of the grip for quick changes to camera settings to meet shifting shooting conditions. Placed on the back of the camera, the controller is a straightforward five way array used to control many of the camera s advanced features and menus. The large grip gives the DiMAGE Z1 secure, comfortable handling. When handholding the camera in low light conditions or when using long focal lengths, nothing is more important than a well balanced grip to keep the camera steadily. Easy to find AA batteries power the DiMAGE Z1. Ubiquitous alkaline or rechargeable Ni-MH can be used. No matter where you are in the world, you will never have to worry about finding extra batteries.

4 In the past, photographers always had to make time consuming manual adjustments as the subject and shooting environment changed. The DiMAGE Z1 s Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection analyses the shooting conditions and selects among five subject programs and programmed AE to optimise the camera s exposure, white balance, and image processing controls. The five subject programs, portrait, sports action, landscape, sunset and night portrait, cover common and specialised shooting conditions and can be selected manually. When working in less than ideal lighting conditions, precisely framing an image on the monitor is difficult. Automatic monitor amplification brightens the monitor under low light so the live image is always visible. CxProcess II, Minolta s new image processing technology, is employed to bring out the best in the 3.3 megapixel 1/2.7 interline primary colour CCD. CxProcess II controls the essential image qualities of colour, contrast and sharpness while minimising noise. Brilliant, saturated colour remains vibrant without becoming unnatural or flat. Subtle contrast is rendered to retain the richness and depth of the subject while preserving details in the highlights and shadows. Sharpness is controlled by balancing resolution with acutance to show fine detail while minimising hard, unnatural edges. To extend the versatility of the powerful 10x Mega-zoom, an optional 0.75x wide converter is available. This lens attachment increases the lens angle of view giving it a maximum coverage approximately equal to a 28mm lens on a 35mm camera. The adapter ring supplied with the wide converter allows 52mm filters to be used with the camera. Operations can be tailored to meet the photographer s needs. The function set using the flash mode button can be customised to control the flash mode, white balance, drive mode, focusing mode, or colour mode. Images can be rotated to orient them correctly so you don t need to twist your head to the left or right when playing back vertically framed shots. Dark noise, an ever present problem in electronic systems, manifests itself by giving a grainy or sandy appearance to images taken with long exposures. DiMAGE Z1 combats this with a selectable noise reduction function, which automatically activates for exposures of one second or longer. The controls over exposure are amazing. Four exposure modes are available: program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual. 30 second bulb exposures can be made in manual exposure. The DiMAGE Z1 has three metering modes: multi-segment, centre-weighted, and spot. Multi-segment metering uses 256 segments to determine exposure.

5 As well as Natural Colour and black and white, the DiMAGE Z1 has two colour modes for creative control: Vivid colour and Sepia. Vivid Colour increases the saturation to produce vibrant colour images. Sepia creates the feel of antique photographs with its warm tone. White balance controls how the camera interprets the colour of the ambient lighting. Auto white balance compensates for changes in lighting automatically. Five preset white balance settings, daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent and flash, can be selected for specific light sources for critical control over colour, the custom setting allows the camera to be calibrated to the lighting conditions at the scene. The excitement of digital photography is being able to see what you have taken immediately. With the flick of a switch, you can access the recorded images and playback is fluid from frame to frame. The DiMAGE Z1 possesses advanced technology and powerful optics so you can capture the pictures you want, even high quality 30fps VGA movies. This compact, stylish digital camera has the imaging tools to capture images in virtually any situation. *As of July 1st, 2003.

