A-DIGITAL-EYE (21ST CENTURY DIGITAL CAMERAS, PHOTO PRINTERS, PAPERS, CAMCORDERS, IMAGING SOFTWARE, DIGITAL EQUIPMENT, REVIEWS AND MORE!) BREAKING NEWS HEADLINES KONICA MINOLTA DIMAGE X50 PREVIEW PAGE 
KONICA MINOLTA INTRODUCES THE DiMAGE X50 DIGITAL CAMERA
New compact and stylish 5.0 megapixel camera features a large 2.0-inch LCD screen, enhanced speed and other design improvements
Mahwah, NJ (July 7, 2004) - Konica Minolta introduces the new DiMAGE X50 5-megapixel digital camera that takes the DiMAGE X series' concept of "thin, fast and stylish" and adds increased speed. Compact and lightweight enough to take anywhere and stylish enough to show everyone, the DiMAGE X50 adds the fastest-in-class* startup time, 2.8x non-protruding optical zoom, 5-megapixel CCD, and large 2-inch LCD, to a high quality digital camera in a sleek, compact package.
"The idea behind the design of the new DiMAGE X50 digital camera is to make it fast, easy and fun for anyone to take beautiful, high-quality pictures anywhere, anytime," said Jon Sienkiewicz, vice president of marketing, Konica Minolta's Camera Division. "The camera's 5 megapixel resolution ensures that even amateur photographers can share their casual snapshots as great enlargements."
With its non-protruding zooms lens, the compact Konica Minolta DiMAGE X50 fits neatly in a shirt pocket and is ready in an instant-thanks to the approximately 0.5-second startup time-to take those spur-of-the-moment shots and ensure that users never miss a photo opportunity. The camera's Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically selects the optimum-shooting mode for the subject at hand, allowing photographers to take beautiful photos that match the needs of the particular photographic scene.
The DiMAGE X50's 5-megapixel CCD and proprietary Konica Minolta CxProcess™ II image processing technology combine to provide photographers with high quality images- pictures that reproduce the natural colors as faithfully as they see them with their own eyes. The camera's zoom lens range covers everything from wide-angle shots to close-ups that are clearly focused as near as 4 inches from the subject, without the need to switch to macro mode. If a photographer needs to get even closer, the DiMAGE X50 also features a Super Macro mode to take extreme close-ups as near as 2.4 inches.
While still as thin and light as previous X-series Konica Minolta cameras, the new DiMAGE X50 incorporates a larger 2-inch LCD screen with easy-to-view menus for greater ease of operation. And the camera's new sliding cover protects the lens, so there's no need to worry about putting the camera inside a pocket or purse.
* As of April 2004, for 3x optical zoom digital cameras.
About Konica Minolta
Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., headquartered in Mahwah,
NJ, is the North American sales and marketing subsidiary of Konica
Minolta Holdings, Inc. (Tokyo, Japan). On August 5, 2003 Konica
Minolta Holdings, Inc. was formed to enhance both the competitive
business capabilities and earning capacities of Konica Corporation
and Minolta Co., Ltd.
Consumers around the world have come to know and trust the Konica and Minolta brands for all their imaging needs. Since the earliest days of the photo industry, Minolta and Konica have applied their talents and resources to create products and services that are essential to the world of imaging. Today, these efforts concentrate on the most important aspects of imaging: the quality of the images, the tools and methods for creating images, and the creation of environments for the application of images.
This focus on the essentials of imaging ties together the company's key business and consumer product lines. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of 35mm and Advanced Photo System film, single-use cameras, digital and 35mm film cameras, accessory lenses, binoculars, photographic and color measurement meters. In addition the company offers color print photo papers, inkjet photo paper, digital minilabs, digital film scanners, optical instruments, software and advanced imaging and sensing technologies. Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc. also provides wholesale photofinishing services and Internet imaging services. It is a complete imaging company, from input through output.
For more information about Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc., its products and services, visit www.konicaminolta.us.
All brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
New Konica Minolta X-Series Digital Camera: The DiMAGE X50
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging U.S.A., Inc.'s DiMAGE X50 5.0 megapixel digital camera offers an array of high-end features and functions, to give photographers all they really need in a fast and easy-to-use digital camera.
Product Highlights
· Thin, stylish
camera body-the camera is less than an inch thick, even with
its non-protruding 2.8x optical zoom, which can be combined with
4.3x digital zoom for up to 12x zoom.
· Even faster operation with an approximate 0.5-second
startup time, the fastest in its class*. (* As of April 2004,
for 3x optical zoom digital cameras.)
· Easy operation and easy menu navigation with a large
2-inch LCD monitor.
· Konica Minolta's proprietary CxProcess™ II high-quality
image processing technology and the camera's 5-megapixel CCD
combine to provide superb images.
· Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically
chooses the best shooting mode for your images.
· Shots in focus as near as 4 inches from the subject
at all focal lengths without the need to change modes. Plus,
a Super Macro mode for stunning close-ups as close as 2.4 inches
from the subject.
· Photos can be output directly to PictBridge-compliant
printers.
· Optional Marine Case for creative underwater photography.
