Konica Revio KD-510z (Minolta DiMAGE G500) Photo Gallery by Jim Cockfield at pbase.com

Konica Revio KD-510z (Minolta DiMAGE G500)

Here are a few photos from the Konica KD-510z. This camera was also introduced as the Minolta DiMAGE G500. So that users can see what the camera can do, all photos in this album are "straight from the camera", except for redeye reduction in some (these names will end with fixed). Many photos are using Normal versus Fine JPEG Quality, too (you'll see the ones taken using Fine Quality marked as such).

Click on any photo to see it larger. Then select the desired viewing size from the menu under the photos (small, medium, large, original).

For General Tips & Camera Settings, see the 24-Jan-2004 19:11 forum entry (below the photos).

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Pict0729.jpg, ISO200, HOT Wings at Kasataways Food and Sprints	PICT0825.JPG - TV Dinner	PICT0850.JPG - Same TV Dinner	Pict2019.jpg - Taken from Passenger side of Van, through Driver's Side Open Window
Pict2214.jpg - Riding in a van on Powder Springs Road, Marietta, GA (see van antenna on left side of photo)	PICT0081.jpg - Taken by new G500 owner & dpreview.com forum poster qlguy (camera defaults using autoexposure)	Pict3139.jpg - Autoexposure - Hand Held in Macro Mode w/Flash	Pict3359.jpg
Pict2656.jpg - Autoexposure - Hand Held in Macro Mode w/Flash	Pict3441.jpg - Autoexposure - Hand Held in Macro Mode w/Flash	PICT4897.JPG	PICT4903.JPG
PICT4906.JPG	PICT4913.JPG	PICT5613.JPG - ISO 200, 1/15 sec, 2m Focus w/Flash	PICT8181Rotate.jpg

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Guest		03-Sep-2011 03:11
Jim, thanks for keeping this great resource posted. I have tried the gamut of vintage digitals for fun and, yes, the Dimage G500/600 is one of the real winners. Focus accuracy, clarity, resolution and pleasing scene rendition. Also, you can take macro flash and not get a washed out image. Although, nothing beats the Coolpix 995 when it comes to automatically controlled flash for macro. I recommend Rawker for opening RAW jpegs from the G500/600.

Guest		03-Sep-2011 03:10
Jim, thanks for keeping this great resource posted. I have tried the g amut of vintage digitals for fun and, yes, the Dimage G500/600 is one of the real winners. Focus accuracy, clarity, resolution and pleasing scene rendition. Also, you can take macro flash and not get a washed out image. Although, nothing beats the Coolpix 995 when it comes to automatically controlled flash for macro. I recommend Rawker for opening RAW jpegs from the G500/600.

mghodder		22-Jul-2008 21:12
Hi I am having a problem with my g5000 .It is stuck on the internal memory and even when I put in media cards it will not recognize Media cards.

IWANTBLUE V6....NOW v8		26-Jan-2008 09:24
well its a two year late coment , but after my kd400z being dropped I plumped for a G600 and the only bad thing I have to say about it is the writing wore off the front of the body :P The G600 was quality quality quality.. great solid feel great pics and feels as good today as back in april 05 when I bought it :) Sorry if you find this a bit random, but as this was such a great resource I figured I should repost when i stumbled on it again :) Thanks for the help back in 2005 Jim :) a good choice ;)

Jeff		27-Aug-2007 19:13
Hey Jim, Great site! My question is simple...G600, all functionality is fine except for the lens/sensor. While the lens retracts and mounts with ease, no image is viewable on either viewfinder/LCD screen. The viewfinder does work, however, both when displying menu information in picture mode and has full functionality in veiwer mode. So, The sensor is damaged, busted, right? I guess I'm asking a) how do I verify the sensor is ruined, damaged? b) if it is ruined/damaged, is there some type of pdf guide to DIY repair/upgrades? Thanks for the help, kimo sabe, Jeff

Jim Cockfield		01-Dec-2006 21:49
Jordan: The only thing I use the profiles for is ISO speed. I'm unaware of any way to associate functions that you don't see under the Quality menu with a Profile, and I don't know of an easier way to access it's menu choice.

Jordan		30-Nov-2006 17:59
Jim... Many thanks for all the useful info and tips for the Minolta G series. Like many others, I bought one (G600) after reading your reviews and postings. I have a couple of further questions to trouble you with: When setting up a custom profile under the quality settings, apart from the offered settings of ISO, contrast, etc, is there any way to associate other features (e.g. white balance, fill flash on, etc - with that particular profile? I mean so that when you switch to that profile, the camera will default to pre-chosen settings for these features other than those you happen to have selected at the time? If not, and bearing in mind your advice to leave most settings on the default, it would seem that the custom-profile is really just a way of over-riding the auto ISO (which is still very useful, of course...) Secondly, is the only way of activating a custom profile by going through the MENU > QUALITY > SET sequence? Many thanks once again... My second question

Jim Cockfield		10-Nov-2006 23:26
See this thread: http://www.network54.com/Forum/151930/message/1126156668/Fixed+Stuck+Lens+-+Dimage+G500

RUTH		10-Nov-2006 20:53
I HAVE A KONICA MINOLTA G500 CAMERA AND I DROPPED IT YESTERDAY WITH THE LENS OPEN. IT IS NO LONGER GUARANTED. I HAVE TAKEN THE FRONT OFF AND WIGGLED THE LENS AND MOVED THE BLACK COIL BUT THE LENS JUST WON'T BUDGE. HAVE YOU ANY OTHER SUGGESTIONS?

Jim Cockfield		02-Jul-2006 22:58
Dan: . It sounds like it's got some kind of a microswitch in the cover that controls it. But, I don't know how it works or how to fix it if it's sticking.

Dan		02-Jul-2006 03:35
I own the G400, and I was just recently taking pictures. When I went to turn it off, the lens wouldn't go in. After moving the lens cover back and forth a few times with no response, I took the battery out, and put it back in. I then pressed the "play" button, which made the lense go in for a second, so I moved the cover over it. The lense tried to come out, and the MF00C error, which I already understand. Once I moved the cover off again, the lense came out instantly. Once again, when I went to turn it off, the lense wouldn't go back in. I'm assuming the mechanism that tells the camera to turn off has an error to it? Any tips on this?

Jim elder		20-Apr-2006 16:01
Thanks for that info Jim, it's the KD-510z. I did notice a firmware download somewhere, so I'll do that. thanks again, Jim

Jim Cockfield		20-Apr-2006 15:50
Jim: If you want to use the newer Sony Memory Stick Pro Format (capacities over 128mb), you'll need to make sure you have updated firmware. Versions 3.38a or later are required for Memory Stick Pro cards. It's also a good idea to upgrade the firmware if you plan on using Secure Digital cards over 128mb. Do you have a KD-510z or G500? The firmware is the same version for both. But, it's different firmware.

Jim elder		20-Apr-2006 13:10
Hi jim It's a great camera. I've also got a megabucks Nikon & lenses. The photos I take with the Konika outnumber the Nikon by about 300 to 1, so guess which I get the best photos with. I am trying to find info on which memory sticks are compatible, - there are several types, high speed etc. Any ideas?

Jim Cockfield		29-Mar-2006 18:08
Sanjay: ISO speed is under the Quality Menu choice. You can set it differently for two user profiles and select the one you want. White Balance is settable via the down arrow key (toggles between choices). See the 24-Jan-2004 19:11 forum entry below for how to turn all available choices on (via the Setup, Custom menu). .

Sanjay		26-Mar-2006 02:39
I see this option White Balance = incandescent (3) used in this picture: http://www.pbase.com/kd510z/image/17408305 But I don't see this option in my G500.

Sanjay		26-Mar-2006 02:22
G500 questions: Can anyone tell me how to set ISO level in G500? I upgraded the firmware recently, so should be able to change ISO, but how to do that?

Jim Cockfield		28-Feb-2006 21:03
PBrightman: The shutter speeds a camera can achieve and get proper exposure for any given lighting are based on aperture, which is a ratio between the focal length of the lens, and the area of the diameter of the aperture iris; and, ISO speed (which controls the sensitivty of the sensor to light, by amplifying it's signal as ISO speeds are increased). Larger Apertures (smaller f/stop numbers) let in more light, just like the pupils in your eyes get wider in low light. Higher ISO speeds allow you to get faster shutter speeds, because the camera can "expose" the sensor faster for the same amount of light, if it amplifies it's output. Staying on the wide end of the lens (don't zoom in as much) wiill allow the camera to select larger apertures (smaller f/stop numbers). This lets in more light (you lose light as you zoom in more). The camera's autoexposure algoirithms will already be selecting the largest available aperture for the amout of zoom you're using in less than optimum lighting. Using a higher ISO speed also helps. Each tiime you double the ISO speed, the camera can use shutter speeds twice as fast for the same lighting and aperture. But, you also increase noise levels (similar to the way you get grainier photos using higher ISO speed film).. So, don't increase it any more than necessary to achieve the desired results. If you are not using a flash, the camera is defaulting to ISO 50. That's not very good if you need faster shutter speeds. So, you can change that under the Quality menu to something higher by using one of the custom profiles there. Go with ISO 100 or 200 if you want faster shutter speeds. The higher the ISO speed, the more noise. I'd avoid ISO 400 unless absolutely necessary (noise levels are fairly high at ISO 400). You can get free software to reduce the appearance noise like the Community Edition of Noiseware fromhttp://www.imagenomic.com or the demo/free version of Neat Image fromhttp://www.neatimage.com ..

PBrightman		28-Feb-2006 18:18
Dear Jim: You may have addressed this question previously but there is so much to read. I intend to keep reading your suggestions - they are great. I was first very disappointed in my G600 until I realized it was surely not the camera - it is me. Does the G600 have an action mode of any sort? Would this be in the ISO settings? Can you help? I love to go to my niece and nephew's sporting events. Sometimes I get pretty good pictures, other times not so much because I haven't adjusted for action. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Jim Cockfield		28-Feb-2006 01:37
The slow shutter menu is designed to let you set the slowest shutter speed for flash. If you turn slow shutter to on, you'll see the choices. That's not the same thing as wanting to set a specific shutter speed. You need to use manual exposure for that. Select the Manual Exposure Menu choice The meter read the light with a half press and release of the shutter button. You can set the aperture via up/down keys, and set the shutter speed via right and left controller keys. The LCD shows you if your settings will result in an underexposed or overexposed photo (with the amount shown in 0.3 EV Increments from –2.0 to +2.0 -- allowing you to adjust the aperture/shutter speed combination selected for best results (in the middle at 0 is properly exposed).

OLNi		26-Feb-2006 12:44
Hi I cannot find out where i can change the shutter speed? Under the Slow Shutter Menu i only have "SET ON/OFF"... pls...any1 know?

Jim Cockfield		17-Feb-2006 16:42
huy: What's bright to the human eye is dim to a camera's lens. By default, the camera is going to use ISO 50 with flash off. That's not very sensitive when shooting in less than optimum lighting. With flash on, it will use ISO 100 more often than not. But, flash range is very limited for outdoor use, and the portions outside of the flash range can be underexposed ;-) When taking photos outdoors in less than optimum lighting, I typically bump up my ISO speed to around 200 (which will give you shutter speeds 4 times as fast for the same lighting and aperture compared to ISO 50), to help reduce motion blur from camera shake or subject movement. I'll also shoot with the flash forced off outdoors, unless I need it for fill with closer subjects. You can change ISO speed by using a custom profile under the Quality menu. With higher ISO speeds, noise will increase (the grain you can see). But, if you underexpose a photo, noise will also increase, just as if you used higher ISO speeds. The trick is to make sure you are getting shutter speeds fast enough to prevent motion blur (and increasing ISO speed can help), yet not set it too high as to introduce any more noise than necessary. Another thing that can cause underexposed photos is a shutter speed that's too fast for the lighting condtions. By default, Konica will always use a 1/60 second or faster shutter speed with normal flash modes, and will have a slowest shutter speed of 1/8 second without a flash. You'll see some of these settings under a menu choice for Slow Shutter speeds. Scroll down tothe 24-Jan-2004 19:11 forum entry for some tips on cameras settings available to you. Dark photos are probably being caused because the light is too low for the ISO speed selected (or you have the flash on or in Auto in less than optimum lighting outdoors), and the camera is already at it's slowest allowable shutter speed. So, it has no choice but to underexpose (resulting in dark images). If light is that dark, you probably need to use a tripod and set the camera so that it can use longer exposures via the slow shutter menu. Using more optical zoom can also impact the shutter speeds a camera can use (since more than twice as much light reaches the sensor through the lens at it's widest zoom setting, compared to it's longest zoom setting). Or, you may have accidently changed something impacting metering. For example, you're using spot metering instead of center weighted metering, and focusing on something bright enough to cause the rest of the scene to be underexposed. As a first step, I'd probably reset the camera back to factory defaults (Setup, Reset), in case you changed something impacting exposure. Then, try the photos again, and if you still have problems, post an example so that users can give you tips on what you can change in the same conditions for better results. Try the forums athttp://www.stevesforums.com and you'll find users that are willing to help out. Ditto for the forums athttp://www.dpreview.com

Dragan		16-Feb-2006 14:43
Topic: Dimage G600 hidden Screens I wonder if anyone knows what these options do? I've only tried 'RAW DATA MODE' myself. Here are links to hidden G600 menu listings: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=17162262 http://www.minolta-forum.de/index.php?showtopic=12404&st=0&p=147506&#

huy		14-Feb-2006 21:07
hi all, ive had the g500 for a while now and want to see if your cameras are like mine. Do you notice that it does not handle low-light situations well. If there is low light, the pictures come out really grainy for me. Someimes when it seems like there is a reasonably good amount of light outside, the picture comes out really dark. My main concern is the graininess of the dark pictures. Is anyone else experiencing this?

Jim Cockfield		12-Jan-2006 14:28
Dave: My best guess is that damage is occuring to lens mechanisms due to impact damage (or blocking the lens mechanism while it's trying to extend, damaging a gear). My KD-510z has been dropped more than once (cover closed), kicked across concrete by accident, and even lost in the yard after it fell out of my pocket once (workers erecting a new telephone pole found it after I'd given up on it). It still works fine. I consider it to be a tough little camera. As for the smaller models (G400, G530), I have no experience with them.

Dave		12-Jan-2006 05:06
Most of this thread appears to concern the Konica-based Konica-Minolta digicam products. I am currently considering the K-M G530, which appears to be based on the previous Minolta G400, which differs from the platform used for the G500 and G600. I am somewhat spooked by user reviews posted on the web suggesting a high incidence of (costly to repair) problems with the mechanism for retracting the lens of the Minolta G400. Are such problems common to that model and to it's apparent successor, the G530.

Jim Cockfield		29-Dec-2005 15:23
Mat: That doesn't sound good at all. Most of the time with the Konica KD-400z, KD-410z, KD-500z and KD-510z if there is impact damage to the lens mechanism, you'll see something like s0042. Sometimes a gear in the lens mechanism has become jammed when this type of error is reported.. But, the KD-420z (a.k.a, Minolta G400) is different compared to previous models in this series.. KM redesigned the menus, etc. with it (and it has a different lens, sensor size, body size, etc.). So, I'm not familiar with it's error codes.

Jim Cockfield		29-Dec-2005 15:19
Guest: No, the camera does not have a way to stamp the photos with it. Personally think that date stamps can ruin photos (my opinion anyway, since the date stamp can be pretty unsightly, especially if the color of the stamp happens to clash with the image you take). Everytime I see someone post a photo here with one, I cringe (but, that's probably just me). ;-) But, you can get software to print a date/time stamp on a photo, if you really have a need for it. The settings a camera used to take a photo are included in the EXIF (a header that is part of your images). This header includes the date and time an image was taken. You can get free software that can read the date the photo was taken, and stamp your images with the date if desired. One example of a free utility is Exifer for Windows (it's watermark feature can read the date information, and place it on the photos in batch mode). There are more programs that can do this, too. Using this technique (instead of a camera's date stamp feature), insures that you always have originals without the date stamp (since it can be unsightly). Simply work with copies of your originals so you'll have versions with and without a date stamp. Some printing software can also place the date on a photo when printing (reading it from the header in the image file). Even the free software Canon includes with some of it's newer Pixma printers has this feature (and some third party printing software like QImage Pro can also do this, with no date stamp feature in the camera needed).

Mat		26-Dec-2005 11:04
Hi Jim Seasons greetings! Hope you can help, i'm stuck. My konica revio kd420z took a knock yesterday and now the lens wont retract and the back screen keeps telling me "system error MF00C" is there a quick fix or shall i give it another knock (like under the tyres of my dicovery?.?.?.? Best regards Mat

Guest		26-Dec-2005 03:48
I have had this camera for a few years, but have never figured out how can I get the time/date superimposed onto the picture? Is this feature just not available?

Jim Cockfield		08-Nov-2005 04:00
Most image editors won't read a 16 bit PSD file properly (so they look too dark). As for the dull colors, dcraw.c doesn't do much in the way of image processing (other than conversion from raw). So, you'll want to use another editor for contrast enhancement, sharpening, etc. Personally, I think these little cameras do so well with image processing that shooting raw is probably more trouble than it's worth with them. The Konica engineers sure seemed to get it right. The opposite is true with the Konica Minolta DSLR models (you're better off shooting in raw, since the camera image processing isn't as good as the models designed by Konica prior to the merger with Minolta).

yakuza		05-Nov-2005 15:14
jim, thanks for your reply. i figured out that the reason as to why i can't get dcraw working was due to the bug after installing windows xp sp2. it has something to do with the autoexec.nt file in the system32 folder(it was supposed to be there but was missing). after copying it back from the windows/repair folder, i finally got dcraw working! hope this solution will help others that are facing the same problem. btw, when i use dcraw to create a 16-bit psd file, it came out dark, and the 8-bit file was quite dull in colour. any solutions to these? thanks a lot!

Jim Cockfield		27-Oct-2005 17:58
yakuza: Are you running Windows? dcraw.c will need to be a compiled .exe file (dcraw.exe) in order to run from a command prompt (Select Start, Run, then type CMD and press Enter). You'll need to use the -w option for it to use the camera's white balance settings. For example: dcraw -w pict9991.jpg pict9992.jpg You can enter one or more filenames on the command line. Note that even though the raw files from these models have a .jpg extension, they're actually raw versus jpeg. By default, it will output a .ppm file readable by many image editors. You can see all available options by typing dcraw by itself. You can download a compiled dcraw.exe file from here (a Mac version is there, too): http://www.insflug.org/raw/ or if you can compile it yourself, you can get the latest source from David Coffin's web site: http://www.cybercom.net/~dcoffin/dcraw/ As for your AF errors, I don't know if you messed it up or not. If you accidently go into one of the AF Calibration menu choices, it will mess it up (since it's expecting the camera to already be setup at a specific distance to a test target, and it starts a calibration without further warning). Once it's messed up, you may need a good target and plenty of light to get it recalibrated, experimenting with distance to the test target (2.3 or 2.4 meters, etc.). My advise is to stay out of those menu choices!

Guest		27-Oct-2005 10:07
made a mistake-- the second error message was 'AREA SET ERR'

yakuza		27-Oct-2005 09:26
hey JimC, i recently bought the g600, and i simply love it! i experimented with the raw mode, but couldn't get dcraw working on my comp, any solutions? anyway, i ventured into other menus in the developer menu and discovered some cool stuff, like the batt check mode--it tells u a more precise batt level and also, when u activate that mode, when u focus, there is a meter at the top right hand corner that tells u the distance from the subject. its a pretty handy feature. unfortunately, i went into the lens test mode and there were a series of error messages that popped out upon pressing the shutter button. i think the msgs were 'EEP SET OK' followed by 'AF AREA ERR' then the camera locks up, then the msg' EEP WRITE OK' appeared. next, the whole screen turned blue and theres a system error AF0A message and the camera powers down. i can still use the camera now, theres no noticeable decrease in AF performance, but im worried if i messed other stuff up in my camera. could anyone give me any advice or info? thanks in advance!