6 Technical Specifications Number of effective pixels: CCD: Camera sensitivity: Focal length: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: 3.2 million 1/2.7-type interline primary-colour CCD Total pixels: 3.3 million Auto and 50,100, 200, and 400 ISO equivalents mm (35mm equivalent: mm) 10 elements in 7 groups (includes two elements with three aspheric surfaces) f/2.8 f/3.5 Minimum focus distance: Wide: 0.5 from front of lens Telephoto: 2m from front of lens Wide: 0.57m from CCD Telephoto: 2.07m from CCD Minimum macro distance: Super Macro Standard macro Focal length 9.7mm* Wide Telephoto From front of lens 4 cm 10cm 120cm From CCD 11 cm 17cm 127cm * at 9.7mm only Maximum magnification: 0.12x (1: 8.33) Equivalent to 0.79x (1: 1.27) in 35mm format Area covered at maximum magnification: LCD monitor: 33 x 44mm 3.8cm (1.5 inch) low temperature polysilicon TFT colour with anti-reflection coating Total number of pixels: 113,000 Automatic monitor amplification

7 Field of view: Display mode switch: Viewfinder: 98% (approx.) LCD monitor: 100 % (approx.) Viewfinder display, LCD monitor display Switch Finder system allows the monitor to be viewed directly or through the viewfinder. Dioptre control: 3 ~ +1m -1 Eye relief: Shutter: Shutter speed range: Autofocus system: Autofocus areas: Focus modes: Focus lock: Metering: Multi-segment metering: Exposure modes: Digital Subject Programs: 18.8mm CCD electronic shutter and mechanical shutter 4-1/1000 s in programmed-ae and aperture priority modes. 15-1/1000 s in shutter priority and manual exposure modes. 2-1/1000 s in auto recording and Digital Subject Programs Bulb (max. 30 s) Rapid AF: a combination of a passive AF sensor with the video AF system Wide focus area Spot focus areas with Focus Area Selection Single shot AF, Full time AF, Manual focus. By pressing shutter release button partway down. Multi-segment, Centre-weighted, Spot 256 segments Programmed AE, Aperture priority, Shutter priority, Manual Portrait, Sports action, Landscape, Sunset, Night portrait. Automatic and manual selection.

8 Exposure compensation: AE lock: Flash metering: Flash range: Flash modes: Flash recycling time: Flash compensation: Flash-sync speeds: External flashes: Continuous advance: ±2 Ev in 1/3 increments By pressing shutter release button partway down Pre-flash TTL Wide: m (approx.) from CCD Telephoto: m (approx.) from CCD (Camera sensitivity: auto) Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill flash, Slow shutter sync. Autoflash not available with aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes. Flash cancel by pushing the built-in flash down. 7 s (approx.) ± 2 Ev in 1/3 increments All shutter speeds Auto-flash metering with Program Flash 2500 (D), Program 3600HS (D), Program Flash 5600HS (D) UHS (Ultra High Speed) continuous advance: Ten 1280x960 frames in one second (approx. Standard continuous advance: 1.5 fps (approx.) *Actual speed may vary depending upon the subject and camera settings. Approximate number of frames that can be captured at one time with the continuous advance drive modes:

9 UHS continuous advance 1280x960 Fine Standard 10 frames Economy Standard continuous advance 2048x x x x480 Fine 5 frames 8 frames 13 frames 42 frames Standard 10 frames 16 frames 24 frames 67 frames Economy 19 frames 30 frames 42 frames 94 frames * Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and camera settings. Progressive Capture: Exposure bracketing: Self timer: Movie: Stores images from the built-in memory to the memory card from the latest frame captured with the continuous advance. Maximum number of images that can be recorded with the Progressive Capture mode: UHS: 10 frames Standard: 6 frames Three frame bracket in 1.0, 0.5, 0.3 Ev increments 10 s (approx.) Recording time dependent on memory card capacity, image size, and frame rate. Frame rate: 15fps, 30 fps Fast forward and rewind control. With and without mono with playback volume control. Jogging Movie frame capture Night movie (automatic selection or disabled)

