Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi

Price $829.99
Sensor 5-megapixel, 2/3-inch 5.2MP CCD
Lens Minolta GT f2.8-3.5 7x zoom
Focus Auto, manual, 13cm in macro mode
Exposure Program AE, shutter-priority, aperture-priority, manual, scene modes
Metering Multi-segment, centre-weighted, spot
Monitor 1.8-inch 118,000 pixels
AE Compensation +/-2EV in 0.3EV increments
Flash Auto, on, off, fill-flash, red-eye, rear-sync
Video output NTSC or PAL
Movie recording 320 x 240 at 15fps with sound
Other features Flash sync socket for use with studio lighting systems
Image storage CompactFlash Type I & II
Batteries 4 x AA
AC adaptor Supplied
Weight 530g (without batteries)
Dimensions 117mm(w) x 90.5mm(h) x 112.5mm(d)
Transfer USB
OS Windows 98/Me, 2000, XP, Mac OS 8.6-9.2.2,
OS X 10.1.5

Verdict The DiMAGE 7 didn’t just introduce new levels of resolution, it brought truly intelligent, practical design too. The resolution may be commonplace now, but that design isn’t.

Features: 98
Images: 93
Build: 92
Value: 86
Final Score: 92