Jim Cockfield		09-Oct-2005 02:43
I thought that all of them were made in Malaysia, and didn't realize that some were not. Interesting. Let us know how it works out.

perrellik		12-Sep-2005 11:31
Hi, Jim. I read in the forum that you was tempting by Fuji F10. I have owned it and return it quickly. Bad camera. His only advantage is his high ISO performance (not high low light performance), and overall image quality is poor for a machine even expensive. Though F10 provides very fine details at image's 100%, overall image quality (and therefore the prints) is rather bad with a indistinct (blear) fog's presence. Moreover, purple fringing is very obtrusive and at f2,8 corners are softness; white portions of the images are without details and often other colours are oversaturated. No manual controls; no viewfinder; large but with a little pixels LCD. Not for partisanship, but G500 and G600's image quality is much better. Regards

perrellik		10-Sep-2005 11:33
Hi Jim. I know in internet that G600 is no more in production, so I bought another by www.mallteam.it at € 259,00 for my "dangerous" (for machine...!) trekking in Abruzzo's National Park. First G600 is 'made in Malaysia', the second 'made in China', and the second at f 2,8 is no sharp in corners as the first... boh! What's your opinion? Ciao

Jim Cockfield		09-Sep-2005 04:18
Thanks Eric. I've never had a problem like this with my camera. But, I have seen it reported before. I'll make sure to bookmark your post on how you fixed your camera. Thanks for sharing your results!

Jim Cockfield		09-Sep-2005 04:16
perrellik: I don't know if Konica-Minolta plans on releasing an upgrade using this same body and lens design. I've now got over 8,300 photos I've taken with my KD-510z (not as many as some people), and mine still works great! If KM would come out with the same model with higher ISO speeds, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'm actually thinking about buying a spare, just in case anything ever happens to mine. :-)

Eric		09-Sep-2005 02:33
I was able to recover from the S0042 system error. My experience may be helpful to others since the cost of the fix from Konica Minolta is now exceeding the cost of a new camera. I posted my experiences in the pertinant thread at: http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=151930&messageid=1098397473

perrellik		08-Sep-2005 18:01
Yes, my KD-400's firmware upgrade is 1.55a, and photo quality is slightly better if there are 1-2 hot pixels. Do you know if Konica Minolta is upgrading G500 - G600 line? Thank's

Jim Cockfield		07-Sep-2005 19:49
They are probably the same (KD-400z.bin from other Konica-Minolta sites, and KD-400z.bin from Konica-Minolta Japan). Sometimes KM Japan has newer versions posted. But, the KD-400z is old enough that they are probably the same now. Was the version you downloaded for the KD-400z version 1.55a? That's the latest one on the Konica-Japan web site.

perrellik		07-Sep-2005 19:23
Hi Jim, I want to thank you for your good explanations, but I want tell you that I just updated camera's firmwares (included kd400's firmware) after downloaded it by Konica-Minolta's website, except kd400z's firmware downloaded by Japanese website of KonicaMinolta. In your opinion, are they the same thing? The firmware that you know, are more recent? I have to do a new updating? Regards

Jim Cockfield		06-Sep-2005 19:55
I'm glad you like your camera! As for your comment on the KD-400z, make sure to update the firmware to the lastest version. Here is a direct download link to the firmware from Konica-Japan (it will work on non-Japan models, and still allows you to pick a language in the camera's setup). http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/support/download/rkd400/v155a/KD-400Z.BIN Here is the lastest firmware for the KD-500z: http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/support/download/rkd500/v338a/kd500j.exe It's a self extracting .exe file and will contain the needed .bin file. Here is where to find the firmware for your G500: http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/main/kmpi/content/cam/cam_SupportCenter/Support_Software You'll see some notes on installing new firmware in the 01-Feb-2004 14:25 entry in the forums on this page below.

perrellik		06-Sep-2005 19:00
Hi Jim, excuse me for my english but I am in Italy. Thank you for your reviews, and I want tell that recently I buy a Konica Minolta g600 and I love it. Then I buy in old shop in Rome a Konica kd-400, Konica kd-500 and Minolta G500!! They are extraordinary machines (although photo quality of the kd-400 is so so) and I hope that Konica Minolta upgraded G600 with G700, G800.....CIAO

Jim Cockfield		03-Aug-2005 02:43
Justin: I'm glad it worked out so well for you! Jim C.

Justin		16-Jul-2005 11:07
Update: I now have the camera back from Konica, and it works fine. Just to correct my post below. On finding the receipt for the insurance claim the original cost also included an SD card, so the repair was about a third of the 2003 cost of the camera... for only £20 more I could have bought the new 6mp version from Amazon, but then the insurance wouldn't have paid out!

Justin		10-Jul-2005 16:43
I would like to share my recent experiences with my KD510. I unfortunately dropped it onto a concrete floor, and much like buttered toast it naturally landed lens side down! The lens was pushed in about 1cm, and then would not move in or out. The camera was displaying the following error messages. S0042 on startup, and S004E and S00B when trying to take a photo or move the lens. (similar to Nick's problem below) I have just received the quote back to fix this from Konica Minolta UK and it's going to cost £110 including shipping. This is about a quarter of the cost I paid for this camera in Nov 2003. Interestingly none of this cost was for replacement parts... makes me think it could be cheaper to get this sort of fault fixed elsewhere. This price is okay to me as I love this camera and it's cheaper than buying another newer model. I hope this helps some other unfortunate owner!

Jim Cockfield		26-May-2005 14:16
Well, I've had this camera for a long time (even before it started shipping in the U.S.). So, I've discovered most of it's "quirks". The flash sensor is one of them. On the plus side, this model doesn't need a pre-exposure flash for metering. So, you don't get as many "eyes closed" shots as you do with other models (even when you're not using their redeye reduction modes). Instead, it's using the separate sensor to control flash, combined with how it metered the scene. It also appears to use focus distance information for flash purposes. For example, if you use a fixed focus choice (1 meter, 2 meters or 4 meters), you'll see an increase in scene brightness as your focus distance gets further away from the camera. Of course, redeye is pretty bad. ;-) Most of the time anymore, I leave my camera set to the 2 Meter Fixed Focus Choice indoors. At the wide angle lens setting, this usually works well enough to have good illumination/focus of subjects within the flash range (and eliminates any the Autofocus Lock problems).

Jim McGowan		26-May-2005 13:40
Yep. Looks like I'm guilty of sensor-blocking. Amazing how you knew that. You know, even after you mentioned this sensor I had to look at it quite a while, as it looks like it's a small screw! The distance may have been a factor in some crowd shots, but since I'm now in the habit of firing three or four of everything - hoping the flash would be OK on at least one - I usually manage to get one or more that works. I just took a number of test shots, now very conscious of the flash sensor, and it appears to be just that. My right middle finger, as you mention, rests very close to it. Looks like some behavior modification is in order! Thanks Jim.

Jim Cockfield		26-May-2005 11:37
Jim: Your underexposed Flash Photos (photos looking as if the flash did not fire) are probably being caused by the way you're holding the camera (unless you accidently forced the flash off). Chances are, your right middle finger is getting too close to the flash sensor. It's a tiny hole in the front of the camera just, below the flash. Take a few flash photos while slowly moving your finger closer to this hole, and you'll see what I mean. It doesn't have to be blocked. If your finger gets too close to it, it fools the flash exposure. I've seen this problem come up before. You'll need to be careful not to hold the camera where your right middle finger gets too close to the lens, causing the sensor to malfunction. The other possible problem is that you're exceeding the flash range. At it's full wide angle lens setting, you should be good to about 14 feet (although I do get usable photos at slightly further ranges by switching to ISO 200). However, using zoom, flash range decreases (as it does with most cameras), since far less light reaches the sensor at longer focal lengths. I'd advise using your feet for zoom with this camera (or with any other compact camera that loses light as more zoom is used). This means most of them.

Jim McGowan		26-May-2005 04:41
Just found this site and, Jim, you certainly do devote a tremendous amount of time and energy for the benefit of all who come here. Thanks for that! I've had a K-M G600 for about ten months now nd for the most part am happy with it - particularl the outside shots. But inside, in reasonable indoor lighting, I find that only about half of my photos are usable. The other half look as though the flash did't fire, but it does. Paing closer attention while shooting, I notice that about 50% of the time the flash seems to fire just a tad too late. All settings are default. Have you, or anyone, noticed this with the G600? Kinda frustrating. I just shot 150 pics at an anniversary party and only salvaged 70 that are light enough to use. The rest can be vrightened up with software but then are too blurry and noisy to use in any way other than reduced size in, say, a digital album. I wouldn't print them. I tried flash in Auto and Fill mode - didn't seem to make a difference. Thanks!

Jim Cockfield		06-Apr-2005 11:36
Nick: Some users that I've seen replace their KD-400z, liked it better compared to the newer models, claiming Autofocus was better on the KD-400z. ;-) I think it's probably just as likely that they are seeing some Quality Control variation between cameras. If you decide to upgrade to one of the newer models, let us know how you like it.

Guest		04-Apr-2005 11:05
Thanks for all the ifo Jim... I have a Konica Kd400z....which I love , but have just seen it fall from tripod height, and now gives me error 042 and the lens wont retract, or focus :( as its gonna cost me £40 to even get it sent away, and i also suspect that the lens actuator (at least) will need replacing..... I have been considering the g600, I am worried however that aprt from the obvious 4-6Mp icrease, that the camera may have been 'dumbed down'???? or is it just the cost of technology dropping quickly? also kd510's seem more expensive than a G600??? If I was happy with a KD400z is it fair to assume, I will be happy with a G600 ??? I ask you, as you seem pretty well 'into' this little camera range :) Nick.

ChiHsun		10-Mar-2005 13:57
I had try two 1GB SD cards from different manufacturers and they all was worked well in my Minolta G500 !

Jim Cockfield		03-Mar-2005 22:32
vabigpoppa: If you install the new firmware, Memory Stick Pro should be supported... I don't know anyone that's tried the larger Memory Stick Pro media yet, though. I doubt that there is much difference between Sony, Sandisk, etc. in Memory Stick Pro in this model if it works. As for Secure Digital, I do know of a couple of users that said they got 512mb SD from various manufacturers to work. But, I don't know of anyone that's tried anything larger than 512mb yet. If you decide to try a larger card from a different manufacturer, please let us know if it works. I suspect that newer cards from most manufacturers are getting more reliable and compatible now. I've seen fewer and fewer problems reported on the forums -- even from users trying newer Sandisk Secure Digital media (which I've seen problems reported with in this model previously). So, media seems to be improving. Personally, I would update the firmware first, since it appears to have a lot of changes that may impact memory compatibility.

vabigpoppa		01-Mar-2005 23:17
hey, i have a few questions for you about the g500.....im looking to get a 512mb sd card or memory stick..i saw on the compatability chart that they only recommend panasonic or u also said simpletech for that size of an sd card....but for the memory sticks it looks like they have tested up to a 1gb stick....have you had any experience or heard anybody have good success w/ a memory stick over 128 or a 512 sd card that wasnt panasonic or simpletech? thanks

Jim Cockfield		03-Feb-2005 20:10
Yes, you can get firmware version 3.39a from multiple sites. Here are a few: Europe (KD-510z and G500): http://www.konicaminoltaeurope.com/magic_frameEoI.shtml?nav.html?software/firmware/firmware_en.html U.S. (G500): http://kmpi.konicaminolta.us/eprise/main/kmpi/content/cam/cam_product_pages/DiMAGE_G500?mDetail=Software Japan (KD-510z): http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/cgi-bin/download.cgi?category=DSC&product=rkd510

Henri		03-Feb-2005 19:56
Hello Jim! Some good news: there is a new firmware 3.39A available for the Konica KD-510z! This has changed (translated with babelfish from japanese): Version with the camera which was raised, photographing sensitivity (ISO suitable) setting to firmware version 3.38A other than the ¢ AUTO £, photographing when it does, it corrected the trouble which has the case where it is not locked to the sensitivity which is set. Bye, Henri.

Jim Cockfield		04-Dec-2004 01:03
I'd go with the G600 over the S500 (but others may like some of the Canon features better). If you decide on a Canon, you may want to consider the S410 instead, though (it's likely to have lower noise, lower CA, etc., compared to the S500, and 4 Megapixels is plenty for most users).

Guest		03-Dec-2004 15:08
I am trying to decide between the Konica Minolta G600 and the Canon S500. If you were buying, which would be your choice?

Jim Cockfield		01-Dec-2004 13:18
The G600 is basically the same camera as the G500 with a different CCD (6 Megapixels instead of 5 Megapixels), although KM may have tweaked the way the images are being processed. Chances are, you could get the images very close from either model via in camera adjustments or post processing.

Guest		27-Nov-2004 04:08
What is your recommendation for a pocketable, Point and Shoot camera this year? It is difficult to find a new G500 (most are refurbs). Would you expect good results from the G600?

Jim Cockfield		04-Nov-2004 04:35
If it's not powering up, then it's more likely that the USB cable (or even the camera) is bad (although I don't know this for sure, as I've never had mine fail to power up when plugged into a USB port). When I've had USB problems in the past (I had some conflicts with my HP Printer Driver a while back), the camera still powered up when plugged into a USB port on a PC (provided the battery was charged). My only problem was that the PC wouldn't recognize it intermittently on a Win '98 PC (I finally disabled the HP Printer Monitor and it worked fine). Is it brand new? You may want to see if your vendor will swap out the USB cable for you (and if that doesn't work, you may have to return the camera -- that's my guess anyway). Of course, you could always buy a card reader instead if it's a big hassle to get back with your dealer (they're pretty cheap now, and much faster than transferring from the camera anyway). As far as XP with Service Pack 2 -- yes, it does seem to be a problem. I've seen lots of users of a variety of cameras having problems with USB (intermittent loss of connections, etc.) after they upgraded to SP2. They could remove SP2 and USB worked fine -- reinstall SP2, USB quits working again. Deleting all USB related devices and drivers and letting Windows reinstall them again seems to be the fix when this happens. So far, I've been lucky (I'm now running XP on a Dell Dimension 8300, and my upgrade to SP2 went OK with everything still working fine).

June		03-Nov-2004 20:25
Thanks for your quick response. Yes ~ I am using Windows XP, I did install SP2, I am using the cable that came with my camera and other USB devices work with my USB port. However, when I plug in my camera to the USB port the camera doesn't power up. I've tried connecting the camera to other computers, but the camera still will not power up. Could it the problem have occurred because I am using Windows SP2? The "other" computers I tried to connect my camera to are also using SP2. I emailed Minolta about this but they still have not responded.

Jim Cockfield		03-Nov-2004 16:20
June: That's a tough one. It's most likely a Windows Problem (very common with lots of cameras). What Windows version are you using? If you are using XP, did you install SP2? Are you using the cable that came with the camera? Does the camera act like it's working when you plug it into the USB Cable (powers up when you plug it in)? There are a NUMBER of problems that occur with USB connectivity and Windows (not specific to the G500). Sometimes it's a conflict with other USB devices (for example, I've had users that needed to unplug their printers and scanners to get Windows to see their cameras). Other times, you can simply remove and resinstall all of the USB related drivers (this is popular fix). This is a little more complicated to do if you're not familiar with PC's. Basically, you need to unplug all USB devices, and use Device Manager (Right Click on My Computer; then select Properties, Hardware, Device Manager). Then, delete everything (using the delete key) under Universal Serial Bus Controller (and any other USB related devices like printers and scanners). Ignore all Windows warnings that new hardware has been found during this process. Then, restart your PC and let Windows find and install the correct drivers again (make sure you have internet connectivity when doing this to make sure it can find everything). Sometimes, you may need to download the correct drivers for older printers, etc. (they are not always available with XP or on the Windows Update site). If you're not comfortable with these kinds of procedures, you may want to get someone that is "PC Savvy" to help out. Do your USB ports work OK with other USB devices?

June		01-Nov-2004 03:21
I was hoping you can help me with a problem I am having with my Minolta G500. For some reason, I can't seem to transfer my photos from my Panasonic 256 MB SD Card to my computer. When I plug my usb from my camera to my computer, nothing happens; no removable F drive shows up. What could be the problem?

paul		18-Oct-2004 12:24
Jim, I allready tried to upload the 510z firmware. just got the error message that it's only for kd-510. After that i just reloaded the 500z firmware, no problem at all. Perhaps it works if i can change the bios version. but there's is no new bios version for 510z available yet.

Jim Cockfield		16-Oct-2004 13:34
Paul: You're just asking for trouble. Even if you get it to load, it may crash your camera (permanently lock it up). Even if the hardware is the same (and it may or may not be), some areas of the bios are probably different (boot ROM or EEPROM).

paul		14-Oct-2004 22:36
just tried to flash kd-500 with kd-510 firmware. got the message "farmware is only for revio kd-510" (farmware!!) flash it again with kd-500 firmware and all works perfectly again. Seems like a build in check in the 510 firmware but i could not find it in the 510 .bin file. perhaps anyone else can?? just open the .bin file with notepad. this new firmware has to work on kd-500z models to because it's exactly the same hardware!!

Jim Cockfield		08-Oct-2004 23:09
You're the first person I've seen with this G500 problem. I've heard that KM has been quoting around 4 weeks on A1/A2 repairs. Hopefully, that's a parts delay of some kind and the G500 repair will be faster. The G500 is quite different than the Minolta models (since it was a Konica design, prior to the Konica-Minolta merger). I sold my 990 quite a while back. But, I've still got a Coolpix 950 that is holding up well (no duct tape yet). ;-)

Hal Reuter		06-Oct-2004 22:32
Jim The repair man at the camera show sugggested that I send the G500 to Konica-Minolta for repair esecially since I bought it in Dec.2003 so I have 1 year--called the company & was told to send it in & they will repair it withou charge after which the camera will have 6 months then I will be responsible for the repairs. Incidently, when I attached the USB cord to download the photos I had on my card, the lens retracted then immediately extended out & I did note that the small metal piece near the edge of the cover on the body of the camera, moved in & then out--imagine that it is the switch you talked about. Incidently,I have a Nikon Coolpix 990 (I recall that you have the same camera). The door for the batteries can not be closed because the latch on the cover cannot be held by the part that protrudes from the body as it is plastic & broke off poor design. In order to hold the door closed, I had to secure it with duct tape to the body--a real bother. The camera repair man was able to put in a small screw onto which the latch in the door could hold the cover in place---thought that any 990 owners who had the same would be interested to know. Nikon wanted me to send the camera to them to make some changes in the body which I am sure would have been prohibitively high. Thaanks again for all of your information. Hal

Jim Cockfield		03-Oct-2004 21:23
Hal: It actually pops up and down inside of the small notch in the cover (same direction as lens extends and retracts). You can see it move down with the lens at the same time the lens retracts. I don't know if this is the switch mechanism or not.

Hal Reuter		03-Oct-2004 03:29
Jim- Thanks for your input. I saw the small flat metal piece under the door which I think that you were talking about. I tried to move it in every which way without any success. This weekend we have the 59th Houston Camera Show & Sale, a twice-a-year production with participants from all over the country even Hawaii--selling & buying. I phoned the organizer, who has been a patient of mine for many years--he suggested I take the camera tomorrow--they have camera repairman there who specializes in digital cameras. When I find out what the problem is, I will post the findings on your site. Hal

Jim Cockfield		03-Oct-2004 01:40
Hal: I don't know of anyone that's had this problem before. Looking at my camera, it's difficult to tell where the switch actually is. I do see a small notch in the sliding cover (towards the lens), that a "pop-up" button appears (so this may be the switch). I'd look at that area carefully to make sure that a piece of lint isn't preventing it from working.

