This information is strictly embargoed until 17th July 2003 PRESS INFORMATION The all new DiMAGE X20 Fun and Simplicity The new DiMAGE X20 is cool, easy and fun. Responsive performance and user friendly operation make this tiny, stylish camera a joy to use. The DiMAGE X20 inherits the incredible non extending zoom and fast start-up time from Minolta s X series digital cameras. In fact, the DiMAGE X20 is the world s smallest and lightest 2 megapixel camera with a 3x optical zoom.* We have packed the DiMAGE X20 with creative options that make digital photography fun. The DiMAGE X20 is built for a life on the go. It s so small and light that it can be slipped into a pocket or bag as easily as a wallet. So whether you are heading out for an evening of dancing, trekking through some exotic locale, or dropping in on a close friend, the DiMAGE X20 can go with you. The DiMAGE X20 has the world s fastest start-up time among digital cameras with an optical zoom.*just turn the camera on and in a second you are ready to take pictures. There are no complicated settings to be made nor thousands of buttons to press. The controls are simple and few. But the fun of digital photography is being able to see what you have taken immediately. With the press of a single button, you can access the recorded images. VGA (640 X 480) jpeg files of your favourite images can be collected in one folder so they can be shared by either using the camera as an electronic album or by sending them by e-mail. Images can be played back like a slide show complete with dissolves, wipes and fades either on the camera or a TV. Images can be rotated to orient them correctly so you don t need to twist your head to the left or right to view vertically framed shots. Minolta (UK) Limited Rooksley Park Precedent Drive Rooksley Milton Keynes MK13 8HF Phone 01908 200 400 Fax 01908 208 333 Press Contact Carole Trillian ctrillian@minolta.co.uk
Ever wanted to take a quick shot of you and a friend, but no one was around to help? The DiMAGE X20 s self portrait mode makes this a snap. While holding the camera at arms length, use the specially curved mirror on the front of the DiMAGE X20 to compose the picture, press the shutter button and you re done. Minolta s new multi-frame drive mode is great. Imagine capturing nine frames of a single event in one picture like the reaction of a friend as they walk in on a surprise party. The nine images are laid out in a 3 x 3 grid in a single frame. Easy to use modes help you capture the perfect picture. The portrait mode controls exposure, flash and image processing to emphasise the subject s complexion. For something a little different, images can be captured in one of five monochrome modes; the traditional greys of black and white, the warmth and ageless quality of sepia, or red, green and blue tones to add fun or feeling. Image Pasting allows one image to be placed in another for a creative touch. After choosing the background image, simply select the frame shape and size and position it over the background image. The live image is displayed in the selected frame. Compose the subject in the frame and press the shutter button to embed the image. The DiMAGE X20 will do more than just take photographs. XR (Extended Recording) movie processing allows digital video with audio to be captured and played back. The length of the XR movie is only limited by the memory card capacity and image size. Two image sizes can be selected: 160 x 120 pixels and 320 x 240 pixels. If you want to stop playing around and get serious about photography, the DiMAGE X20 will give you the options. The main 3 x 3 graphic menu gives easy and quick access to camera controls. Camera settings are changed with a simple five-way controller on the back of the camera. Ever wish you could have a face-to-face conversation with those good friends who have moved away? The DiMAGE X20 makes this possible as a remote camera for web communication. Simply use the supplied USB cable to connect the camera to a computer with a Microsoft Windows operating system and a compatible application such as Microsoft Net Meeting. The DiMAGE X20 starts with the essential elements and features for beautiful images. The camera is built around a high precision electro-optical system designed to maximise image quality. The system uses a 2.1 megapixel 1/3.2-type interline primary-colour CCD with 2.0 million effective pixels for fine images. This pixel resolution can produce A4 size 150dpi prints or postcard size photo quality prints.
The DiMAGE X20 uses Minolta s unobtrusive non-extending zoom lens. This revolutionary design uses internal folded optics, which does not change the slim profile of the camera even while recording. The 3x optical zoom, equivalent to a 37 111mm lens on a 35mm camera, is assisted by a 4x digital zoom giving a seamless zoom range of 12x. This zoom range is great for group shots or intimate portraits. 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 X20 combats this with a noise reduction function, which automatically activates for exposures of one second or longer. The high performance five point autofocus system makes taking beautiful, sharp images simple. Place the subject anywhere within the extra wide focus frames and the camera will do the rest. The camera uses visual and audio signals to confirm focus. The DiMAGE X20 is powered by easy to find AA batteries, both ubiquitous alkaline and rechargeable Ni-MH. No matter where you are in the world, you will never have to worry about finding extra batteries. Close-up pictures of all kinds of interesting things can be made with the DiMAGE X20. The lens focuses down to 10cm at all focal lengths without the need of a separate function. This covers an area of about 4 x 3cm. The DiMAGE X20 is packed with creative options that make digital photography fun. Sophisticated technology and responsive performance make this tiny, stylish camera a joy to use. * As of June 15 th, 2003.