Features
2.8x Optical Zoom
in a Super-Slim Body
Featuring Konica Minolta's proprietary non-protruding zoom lens,
the DiMAGE X50 keeps its cool outward appearance even when the
zoom is activated. The revolutionary design using internal folded
optics technology means that the camera stays slim even while
the user is taking zoom shots. The slim 0.93-inch-thick body
(0.79 inches excluding the LCD monitor) houses a 2.8x optical
zoom and weighs just 4.4 ounces. And, the convenient sliding
cover adds a practical feature to this camera's stylish design,
safeguarding the lens while the DiMAGE X50 is placed inside a
pocket or purse.
World's Fastest*
Startup Time
The DiMAGE X50 boasts an amazingly fast and fluid startup - switch
the camera on and the camera is ready to start taking great pictures
in about 0.5 second. This and the approximately 0.06-second shutter-release
time lag time ensures that photographers will never miss capturing
those unexpected photographic moments. (* As of April 2004, for
3x optical zoom cameras.)
UHS (Ultra High-Speed)
Continuous Advance
UHS Continuous Advance captures 1280 x 960 images at 11 frames
per second regardless of the image quality setting, making it
ideal for capturing subjects in motion.
Easy and Convenient
Operation
The DiMAGE X50 incorporates a large 2-inch LCD monitor for easy
and convenient operation. With no complicated settings to be
made and enough controls to make operation intuitive, the DiMAGE
X50 is easy and fun to use.
The camera's Key Customization allows users to register settings for their most-frequently-used functions. A users just designates the settings most often used to the left or right side of the controller to make operation even more simple and user-friendly. The DiMAGE X50 also has an independent playback button that displays images instantly.
Extraordinary Image
Quality
The DiMAGE X50's 5-megapixel CCD and newly developed optical
system combine to deliver sharp, high-resolution images for photo-quality
prints as large as 5" x 6.5" at 300dpi, as well as
enlargements up to 13.5" x 10" at 150dpi.
The CxProcess™ II image processing technology enables image characteristics like smooth gradations, natural skin tones, and brilliantly clear colors for photos that are more natural and lifelike. And the DiMAGE X50's 5 megapixels capture fine lines and intricate details for stunning digital images.
The Best Shooting
Modes-Automatically Selected
Automatic Digital Subject Program Selection automatically selects
the most appropriate shooting mode. Or, users can choose from
Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Sunset, Night portrait/Night view
modes* and text* mode. Either way, this advanced function enables
them to take fabulous photos with ease. (*Activated via manual
selection only.)
5-Point Multi Autofocus
(AF)
The wide 5-Point Multi AF enables flexible focusing that allows
users to compose their pictures with more freedom and accuracy.
Multi-Segment Metering/Spot
Metering
Multi-Segment metering automatically measures light readings
over the entire frame to provide the best exposure for each subject.
And Spot metering measures light in the center of the frame,
which enables users to measure the brightness of a particular
spot on the subject.
Noise Reduction
Noise Reduction automatically prevents the blemishes and graininess
associated with slow-shutter shots (up to 4 seconds). This gives
exceptional night scene images.
Take Extreme Close-ups
The DiMAGE X50 requires no macro mode to take close-ups that
are clearly focused as near as 4 inches from the subject. This
means users can fill the frame with the incredible detail of
small and beautiful subjects such as colorful flowers. And since
users don't have to take the time to change the camera's shooting
mode, they can take these close-ups right away. The DiMAGE X50
also features a Super Macro mode to take close-ups as close as
2.4 inches.
Direct Camera-to-Printer
Printouts
Forget all about complicated connections with a PC. Get fast,
beautiful prints directly from the camera by connecting the DiMAGE
X50 to a PictBridge*-compliant printer. Simply select which images
to print from the DiMAGE X50's LCD monitor for fast and fun printouts
instantly.
* PictBridge is an
industry standard established by the Camera & Imaging Products
Association
(CIPA).
Versatile Functions
o XR Movie
The XR (Extended Recording) Movie mode lets users record longer
movie clips onto the SD memory card at a resolution of 320 x
240 pixels. The camera will keep on recording until the memory
card is full. Movie Editing lets users isolate and capture clips
from captured movie data, while Movie Frame Capture lets them
isolate and capture individual frames from captured movie data.
o Audio Recording
Audio Recording allows users to record any sound for up to 180
minutes. Voice Memo lets them record sound immediately after
they've taken a shot and Audio Caption enables users to record
sound simultaneously during playback. (Both Voice Memo and Audio
Caption record up to 15 seconds of sound.)
o Slide Show/Image
Rotation
The DiMAGE X50 gives users exciting viewing capabilities. Slide
Show Playback, which lets users experience still images or movies
with captivating dissolve effects, can be viewed either on the
DiMAGE X50's LCD screen or on a TV screen. With Image Rotation,
users can change settings to rotate their vertical images from
their horizontal position for easier viewing.
o Multi-Frame Function
Transform 9 consecutive images into one extraordinary print with
the Multi-Frame function. Press the shutter release once to shoot
a sequence of 9 shots. The images are shown as thumbnails in
a single frame.
o Crop Frame
With Crop Frame, trim unwanted parts of captured still pictures
and save the image as a separate file, while keeping the original
image intact in its file
o Image Pasting
The DiMAGE X50 lets users create custom photos and cards by selecting
part of a saved image and overlaying it in their choice of nine
picture frames on any chosen photo.
o Color Mode
Color mode adds either black & white or sepia colors to photographs.