Hal Reuter		02-Oct-2004 23:05
Jim- SOS--I just opened my padded soft case & found my Minolta G500 with the sliding lens cover partially open. When I opened the sliding cover all the way out, the lens came out as usual. Now I cannot get the lens to retract. I can move the slide cover a few millimeters toward the lens, but nothing happins. I have pressed buttons & tried everything, but the lens does not retract. I can take photos & review all of my photos. I have put in a completely charged spare battery but no difference. I attach the camera to my computer & the lens retracts all the way in then immediately extends all of the way out. There is no problem downloading the photos. The only problem--the sliding lens-cover switch does not work to get the lens to retract. Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Hal Reuter

Jim Cockfield		27-Aug-2004 00:40
Adrian: I've never heard of them. Chances are, they are using rebranded components from someone else (possibly Sandisk). Only Panasonic and Toshiba cards are officially supported by Konica-Minolta for the G500 in sizes through 256mb. In 512mb size, only Panasonic Cards are listed as tested. Konica-Minolta used to list the Sandisk Cards as tested in sizes through 128mb (with specific warnings that the Standard 256mb Sandisk Cards could cause camera malfunctions with errors). However, they have removed ALL Sandisk SD Cards, in ALL Sizes from their list of tested cards. So, I'd recommend going with a Panasonic or Toshiba Card in sizes through 256mb, or a Panasonic SD Card in 512mb size. Panasonic's 256mb and 512mb SD Cards are rated at 10mb/second. BTW, Simpletech SD Cards in 256mb and 512mb size appear to be using Panasonic Components. So, these would be OK, too (I've never seen anyone have a problem with them). Here is the tested cards list: http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/CPG_Compatibility/DiMAGEG500 BTW, the chart has not been updated to reflect that the G500 supports Memory Stick Pro (MS Pro support was added in firmware version 3.38, but you need to download and install the new firmware for Memory Stick Pro to work).

Adrian Sillato		26-Aug-2004 10:38
Hi Jim, I was interested in purchasing a Twinmos Ultra X Memory Card do u know of any compatibility problems. I am including some information about this card Thanks Adrian info.... TwinMOS Ultra-X Secure Digital (SD) card offers a reading speed of 6MB and a writing speed of 4.8MB. It is especially ideal for high-resolution professional digital cameras and digital camcorders, which require a high-performance SD card for taking continuous shots. What attracts users to Ultra-X Secure Digital card is its lightweight, small size and the CPRM system preventing data from being illegally duplicated. It provides the consumers with maximum security and privacy as they store and retrieve multimedia content. Features Capacity : 32MB/ 64MB/ 128MB/ 256MB/ 512MB/ 1GB Dimension : 32 x 24 x 2.1 mm High transfer rate for fast copy/download (Read: min. 6MB/sec; Write: min 4.8MB/sec) Weight : 1.5 g Operating Voltage: 2.7V Specifications Cryptographic security for copyrighted data based on proven security concepts from DVD audio Low battery consumption to maximize battery life in small portable devices User selectable mechanical write protect switch on the exterior card casing Operating shock rating of 2,000Gs, equivalent to a 10-foot drop to the floor Unfazed by drastic weather conditions ranging from blistering heat to freezing cold Security level complies with Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI) portable device requirements

Adrian Sillato		07-Aug-2004 11:27
Thanks for your quick reply i have found this forum very usefull. I am very keen in getting a full grasp of this gem of a cam. Till the next one! :P Adrian

Jim Cockfield		06-Aug-2004 20:44
Adrian: I doubt that there is a lot of differences between the image processing with the G400 and G500. The newer G400 is a faster camera (startup, focus speed). It also uses a new Hybrid Focus System. This system uses external sensors to speed up focus, then "fine tunes" focus using the standard CCD contrast detection autofocus. It also has unlimited length movies (but still at 320x240). In addition, it has some scene modes, and an aperture priority mode. Neither camera has a focus assist lamp, and the G400's hybrid focus system does not seem to offer any benefits for focus accuracy indoors, from what I've seen from reviews. Personally, I find that the G500 works fine in most indoor shooting conditions (IMO, even better than my older Nikon 950 in some conditions). You will find that shooting at full wide angle improves indoor focus reliability substantially with these smaller cameras. The lens on the G500 is rated at f/2.8-4.9 (typical for a subcompact model). As a result, more than twice as much light reaches the sensor through the lens at wide angle versus full zoom. So, shooting closer to wide angle indoors will improve both focus accuracy, and flash strength substantially. I'd give the camera a good "workout", and see what you think. I personally would not trade mine for any other pocketable camera on the market -- including the newer G400 and G600 models. You may also want to scroll down to the 24-Jan-2004 19:11 forum entry for some tips on setting up the camera.

Adrian Sillato		06-Aug-2004 18:24
First of thanks for your great website. I just purchased a New Minolta G500 and am slightly worried due to comments i read on third party websites namely focus problems and slow shooting speed. Is the G400 a newer version to the G500 and does the G500 have A*IPS like the G400. Since I Just Purchased the camera today i might be able to change to a G400 tomorrow if u suggest me to. Thanks for your reply Adrian Malta Europe

Jim Cockfield		05-Aug-2004 02:05
Paul: LZH is a type of compression (used to make files smaller). It's very simlar to using .zip files. Konica posts files of the .bin so you can download it in an uncompressed format. The .lzh version is the same thing, only compressed (a utility to extract the .bin file from the .lzh file is needed). Don't worry about the .lzh file. If you had a utility to use it, it would only provide you with the same .bin file you already have. If you've already gone through the upgrade procedure for your KD-400z (copying the .bin file to the root directory of the Secure Digital Card, powering up the camera and following the menu to update the firmware, then pressing the delete button (trashcan icon) when completed as the screen said to do), then your firmware update is completed.

Paul Franklin		04-Aug-2004 17:18
I was just wondering what the "konica-400z.LZH" is for? I already installed the "konica-400z.BIN" but do i still have to do the same with the ".LZH" file? I would really appreciate any answer regarding this. Thanx in advance. P. Frank

Jim Cockfield		19-Jul-2004 22:39
Justin: Yes. I've seen numerous users upgrade their cameras without using a reader (although, this is not recommended by Konica-Minolta). Basically, I'd remove any memory stick from the camera first (leaving only the Secure Digital Card). Then, format the Secure Digital Card with the camera using the Setup, Format menu choice (this is a precautionary step, to make sure the card starts out with a fresh File Allocation Table). Also, make sure your battery is fully charged before beginning. Then, plug your camera in to your PC via the USB cable, so it shows up as a removable drive. Click on the drive to open it to the root directory. Then, copy the .bin file to the root directory of the card (not the DCIM folder). To copy the .bin file, just find it in the folder on your hard drive, right click on it and select "copy", then go to the removable drive letter for your camera that you clicked on earlier, right click on an open area and select paste to copy the file - just like you would copy files between any other two folders. Wait at least a minute after the copy appears to be complete (just to make sure it's "really" finished copying), before removing your camera from the USB cable. Then, when you open the lens cover (turning the camera on), you'll be prompted to press delete to begin the upgrade. Press the delete key (trashcan). After about 35 seconds, you'll be prompted to turn the camera off. Close the lens cover. Your camera will then be upgraded. Make SURE you don't interrupt an upgrade in progress (accidenty bumping the lens cover closed, etc.). Otherwise, you risk ruining the camera.

Justin		19-Jul-2004 19:08
Can someone tell me exactly how I prepare the SD card for uploading the new firmware. I don't have a separate card reader. Can I just upload the file to the camera when it appears as a removable disc? The instructions that came with the download don't really explain this step in detail. Thanks in advance. Justin

Jim Cockfield		18-Jul-2004 11:41
Thanks Danco!

danco		18-Jul-2004 02:27
here is a link for G500 owners the newest firmware http://konicaminoltaeurope.com/magic_frameEoI.shtml?nav.html?software/firmware/firmware_en.html try it

Jim Cockfield		17-Jul-2004 22:08
Danco: Because of internal model number differences between models, you will need to wait for G500 specific firmware. Even if the G500 could be "fooled" into recognizing and using the .bin file (by renaming it), I would not suggest trying it (or you risk ruining your camera).

Danco		17-Jul-2004 20:40
What about G500 owners Is this firmware is the same or we need to wait for minolta to make

Henri		17-Jul-2004 10:44
You can try this: Turn on all your sounds and flash the firmware on your cam again. Have you tested the red eye reduction, yet? I think now it works fine. In the past i was very disappointed about the red eyes pictures.

Jim Cockfield		16-Jul-2004 21:36
Henri. There is no audible focus lock from my KD-510z -- regardless of the sound settings (all on in my camera). Note that all sounds (except for the shutter sound) were turned off in my camera at the time of the upgrade. Since the upgrade, I turned them all on to test. The other sounds work -- but no sound with a focus lock (even if I hold the camera to my ear while half pressing the shutter button, and getting a green focus lock indication). It's not there! So, I'm wondering if this is a "bug" in the upgrade process (you must have sounds enabled at the time of the upgrade, or something to this effect). Of course, my camera could be using a different bios (not firmware) version, and that could be the problem. I don't care about this feature, so it's no big deal to me. I am curious as to why it doesn't work though.

Henri		16-Jul-2004 18:18
The pre-flash for the red-eye reduction is much stronger in the new firmware than in the original one (i had Main-Ver 3.00A before). Now you have less pictures with red eyes! The AE speed is also faster. The sound after focusing only appears, if the green lamp indicates in focus! Sorry for my bad english.

Jim Cockfield		16-Jul-2004 14:51
One more observation with the new 3.38a firmware: * With the original firmware version, the camera allowed the use of internal memory for photos taken at 640x480 resolution. With version 3.38a, internal memory is not available, unless you remove the memory cards (SD and/or MS) from the camera. I never used this anyway (since it only worked at 640x480), but I thought I'd pass on the observation.

Jim Cockfield		16-Jul-2004 13:15
Initial Observations - New Firmware v3.38a I only installed this a few minute ago, and only snapped a few pics, but here are a few observations: * Auto ISO now correctly reports ISO 50 in the EXIF when flash is not used, and ISO 100 when flash is used. * Last Fixed Focus Choice used is now retained when powering off the camera. In the past, the camera went back to autofocus mode upon powerup (although most other settings were retained). *Focus lock seems "surer" indoors (although, I should have conducted some controlled tests before and after). I do not get an audible focus lock indication, as mentioned in the babelfish translation (unless the translation is lacking and/or I'm misinterpreting it).

Jim Cockfield		16-Jul-2004 12:40
Thanks Henry! I haven't checked for a new version lately. I will be intalling it later today.

Henri		16-Jul-2004 09:18
Thats new: 1. If you are using macro mode an then turn off the cam, the macromode is still activated after turning on the cam again. 2. MemoryStick Pro support 3. Sound when the picture is focused

Henri		16-Jul-2004 08:47
Hello Jim! I found a new firmware for our Konica 510z!!! The new version is 3.38a The page is Japanese, but you can find the firmware easely by scrolling down the page. http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/support/download/rkd510/v338a/index.html Greetings from Germany, Henri.

Matthew Augier		12-Jul-2004 14:50
RE: SD cards in the Konica 510 I have found that if you transfer pictures (Windows) using a card reader, but don't eject the card it will cause problems. The proper procedure is to eject the card (right click on drive and select eject) and so far I've not had one problem. I write freeware "Transferer" application http://www.dps.uk.com/freeware_transferer.htm) and this has a built in function to auto eject after transfer which makes my life easier :)

Jim Cockfield		05-Jul-2004 21:03
Hal: I am not familiar with the iMac, and have not seen this type of error under Windows. You may want to check with Konica-Minolta Support.

Guest		05-Jul-2004 09:22
I too have the 256 mb sandisk sd, if you zero all the space before each use, do not delete any pictures from the camera, and after you have downloaded all your pictures to your computer, again zero all the space, then format in your camera, it works fine!! if you delete any pictures or format the card in the camera without first zeroing all the spaces, it has a HUGE chance of failing. all the pictures apart from the one taken when it failed can be recovered using software, its just a pain!! if you need any help, software or advice how to use this card, just ask! why havent minolta / konica addressed this well documented problem when they released the 600?

Guest		05-Jul-2004 06:27
Jim I have had my Minolta G500 for over 6 months & really love it --& many thanks to you for all of your input especially your simplfied setup instructions. A question--after I download photos to iPhoto on my iMac via Internet Explorer, I disconnect the camera & get the following message: " The device you removed was not properly put away. Data might have been lost or damaged. Before disconnecting a device, you should select its icon in the Finder and choose Eject from the File menu." If I change from Internet Explorer to the Finder, it does not control the iPhoto & G500---even if I Quit iPhoto, I still get the above message; however, having downloaded many times. I have not been aware of any lost or damaged data. Do you have any suggestions in regard to this or should I just continue on as I have? I also have a Nikon CoolPix 990, my 1st digicam, (I believe you mentioned that you had this camera) well the very weak - poorly designed latch that holds the battery door closed broke so I either hold the door closed with duct tape or send the camera to Nikon to fix. The latter is out of the question since it would most likely be prohibitively expensive for an old digicam & besides I have a CoolPix 4500--(4 megapixels/4x optical zoom). I use the G500 most of the time because of the convient size & especially since it takes such great photos--the 4500 is much better for close-ups--down to 3/4's of an inch--& the G500 is not that good for close-ups. Any suggestions?? Thanks again for all of your help. Hal Reuter

Jim Cockfield		09-Jun-2004 15:04
Usually, intermittent corrupted files, and/or very slow camera operation (startup times, etc.), followed by a failure of the card to format.

Lou		09-Jun-2004 04:15
Thanks for your advice Jim, but may I ask for some clarification? If it's working fine so far, what sort of trouble should I be looking for? Is it speed, image quality, reliability.....etc. I would appreciate your help. Thanks

Jim Cockfield		08-Jun-2004 18:10
Lou: Personally, I would not trust a Sandisk 256mb SD Card. Good Luck.

Lou		07-Jun-2004 17:23
I recently purchased the Minolta Dimage G500. I am using the 256MB sandisk memory card. It seems to be working fine so far. Based on the compatibility chart you provided and some comments, should I be prepared for trouble since it's not the lower storage sandisk and not the Panasonic or Toshiba? Greatly appreciated.

Jimmy Tango		07-Jun-2004 14:23
I should of course mention I have the KD-500 from Konica.

Jimmy Tango		07-Jun-2004 14:14
Hi Jim FYI - I purchased a 256MB SD Card by a company called Shikatronics. Works just fine - the shop I was at promised a full refund since they didn't have the Panasonic. No need as stated above. JT

phoenix		03-Jun-2004 11:15
Jim, I'll probably email the photos to you to let you know what I am talking about. I think its the normal operation of the camera. You've explained it quite well. I have looked at your photos too and I see the same thing. So it looks pretty normal. In addition to that, its been taking some AMAZING pictures (crystal clear) indoors under average light conditions. So, I am tremendously happy :) And of course, we know that this camera can't be beat outdoors ;) Jeffrey...This camera is a good choice. Most of the photos I take are on Auto mode. Except for the few which require macro mode. You might want to also look at the Canon S500. I don't know what people have to say about it, but I was deciding between that one and this and finally decided to go for this one due to Jim here :) And also due to the fact that my palmtop uses SD cards :D hehe... Jim, I will play around with the Night mode and see :)

Lucky#7		02-Jun-2004 21:38
Jeffrey, I am in the same boat as you. My idea of a camera was one of those disposable ones. Well, I took the plunge and bought the g500. The links to my first pics are in a post below. Some of the detail it picked up on the dragonfly is great. These were taken with the auto mode. The only thing I adjusted was the macro mode for some of the close up shots.

Jim Cockfield		02-Jun-2004 16:13
Jeffrey: Around 90% of my photos are taken using factory defaults, so the camera does a pretty good job in full auto mode. I'd check out the cameras in a store, and see which one you are more comfortable with (ergonomics, speed of operation, control layout, etc.).

Jeffrey		02-Jun-2004 15:47
I'm an absolute photography novice, but I borrowed a friend's Minolta Dimage xt for vacation recently, downloaded 200+ pics when we got home, and now I just have to get a digital camera - I loved it. Obviously, I am the classic point and shoot type. I've been reading all these reviews, etc. and I think I want either the Minolta g400 or g500. While I'm ok with the price point on the 500, I was a little concerned that it might be a bit "above my head". I really would not likely start playing with adjustments, etc. and want the camera to do as much of the work as possible. If price is not an issue, what do you recommend I do? Thanks for any input.

Jim Cockfield		01-Jun-2004 23:12
Phoenix: You can open a free trial account with this site and upload some pics to a photo album. There is an easy to use interface that allows you to browse your PC's folders, and upload images. I would need to see the photos to have a better understanding of what you are seeing. I strongly suspect that what you are seeing is perfectly normal (but I'd need to see some photos to say for sure). Chances are, that you're just seeing the big difference in lighting between the subject (lit well with flash) and the background (not lit well with flash). If the camera tried to use a flash strong enough to illuminate the background, then the foreground subject would be overexposed. Bear in mind, that the camera must insure that the subject is in focus and properly illuminated. So, the background will usually be much darker (unless you have very strong ambient lighting, or change to night portrait flash mode with slower than normal shutter speeds). BTW, if you want a more evenly lit image, this is a way to get it (Night Portrait Flash Mode). This allows the camera to use slower shutter speeds than default (settable under the Slower Shutter Menu Choice). As a result of the slower shutter speeds, more ambient light is present in the images. The downside of this approach, is that subjects outside the range of the flash will likely have blur from camera or subject movement. As far as user control of flash strength, you can vary it by selecting a user profile (under the Quality Menu). This will vary it + or - from what it thinks is the correct flash strength (it automatically varies the flash strength by default anyway, based on lighting and distance to subject). The camera's goal is to insure that your subject (focus point) is in focus. As far as flash strength, it will vary it to insure proper exposure of the image, based on the metering and distance to subject. Usually, the default Center Weighted Metering works very well for most conditions (although I do switch to spot metering for complex lighting or backlight subjects).

Lucky#7		01-Jun-2004 22:06
Nice pics. I have been thinking about a digital cam for a while. Really starting to do some research the last few weeks. Your review, as well as other peoples comments pushed me to get the g500. So far, so good. I've only had it a few days but i like the photos already. I'm going to try and post a link to some of my first pics. Thanks for the advice and tips. http://photos.yahoo.com/dilliagaf9999

phoenix		26-May-2004 19:56
Um...I dont know how to post a pic here :( Do I have to create a new account and then upload some? What I am talking about is this...say I am clicking a person. He is very clearly lit (in fact, sometimes too clearly) and very much in focus but the background is all dim and out of focus. Also, sometimes the pic is nice and well lit, but the edges of the pic are out of focus (sometimes dim). Is this normal? Its been taking quite good pictures and I am quite happy with it...maybe I should just stop worrying about it. In fact, it takes good pictures in low light even when it tells me it isn't being able to focus. Although, sometimes those photos are a bit blurry and out of focus. But mostly, they are good. Um..any way to reduce the flash? :) I have tried playing around with EV Compensation but then the pictures lose focus (if its at -1.5 EV). Normal works best for me but sometimes the camera really brightens up the subject. Its supposed to cycle down. Maybe I am just used to film cameras. This is my first digital.

