Minolta Dimage Z2 Digital Camera. Reviews, Price Comparison and Ratings.

The DiMAGE Z2 is the second in a series of easy-to-use, powerful SLR-type digital cameras and a step up from the groundbreaking DiMAGE Z1. The DiMAGE Z2 also boasts the Rapid AF and high-quality VGA/SVGA movie functionality of its predecessor. This time, Konica Minolta has raised the bar with the adoption of a GT lens and a 4-megapixel CCD, delivering picture clarity at the very top end of the spectrum. The addition of a Predictive Focus Control function enables focusing with a higher degree of accuracy for moving subjects, which means that when you are shooting sports events or any moving object, you’ll never miss the shot. To bring out the full power of the newly developed 4-megapixel CCD, the DiMAGE Z2 has a completely new optical lens system. It adopts a new GT 10x optical lens system (focal distance when converted to 35 mm: 38 to 380 mm, F2.8 ~ 3.7) consisting of 11 elements in 7 groups. To deliver higher picture quality than ordinary lenses, the new GT lens uses AD (anomalous dispersion) glass (APO lens). It corrects a large portion of the color aberration on the telephoto end and delivers sharp images of high contrast across the entire display from the center to the edges. Moreover, it employs two aspherical lenses (one of which is aspherical on both sides), which effectively corrects spherical aberration and distortion aberration. The DiMAGE Z2 also delivers speed. A quick start up, fast-reacting LCD display, Rapid AF, minimal release time lag, super-fast continuous advance and quick playback are all testaments to the speed of the DiMAGE Z2. It ensures that you’ll never miss another photo opportunity.

The Lowest Price is not always best !

When you buy a digital camera, the basic package almost always includes extras such as a battery charger, lens cap, batteries, flash memory card, and software. One of the more disreputable practices a dealer can engage in is called unbundling. These dealers remove items from the package that are normally included in the price and price them separately.

When purchasing a camera you have three components of the price to consider - the camera price, postage and handling, and taxes. Many dealers lower the price to make the camera more attractive, then increase the postage and handling to boost their profits.

Hesitate before accepting extended warranties. Every knowledgeable consumer expert says it's better to gamble. Most of a company's profit is in the sale of these warranties so they press, and press hard. Your job is to resist, and resist hard. The only thing to keep in mind is that digital cameras can be horribly expensive to repair. If you want peace of mind, you may want the warranty, even though it's probably overpriced. The cost of a repair can approach, or even exceed, the original purchase price.

When you buy a camera from a reputable dealer, you expect to be able to return it if you aren't satisfied. Some dealers try to discourage this by requiring a restocking fee for returned merchandise. This is always explained as a way to recover their costs of checking the merchandise and restoring the packaging you may have opened.

Many dealers is truly a false, deceptive and a total crook. Bait and switch tactics used. Does not sell new merchandise and will ship used or refurbished goods without notifying customer. They then try to charge a restock fee on top of their exobitant shipping fees to make a profit where they could not on their goods. A try case of buyer beware.