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Konica Minolta Digital Revio KD-500Z
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Bottom Line
A contender in the growing class of high-end point-and-shoot cameras, the KD-500Z is nicely designed, solidly constructed, and fun to use. Its small size makes it a fine travel camera.
Konica Digital Revio KD-500Z
Digital Revio KD-500Z Review, by Tracey Capen January 27, 2003
WHAT'S HOT: The KD-500Z offers high-resolution imaging power and several methods of audio recording in a package that's not much bigger than a deck of cards. The camera's dark gray, stainless-steel body has a solid, durable feel as well. In addition to capturing still images, the KD-500Z records movie clips of about 30 seconds each, with audio. It also lets you record audio notes to accompany still images or use the camera as a (rather expensive) digital dictation machine. We were extremely impressed by this camera's fast start-up: Slide the lens cover back, and it's ready to shoot in about 2 seconds--significantly faster than many of the cameras we've reviewed to date. Power down is equally fast.
Other high points include a bright LCD panel that displays well-saturated, accurate colors, and an extremely simple playback control. Instead of separate switches for playback and instant photo review, which most digital cameras use, the KD-500Z has one button that immediately switches you in and out of playback mode. The only drawback: You can play back images only with the camera fully powered up and with the lens extended. Konica throws in Adobe's Photoshop Elements--a fine software package for editing your images.
WHAT'S NOT: A few too many of the important controls are buried in menus--especially for a camera in the 5-megapixel category. Just switching into movie mode, for example, takes at least five button presses. Resolution and exposure value settings are squirreled away in the menus, too. Printed documentation for the KD-500Z consists of a small, multiple-language quick guide. More-detailed instructions come in Acrobat files on the bundled CD; you'll have to print them out if you want to sit down and read about all of the camera's capabilities.
WHAT ELSE: The Konica produced fairly accurate colors and exposures, and fine detail--generally pleasing to our eyes. Enlarged prints made from the camera's images, however, weren't as sharp as those from higher-end 5-megapixel models, such as the Olympus C-5050 Zoom. Colors in the Konica's shots looked a bit flat.
Except for its quick start-up, this model is not especially fast to use. There are a few dedicated buttons--for flash control, macro, and deleting images--but the other functions are buried in layers of menus. Fortunately, they are easy to read and decipher. Aside from its plethora of audio recording options, the KD-500 lacks most advanced controls, such as manual focus and aperture- or shutter-priority settings. Due no doubt to its relatively small size, the KD-500Z uses a small, proprietary rechargeable lithium ion battery that earned a score of Fair in our lab's battery run-down test, providing 226 shots before needing a recharge. That will get you through a long weekend, but you'll need to use the bundled recharger or a second battery ($50) to handle an extended vacation.
The KD-500Z comes with a 16MB SD card. It's the first non-Sony camera we've seen that also includes a Memory Stick slot--useful if you have other digital devices that work with the Memory Stick, such as a Sony VAIO PC.
UPSHOT: A contender in the growing class of high-end point-and-shoot cameras, the KD-500Z is nicely designed, solidly constructed, and fun to use. Its small size makes it a fine travel camera.
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Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
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Reviewed by: romeiko
Strengths: excellent quality for macro work (use the settings at wide NOT zoom at all), very good color reproduction
Weaknesses: use only 128MB memory cards, not higher capacity memory cards, you will have problems
Overall: I am using the camera for heavy duty archival work of rare manuscripts (1,500 pictures/day); the camera exhibited very high quality output. Make sure you use up to 128 MB memory cards it seems that cards cannot handle more memory I burnt 3 SD 256MB cards the first day. So, per technical support recommendation I switched to 128 MB memory stick and I have taken up to now around 10,000 pictures!! Great camera for articles from journals in libraries that you would like to archive.
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Reviewed by: thedistec
Strengths: Great picture- high res, if you have enough mem, you'll be like a professional. Easy menu, decent zoom, small enough, great appearance.
Weaknesses: Stay away from the digital zoom- makes stuff look crappy.
Overall: Got this camera for my 18th birthday. I swear, every picture I take is great. The MONOCHROME feature is unbelievable! You can look all artsy if you go B&W. Also got a sepia thing, which is like the colors on old wanted posters. You can make the camera totally silent, no beeps or anything, and basically do whatever you want. Great bargain. Get yourself this camera and 128 MB of SD memory and you won't need a new camera for years.
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Reviewed by: johntdoan
Strengths: very light excellent picture quality.
Weaknesses: can't find any at the moment
Overall: the picture quality is the best i have seen in such a small compact digital camera. if you are an amature the camera will make you look like a professional. i highly recommend the camera to all my friends. you will not be disappointed with this camera.
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Reviewed by: JTthe1st
Strengths: Compact size, ease of use, vaersatility and image quality
Weaknesses: Lack of printed manual
Overall: I believe my in-depth research paid off with a "sleeper" here. I checked all of the "name" cameras and decided the versatility and features of this unit equalled or beat them all. I have been extremely pleased with this camera. Image quality is better than I had anticipated, especially in a camera this compact. The software package is excellent. This camera is a perfect fit for travelling and all-around photo usage for me. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an all-around, compact high quality camera.
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