Jim Cockfield		25-May-2004 16:53
phoenix: You'll have to post an example of what you are talking about. Are you sure you mean blurry, or could you be referring to the subject being well lit, and the background not? You will also have limited depth of field, based on the distance to your focus point, amount of zoom used, and aperture. Post an example of what you are referring to, and I'll be happy to comment.

phoenix		23-May-2004 10:15
Hi jim, I've been reading a lot of your comments and tips and just bought the G500. Well, so far, I am happy with it (although I have no experience with digi cams so I really don't know what to expect). But one thing I have noticed is...when I take photos indoors with reasonable light (bordering on low), the camera takes a nice clear picture of the subject, which is focused, and the rest of the things in the picture are a bit blurred (specially around the sides of the picture). By blurred, I really don't mean totally blurred, but out of focus. Is this what you meant by "barrel-effect" in one of your reviews? I do not know if this is supposed to happen. I would be glad if you would let me know. Thanks :)

Jim Cockfield		20-May-2004 21:40
Dmitrijs: I use the camera defaults most of the time, for most of my photos. As far as Memory Stick Pro, the G500 is not compatible. I don't know for sure about the G600 yet. See this chart: http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/CPG_Compatibility/DiMAGEG500 As far as Secure Digital, you must be VERY careful. There are three major manufacturers of Secure Digital: Panasonic, Sandisk and Toshiba. These 3 jointly developed Secure Digital Media. Chances are, if you use someone elses Secure Digital Card, the components are coming from these 3. If Sandisk components are being used, the card may not be reliable in larger sizes (see note 8 in the compatibility chart). I would stick to Panasonic or Simpletech (10mb/second in larger sizes) for anything larger than 128mb. Although, I have heard that Lexar's newer "32x High Speed" and "64x High Speed" cards will also work fine.

Guest		20-May-2004 18:50
Jim, One more question. I have read something in the forum that leads me to believe that G500 (and then probably G600) may not be compatible with Memory Stick Pro (which I was hoping to use in this camera [I have MagicGate 256MB]). If this is true (I hope not), then I want to ask for advice: Are there any known performance issues (compatibility) when considering buying 256MB SD card or 512MB. I was looking at Lexar's 32X card and am also wondering whether I should just pay more for 512 or should I get 2 256's. Also, is there really a benefit to get a 32X card(s) vs. 10(x) - will the camera really take an advantage of the speed, or is it not necessary and I should just save some money by going with the slower card. Thank you (Eagerly wating for your response so I can make all purchases in time) Dmitrijs

Guest		20-May-2004 17:08
Jim, I have just purchased a DiMAGE G600 for my international trip (still wating for it to arrive) and I am very thankful that I have finally found a place with a lot of information about this family of cameras. I think it's a great thing that you are doing! Jim, or anybody, As I think that for the most part 600 and G500 are similar, I wonder if you could give me some basic tips on the use of this camera in certain conditions. I know, I know, that best way is to experiment, but I am getting the camera right before the trip, and I will not have the ability to unload and review my pictures until I get back. I am new to digital cameras, and it would be a BIG bummer to find out that pictures did not come out great. On top of everything, I am still a novice photographer (not to say tat I can't tell good picture from the bad), so that complicates things a bit. I already learned that I could set up the interface to have most of controls at the click of a button (thanks to your FAQ) Basically, if it's not too much to ask, I would really appreciate if you had information on recommended camera settings (like recommended flash mode, exposure compensation, white balance settings, ISO, etc. - any bits from your personal experience are appreciated [I have also learned that 6MP will be a little more "fuzzy" over 5MP in low light]) in four or five basic conditions, like A) Bright sunny day, B) Cloudy/Rainy Day, C) Well lit indoors (like a restaurant), D) Medium lit indoors, and E) Candle light. Thank you, Dmitrijs

Jim Cockfield		18-May-2004 14:01
George: The Minola S3x4 and 4x4 series cameras are known to be "battery hogs". Make sure you are using Fully Charged, High Capacity, rechargeable NiMH AA Batteries. Alkalines are useless in most Digital Cameras (because the LCD draws too much power.

George Worley		18-May-2004 01:38
Aha! After looking at the first page of pictures I said, "That looks like Georgia!" Finally the third page proved it. I grew up on the south side of Atlanta, grad of GSU, but have been gone now for the last 25 yrs, presently in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. Digital newbie, new owner of an S414...not responding at all now with new batteries, evidently due to leaving it connected for hours to external power source set to 6VDC instead of 5VDC. I plan to return it for repairs tomorrow. Great site. George

Jim Cockfield		08-May-2004 20:53
Hey Dave, that sounds like a strange one. If you leave the battery out for too long, it will ask you to reset the date/time. However, other user settings are still retained (probably stored in flash memory). I don't know what could have happened. I've never heard of anyone reporting a failure like yours. They are known to be very reliable little cameras. It sounds like it probably needs a trip back to Konica-Minolta.

Dave		07-May-2004 21:36
So the other day I opened my minolta G500 and it asked me to set the date. This was a bit weird, since I've been using it for about 6 months now without resetting the date. While I was entering the date, the screen just went black and I haven't been able to revive it since. The worst part is that it's stuck with the lens out! I've tried swapping in new batteries, and nothing has helped. Ugggh! What a pain. I really liked this camera a lot! Any advice on what to do about this would be very very much appreciated. THANK YOU!!! -Dave (please reply to dehzone-web@yahoo.com)

Jim Cockfield		20-Apr-2004 14:24
Hal: As far as I can tell, the only difference in the G500 and G600 is the sensor. I suspect that the newer G600 will have more noise than the older G500 (because more pixels are being packed into the same size area). So, I would not consider upgrading to the G600 personally). As far as your other problem, it's probably a corrupted FAT (File Allocation Table). I always format my media (SD and MS) with the camera prior to every use, and have never experienced any type of corruption. Here is a utility that works well for recovering files (as long as the files have not been overwritten). The web page is in German, but the installation will allow you to select English as the Language. http://www.happyfoto.de/rescue.htm Here is the same page (translated into English by Google): http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.happyfoto.de/rescue.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.happyfoto.de/rescue.htm%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26oe%3DUTF-8 You will see a download link for "Digital Image Recovery: on the page. If you have trouble finding it, here is the direct download link to the software: http://www.foto-erhardt.de/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=14 The download is compressed (.zip file), so you will need pkunzip.exe or winzip (or another utility capable of extracting the installation .exe file to install it. You can download an eval copy of winzip here: http://www.winzip.com/ddchomea.htm The install will let you choose English as a language. BTW, I always format my media (only with the camera) prior to every use, and have never had a corrupted card.

Hal Reuter		19-Apr-2004 23:49
Jim-Another question to my recent post: I have owned the G600 for 4 months & enjoy the ease of use & great photos that it takes-thanks to your advice. (I also own the Nikon CoolPix 990 & 4500-the former I have used & enjoyed for 3-4 years[enjoyed except fot the very slow time that it takes to capture photos] & the latter which I purchased but have not taken out of the box--I am so at ease with the 990 that I don't want to take a chance with the 4500--by the way, the 4500 disappeared from the market rather quickly--do you have any idea why--problems??? I know that you have used the 990 from some of your posts). Now to my question: over the Easter holidays I took approx.5-6 photos a day of family on each of 3 consecutive days. I displayed the photos to show the family members on each day. After the 3rd day I was able to display photos for days 2 & 3 but not from day 1. I did not trash the shots nor did I reformat the card. (I had an SD 128mg which I was using & a memory stick in the other slot which was empty) Have you ever heard of this problem or have any advice--perhaps the shots are in the card but unable to be displayed. If so, do you have any suggestions for recovering them? I have used the 990--shot hundreds of photos with it & have never had this happen. Thanks again for your help. Hal Reuter

Hal Reuter		19-Apr-2004 23:18
Jim- Would you please comment on the new Konica-Minolta Dimage G600. Other than increasing from 5 to 6 megapixels, are there any differences compared to the G500. Thanks for your continuing helpful input. Hal Reuter

Christer Engstrand		21-Mar-2004 10:46
Thanks Jim, you confirmed what I already was suspecting: the batteri indicator is also digital, it only shows if battery is full (1) or empty (0). So there is no warning in beetween, that´s negative! But as you say, nearly all compact digicams are all the same... So when I go to France in April I shold have a second battery along! I´m used to better indication, for example on my Sony-Ericsson mobile phone (68i) that tells me how many hours stand-by there is left or for how long I can talk before battery is empty!

Jim Cockfield		19-Mar-2004 17:12
Christer: The only cameras that give you much warning are the Sonys (with their Infolithium battery system). As a general rule, as soon as you notice the battery indicator change from full, you will need to change the battery very soon with most other cameras, including the Konica KD-510z.

Christer Engstrand		18-Mar-2004 10:43
Hi Jim, thanks for great reviews of Konica 510/Minolta Dimage G500! I just bought a Minolta recently and so far I'm very happy with it! But there are many advanced options and it takes time to get a good overview, so I can use them "in the field". But the battery confuses me - suddenly power is gone and the camera is stone dead! And the battery indicator "line" (like an /) is just 1/3 from the bottom (is that an indicator or just a symbol?). How do I do to get a battery warning, before it´s too late? On the whole, battery capacity is good, but I feel uncertain about when it´s time to recharge, so for safety reasons I feel I must recharge very frequently... Got any idea to avoid this problem? Of course the easiest way to avoid this problem is to buy another batteri, but it should not be nessecary The firmvare installed in my camera is 3.02, is there a better version? You have mentioned version 1.55 - is that for the Konica version? From Gothenburg, Sweden /Christer

Jim Cockfield		21-Feb-2004 13:02
Matthias: It's probably the Sandisk 512mb card. Their larger cards are notorious for being slow and causing problems. Their Japanese Cards tend to be the most reliable. You may want to try and format the card using Pansonic's SD Formatter utility. I've seen others report that this corrected their card problems when using non-Panasonic SD Cards. Here is the link: http://panasonic.jp/support/audio/sd/download/sd_formatter_e.html

Matthias Kuechmeister		17-Feb-2004 15:25
Hi Jim, thanks to your great reviews and all your tips I opted for a KD-510z too and I'm very happy with it! Without having read your remarks about SD Cards, I've ordered mine together with a SanDisk 512MB SD Card and at least for me this combination works without any hazzles! The only bug I found concerns the SanDisk USB 2.0 reader for SD Cards. It frequently develops read errors and delivers corrupted pictures. It takes then some removing and re-inserting of the SD Card to get finally a good copy. Directly transfering the pictures from the camera to the PC however is working 100% ok. So I guess the problem is with the reader and not the 512MB SD Card. Maybe I'm just lucky to have a running combination of them.

Jim Cockfield		04-Feb-2004 21:37
Devon: I posted my tips in the forum. See my 24-Jan-2004 19:11 forum post. Congratulations on your new camera! I hope you enjoy it as much as I've been enjoying mine.

Devon		04-Feb-2004 20:47
Hi Jim - I want to join in on the praise for all of you hard work that we have benefitted from. I just got my camera today and I am so excited. I would have never known about the SD card issues if it wasn't for your postings. I was hoping you could email me a copy of your tips? Thanks again! Devon

Jim Cockfield		01-Feb-2004 14:25
Yes, I'm familiar with the link. I look there on a daily basis, to see if any new upgrades are available for the KD-510z (none yet). Konica also has another site with the firmware upgrades for these models (KD-310z, KD-400z, KD-410z, KD-500z) here: https://camera.konica-lab.net/soft_verup/soft_verup.php? Here are some better instructions: 1. Download the BIN ( KD-500Z.BIN) for Version 1.55A 2. Put the BIN-file on an EMPTY SD-card (format it with the camera first, then copy the .bin file to the root directory of the Card) -- then remove the camera from the USB connection, after making sure the copy is completely finished (wait a minute first, to make sure it's not still writing the file). Make sure you are using the SD Card, and not a Memory Stick. I'd remove any memory sticks from the camera first, just to make sure! 3. After unplugging your camera from the USB connection, power up your camera (open the lens cover). 4. When prompted "PUSH DEL KEY TO UPDATE" - press the DEL-key (trashcan). 5. After a while you are asked to turn the camera off (close the lens cover). 6. The new firmware is now installed and the BIN-file is automatically deleted from the SD-card. Make SURE your battery is fully charged before you start the upgrade, and do not interrupt the update process (or you risk ruining the camera). I know of multiple users that have updated their firmwarein Konica KD-400z, KD-410z and KD-500z models, using this site. BTW, The 1.55A firmware supports multiple languages (in contrast to what Konica-Minolta support may tell you). On the downside, Konica-Minolta may not fix it under warranty if something goes wrong. So, as always, perform any firmware upgrade at your own risk.

KD-500Z Owner		31-Jan-2004 22:50
Hi Jim I just bought the KD-500 and through the link you posted I located an even newer firmware version for the 500. It can be found here: http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/cgi-bin/download.cgi?category=DSC&product=rkd500 the humourous english translation can be read at this link: http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?lp=ja_en&url=http%3A%2F%2Fca.konicaminolta.jp%2Fsupport%2Fdownload%2Frkd500%2Fv155a%2Findex.html As I found your page searching for this model I thought I would share this find.

Paddy		28-Jan-2004 17:13
Jim, As a demonstration of the strong construction of the 510z, this morning I accidentally dropped mine from a fair height onto a stone floor - it fell sharply right onto the back left corner beside the screen and I saw immediately that the body was sharply dented by the screen, and buckled along the seam beside the battery cover. I picked it up with that sinking feeling of dread, fully prepared to find it dead, but amazingly it fired up, and so far all functions are operating properly... I then found that the battery cover wouldn't open without severe pressure - it was pushed slightly sideways by the impact, but the cards still remove, and all seems to be working! This is quite miraculous for such a heavy impact!

Guest		26-Jan-2004 05:18
Jim, I can't thank you enough for the unusually large amount of information you are providing to G500 users. Thanks!

Jim Cockfield		24-Jan-2004 19:11
General Tips for new users of the Konica Revio KD-510z or Minolta DiMage G500: Flash Recharge Time/Brightness: The Konica's lens is rated at F2.8/F4.9 (typical for a subcompact model). Around 3 times as much light can reach the sensor when shooting at wide angle. So, try to shoot at wide angle whenever possible if indoors in low light (because what is bright to the human eye, is not to the camera's lens). This will greatly extend focus range/accuracy and flash range in low light. Also, when less flash is needed, it "throttles down" the output. This speeds up recycle times considerably. Customizing the Controller keys: You can setup the camera so that you rarely need to use the menus. Also, the menu system remembers where you were last. I keep mine on the AE menu choice (which allows me to change metering quickly, although for the vast majority of photos, center weighted is where I leave it). Basically, just turn everyone on under the Custom Menu. Here's how: Press the Menu Button, and go to Setup, Custom. You'll see a list of icons. Select each one, and turn all choices ON. This should take all of about 30 seconds, and it will stay that way, even when turning the camera off, or recharging batteries. This turns on the Continuous Mode feature (and you can leave it that way all the time) -- allowing faster repeat photos, by holding down the shutter button. Then, frequently used features are under the Controller Keys. Once you set it up (about 30 seconds), and use these features, they become "second nature". Then, you'll have this: Left: switches between landscape, macro, self timer modes, including fixed focus choices (1m, 2m, etc.). Right: switches between different flash modes Up: allows you to set Exposure Compensation using left and right keys Down: allows you to change White Balance Settings. This gives you very fast access to exposure compensation, white balance, focus distances, white balance, and flash modes, without using the menus. Turn it all on. Then, use it for a while, then go back into the Custom Menu, and turn off choices you don't use. You can allow or deny specific flash modes from appearing as a choice when using the right arrow key to toggle between them. You can allow or deny specific self timer/focus combinations from appearing -- even including (or excluding) macro, landscape, 1m, 2m, 4m from appearing as a toggle choice when the left controller key is pressed. With everything turned on, you also get Autoexposure Lock with a half press of the shutter, and a press of the up arrow, or Autofocus lock, with a half press of the shutter and a press of the left arrow. These virtually eliminate shutter lag when enabled (AF lock, AE lock). These will stay locked, until you either change the zoom settings, or disable them (in the same way that you enabled them). It's a very nice design, while keeping the control layout simple Also, make sure to turn Quick View off (Setup, QuickView). This reduces lag time some, since it won't display the last photo taken for as long. Read through my user review (you'll see links on my pbase.com album page), and that may help you understand how mine is setup, and how to use the controller keys to access frequently used features. BTW, the camera defaults to Normal vs. Fine JPEG compression. This allows more photos on the Memory Card. If you want the absolute best quality, simply change the mode to Fine (under the Resoluton Menu) instead (although I take most of my photos using the default Normal mode, so I save Memory Card space). If you don't like the front panel LED's, you can turn them off by going to Setup, Sounds; and turning off "Beep". Also, make sure you hold the camera in a way that you don't have your right middle finger near the light sensor (small hole on front of camera). It will cause the flash to throttle down causing underexposed photos, if this finger is too close to it. If you don't already own an image editing package, you may want to download the free irfanview fromhttp://www.irfanview.com (make sure to download the free plug-ins too). It's a very fast loading package, so I find it easy to use for simple things like resizing and redeye correction. It includes a sophisticated Lanczos Filter Based Resampling Algorithm, if you ever need to interpolate photos for very large prints without pixelation. Bear in mind that interpolation adds pixels, not detail, though. Also, I generally shoot with Redeye Reduction turned off (I think that redeye reduction modes can spoil the photos, since the preflash used can change facial expressions). I feel the same way about cameras with focus assist lamps (since facial expressions can change when someone sees the lamp). I get better candid shots without these features. As a general rule, the closer to the lens a camera's flash is, the greater the potential for redeye, and the G500 is no exception. I got used to correcting it on the Nikons I've owned (CP 950, 990), and I find that the free irfanview does as good of a job as other packages I've got (without the slow load times of the others). To use irfanview for this purpose, zoom in on an eye using the + key. I usually zoom into to around 100%. Then, use your mouse to select the area around the red (square box). Then, the redeye reduction menu choice will work. However, I usually don't use it this way. A better way is using the Effects, Effects Browser Menu Choice. You'll see redeye correction there, too. The difference is that you can change the amount applied. You'll see a before and after box to help you determine how much is needed. Depending on the amount of red, sometimes I use as little as -35; or as much as +20. I even vary the amount by eye sometimes. Note: be careful not to apply it more than once on the same eye, or apply too much. Otherwise, you'll get unwanted artifacts where the square box is located. Also, if you change the amount applied under the Effects, Effects Browser Menu Choice, the Redeye Reduction Menu choice will also use that amount (but I find it better to always use the Effects Browser for more control). A couple of more comments on the camera's setup: You'll see a "Slow Shutter Menu". This menu controls the slowest allowable shutter speed for Autoexposure (with separate settings for Flash, and non-Flash (or Night Portrait) flash modes. The camera defaults to a 1/60 second shutter speed for flash photos (which it speeds up, as zoom is used). It will prefer the flash setting you set here. Sometimes, I'll change this to 1/30 second instead. This allows more ambient light in the background for flash photos (since it throttles down the flash strength for subjects at a closer range). The second setting you see under the Slow Shutter Settings menu is for the slowest allowable shutter speed without flash. It defaults to 1/8 second. If you want to take night photos using a tripod, you may want to change this to 1 second (shown as 1/1). This will allow a slower shutter speed, while still using the camera's autoexposure (so that you don't have to use manual exposure instead, as long as exposures no longer than 1 second are needed). It doesn't hurt to leave the second setting set slower (since it will automatically increase shutter speeds in better light anyway) One more comment. There are two known bugs with the G500. One is that the camera always uses ISO 50 without flash when set to Auto ISO (defaults under Quality menu). The EXIF reports ISO 100, but it's actually ISO 50. Jim Dawson first found this bug, and it's since been verified by others in controlled conditions (shutter speeds and aperture using Auto ISO without flash, match up exactly to what the autoexposure selects with ISO 50, not ISO 100). So, in lower light without flash, you may want to change this to ISO 100 under the Quality Menu, via a User Profile (to increase shutter speeds used). The other bug is that the focus lock may not accurately indicate focus. This has been verified by me and others. The camera (unless it's defective), will take photos that are still perfectly focused, even without a lock indication, provided there is some ambient light and contrast in your subject. If your camera does not focus correctly on subject with good contrast and ambient light (based on photos, not focus lock), then you may want to consider having it repaired or replaced.