Technical Specifications Number of effective pixels: CCD: Camera sensitivity: Focal length: Lens construction: Maximum aperture: Minimum focus distance: 2.0 million 1/3.2-type interline primary-colour CCD Total pixels: 2.1 million Auto (between ISO 64 200 equivalent), ISO 64,100, 200, 400 equivalents 4.8 14.4mm (35mm equivalent: 37 111mm) 10 elements in 9 groups (includes two doublesided aspheric elements) f/2.8 f/3.7 0.10m from front of camera Maximum magnification: 0.111x (1:9.01) Equivalent to 0.857x (1: 1.17) in 35mm format Area covered at maximum magnification: Monitor LCD: Shutter: Shutter speed range: Autofocus system: Autofocus areas: Metering: Multi-segment metering: 40 x 30mm 4.0cm digital-interface TFT colour monitor with anti-reflection coating Total pixels: 84,960 Automatic monitor amplification CCD electronic shutter and mechanical shutter 4-1/1000 s Video AF Wide focus area (five point AF) Multi-segment 256 segments
Exposure control: Exposure compensation: Flash range: Flash modes: Continuous advance: Self timer: Self portrait: Multi frame: Image pasting: Movie recording: Audio: White balance control: Toning: Portrait mode: Noise reduction: Programmed AE ±2 Ev in 1/3 increments Wide: 0.1 3.6m (approx.) Telephoto: 0.1 2.7m (approx.) (Camera sensitivity: auto) Autoflash, Autoflash with red-eye reduction, Fill-flash, Flash cancel, Night portrait Available 10 s (approx.) Subject program used with the mirror on the front of the camera. To capture 9 sequential images at 3fps displayed in a 3x3 grid in a single frame. Embeds an image within another image. Recording time dependent on memory card capacity and image size. Frame rate: 15fps Mono only. Voice memo: 15s (max) Audio caption: 15s (max.) Mono only. Automatic, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent) Neutral black and white, Sepia, Red tone, Blue tone, Green tone Optimises camera settings to enhance skin tones. Auto
Digital zoom: 4x (max.) in 0.1x increments Digital zoom can be disabled. E-mail Copy function: Creates a compressed 640 x 480 or 160 x 120 JPEG image for transmission. Favourites: Slide show: Rotate: Date imprinting: Key customisation: Image quality modes: To collect compressed 640 x 480 JPEG images on the memory card. With automatic dissolve effects. To manually orient vertical images for viewing. Year/month/day (Format can be changed.) Month/day/hour:minute Imprinting can be disabled. The function activated by the left and right keys of the controller can be changed. Fine, Standard, Economy Number of recorded pixels (Still images): 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 Number of recorded pixels (Movie clips): 320 x 240, 160 x 120 Storage capacity: Approximate storage capacity of an 8 MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card: 1600 x 1200 1280 x 960 640 x 480 Fine 6 frames 10 frames 31 frames Standard 12 frames 18 frames 48 frames Economy 22 frames 31 frames 68 frames Movie 19 seconds with 320 x 240 images 1 minute 14 seconds with 160 x 120 images *Still images recorded without voice memo or audio caption **Actual number of images may vary depending upon the subject and memory card.
File formats: Folder name formats: Printing output control: Recording media: Computer interface: Direct print: Remote camera: AV output: Batteries: Battery performance (Playback): JPEG, Motion JPEG (MOV), WAVE 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 2.0 (USB 1.1 compatible) Epson USB DIRECT-PRINT Live video feed without audio for web transmission NTSC, PAL (selected on the camera) Two AA batteries Approximate continuous playback time: 300 min. with alkaline batteries. Battery performance (Recording): Approximate number of recorded images: 110 frames. Based on the following test conditions: alkaline batteries, Full size images (1600 x 1200), Standard image quality, No instant playback, No voice memo, Flash used with 50% of the frames. External power source: Dimensions: Weight: Operating temperature: 3V DC with specified AC adapter (sold separately) 86 (W) x 67(H) x 23.5(D) mm 115 g (approx.) without battery or recording media 0-40ºC
Standard accessories: Optional accessories: Neck Strap NS-DG500 AV Cable AVC-200 USB Cable USB-500 8MB SD (Secure Digital) Memory Card Two AA Alkaline batteries DiMAGE Viewer Metal Chain Neck Strap NS-DG100 Camera Case & Strap CS-DG410* AC Adapter AC-6L or AC 6LE *Availability varies with region. Specifications and accessories are based on the information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice.
System Requirements Compatible computers when the camera is used as mass storage devise: 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 9.0 9.2.2, Mac OS X v10.1.3 10.1.5, and v10.2.1 10.2.6 and with a USB port as standard interface. * Users with Windows 98 and Windows 98 Second Edition operating systems must install dedicated driver software included in the DiMAGE X20 package. Minimum system requirements for the remote camera function: Computers IBM PC/AT compatible computers with a USB port as standard interface CPU Pentium II 300MHz or later processor (*1) Operating systems Windows XP Home, Professional, Me, 2000 Professional or 98 Second Edition RAM 128 MB of RAM. 256 MB with Windows XP. (*1) Hard-disk space 200 MB of free hard-disk space Monitor 800 x 600 monitor capable of displaying 16-bit colour quality. Tested applications Microsoft NetMeeting, Windows Messenger (*2) Other CD-ROM drive *1 The CPU and RAM must satisfy the requirements of the operating system. *2 The application software must be guaranteed by the manufacturer to work with the operating system. 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. System requirements are based on the latest information available at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. DiMAGE 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.