10 White balance control: Digital Effects Control: Contrast compensation: Sharpness settings: Colour modes: Noise reduction: Digital zoom: Copy function: Copy function: Date imprinting: Key customisation: Image quality modes: Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash), Custom Contrast compensation, Sharpness Three levels (Low, Normal, High) Three levels (Soft, Normal, Hard) Natural Colour, Vivid Colour, Black and white, Sepia User selectable dark noise reduction 4x (max.) in 0.1x increments To copy single or multiple images to the same or another memory card. Creates a compressed 640x480 or 160x120 JPEG image for transmission. Year/month/day (Format can be changed.) Imprinting can be disabled The function activated by the flash mode button can be changed. Fine, Standard, Economy Number of recorded pixels (Still images): 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x x 960 in UHS continuous advance mode Number of recorded pixels (Movie clips): 640x480, 320x240, 160x120

11 Storage capacity: Approximate storage capacity of a 16MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card: Still images 2048x x x x480 Fine 13 frames 18 frames 25 frames 88 frames Standard 19 frames 31 frames 45 frames 113 frames Economy 33 frames 50 frames 69 frames 150 frames Movie clips 640x x x fps 13 s 21 s 1 min. 22 s 15 fps 26 s 41 s 2 min. 30 s * Movie clips recorded with audio. * Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and memory card used. File formats: Folder name formats: Printing output control: Recording media: Computer interface: Direct print: JPEG, Motion JPEG (MOV) DCF 1.0-compliant DPOF-compliant (Supported by printing functions in ver. 1.1) Exif 2.2 Standard, Date Exif Print, PRINT Image Matching II SD (Secure Digital) Memory Cards, MultiMediaCards Full speed 12Mbps USB USB DIRECT-PRINT

12 AV output: Batteries: Battery performance (Playback): NTSC, PAL (selected on the camera) Four AA batteries: Alkaline, Ni-MH Approximate continuous playback time: 300 min. with alkaline batteries. Battery performance Approximate number of recorded images: 250 (Recording): frames with alkaline batteries, LCD monitor on, Full size images (2048x1536), Standard image quality, No instant playback, No Full time AF, Flash used with 50% of the frames. External power source: Dimensions: Weight: Operating temperature: Standard accessories: Optional accessories: 6V DC with specified AC adapter (sold separately) (W) x 77.5(H) x 80(D) mm 305g without batteries or recording media 0-40ºC Neck Strap NS-DG5000 Lens Cap LF-242 Accessory Shoe Cap SC-1000 AV Cable AVC MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card USB Cable USB-500 DiMAGE Viewer ArcSoft VideoImpression CD-ROM Four AA Alkaline batteries AC Adapter AC-1L or AC-11 Camera Case CS-DG600 Leather Neck Strap NS-DG1000 External High Power Battery Pack Kit EBP-100 Wide Converter Kit ZCW-100 Specifications and accessories are based on the information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.

13 System Requirements IBM PC/AT compatible computers with Windows XP, Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows Me, Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 98*, or Windows 98 Second Edition* and with a USB port as standard interface. Apple Macintosh computers with preinstalled Mac OS , Mac OS X v , and v and with a USB port as standard interface. The computer and operating system must be guaranteed by their manufacturers to support USB interface. Problems may be encountered depending on what other USB devices are being used in parallel with this product. Only a built-in USB port is supported. Problems may be encountered when the camera is connected to a USB hub. Normal operation may not be possible even when all the system requirements are met. * Users with Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition must install dedicated driver software included in the DiMAGE Z1 package. System requirements are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. DiMAGE, CxProcess, and Minolta are trademarks or registered trademarks of Minolta Co., Ltd. Windows is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Macintosh is a trademark or registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. Other corporate names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

1/2.7-type interline primary-colour CCD Total pixels: 3.3 million. Auto and 50,100, 200, and 400 ISO equivalents mm (35mm equivalent: mm)

Technical Specifications Number of effective pixels: CCD: Camera sensitivity: Focal length: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: 3.2 million 1/2.7-type interline primary-colour CCD Total pixels: 3.3 million