Gregg Johnson		24-Jan-2004 02:41
Jim--Thanks so much for your reviews/information. Would you mind emailing me your list of tips? I'd really appreciate it. Cheers, Gregg sgjohnsoniii@yahoo.com

Carol Morisseau		22-Jan-2004 04:52
Hi Jim, As a newbie for digital, but a bit beyond, I am considering an order for Minolta G500. I have downloaded your one set of tips from a previous posting. I would not have considered buying this camera, other than your help with instructions, posting of camera shots, and the other forum users. I agree this is a great camera, but without a printed manual and a helpful menu, clear instructions or other info, it leaves most newbies confused about the product. You have a clarity of explaining basic functions. If you wish to post an instruction document and tips for this camera, please let me know the price, so that I may order. Actually your tips, photos and help on the forum are the main selling points for this model and without these, I don't think I would consider purchasing this model. Could you please send me a contact for Minolta Headquarters? Thanks, Carol

Jim Cockfield		12-Jan-2004 22:08
The Photo Quality from the G400 does seem to be better than I expected from a camera using such a tiny CCD (smaller sensor than used in a camera like the G500). Some users are reporting poor focus indoors, and some are not. However, I've seen similiar reports from G500 users (there seems to be a QC problem with some cameras). However, if you shoot at wide angle using a fixed 1M focus point, the G400's great Depth of Field (thanks to its 5.6mm true focal length at wide angle) will allow the vast majority of you photos to be in focus (from about .89 meters to infinity). So, this is a way to get around the low light focus issues. You'd probably want to shoot at wide angle anyway indoors, since around 3 times as much light can reach the sensor, compared to when using zoom (to allow adequate flash range, since it's flash is very weak, compared to the slightly thicker G500). The G400 does seem to be a much better camera from a noise perspective, than I originally anticipated. However, I'd make sure to buy it from a vendor with a no restocking fee policy, in case you are not satisified with the results. I'd recommend the same thing with any camera you purchase, too (sometimes a users expectations are too high with a digital camera, since their noise levels, focus accuracy/speed, etc., are much worse in low light, compared to most film cameras.

Brent		12-Jan-2004 02:21
Hi Jim. I notice back in October you noted that you couldn't comment much on the G400 vs the G500 as you hadn't seen photos to compare and you thought the smaller CCD might also create more noise. Have you any further information or comments at this point as I'd like to lean toward the G400 due to the speed and movie mode features but I don't want to sacrifice picture quality? The only photos I've seen are on Steves-digicams... http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/dimage_g400_samples.html

Jim Cockfield		09-Jan-2004 23:38
IMPORTANT: A MUST READ FOR KONICA KD-510Z OR MINOLTA G500 USERS IS HERE: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=7224049

Jim Cockfield		09-Jan-2004 16:59
Sean: Done. You should see them in your e-mail In Box.

sean morony		09-Jan-2004 16:35
Jim - very impressed with the 510Z images.I've just ordered one,and was wondering if you would send me a copy of your tips.Can't wait to try out this little beauty!

Jim Cockfield		09-Jan-2004 04:29
Bob: The drivers needed have been sent to you, courtesy of Brian Hackl. I will send you his e-mail address so you can thank him.

Robert Richmond		08-Jan-2004 23:34
Jim, I find myself in a bind, and did remember your site as a possible resource. I live in USA but am today in Lima Peru without my driver to offload pix from my G500. Can you possibly steer me or send me the driver for G500 for Win98 SE? You would be a life-saver. Thank you so much. Bob

Jim Cockfield		06-Jan-2004 21:27
Bendair: The problem is that what is bright to the human eye, is not to a camera's lens. In order to correctly light the subject in darker conditions (without overexposing it), the camera needs to throttle down the flash strength at closer ranges. So, the background isn't going to be lit up as well. There are a couple of things that you can do to help out. One is to shoot at full wide angle. This allows more light to reach the sensor through the lens, so the flash strength won't be as strong (letting more of any ambient/background light through). Another thing that I do sometimes is reduce the shutter speed used. If you go into the "slow shutter" menu choice, you can select 1/30th second as the slowest shutter speed used with flash (first setting in under the slow shutter menu). This allows the camera to let even more light in (since it will throttle down the flash more for the slower 1/30 second shutter speed). Give these things a try when in a darker room (shoot at wide angle, change slow shutter setting with flash from 1/60 to 1/30 second). This will allow more ambient light into your photos.

Guest		06-Jan-2004 20:28
Jim, Thanks for sharing your photos and knowledge on the G500. I just got one for Christmas and was initially not impressed with it until I saw your photos. The reason I was disappointed with MY photos is because of the redeye effect and the "halo effect" when using the flash. The thing I call the "halo effect" is where, when using the flash, the subject seems to be well lit but the surrounding backgroud is dark. I just started shooting photos right out of the box so I haven't tried to modify any settings on the camera. After looking at your pictures, I feel I'm doing something wrong. Do you have any tips on reducing some of these effects? Don't get me wrong, the outdoor pictures are terrific. It's the indoor shots that have disappointed me. Thanks, Bendair bendair_dundat@yahoo.com

Pat		29-Dec-2003 08:23
If you need Minolta carrying case for G500, check out JandR.com for $14.99

pat		29-Dec-2003 08:13
check out JandR.com for Panasonic 256 High Speed SD card (pan rpsdh256u1a) for $79.88, or you may stay with Simple Tech (I think it made by Panasonic).

matt		29-Dec-2003 05:09
I bought a Sandisk 256 MB SD card....whoops...now I am looking for a big, reliable card and I dont know what to buy...I have a simpletech 256 sd card at amazon.com and i have a certificate or should i go with the panasonic and go outside of amazon? It may not matter but thanks!! Matt

Jim Cockfield		24-Dec-2003 20:08
OK Everyone. I'm gone for the holidays, and may or may not be checking my e-mail. Have a Merry Christmas!

Jim Cockfield		24-Dec-2003 19:35
Well, for white balance, if using flash, the camera's auto usually works best. However, if you're outside of the flash range (or have very strong ambient lighting), then white balance options are sometimes helpful to prevent color cast. For indoor shots, the best thing is to make sure you try to shoot at full wide angle in low light. The camera's F2.8/F4.9 lens can gather about 3 times as much light this way (that's why the flash range is rated much lower at full zoom). What I do is set the flash speed to 1/30 second (under the Slow Shutter Speed Menu). This lets it use a slower than default shutter speed, so that the scene takes in more ambient light. The best way to is to be aware of the camera's flash range limitations indoors, and try to make sure your subjects are inside of it (although I have found it to be much better than the specifications would indicate). You can also increase ISO speed (under the Quality Menu -- tied to a user profile) to get better exposures in low light. However, I try to avoid doing this (as it increases noise). I don't use Exposure Compensation much (except for odd lighting -- for example a backlit subject or conditions with lots of bright sky or water). I'm glad you're enjoying your new camera. I think it's a great little gem of a camera, too!

Parag		24-Dec-2003 17:16
Hello Jim, I shot a few pictures inside couple of DC museums, but they ended up a bit darker than I desired. I corrected them using Microsoft Photo Editor. I used the Fluo / Tungsten White Balances - I'm wondering if I should've left the settings to Auto ... For indoor low light conditions, should I use Exposure Correction? Are there any default settings that work better? Here's the link to the pictures I'm talking about: http://community.webshots.com/album/105833787ISxlqJ Also, following link has some of the shots inside the Luray Caverns (extreme low light) that I had told you about earlier at dpreview. http://community.webshots.com/album/104658565epHOZC/0 Thanks again for all the help!! I really, really appreciate your efforts to introduce this little affordable gem of the camera!!!

Jim Cockfield		24-Dec-2003 15:54
Mike: The Macro mode is when the flower icon is showing. You'll see this on the controller keys (toggles between focus modes). You don't need the menus to access it. I sent the tips to your pbase.com mail (the only way I see to send them to you).

Guest		24-Dec-2003 08:00
Jim, Could you also CC me those tips, thanks. I have heard a lot of references to the "Macro mode", but have not found anything like that in the menus. How do you turn it on? I have not been able to take clear closups, they seem to always come out blurry. Any suggestions? Thank you for any help you can give. -Mike

Justin		23-Dec-2003 22:06
Hi Jim! I just bought the G500. Could you please send me your tips for customization? Thanks, Justin

Guest		22-Dec-2003 15:46
Jim- I would very much appreciate it if you would e-mail me your tips for the Minolta G500. Read all of your posts & enjoy them very much. Thanks! porter_kathy@hotmail.com

Jim Cockfield		20-Dec-2003 14:13
You have to press and hold the play button (upper left hand corner) for a minimum of 2 seconds for it to display a photo (until the lights quit blinking). Then the camera will be in playback mode (so you can scroll between photos in the camera using left and right controller keys. It's not supposed to work with a momentary press. This should work regardless of whether the lens cover is open or not. Once you're in playback mode, you can use the zoom keys to magnify the photo (zooming in or out), and you can move around using controller keys. If you're zoomed in, you must zoom back out, before you can change to the next photo (using left and right keys again). You can also view exposure information for a photo by using the Up Controller key.

LumenLux		20-Dec-2003 08:17
Jim, it looks like you are the willing and able expert on this nice little camera. I hope you may know what is troubling mine. As history, I have enjoyed the Konica line starting with the Revio 300z. I had the 500Z briefly and returned it based on some of the same symptoms I now experience with my Minolta G500. With the shutter cover closed, I try to view photos by turning on the screen with the upper left button. Sometimes it works as I think it should - ie the green and red lights blink and the screen displays a photo. Other times, the attempt to turn on, gets only a short blink of the red and green lights, but screen never comes on. Sometimes it takes three or four trys on the switch to get the screen and photo on. I try pushing different ends of the switch etc, but have not been able to discern a pattern. As I experienced similar problems with my Konica 500Z, and now on this G500, I am surprized I have not read of other users having the problem. Any idea what is wrong with the camera or what I am doing? Also, another (perhaps related) problem occurs with the lens open in shooting mode. Pushing the button to review most recent photo will only sometimes respond or respond after long delay of not knowing whether to wait or shoot or what. Finally, how can I access your tips and settings for this camera? Thank you for all I have been able to already learn from your comments.

Jim Cockfield		19-Dec-2003 20:25
Marty: The camera will throttle down the flash automatically -- based on the range to your focus point and metering (defaults to center weighted). You may want to make sure you didn't accidently change any settings (like metering to Spot versus Center Weighted under the AE Menu Choice), or put the camera in manual exposure mode by accident (with a Blue "M" showing), or accidently set EV to a positive value -- all of which could be the cause. You can reset the camera to defaults by going to Setup, Defaults and answering Yes.

Guest		19-Dec-2003 19:49
Jim, is it possible to "throttle" down the flash? I took some pictures indoors last night but the flash is too bright. I took pictures anywhere between 2 feet and 12 feet but all seem way too bright. the above pictures that you took inside the restaurant wih the food seem just right. How do I get there? Any help is appreciated. Marty

Ron		18-Dec-2003 19:42
Jim. Many thanks to you for all of your reviews and comments. I attempted a lot of research on a camera and found myself always coming back to your recommendation on the G500. It arrives tomorrow. I too am interested in your tips/FAQ. As a point and shoot person, I know every little idea and suggestion will make it easier to learn what I can do with this camera. Ron at rschagpal@comcast.net

Jim Cockfield		18-Dec-2003 17:38
Matt: See my warning on memory at the top of this album page. You'll also see a link to a compatibility chart from Konica-Minolta. You must be extremely careful what memory cards you use. The size you need is up to you. The larger the card, the more photos you'll be able to take, before you need to transfer them to your PC. I would suggest buying Panasonic Secure Digital Cards in sizes over 128MB. I'll e-mail you some new user tips for the camera.

Matt W		18-Dec-2003 17:20
I really enjoy all the pictures and tips....i just ordered the camera and will be getting it for Christmas! Would you send me the settings I should set it on and any advice on the camera. I have been looking for a camera forever now and I hope I am pleased. Also...concerning memory...Do i need to order a specific memory card for the camera or can I go out and purchase a generic one? How much memory would you suggest? Any other accessories? Thanks alot!

Guest		17-Dec-2003 01:38
Jim, thank You very much for the tips. they will come in very handy I'm sure! Marty

Jim Cockfield		17-Dec-2003 01:26
Marty, Hal: I sent you my tips on G500 setup. Let me know if you have any questions about it. I hope you both enjoy your new cameras!

Guest		17-Dec-2003 01:03
Jim, after reading all of your input on the G500, I went ahead and ordered one. It will be here on Thursday. Will you also email me your "tips" also? This will be my first digital camera and can use all the help I can get! Thanks again for all the great input! Marty barney@starrland.com

S.Harold Reuter, M.D.		17-Dec-2003 00:52
Jim- I would very much appreciate it if you would e-mail me your tips for the Minolta G500. Read all of your posts & enjoy them very much. Thanks for all that your contribute on this subject. Hal Reuter

Jim Cockfield		16-Dec-2003 01:13
Danco: Done, I e-mailed them to you!

Danco		16-Dec-2003 00:54
Can you please send that tips for g500 to me. Thanks

Jim Cockfield		16-Dec-2003 00:05
Pat, Graham: I e-mailed both of you my tips for new G500 owners, along with information on customizing the controller keys. Let me know if you have any questions, or if I can help out in any way!

Patrick		15-Dec-2003 08:59
Dear Jim, I received my G500 on friday.... "played" around with it and am impressed with it. I will be on a trip to LA/LV soon after my final exams... so i hope i can get the most out of it. Please email me the FAQ(or every "tutorial" you have given possible) u complied as well.... thanks for eveything you have done.. regards, Pat

Graham		15-Dec-2003 01:05
Thanks, Jim! If you are able to send something via email, please note that I incorrectly typed my address on my original post (no doubt a result of staying up too late). The correct one is ggelberg@hotmail.com. Best, Graham

Jim Cockfield		14-Dec-2003 15:02
Graham: No, I don't have a FAQ. I should probably compile one, since I get this question often. The manual leaves a lot to be desired with this model (probably due to the translation from Japanese). I'll try to put together one and e-mail it to you. I may also try to use some web space from my ISP for this purpose. I don't currently have a web site (other than the photo sharing space here at Pbase.com), but I should probably create one for storing this type of information.

Graham		14-Dec-2003 07:06
Dear Jim, I just placed my order for the Minolta G500, and a 128MB SD, card based on the stellar comments you and other G500 owners have made about the camera. I'm really looking forward to using the camera, but I'll need to wait just a few more days. I have seen quite a lot of information posted by you on using different settings. I was wondering if you have compiled your findings (and advise) to one document or FAQ? If so, could you please direct me to where it is located. Thank you for taking the time to help out those of us that are new to the product. Best, Graham

Jim Cockfield		10-Dec-2003 17:39
Without seeing the original images, it's difficult to comment. The link you provided is to an album containing downsized images.

Guest		10-Dec-2003 17:27
How did you comment the quality of this 4 samples of minolta g400http://www.pbase.com/cameras/minolta/dimage_g400

Guest		06-Dec-2003 23:47
Thanks for all the info on this and related cameras. It's been helpful in my search for a camera. In regards to the question on 890mAh vs. 850mAh below, mah is the milli-amp hour rating of the battery. This essentially tells you the size of the 'fuel tank' - the higher the number, the longer it will power a device. You can move between batteries of different mAh ratings so long as you maintain the same voltage. You can calculate estimated run time if you know the amp hour of the camera. I don't know what it is for the Minolta camera, but assuming the camera will run for about 2 hours with the 890mAh, it'll run about 6 minutes shorter with the 850mAh battery.

Patrick		05-Dec-2003 07:00
Dear Jim.... I just ordered a G500 last night, have been deciding for sometimes between g400 and g500, and i finally made up my mine. and i also ordered a lexar 256 memory stick from amazon.com (good price). hope everything will works out fine, then i can play with the toy after my final (next weeks) will keep u updated on the camera, once again, thanks for your efforts!!

Guest		05-Dec-2003 06:09
Dear Jim, I finally got around to visiting your site. This evening I changed the settings on the G500 as per your direction. All I can say is WOW! What a difference. It's a whole new camera and I thought it was good before. Thanks again for your guidance. It is a nice thing to make improvements and you do. We look forward to your constructive and informative comments. Stay well. Diane

Jim Cockfield		05-Dec-2003 02:58
Dave: Theoretically, the 850mAh batteries should last a little longer (allowing you to take more photos before needing a recharge). But, we'd have to do some controlled conditions tests to see for sure. As for the Sandisk Ultra II SD, their press releases advertised a minimum write speed of 9 mb/second, and a minimum read speed of 10MB/second. Panasonic and Simpletech SD in 256mb and 512mb sizes show a sustained read and write speed of 10mb/second. As for compatibility, I don't know of anyone that has tried the newer Sandisk media in this camera.

Dave		04-Dec-2003 23:16
First off, hats off to fabulous nerds like Jim to convincing all of us to buy this nice camera and spending so much time telling us about it. Secondly, has anyone tried the new Sandisk secure digital Ultra II 256mb card in their G500? Does it work? Is it fast? Is it any different from the panasonic or simpletech versions? Thirdly, do all the replacement batteries on the market have the same lifespan? What does 850mAh vs 820mAh mean? Does it matter? Thanks!! -Dave

Guest		01-Dec-2003 02:45
Hello, Here are some interesting first photos from my G500 that turned out quite well; Note that I won't keep them up indefinitely for lack of server space, but the links should be good for a few months: These are low-light shots, all handheld, at dusk: Even though some shutter speeds were as slow as 1/8th of a second, they turned out pretty good and have a lot of atmosphere, I think. Note that for most of the darkish shots, I used maual mode and slightly underexposed to eliminate handshake - but the dark colors actually fit the situation at that time. http://www.stanford.edu/~sjo/Rainyday/ Here are more photos of a trip to Ano Nuevo State Preserve, with usually great light metering in auto mode: http://www.stanford.edu/~sjo/AnoNuevoSP/

Guest		29-Nov-2003 22:31
Hi everyone, Here's another piece of good news about the G500: My only real complaint about the G500 was that there is no manual white balace or white balance lock - but this is not entirely true: As suggested by my little brother, you can indeed lock the white balance temporarily by half-pressing the shutter button! So take your manual white balance card, maybe with an easy-to-focus on pattern, half-press, recompose & shoot. While this is not as convenient as a set-and-release manual white balance, it is a big step up from having no white balance lock at all.

