Jane Q. Student

Digital Cameras: Advantages
Instantly see photo after taking picture Point-and-shoot features Easy to upload photos to computer Easy to discard unwanted photos Dont have to print every Pictures can be edited
crop (cut off parts) improve contrast and brightness remove unwanted objects (red eyes, telephone lines, etc.) convert to black-and-white, to sepia, or to other color tone apply many other effects
Easy to share photos through email or Web sites
Review of Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi 2
Digital Cameras: Disadvantages
Large up-front investment (purchase price) is higher
than film cameras Usually overall picture quality is less than film
lower dynamic range than film (less detail in highlights
and shadows) more noise (grainy regions that should be solid color)
Home printers Often lower quality prints Often inks easily fade (print life is much less) Battery management can be a problem Shutter delay on low-end models can be annoying LCD is hard to see in bright light
Review of Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi 3
Minolta 7Hi: Prosumer SLR-like
Target buyer: Prosumer, a high-end
consumer (photo hobbyist) or lowend professional Camera format (type): SLR (singlelens reflex) like
Has look and feel of SLR Functions like an SLR in almost every
way Lacks ability to change lens
Review of Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi

Camera Quality

Excellent zoom lens, for
wide angle to telephoto pictures Strong, durable metal alloy and plastic body High picture quality Numerous custom settings Full complement of power features Fits standard 49-mm filters

Operation

Fast boot-up, fast retake Fully automatic, point-and-
shoot features Other settings
aperture priority (manual
setting of aperture, automatically adjusts shutter speed) shutter priority (manual setting of shutter speed, automatically adjust aperture) automatic or manual focus
Review of Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi 6

Disadvantages

Automatic focus sometimes fails, resulting in blurry pictures Camera is bulkier than consumer digital cameras: doesnt fit in a purse or fanny pack Difficult learn curve for numerous features Factory installed CompactFlash memory card only 16 MB; most photographers will want to buy a 1 or 2 GM card Battery hog; rechargeable battery upgrade
required Lacks anti-shake feature

Sample Photos

For Professional Photographs
Attach filter (such as circular polarizer) Attach lens hood (to avoid stray light) Attach eyepiece hood (to view electronic image even in bright lights)
Set to automatic focus (manual focus isnt reliable enough with LCD or viewfinder)
Set to highest resolution RAW or TIFF file format
Set to fully manual aperture and shutter speed
Turn on brightness histogram (for viewing in LCD)

Adjust white balance

Take pictures
Price Format Sensor Max. Resolution ISO Rating Zoom Focal lengths Modes Aperture range Max. Shutter Movie clips File formats LCD Upload connection Battery Memory card type
$1299 retail; $600 street SLR-like 5.2 MP 2560 x 1920 pixels Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800 7.1X mm Fully auto, partially manual, fully manual F2.8 - F3.5 / F8.0 1/4000 sec Up to 60 sec, with audio RAW, TIFF, JPEG 1.8 inches USB 4 standard AA CompactFlash Review of Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi

MINOLTA SOFTWARE INSTALL GUIDE
www.minoltaeurope.com The essentials of imaging
DiMAGE 7Hi Camera Firmware Ver.101e
This section explains how to install DiMAGE 7Hi firmware version Ver.101e. (Firmware is software used internally to control the camera.) Be sure to read through the following explanation before you install the software. Do not turn the camera OFF during installation; doing so could damage the CPU inside the camera.

Contents of update

SD memory card can also be used in this model by using a SD card-to-CF card adapter. Note: Minolta does not manufacture SD card to CF card adapters. Contact the manufacturer of the adapter for details.

Target products

This firmware is for use only with the DiMAGE 7Hi and cannot be used with other products. If the firmware version is already Ver.101e, it is not necessary to update the firmware. (Use the following method to check the firmware). This firmware is intended for versions ending with the letter [e]. The update does not work correctly if it is installed in other products.
Checking the firmware version
(1) Set the main switch/mode dial of the camera to the setup position. (2) Press the digital-subject-program button. (3) Check the number (the red frame in the figure) displayed in the LCD monitor display of the camera. (4) Products with version numbers other than Ver.101e are eligible for a firmware upgrade.
Preparing the compact flash card for updating
Use one of the following methods to prepare a CompactFlash card to update the firmware. Format a 4 MB or larger CompactFlash card in the camera
When copying via CompactFlash card drive The downloaded file is compressed. 1.
When copying via DiMAGE 7Hi connected to PC using USB-cable USB-100
After creating a folder in your PC and extracting the contents of the archive, the following files are created.
For Windows DSC.APP RAM.BIN Firmware Software for update.

For Macintosh

After extraction, copy the files named "RAM.BIN" and "DSC.APP" into the root directory of the CompactFlash card. 2. 3. Before removing the CompactFlash card, confirm that the two files have been copied. Remove the CompactFlash card from the camera or disconnect the USB cable from the camera.
If you are using Windows Me, 2000 or XP, click the unplug-or-eject-hardware icon in the lower right-hand corner of the screen, wait until the safe-to remove-hardware window appears, then remove the CompactFlash card from the card reader, or disconnect the USB cable from the camera.

How to update firmware

Note: When performing the firmware update, use a set of fully charged Ni-MH (nickel hydrogen) batteries or an AC adapter AC-1L or AC-2L (sold separately). When you use an AC adapter, be sure not to inadvertently disconnect the camera during the firmware update procedure.
(1) Insert the prepared CompactFlash card into the DiMAGE 7Hi, and press the shutter-release button with the main switch/mode dial at the OFF position. (2) Holding the shutter-release button down, set the main switch/mode dial to the recording mode position.
(3) The access lamp lights for a short period, around two minutes. (You can release the shutter-release button after the access light is lit.)

(4) When the access lamp goes out, the update procedure is completed. Remove the batteries, then re-insert it. If you are using an AC adapter, disconnect the AC adapter and/or remove batteries if any inside as well.)
(5) As described above, check the version number displayed on the LCD monitor display. If the number has changed to Ver.101e, the update was performed successfully.
* If update was not performed correctly, or an error occurred during the update procedure, turn off the power of the camera, then proceed from Step (1) again. * Before you use the Compact Flash card for storing image data, first format it again in the camera or delete the two files.
* Windows and Windows Me, 2000 and XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A and other countries. * Macintosh is a registered trademark in the U.S.A. and other countries.