Minolta DiMAGE xt Digital Camera [3MP 3xOptical]

What attracted me to the XT was its relatively high-spec, easy to use operation and slimline design. Of course, image quality was also of importance but what I really wanted was an everyday digital clicker rather than producer of professional quality studio shots. And so a few sacrifices made in the name of portable convenience would be fine. It therefore surprised me to find that I didn't have to sacrifice much at all with the XT. Images are crisp and colours true without excessive saturation, and there's even a video capture mode whose only restriction is the amount of space available on your memory card - you're not limited to 30 seconds clips like with some cameras.

The unique design of the lens has enabled a 3x optical zoom to be incorporated vertically into the camera casing which is great as it does not need to extend from the body when in use (resulting in extra bulkiness and much longer start up times). Instead, the XT is ready for use within a second of being switched on - and believe me, this can be a real advantage. I have found there are a couple of small prices to pay - first, the auto focus of the lens is a little sluggish in low light levels; second, I have found that taking images in strong sunlight can produce a marked vignetting effect (darkened corners) unless care is taken with regard to sun positioning. I suspect that the lens design may have something to do with below-average results in these areas.

Overall summary of this product - fantastic for the purpose it was built for, i.e. a high-quality ultra-compact camera whose straightforward operation makes it great for everyday use. There's not much in the way of manual overrides for serious users (no automatic aperture or shutter settings for example) but if you're after this type of functionality then the features which make the XT really stand out from the crowd are probably of little interest to you anyway.

Well, with this camera that is never a problem. I took over 200 pictures on my recent trip away and several video clips. As with all digital cameras it's worth investing in a larger memory card. I got a 256MB SB Memory card as a result I can view the card in my PDA as well. The camera is lightweight and easy to use. It has all the functionality you expect and good quality pictures. And since the 3x zoom does not require the lens to extend from the body is a more solid camera in some respects. My other choice before purchase was the Pentex Optio S but I found the picture quality superior on the XT.

My only gripe is that in poor lighting it can take a while for the autofocus to adjust for the picture and you might miss a few shots. However, is reasonable to well lit scenarios you get very high quality pictures everytime. If you want a camera you can slip in your pocket and take print worthy pics with, this is certainly it.