Guest		28-Nov-2003 10:54
Hi Jim, I think I would agree with you that the G500 is a nicer buy after all. Here are two more advantages of the G500 vs. S400: + G500 has faster unlimited cycle time, and faster flash recharge times. As shown in this linkhttp://www.akam.no/tester/hurtighet.html, within 60 seconds you can shoot 12 flash images with the S400, and 20 flash images with the KD510z / G500. + I tested if the G500 has a real aperture or a neutral density filter like the s400. Good news: With the G500 in macro + manual mode I was able to confirm that the depth of field changes significantly as you change the aperture, so the G500 uses real apertures. The s400 with its neutral density filter would always have the same depth of field, if you could adjust its "aperture" manually.

Guest		27-Nov-2003 14:30
Battery life of the Minolta G500 / Konica KD-510Z also seems to be better than that of the Canon S400, see this table: http://www.akam.no/tester/batterikapasitet.html

Guest		27-Nov-2003 14:27
Oh, I just found the link where you can compare some performance data for the Minolta G500 and the Canon S400: Go here, and note that you need to look for the Konica KD-510z a.k.a. Minolta G500: http://www.akam.no/tester/hurtighet.html For the related Konica KD-510z review, go here: http://www.akam.no/art.php?artikkelid=3160

Guest		27-Nov-2003 14:06
Hi Jim, I just got my G500 today, and I must say, I am very happy so far. See the pictures I made here: http://www.pbase.com/sjkst9/gallery/dimage_g500 I also compared some features to the S400, and here is my opinion: G500 + faster startup + full manual mode (aperture & shutter) + slighly faster zoom & focus (some review site in the Netherlands, can't find it) + faster (zero) lag when set to AF lock or fixed focus + manual focus to infinity, 4 / 2 / 1 meters + manual RGB components adjust for photo + manual RGB components adjust for LCD + good menu system: I find it fast, efficient & intuitive; it's context-sensitive! + Slick small clamshell design + storage class device + dual media storage (well, MS... don't use it, but nice to have capability) + better price: ca. $310 in some decent places - no manual white balance (this sucks, but oh well...) - no video out (no big loss... I rarely used it in other cameras) S400 + smoother colors + less color noise + faster continuous mode + AF assist lamp + super-bright AF assist lamp avoids redeye + uses cheap CF media + optical viewfinder better positioned & easier to view - less contrast, detail, and sharpness - only 4 megapixels - more protrusions, cheap rubber flap covering I/O ports - no storage class device (why the **** not??) - aperture is implemented as neutral density filter (why not use a real 2 step aperture?)

Pat		23-Nov-2003 09:36
For those who are looking for high speed Panasonic SD card, go to J&R.com, 256 mb for $79.88. I bought mine there and just got it 2 days ago.

pat		23-Nov-2003 09:20
For those who want to look for Minolta carrying case for G500, go to J&R.com for just $14.88.

Jim Cockfield		22-Nov-2003 19:33
Sebastian: I feel no perceptable shutter lag with AE and AF lock set. There probably is some small fraction of a second lag (if you had a way to measure an amount this small), but I can't perceive any at all. There is one Downside to the Konica's AE and AF lock. They will not stay locked if you change focal range (zoom settings). Otherwise, you can take all the photos you want, and AE and/or AF lock will stay set (at the zoom setting you set them at). This makes sense, since the lens will be stopping down the aperture as you use zoom (since less light can reach the sensor using zoom), impacting exposure and focus. But, it's still a great feature, and is very easy to use. As far as the S400, read through this post at dpreview.com. I included links to comments from users that have owned both the Canon S400 and the Konica KD-510z/Minolta G500. They both prefer the Konica: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1018&message=6696359 Let me know if this answers your questions.

Sebastian		22-Nov-2003 11:26
Dear Jim, Thanks for all your great photos and comparisons. I have been agonizing over the past months which digital camera to buy next, and after having returned a Fuji S602, a Toshiba 5300, and a Dimage Z1 (sorry, I feel like a cheat... but I can't help it, all these cameras were a disappointment in one way or another!!), I am finally settling on the G500. I'll give you and your readers my spin on a couple of others I have considered, but I have one question, too: What about manual focus? I am hoping that the G500 has a very short total shutter delay if you do one of the following: - set it to infinity focus (mountain symbol) - set it to fixed focus 4 / 2 / 1 meters - use autofocus lock (half-press shutter & arrow left, release & wait for occasion) - use AE exposure lock (half-press shutter & arrow up, release & wait for occasion) - or any combination, i.e. fixed focus and AE lock, etc. ... I think these are very promising modes, explained in the manual. Seperate AE and AF lock, which stay even for several photos until you reset then! Since I don't have the camera yet, maybe you or someone else could try this and post their timing results? Here is my spin on other cameras I was considering, in order of interest; I'll leave out the good things and point out why I decided against them: - Canon S400: No manual options except exposure compensation; corner softness; 4MP "only". S400 has very beautiful and noise-free colors but also lacks a bit in contrast, resolution, and crispness, I feel. Example: Fine lines in resolution charts look more gray & white, rather than black & white. Still, it's my next closest favorite, and I might still reconsider.... Once I have checked speeds in AF/AE lock modi. I can test that for the S400 in a local best buy, now that I have just read it works the same way as in the G500 (half-press & arrow up / arrow left). But to compare to the G500, I need your help! Good, but not perfect: - Pentax Optio 555: Very sharp & zero corner softness, lotsa manual options, but geometric distortion is ~ 1.2% pincushion at half-zoom! noise; size. - Sony DSC-P10: Seriously fast focusing in daylight but colors are off; Memorystick; So-so: - Most Fuji SuperCCDs, e.g. S602: Soft image, even when non-interpolated. Strange. - Toshiba 5300: Way to slow to turn on and operate; shutter lag; white balance indoors - Ultra-fast focusing cameras, e.g. Dimage Z1, Ricoh G4: Focus accuracy is sacrificed for speed - Compact 10x ultrazoom cameras: Image quality Anyway... For me, it's probably going to be G500 or S400, most likely G500. The more expensive memory of the G500 is offset by its (incredibly) $50 lower price compared to the S400.

Jim Cockfield		21-Nov-2003 17:11
Miller: With flash, you'll need to press and hold the shutter button down to allow it to take photos continuously (don't release the shutter button between photos). It will recycle as fast as one photo every 2.1 seconds this way at closer ranges. At further ranges, the flash will take longer to recharge. Because it "throttles down" the flash strength at closer ranges, it's faster. If you are taking photos outside, then the flash doesn't have to recharge, so you'll get much faster times. I'd leave the LCD Display turned on. Just make sure that Continuous is On under the Custom Menu (Setup, Custom), and make sure that Quick View is turned Off (Setup, Quick View). This combination gives the best results. To catch the best facial expressions, I usually prefocus (half press of shutter button), then make funny remarks, before pressing the rest of the way down (holding it down for multiple photos sometimes). Ditto for photos when someone is blowing out birthday candles, etc (prefocus, then press it the rest of the way down at just the right moment). It's "second nature", since I've owned multiple digital cameras. I also leave redeye reduction turned off (so that the "preflash" doesn't spoil facial expressions). I just correct redeye later using irfanview, downloadable free from http://www.irfanview.com Just make sure that no icons for flash appear, and the flash will fire automatically when needed (without redeye reduction). Of course, it's a matter of personal tastes. I don't like redeye reduction modes on any camera (on the Konica, it's the picture of the Eye when you cycle through the flash choices). Lately, I also leave the Quality set to Off (no user profiles). I find that the defaults work just fine.

Miller		21-Nov-2003 12:05
I'm going to a surprise 40th party tonight. I went to the main menu and entered continous, and I cut the display off, but the camera takes a couple of seconds to get back to taking the next picture. Is there anything else I need to do? I really want to get her surpised look on film! Thanks again for all your input...

Jim Cockfield		20-Nov-2003 21:35
Patrick: Yes, according to Konica-Minolta Japan, either the Toshiba or the Panasonic manufactured 256mb Secure Digital Cards should work. Here's the link: http://ca.konicaminolta.jp/cgi-bin/compati.cgi?category=DSC&product=rkd510 As for Lexar, I've been told that most of their newer Secure Digital is Panasonic Manufactured, but I have no way of verifying it for sure, and don't know about their older cards. I've been told the same thing about the Standard Simpletech Cards in 256mb and 512mb sizes (Panasonic), but again, I don't have a way to verify it for sure. However, if you check the Simpletech Web Site, their specs do show 10MB/Second in both 256mb and 512mb sizes. Here's the link (click on a card size for specs). http://www.simpletech.com/flash/secure_digital.php Bear in mind that Panasonic, Toshiba, and Sandisk jointly developed Secure Digital. Even though other manufacturers do produce CompactFlash, etc., they are just using "rebranded" media from the "big 3" for Secure Digital (to the best of my knowledge). As far as Memory Stick Media, I'm not aware of any compatibility problems with any brand (provided you are using the Standard, not Pro format). I'm using a Lexar 128mbx2 Memory Stick in mine with no problems. BTW, I see no difference in the speed of camera operation, regardless of media type used (Memory Stick, Secure Digital). However, I have seen posts from users of larger Secure Digital Media Sizes with various problems (slow startup times, corrupted files, unable to format cards, etc.), when using slower (non Panasonic or Simpletech) Secure Digital Media. That's probably why Konica-Minolta Japan does not consider slower cards to be compatible in larger sizes.

Patrick		20-Nov-2003 20:49
just to reassure, you said that Toshiba's 256 SD card is compatible with G500, right?? what about Lexar Media's 256 SB?? i noticed it from some website that it's rated 10mb/s too. It's kinda hard to find panasonic brand sb card, any recommendation of website i can find it? what is the speed of 256 memory stick (memory select)? thanks.

Gregor		20-Nov-2003 13:42
Thank you for your accurate and prompt answer ! I have also read some of your comments on dpreview , etc . I think your visitors should contact Minolta/Konica and recommend you to recieve some sort of bonus ( maybe an A1 8-) ) in change for your efforts in marketing their product as well as providng support to customers ( pretty fast and detailed by the way ) !! Thanks again

Jim Cockfield		20-Nov-2003 13:03
Gregor: You can change the ISO speed under a quality menu to 50, 100, 200, or 400. It's tied to a user profile. If you don't use a user profile, then ISO 100 is always used (regardless of whether you're in Autoexposure or Manual Exposure). You have defaults, User1 and User2 under a Quality Menu. This allows you to set ISO Speed, Flash Strength, Saturation, Contrast, Sharpness, and Color (separate settings for Red, Green and Blue Channels), with the settings tied to a User Profile. It has nothing to do with Auto or Manual Exposure choices. You can use the desired User Profile (where your ISO Speed Choice is set) with either Manual or Auto Exposure.

Gregor		20-Nov-2003 12:26
Hello Jim , I have a question for you about the G500/G400 . I've read somewhere in the manual that using manual exposure ( aperture/shutter ) the iso is locked at 100 or 50 ( i don't know anymore ) , is that true ? thank you

Jim Cockfield		20-Nov-2003 03:29
Lennart: Your new Konica KD-420z (a.k.a., Minolta G400), should be one of the fastest focusing non-DSLR Digital Cameras on the planet. 0.2 seconds is pretty amazing. Could you let us know how far the flash works? The KD-510z flash is stronger than it's rated. I know of a lot of people that are very curious about how the KD-420z flash works (real effective distance at ISO 100, ISO 200). Thanks!

Lennart		19-Nov-2003 07:53
Hi Jim, Sorry for my English. Yesterday I bought my first digital camera, a KD-420Z. It's smaller then other KD cameras. And it has no time limit (except batteri, memory) when recording. Best of all it's very fast. This has been made possible by a new Signal Processing Engine which boots in only 0.7 seconds, and finishes autofocus/auto-exposure adjustments in about 0.2 seconds, making the KD-420Z the world's fastest camera in its class. Ready for action almost as soon as it is switched on, the KD-420Z will ensure that users need never miss a photo opportunity. Other features of the Revio KD-420Z include 2x digital zoom, selectable ISO from 50 to 400, exposure compensation, selectable flash and white balance. This has been made possible by a new Signal Processing Engine which boots in only 0.7 seconds, and finishes autofocus/auto-exposure adjustments in about 0.2 seconds, making the KD-420Z the world's fastest camera in its class. Ready for action almost as soon as it is switched on, the KD-420Z will ensure that users need never miss a photo opportunity. Other features of the Revio KD-420Z include 2x digital zoom, selectable ISO from 50 to 400, exposure compensation, selectable flash and white balance. I guess the next camera from Konica/Minolta will be a KD-520Z !! What do you think about this camera ? Regards Lennart

Jim Cockfield		12-Nov-2003 06:27
Marlene: I visited your album, and your photos are very nice. I'm glad you're enjoying your new camera.

Marlene Rose Besso		11-Nov-2003 20:04
Hi Jim, I appreciate all your suggestions regarding my questions concerning the G500. I took your advice and returned the sandisk 256 and bought a 128 instead. I am loving my camera, and learning more and more each day. If you get a chance take a look at my gallery: http://www.pbase.com/mbesso/nov_2003 Thanks again for all your assistance. Marlene

Jim Cockfield		10-Nov-2003 23:06
Widi: I think both are very nice little cameras for the money. Most Canon S400 users seem quite pleased with theirs. I haven't personally used the S400, but I can point you to a couple of users that have owned both cameras. They both prefer the Konica KD-510z (identical to the Minolta DiMAGE G500 -- they just decided to market it under the Minolta logo in the U.S., after the Konica-Minolta merger). See this forum post, and follow the links, and you'll see the comments from two users that have owned both models: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=6556520 Good Luck with your decision!

Widi		10-Nov-2003 22:38
Jim, I was going to buy the Canon S400, until (1) I read your positive review/postings on the G500 on DPreview.com and a couple of other positive reviews on other websites (2) I realized that the G500 is about $50-75 cheaper (Buydig.com appears to have the best deals) and (3) G500 has 5 MP max. resolution vs. 4MP for the S400. However, it appears that the G500 isn't as reviewed/ tested/ popular vs. the S400. I basically need a good camera for taking family pictures on road trips and social events, emailing pics to friends and relatives, and occassionally printing the best pics to get them framed. Which one of the two would you recommend (price difference is only a factor if all else is equal)? Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this posting and responding at your earliest convenience. Regards, Widi

Jim Cockfield		08-Nov-2003 14:29
Well -- I've got an older Sandisk reader that has worked fine (CompactFlash only). I've also got a printer with built in readers for multiple card types. But, these are very slow (USB 1.1). I'm thinking about upgrading to a USB 2.0 "Multi Card" Reader, but I'll need to buy a USB 2.0 I/O Card for my PC, too. Steve's Digicams has some reviews of the newer USB 2.0 readers here: http://www.steves-digicams.com/digi_accessories.html#readers I'm thinking about the Lexar Reader. It looks like I'll need to spend around $65.00 total (around $40.00 for the reader, and around $25.00 for the USB 2.0 I/O Card for my PC to give it USB 2.0 ports). Here's the review of the Lexar reader I'm considering: http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/lexar_mcr-usb2.html

Guest		08-Nov-2003 13:56
What brand of card readers to you recommend? I purchased a Dazzle reader, but it was awful. I would rather use the cable that came with the camera. Thanks.

Jim Cockfield		07-Nov-2003 17:19
Tom: This is my 7th Digital Camera, and I've been quite impressed with it. No camera is perfect (especially a "consumer" model with a small lens and sensor), but this one sure is the best that I've ever used. I don't think you'll find a better camera, unless you go with a Digital SLR (with a much larger sensor, capable of higher ISO speeds in low light conditions without noise). I'm quite pleased with mine, and I'm glad you're pleased with yours.

Jim Cockfield		07-Nov-2003 17:16
Martin: Scroll down in this forum, and see my 05-Nov-2003 15:53 response to Hal (he is also trying to decide between the Pentax and the Konica). It gives my thoughts on pros and cons of both. Good Luck deciding!

Tom Tsui		07-Nov-2003 16:31
Dear Jim, I just want to say " Thanks so much to introduce this great camera G500 to everybody !" I totally agreed with your posted review. It is the best balanced ,no camera is perfect, between photo quality, flash strength, useful manual control, compact size & low light foucing especially. Thanks for the "light sensor" which located (black hole) under the flash lamp. I belive that it generates an unvisable infrared "IR" to help user to focus in dark. I have experienced to take a photo between 1-2 meters in total dark although i cannot see anything in monitor. The G500 can also focus and provide clear picture accurately. It's similar to Sony "light frame system" except we cannot see any images in LCD monitor and focus point. Once again, thanks so much ! Best regards, Tom Sony DSC-F707, Minolta G500

Martin		07-Nov-2003 11:34
In all my searches I keep bumping into your name, you appear to be a world expert on Konica and having a strong influence on my choice of camera! I'm after a compact 5MP camera with some manual facilities with a view to extending my knowledge of photography. Last year I borrowed a HP Photosmart 715 which gave good pictures (enjoyed macro facility) but felt bulky. Weighing up between Sony DSC-P12 [though if its a coloured copy of P10 then I expect you don't like it despite the spare battery!], Konica KD-510Z (based on your review and last years strong reviews of predecessor KD-400Z), and Pentax Optio 550. Looks like a choice between Konica & Pentax but can anyone give advice? Many thanks for your valuable advice so far, hope you're keeping well. Martin

Jim Cockfield		05-Nov-2003 22:45
From the comments on the Konica-Minolta Japan site, it appears that you may get format and other errors from the card. I have talked to several KD-410z, KD-500z (older models)users that have had problems with 256mb cards (corrupted files, unable to complete format, etc.). Unfortuntely, these problems were not consistent. Now, it could be that only certain cards had the problems (not all Sandisk), or that the problems have been corrected. However, personally, I would not risk using a Sandisk Secure Digital Card in my camera.

Miller		05-Nov-2003 22:35
I have had the minolta G-500 for about a month. Awesome! I have a 256 sandisk card.I've just read your warning about it. I have had no problems thus far. Are you saying that some photos can be corrupt or could it all of a sudden mess up. I have till Friday to send it back. Thanks

Jim Cockfield		05-Nov-2003 15:53
Hal: I decided against the Pentax Optio 55x series, mainly because of their size (they're almost a half inch thicker than my Konica), although I was tempted by it's lens range. I've found that my Konica KD-510z is about the largest camera that I can carry in a pants pocket. It's a relatively tight fit when wearing jeans, and the Pentax would be too large for me. It's a nice camera, but I'd prefer the faster startup speed of my Konica (it's very nice to be able to pull out the Konica, and take a quick photo, then put it away just as fast). The Pentax does have more features, better zoom range, etc. It also has a powerful flash for a subcompact camera. I think the Optio 555 is a nice camera. There have been some complaints on vignetting, etc., with such a small 5x Zoom Lens, but this is a small price to pay for the extra focal range if you need it. There have also been some complaints about noise in this camera, but any consumer camera is going to have some noise -- period. In any event, it's easy to reduce with software packages like neatimage (available from http://www.neatimage.com ) If you don't mind the Pentax camera's thickness of 1.6" (I don't know how you plan on carrying a camera), or slower startup, I think the Optio would make a great choice for an all around good camera, with better focal range, and more features than my Konica.

Guest		05-Nov-2003 06:02
Jim- I ha ve posted here before--looking for a small camera that I can carry around in my pocket all of the time to be ready for that shot that I would miss because my Nikon Coolpix 990 & 4500 are too large to have with me all of the time. When I studied your posts, I ruled out the ultra small 3 MG/3x optical zoom Casio, Minolta & Pentax--also the Cannon 400s. I was just about to order the Minolta G500 -5 MG/3x optical zoom when I read about the recently released Pentax Optio 555-5 MG/5x optical zoom. The following is a link from dpreview.com side-by-side comparison of the G500 & 555: I would very much appreciate your review of this & comments about these 2 cameras. They are both about the same size & weight. Thanks again for your sage advice. Hal Reuter

Jim Cockfield		04-Nov-2003 22:25
Marlene: Here are the answers to your questions: Redeye - Unfortunately, the closer a flash is to a camera's lens, the greater the chance for redeye. This is going to be a common problem on any camera this small. Menus - Simply Switch the Quality Menu between OFF to the desired user profile (Off, User1, User2). Flash - What's bright to your eyes, is not to a camera (especially one with a very tiny lens). Make sure you stay within the flash range in the specifications. With flash off inside, the shutter speed will be too low in most lighting conditions for properly exposed photos, without increasing the ISO speed signficantly (which will add noise). Continuous Mode - If you have this turned on, when you press and hold the shutter button, it will continue to take photos until you release the shutter button (at a rate of about 1 photo every 1.27 seconds without flash Sandisk Secure Digital - In sizes greater than 128mb, Sandisk Secure Digital is NOT compatible with the camera, and you may end up with corrupted photos and or File Allocation Tables; as well as slower camera operation.

Marlene Rose Besso		04-Nov-2003 18:59
Hi Jim, I want to THANK YOU for all your input on the Minolta G500 in dpreview.com I waited a long time before buying a digital camera.........waiting for the prices to come down and the megapixels to go up! I finally took the leap and upon your positive review, (among others) purchased my G500 last week from J&R.com for 349.00 free shipping. I am still learning all the menus, etc.(see questions below) and have been clicking away all weekend. See my uploads here: http://www.pbase.com/mbesso/gallery/inbox I would be grateful since you are the G500 Pro......if you could answer a few of my questions :-) My only real complaint is: "Red Eye" Why do I seem to get red eye in every picture? How can I avoid this? I have already downloaded the irfanview program to make corrections after the fact. If this was not a digital camera, and I developed all my film to find out I had red eye in every shot, I would NOT be happy! The menus are a bit confusing for me: If I choose the default settings, what exactly are they vs if I set up my own custom settings? And, how do I set up the user 1 and user 2 profiles and then how do I access them? If I take photos without the flash in the house, why do they appear to look fine on the lcd, but of course they are too dark when I upload them? (I was doing a test to change setting to address the red eye problem.) I have continuous mode on and I don't know if I am utilizing it or not? I get confused about holding the shutter down halfway.......and then what? I purchased the san disk 256mg card because the lexar was out of stock. It seems to be working fine, but I thought I read somewhere that it was not compatible with the camera? I have only spent a few days with the camera, so I guess I will slowly figure everything out, but any assistance for a novice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks Marlene

Jim Cockfield		04-Nov-2003 01:02
I would recommend Panasonic in Secure Digital (10mb/second) -- dramatically faster than most others. Also, Sandisk 256mb Secure Digital is not compatible (per Konica-Minolta Japan), and they make cards for many other manufacturers. In Memory Sticks, I do not have a preference.

Guest		01-Nov-2003 09:04
For Secure Digital Card, Which brand do you prefer or recommend (Lexar, Kingston, Panasonic, Sandisk, Simpletech, Viking) and Why? For Memory Stick, Which brand do you prefer or recommend (Lexar, Sandisk, Sony) and why?

Jim Cockfield		30-Oct-2003 22:44
Yes it will work. The 128mb x 2 Sandisk Memory Stick will work fine. The camera sees this as a regular 128mb Memory Stick. Only the Memory Stick Pro is not compatible.

Guest		30-Oct-2003 07:37
I had read your warning that some Sandisk Card above 128mb are not consider compatible. But you only mention Secure Digital Card. What about Sandisk 256mb Memory Stick Duo Card? Does it compatible or not? Your advice will be deeply appreciated.

Jim Cockfield		29-Oct-2003 17:10
Yes. The camera sees a 128mb x 2 Memory Stick as a regular 128mb Memory Stick. I'm using a Lexar 128mb x 2 (256mb total by "flicking a switch on the Memory Stick) in my camera. No problems at all. It does not support the Memory Stick Pro, but the 128mb x2 Memory Sticks work fine (the camera cannot tell the difference between these, and a regular 128mb Memory Stick).

Guest		29-Oct-2003 09:19
Does Memory Stick Duo Card works with G500?

Jim Cockfield		26-Oct-2003 18:15
I have not owned the Canon S400, but most users seem to love theirs. I do know of a couple of users that have both the KD-510z (G500) and the Canon S400. They both prefer the Konica KD-510z/Minolta G500. See this forum post from me at dpreview.com for links to their comments: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1024&message=6427181 I think you'd be happy with either one. They are both nice cameras.

Guest		26-Oct-2003 04:20
How do you feel this camera compares to the Canon s400? I have read nothing but good reviews about it (and MANY of them) on multiple sites including dpreview and steve's. But hte 500 sounds good also. I am more of a point and shoot type person.

Jim Cockfield		25-Oct-2003 12:52
Justin: No, but there are lots of image editing packages that will allow you to add filter effects in post processing.

Justin		25-Oct-2003 10:32
Thanks. One more thing, does the KD-510 have any filter settings (or DSP filters) such as a polarizer? Justin

Jim Cockfield		23-Oct-2003 19:30
Justin: The Konica KD-510z (a.k.a., Minolta G500) lets you shoot in either Color, Sepia or Black and White (you'll find the ability to select Sepia or Black & White under a "Monochrome" menu choice). I don't use the movie mode (never have, on any digital camera I've owned). It's rated at 320x240 resolution (with audio), and you are limited to clips of 30 seconds in length. Personally, I've found the movie modes on digital still cameras to be too "choppy" compared to a true video camera (even the better 640x480 mode on the Sony DSC-P10 that I owned briefly). Also, movies on a digital still camera use up LOTS of memory card space quickly. For example: three 30 second movie clips (even with the resolution at 320x240, as on this camera) would use 16mb of space. But, some users still like this feature -- just not me.

Justin		23-Oct-2003 19:21
Hello Jim, Well it looks like you have become the world authority on this camera! I too am seriously considering buying one here in the UK. They are due to hit our shops in about two weeks, and are already on some websites. This would be my first digicam. Ever since learning photography by developing my own black & white shots in the darkroom I really like the contrast of B&W photography. You've mentioned the variable colour settings, but can you go completely mono-chromatic?! Some cameras such as the Canon IXUS 400 (not sure what it's called in the US) have this function, and it would be a real nice-to-have. Also what is your opinion of the motion video aspect of this camera? Thanks. Also I hope you are recovering well from your surgery!

Jim Cockfield		23-Oct-2003 18:37
Harold: The most important difference that could impact image quality between the G400 and G500, is that the G400 uses a smaller, denser CCD (4 Megapixel 1/2.5"). I do not believe that this sensor will be capable of the image quality of the larger, less dense 5 Megapixel 1/1.8" CCD as used in the G500. The G400 does have more features, but image quality is more important to me. We'll need to wait for "real world" photos to see how well the G400 performs (noise levels are my biggest concern, a problem I've seen in other cameras using this smaller sensor). As far as photo sites, I highly recommend this one (pbase.com). They offer very flexbile style sheets, ability to direct link to either photos or albums, ability to upload photos in a single .zip file, and much more. I also usehttp://www.photoaccess.com for many albums. Photoaccess.com allows free, unlimited album space, and lets users order prints, too. This is useful when taking photos at parties and family gatherings, so that those without printers can order prints directly. The downside is that users cannot view or download the full size (original) image from photoaccess.com (that's why I use both pbase.com and photoaccess.com). Here's this album (my Konica photos) on photoaccess.com: http://www.photoaccess.com/share/guest.jsp?ID=AC7DF528687&cb=PA Another great feature with Photoaccess.com is their available "Digital Size Prints" (NO CROPPING).... Great feature, at reasonable print prices, too.

S.Harold Reuter		23-Oct-2003 17:28
Jim- I contacted Konica-Minolta in an attempt to find out if there is much of a difference between the new Konica KD 400Z (Minolta G 400) and the G 500 other than 1 megapixel. I am especially interested in the processing of the digital images. In your communication a few days ago to my question to you, you needed to wait to see the reviews. The Konica-Minolta response was: "For the most part, the cameras are the same. They just have slightly different features." Thank you, Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A Inc --which does not address my query--what are the slightly different features? I am going to order the G500 based on all of your input which has been extremely helpful & I thank you again for all of your time & effort- obviously very much appreciate by so many photographers who are on this site & the other forums. Hal P.S. Do you have any suggestions for an internet location where I can post photos-several hundred where others can have access to & download--e.g.:class reunions, weddings, family reunion, etc.? Thanks again.

Jim Cockfield		23-Oct-2003 15:01
Hey Henri: Thanks for the photos. I was unable to correct the second link in your post (below this one). I am unable to edit user posts. I don't think anyone will mind. I'm glad you are enjoying your new camera. I've been very pleased with mine, too, and have been doing my best to "spread the news" on how nice of a camera Konica-Minolta has made!

Henri		23-Oct-2003 11:58
Hello Jim! After reading your review i purchased the Konica KD-510z last week. I am very happy with this cam. I tryed many other cameras like the Minolta Dimage Z1 and the Pentax Optio 450. But none of these cameras were able to make such sharp and good pictures like the little Konica. I was very surprised about the image quality of the Konica 510z. Now i want to present you my first pictures, i was made from my little cat "Sir Henri" (first link). I also made a picture at night out of my window with 13sec exposure in manual mode (second link). Thank you for your pictures and your great review. http://de.geocities.com/fellschlampe_henri/ excuse my bad english, please. ;-)

Joe Benado		21-Oct-2003 23:53
Thanks to Jim for his review and all that contributed on the G500. It came at the perfect time for me in my purchase decision. I was looking for compact point-n-shoot with emphasis on both focus/shoot speed and picture quality and an initial budget <$400 (w/o extra memory/battery/etc). I went down the typical path of looking at the Canon S45/50, the Olympus C-50 (that one did not stay on the list long based on the large complaints even tho I like the feel of it), the Sony's, and the Minolta F300. I liked the F300, but zoom speed was way way slow. I thought the Canon's were OK...but I did not like the overall feel and felt like I may be compromising. I almost bought a Sony...but wanted a non-plastic body for the money. Alas, I ran across the G500 review. Jim's review is really the only one out there online so far. Then the tough part was finding a store that carried the G500. Ritz Camera has them for $399. I demo'ed it and I fell in love. I just ordered the G500 from etronics.com for $329 plus $15 ground UPS. Will have to get some more memory and maybe spare battery. Christmas comes early... :-)

Jim Cockfield		21-Oct-2003 17:43
Comparison Photos with Other Cameras -------------------------------------- Links to this comparison of the Konica KD-510z (a.k.a., Minolta DiMAGE G500) were originally posted by forum user AMomcil in the other digicams forum at dpreview.com Since those considering a pocketable camera may be interested in the Minolta DiMAGE G500, I thought I'd post them here also. IMO, the detail and dynamic range captured by this model is much better than any of the other compact cameras currently available (and even better than many full size models). Check out these galleries someone recently posted (with comparison pictures of the same subjects from HP 945, Konica KD-510z (Minolta G500), Olympus C750, Canon G2, Canon 10D, HP 850, Sony P72 & Nikon 5700. Note the detail captured in the shadows, roof tiles, etc., by the little Konica KD-510z (Minolta G500), compared to the others. It uses very conservative sharpening algorithms by default, allowing it to pick up more "real" detail, with terrific dynamic range. Of course, you can always change the defaults if desired. You have 5 levels (-2, -1, 0, +1, +2) of adjustment available for most parameters, including sharpness, contrast, saturation, and color (separate adjustments for Red, Green and Blue Channels). BTW, you can get to the full size images in two steps (click on small image for a larger one, then click on the larger image for the original image). From the file sizes, I can see that Normal versus Fine JPEG Compression was used with the Konica (and Normal is relatively high compression with this model). But, it still performs very well. Look at the "real" shadow detail, and Judge for yourself. And no, I don't work for Konica-Minolta (or any related company).. I just like the camera! http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq40 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq41 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq42 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq43 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq44 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq45 http://galleriet.akamera.no/albuq46

Jim Cockfield		21-Oct-2003 15:39
Bob: I don't know what the Konica is actually doing. I do NOT think that it is going to a fixed focus (as some other KD-500z users think it is) in low light conditions. I've spent quite a bit of time with it indoors, and found that if you simply press the shutter, it takes a photo with good focus, regardless of whether or not the focus lock light is blinking or not. My best guess -- in low light, it warns you that light is insufficient for totally accurate focus -- then, it takes a "best focus estimate" based on contrast it can find in the photo. I've pointed it at closer objects in a darker room, with it indicating no focus lock, and the focus was fine. I've pointed it at far objects in a darker room, with the same results -- focus was fine. My advise: Ignore the focus lock indicator -- take the shots, and compare them to the Canon. See if the Konica's are in focus. Mine have been. I've been pleasantly surprised, and still speculating as to how it really works (only some programmer in Japan probably knows for sure). LOL I do know this -- unlike the Nikons I've owned (like my 950, which will not let you take a shot in low light when it's focus is hunting), the Konica works every time -- no delay. Simply press the shutter button, and it will fire, regardless of the focus lock light. Look at the photos, not the focus lock light. As far as ISO Speed. Based on my experience, the Konica will ALWAYS use ISO 100 in full auto -- no exceptions. I suspect that they'll have a firmware upgrade that lets the camera boost the ISO speed in lower light conditions automatically (as most cameras do in full auto mode). I have used the Quality Menu rarely, to change the ISO speed. I have a user profile setup with everything else (contrast, saturation, color, sharpness, etc.) in the middle, except for ISO speed to 200. This will give some increase in flash range, as well as allowing the background to be better exposed in a darker room. However, I have found that the defaults seem to work best overall, in most conditions. Experiment, and see what you think. I can tell you this -- the longer I use the camera, the more I like it. It really grows on you. This is my 7th Digital Camera, preceded by the Nikon Coolpix 950, Nikon Coolpix 990, Olympus C-2500L, Sony DSC-F505, Epson PhotoPC 3000z, and Sony DSC-P10 (which I quickly returned). Overall, I like the Konica better than any camera I've owned to date. It's got the best balance of User Control, Flash Strength, Physical Size, and Image Quality that I've found yet. It's small, pocketable size, makes it much better. To really appreciate it, I guess you'd need to use some of the cameras I have. No camera is perfect in all shooting conditions -- but this one comes much closer than the cameras I've owned in the past. There is something about the overall "tonal" quality to the images, too; that seems to be missing on the others. The Konica's photos seem more "Film Like". I Really like it.

Bob Henderson		21-Oct-2003 13:15
Jim, I have posted comments on dpreview/other digicams forum and would appreciate your comments.Title is konica kd510z/canon s50. I notice you advise using quality defaults on the 510z but that all your flash photos are set at 100 iso. Is this the cameras choice ?I do have a major problem with low light focussing and wonder if I am missing out on something. I have slow shutter set to 1 sec./ 30th for flash.Everything else on auto. Your observations are much appreciated.

Jim Cockfield		20-Oct-2003 17:19
Gregg: I think what you're seeing is simply Depth of Field, not corner softness. With the camera focused on an item in the center, if an area is further away from the focus point, then it will appear soft (as it should). With wider apertures (lower F Stop Numbers), you'll have less depth of field. With smaller apertures (higher F Stop Numbers), you'll have more depth of field. In lower light, at closer ranges, using wider apertures, depth of field with any camera will be limited. Check out this photo for an example of Depth of Field at F2.8. http://www.pbase.com/image/19231235 Notice how the wine bottles become out of focus, the further away you get from the camera? This is normal for any camera. BTW, I sometimes pre-focus the camera on something that is not in the center of the frame, too (by pointing at what I want in focus, and half pressing the shutter button). Actually, the smaller CCD's used in Digital Cameras have more depth of field than 35mm Cameras (due to the smaller sensor size in a Digital Camera). Many pros don't like this -- they'd rather have the ability to blur background even more than is possible with a compact digital camera at F2.8 (which is the typical aperture selected for low light photos with flash at full wide angle, to allow more light to reach the sensor). The camera also has a landscape focus mode (which I haven't used), that sets focus to infinity, so that the background is more in focus for outdoor scenes.

Gregg		20-Oct-2003 08:11
Hi , The feaures of the cam and it's size is incredible ! The corners of the pictures seem to me if they were out of focus , know there are limitations to the lens/small size , is it noticeable on the prints ? I still don't know if i should buy the S5R or the 510z/g500 .. 8-) Of course thanks for putting those nice pics onto your gallery !

Jim Cockfield		18-Oct-2003 03:10
Hal: I've got mixed feelings on the new G400. A lot depends on whether or not they retain the existing image processing algorithms. The detail the G500 captures is terrific. So, it's unlikely they'll be able to get the same detail with the smaller, 1/2.5" CCD in the new G400. It's also likely to have more noise (the G400 CCD is denser). The G400 is faster and smaller, but there are always tradeoffs.

S.Harold Reuter		17-Oct-2003 22:34
Jim- I read your post on Oct.14th: "Heck -- I just bought the Konica KD-510z (Minolta G500) in mid July. Now, I want the new Konica KD-420z (Minolta G400). Check out it's new Hybrid Focus System!" sooo--I am in limbo with my intended purchase of the G500-will probably wait for the reviews altho I very much respect your opinion & will most likely wait until you recommend the G400 over the G500 or visa versa. Will continue using my Coolpix until then. Let us know on your gallery when you reach a final conclusion. Thanks. Hal Reuter

Jim Cockfield		17-Oct-2003 16:00
JP: To be frank, I think the camera takes better pictures leaving the Quality Settings to Default, but you can find these settings under the Quality Menu Choice. You'll see Default (off), User1, User2. Under each user profile setting, you'll find adjustments for Sharpness, Contrast, Saturation, Red, Green, Blue, Flash Strength and more. There are 5 levels for each (usually -2, -1, 0, +1, +2). But, I've found that with Quality left to defaults, the camera works better. Even if you leave all settings to the middle for a user profile using the custom menus, the camera still picks up more detail in full auto. I think that it must be automatically adjusting Contrast, Sharpness, etc., based on metering to insure the best dynamic range using defaults (without blowing any highlights). I really like the camera's conservative default settings better for the most detail. You can always sharpen in post processing if desired. P.S. - You'll also get more detail by changing the Resolution Settings to Fine versus Normal. But, since I'll rarely print photos > 8"x10", the default Normal Settings work fine for me (saving lots of memory card space, due to the smaller file sizes using Normal vs. Fine).

JP		17-Oct-2003 04:27
Jim: Just wanted to say thanks for the info on the G500. I received my G500 on 10/16 and I am very Happy. I have one question. In the Minolta Forum on Dpreview a poster by the name of infosource mentions a Sharpening adjustment. Where would I find this Sharping Adjustment. Thanks JP

Jim Cockfield		16-Oct-2003 16:29
The new G400 is a different camera. It uses a much smaller CCD, too. It is going to be very, very fast (about twice as fast as the G500), but we'll have to wait for reviews to see how the smaller CCD works. As for batteries, scroll down in this forum until you see my post from October 2. I have a search link to Ebay for batteries.

Guest		16-Oct-2003 04:14
Jim. Thanks very much for all of your input on the Minolta G500-very informative. I own a Nikon Coolpix 990 & 4500 which work well for me but are too large to carry around all of the time in my pocket. Was considering the Minolta Xt, Casio Ex-Z3 & the Pentax Optio S which are all 3 megapixel & 3x zoom--then i was sold on the Cannon S400-4 megapixels/3X zoom because of the size & use of the compact flash memory since I have several of these cards for my Nikon, the previously mentioned 3 do not use the compact flash. Then I came across the Minolta G500, & I was very much interested--after reading all of your comments about the camera, I was sold--about to order & then yesterday they announced the latest Minolta-400 with 4 megapixels compared to 5 for the G500, so I decided to seek your input. Is the 400 the same as the 500 but with 1 megapixel less? I can live with 4 if the camera has much more to offer. If they are both equivalent except for the 1 megapixel, I don't mind spending a little more for the G500. I would verry much appreciate your opinion. (Incidently, I printed out all of your recommendations so that I can use them when I but the camera--Can you suggest a source where I can buy a 2nd battery--I don't mind generic) Thank you. S.Hal

Jim Cockfield		12-Oct-2003 18:19
Henri: Yes, all batteries for the KD-310z, KD-400z, KD-410z, KD-500z, and KD-510 will work (they all take the same battery). As far as memory, I bought the Memory Stick (since the camera can use both Memory Stick and Secure Digital at the same time). For my next memory purchase, I'll probably buy the Panasonic 256mb or the Simpletech 256mb Secure Digital Card. They are both rated at 10mb/second transfer speed. Their smaller cards are slower. The Lexar 32x Secure Digital Card is also very fast (probably made by Panasonic).

Henri		12-Oct-2003 15:42
Sorry, i mean the battery. 100 photos are enough for me. I found at ebay e 900mAh noname battery for the Konica KD-510z. It will be my second battery. In Germany you get only the Konica 510z, but its the same camera like the Minolta D500 in US. I think i will use SD-cards, because they are faster then Sonys Memorysticks (f.e. Lexar 32x). greetings from germany

Jim Cockfield		12-Oct-2003 14:47
I do not understand what you mean by akku. If you mean the battery, I have often taken as many as 100 photos (with the LCD on, with many flash photos), with the battery still working. I have yet to completely discharge it, but I always recharge it after each use. If you mean the Memory Card, it will depend on the cards capacity. I am using a 128mb Memory Stick in mine, which allows approximately 93 full resolution photos using Normal versus Fine JPEG Compression. I also have a 32mb Secure Digital Card in the camera at the same time. It allows around 22 Full Resolution Photos (using Normal JPEG Compression). I would always recommend buying a spare battery, and a larger Memory Card with any Digital Camera (so that you can take more photos, before you need to upload them to your computer). My (Japanese Model) KD-510z came with a 32mb Secure Digital Card. The U.S. Model Minolta DiMAGE G500 only ships with a 16mb Secure Digital Card. These small cards will not hold many photos, so I would suggest buying a much larger one (which is why I purchased a 128mb Memory Stick for mine). Here are some specifications from Minolta (showing photos on a 16mb card): http://www.minoltausa.com/eprise/main/MinoltaUSA/MUSAContent/CPG/detailPage?cname=dig&fname=&Mname=DiMAGE_G500&mDetail=Specifications

Henri		12-Oct-2003 13:03
Hello! I think about to buy this nice Cam. But i have a question to all 510z users. How long can you use the camera, until the Akku goes emty? Thank you for answers. PS: excuse my bad english!

Jim Cockfield		11-Oct-2003 22:24
As a general rule, with everything else being the same, the lower the pixel density of the CCD, the lower the noise level. It's been my observation that cameras using the higher density 5 Megapixel 1/1.8" CCD, generally have slightly more noise, compared to the lower density 4 Megapixel 1/1.8" CCD. So, the Canon would probably have slightly lower noise. However, I've chatted with users that owned both camera (Konica KD-510z and Canon S400), and they all preferred the Konica (better/faster low light focus, better color "tone", etc.).

Guest		11-Oct-2003 20:28
I have been spending hours researching a new camera as an upgrade from my Kodak LS443. I can't find many reviews on the G500 excepts yours. My question is this... I don't know what takes better pictures-Canon S400 or Minolta G500. I know that the G500 has 5 MP with higher resolution than the S400's 4 MP, but it really comes down to sharpness and noise reduction for me. Do you know any differences like this between the Canon S400 and the Minolta G500?

Jim Cockfield		09-Oct-2003 13:55
Miller: I haven't purchased a Card Reader yet. I'll probably end up buying one of the new USB 2.0 "all in one" readers, capable of reading multiple card types, along with a USB 2.0 I/O Card for my PC (my PC is still USB 1.1).

Miller		09-Oct-2003 12:34
Your great photos and recomindations on this camera I just had to get one! What would you recommend on a card reader? Also, would a screen protector be needed? Again thanks for all the hard work you've done. Konica (Minolta) should pay you.....

Jim Cockfield		07-Oct-2003 02:31
I have not owned the KD-500z. However, I find that the KD-510z takes great photos, using the default settings. So, unless you have a specfic need to shoot at higher ISO speeds (which will increase noise), I'd say that you're probably just as well off, using your existng KD-500z, versus upgrading to the newer model. P.S. Konica Japan has a firmware upgrade available for the KD-500z. See Dave Enlund's site athttp://www.enlund.com/konica for details

Puttersea (Guest)		07-Oct-2003 00:00
Hi Jim, I really appreciate the time and effort you give in giving advise to people about camera choices and in helping take a long look at the Konica 510. I believe the Konic cameras are sometime overlooked by people when they are searching for the right camera. I would like to ask you advise. I currently have the Konica 500z and have an opportunity to trade straight up on a new minolta G500. Do you believe that the G500 takes better pictures than the 500z or is it just the increase in controls that make the camera different. So far I have been totally impressed with my 500z, especially in taking macro pictures. Thanks for the advise.

Jim Cockfield		06-Oct-2003 17:31
Patrick: Making Panorama photos is a function of the software, not the camera. The functions you see in cameras, are simply designed to help you align and overlap the images more easily. The software used matches the photos together to form a larger Panorama image. This camera does have both Focus Lock, and Exposure Lock features (and they can both be enabled at the same time), so that when taking multiple photos, they are all exposed the same. It does not have a "stitch assist" feature (as in some other cameras), but if you carefully align the camera (using the horizon as a guide), making sure to overlap the images some, you could easily make Panoramas with it. A tripod is recommended for best results (so that you don't have to be as careful aligning the images by hand). Note: even if your alignment is not perfect, the software tools are designed to find the areas where the photos match up -- stitching them together seamlessly. There are many software packages able to help with this -- some are even free. Here is a site with some of them: http://www.path.unimelb.edu.au/~dersch/

Jim Cockfield		06-Oct-2003 17:17
I am using a Lexar 128mbx2 Memory Stick as my primary memory, with a Toshiba 32mb SD card as secondary (my Japanese Model shipped with the 32mb Toshiba SD, and I found a good price on the 128mbx2 MS on sale). I've tested the cameras with both media types. With faster shutter speeds (as not to impact cycle times), I've clocked the camera at one photo every 1.27 seconds until the memory cards are full, regardless of whether using the Memory Stick or the Secure Digital. Note: you must turn on the continuous option under the custom menu for best times. This does two things: 1. The camera does not refocus and remeter after each photo, when holding down the shutter button. 2. The camera does not briefly display the last photo taken, before taking the next one. So, you get much faster cycle times this way. You can leave it turned on all the time. I've never accidently taken more than one photo with it turned on. I have not yet tested the camera using one of the 10mb/second SD cards (like the Simpletech 256mb and 512mb SD), to see if it would be any faster.

Guest		06-Oct-2003 16:03
How does using a Memory Stick compare to using an SD card? The 256 mb SD and the 128x2 Memory Stick cards are roughly the same price these days.

Patrick		06-Oct-2003 09:33
Hi! I read your comments about the 510z. My girlfriend has the 400z and it works very good. I miss only one thing, the possibility to make panoramic pictures. I want to buy a new camera and I am not sure between the 510z and the mju400 of Olympus. Can youi help me? bye and thanks Patrick

Jim Cockfield		03-Oct-2003 22:33
Well -- the Simpletech 256mb and 512mb SD Cards are both rated at 10mb/second. Most others are rated at around 2mb/second write, and 3mb/second read. So, for my next purchase,I'm going to order a 256mb Simpletech SD Card (note: their smaller cards are slower). See their specs here: http://www.simpletech.com/flash/secure_digital.php I've got a Lexar 128mbx2 Memory Stick I'm using now as the primary memory. It works fine.

jvcn		03-Oct-2003 18:56
Thanks for the advice Jim. Immediately ordered the G500 off Ebay at a very good price (only $349 plus shipping incl. 128MB card, a reader, tripod, and bag!). (The store says they mispriced it and readjusted their other ads subsequently.) I look forward to using it and will probably order a backup battery as well. What are your thoughts about SD cards? Someone suggested that Cruzers are a cheap way to get both an SD card and a reader.

Jim Cockfield		03-Oct-2003 15:25
Angela: I don't know. However, I do not believe that the Minolta DiMAGE G500 is shipping outside of the U.S. In Asia and Europe, the Konica Revio KD-510z is the model you should be able to find (both cameras are identical except for the logo, but Konica-Minolta decided to market it as the Konica Revio KD-510z in Asia and Europe first; and the Minolta DiMAGE G500 in the U.S. First. Also, if you buy the camera in a market that it was not intended for, you may not be able to get warranty service elsewhere. So, if you live in the U.S., and want warranty service in the U.S., then you should buy a U.S. model (which would include a U.S. Warranty Card).

Angela		03-Oct-2003 13:55
Dear Jim, I'm considering buying the G500 for a trip to China. I'm wondering if it would be cheaper for me to wait until I get there to buy it. We also have a short stop in Tokyo on the way. What do you think? ~Angela

jp		03-Oct-2003 05:20
Jim How long does the battery last. How many pictures do you get before you have to recharge. Thanks Jp

Jim Cockfield		02-Oct-2003 13:57
The Minolta G500 uses the same battery as the Konica KD-310z, KD-400z, KD-500z, KD-510z. So, just search on Ebay for: I've seen Generic 850mAH Lithium Ion Batteries on Ebay for around $11.00 Here's a search for Battery KD-400z: http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?cgiurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi.ebay.com%2Fws%2F&krd=1&from=R8&MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProperty=MetaEndSort&query=battery+kd-400z I have not researched the Olympus D40 (it's much too large for my purposes, since I wanted a camera that I could carry in my pocket). However, Phil Askey (owner/editor of dpreview.com) has a review of the D40 at this link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympusc40z/

jvcn		02-Oct-2003 13:45
I'm also considering the Minolta. How easily can one buy a backup generic battery? My concern is with the proprietary batteries. Also, do you know anything about the Olympus d40? It's a bit bigger than the Minolta but has lots of good manual features. I'm torn between it (had a c4000 and have leftover SmartMedia cards) and just starting over with sD cards and Minolta g500. Appreciate your detailed comments.

Jim Cockfield		01-Oct-2003 21:02
Jp: I have not owned the Powershot S50, so I have no way to directly compare them. From a features standpoint, the S50 should offer more flexibility (more features: time lapse photography, remote control software with live video feed, RAW mode, and more). Also, it's flash range seems to be rated higher (although, I've found that the flash range of the Konica KD-510z/Minolta G500 to be better than the specifications would indicate). The main drawback (from my perspective) of the S50, even it it's photo quality was great, would be it's larger size. I wanted a camera that I could carry easily in a pocket (I carry mine in my front pants pocket), and the S50 would be too large for my purposes. Also, more features does not necessarily mean better photo quality. The lens and CCD do not appear to be as well matched in the S50 (it has higher chromatic aberrations/purple fringing compared to the S45). So, personally, I would not buy the S50. I would not buy the Canon Powershot G5 for the same reason (purple fringing appears to be unacceptable). See an example of this problem at dpreview.com on this page of the review for the S50: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons50/page13.asp Phil Askey (owner/editor of dpreview.com) is the most thorough reviewer in the business. I suggest that you read his reviews for any cameras you are considering. Any digital camera (including my Konica) will show this problem (purple fringing) under certain conditions. However, the newer Canon models seem to have a bigger problem with it than I would be willing to accept. I'm sure others may have a different opinion.

JP		01-Oct-2003 15:12
I am a novice in the process of hunting for a Camera How would you rate the Minolta G500 against the Cannon PowerShot S50 Thanks Jp

Jim Cockfield		24-Sep-2003 23:32
Bob: Sorry, but I would not feel comfortable recommending the Sony P10. It does have an extremely sharp lens. However, it's metering was somewhat inconsistent (especially indoors). I am very glad that I returned it. As far as purple fringing, most digital cameras are going to have this problem, to one extent or another. Every digital camera that I've owned exhibited this problem under some conditions. The Konica actually handles it better than the Nikons I've owned (Coolpix 950, Coolpix 990). But, any digital camera is going to have it in very high contrast areas of a photo (for example: tree limbs against a white, overcast sky -- since this area can be slightly overexposed). I've even seen strong purple fringing from multi-thousand dollar Digital SLR's with expensive lenses. Unfortunately, digital cameras are not perfect yet! You'd be hard pressed to find a camera without it in some conditions. Fortunately, I have rarely noticed the problem from my new Konica.

Bob Henderson		24-Sep-2003 20:52
Hello from sunny Edinburgh in Scotland, I have read your various postings on the merits of the KD510Z. You obviously love the camera and I find myself in the position of having to consider a new purchase after only a few months of owning a Canon S50. Love this camera but it has a serious tilt problem which has been well discussed in d.p. review. I have returned the camera to my u.k. retailer but dont hold out much hope for a solution. My biggest gripe is the horrendous purple fringing that I experience in a large percentage of outdoor shots taken in bright conditions.Even bright clothing exibits the dreaded effect if the light is bright. Anyway.............sorrry to moan!........top of my replacement list is the new Konica which seems to be appearing now on some u.k. websites. How would you rate the "purple problem" on the 510? and apart from your documented extra strong greens, would you recommend the Sony 910 as an alternative? Thanks for the well written comments.

rolev		20-Sep-2003 02:24
Great pictures!

Kevin Chiu		13-Sep-2003 21:11
dear Jim, oh yeah.. thx for your reply. There was just 2 shops in Hong Kong selling 510 and all has sold out! I've just ordered one, hopfully I can get it before I go to UK in the coming Sunday ^_^. I'll share my fotos once I've got the 510z. btw, I love the konica version more than minotal version, as the konica version is more Japanese feel, ha.

Jim Cockfield		13-Sep-2003 13:53
Susy: I think the Minolta DiMAGE F300 is a very nice camera. It probably has the best lens, along with more manual controls compared to the other "pocketable" cameras I looked at (Sony DSC-P10, Olympus Stylus 400, Canon S400). However, I ruled it out because of the very slow startup/shutdown times (approximately 5 seconds) and slow zoom speed. I wanted a faster camera, and the F300 just seemed way too slow for my needs. The Konica's 1.3 second startup time is great, letting me pull out the camera from pocket, and take a photo "on a moments notice".

Suzy		13-Sep-2003 02:49
How does the Minolta DiMage F300 compare?

Jim Cockfield		11-Sep-2003 19:12
Hey Kevin: My apologies for the delay. I just got out of the hospital (I had surgery on Monday). The Night Exposure Mode on the KD-510z engages automatically at exposures of 1/2 second or longer. I have not used it myself, but there are some samples on Konica Japan's Web site, including a night exposure photo. Here is an example: http://www.konica.jp/personal/d_camera/kd510z/sa/sa_14.html (click on the writing underneath the photo to get the original size) Here are the rest of the samples (warning - slow loading web site): http://www.konica.jp/personal/d_camera/kd510z/sa/sa.html Also, there should be some more reviews on this camera soon. The Minolta DiMAGE G500 just hit the store shelves in the U.S., so lots of new users should be buying this camera now. It's the same camera as the Konica Revio KD-510z, except for the Minolta logo and packaging.

Kevin Chiu		08-Sep-2003 20:24
hi JIM, You know, Konica DC is not so popular, I can't find any reviews on the web, except yours! As I am a SLR user, I don't really like full auto DC. I want a have a pocket size DC with lots of manual funtions, and 510 is the only choice in the WORLD! ha. Jim, I really love to shoot night scencs, could u comment on the long exposure, noise exposure about 510? what shutters speed will triggler the noise reduction? thanks from Kevin. from Kevin

Jim Cockfield		07-Sep-2003 23:42
Heh, Heh. Well, you can't have everything in a camera small enough to fit in a pocket, and the zoom at 117mm is longer than most 3x Zooms. No, I haven't found the 39mm wide angle to be too limiting. But, I'm used to Nikons (Coolpix 950, 990), which have a wide angle of 38mm (pretty close to this camera). Of course, it would be nice to have a 28-200mm equivalent zoom lens (with a nice bright F2.0 aperture). Anytime you buy a subcompact camera, there are going to be tradeoffs (to keep it small). The Konica is the best balance of size, speed, flash strength, image quality & features that I could find in a pocketable camera. I really like it.

Rudolf		07-Sep-2003 06:21
Hi Jim, What a page of great photos! I am also considering this camera too. But I found that the wide angle side of the lens is 39mm (35mm camera equiv.), is it causing any trouble in composing scenery shoot for you? Thanks for the nice photos and review.

Jim Cockfield		31-Aug-2003 15:47
I retested the speed of the camera on 08/26/2003, and found that the camera is capable of 1 photo every 1.25 seconds until the memory cards are full, simply by holding down the shutter button. No switching back and forth to burst mode, no set limit on number of frames, no buffers filling up, etc. For my previous test, I was indoors using a very slow 1/4 second shutter speed without flash, so the longer shutter speed was impacting the speed test. The camera is actually faster than I thought. See my updated review of the camera at this link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinion_text.asp?prodkey=konica_kd510z&opinion=17947

Jim Cockfield		11-Aug-2003 22:15
You can find my mini review of the Konica KD-510z at this link: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/read_opinion_text.asp?prodkey=konica_kd510z&opinion=17947

Jim Cockfield		05-Aug-2003 23:09
Yes, the Konica KD-510z does have a continuous mode. The camera feels very responsive, but it's not a speed demon. I did a few crude tests (placing the camera in continuous mode, and holding down the shutter button to see how many photos I could take in a given time period). It appears that the camera will take a photo about every 1.6 seconds (full resolution). BTW, I was pleasantly surprised at the flash recharge time too. Konica claims a 5 second recharge time for the flash. However, I was able to take a photo about every 2.1 seconds with the flash on indoors at close range (about 4 feet) while testing it. Since the Konica "throttles" the flash output, when less flash is needed, the recharge time is much faster. Indoors, the camera feels much faster (both autofocus times, and flash recharge times) than the Sony DSC-P10 that I returned before purchasing the Konica. Outdoors in good light, the Sony was much faster. The Sony is probably better suited for "sports", but I just could not tolerate the "Sony Colors", so I returned it for a refund. IMO, the Konica's photos are better. I also prefer the ergonomics of the Konica to the Sony, and the Konica's build quality seems better to me too.

M&M		29-Jul-2003 20:39
The image looks great. I am interested to know how it performs on fast moving objects. Does this camera has a continous mode for taking 'sports' pictures?

Jim Cockfield		21-Jul-2003 21:18
I like the Konica KD-510z (a lot more than I liked the Sony DSC-P10). The Konica is a great "pocketable" camera (which is what I was looking for -- a camera that would be small enough to carry with me everywhere in a pocket). I found this one from an Ebay seller that had two of them (Japanese Model w/no U.S. warranty). I suspect it'll start shipping soon in the U.S. too though.

Guest		21-Jul-2003 19:24
Where did you get your KD-510Z?

Guest		21-Jul-2003 19:20
great pictures. How do you like your KD510Z? I was thinking of buying a new Dig cam. I was trying to compare Sony P10, Nikon 4300 and this KD510Z...

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