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Konika Minolta Dimage G 600

Konika Minolta's DiMage G 600

With a high megapixel count, this a decent performer that should have been a star. If you over look the design of the battery compartment and the poor placement of the memory card next to it, this is not a bad unit.

Konika Minolta Dimage G 600 

Review 

When Konika and Minolta merged, it came as a surprise. Both are big names in photography. Now as one company, it is to be expected that new products will come out, and rather quickly. 

While some members of the U.K. press gave this camera a real hit for its flaws, I have to admit that there are some good things and not so good things about the unit. 

First, addressing the good elements. The picture quality over all is decent. With a whopping six megapixels, it is a camera  going for the “ all the pixels you can get” and more approach. Virtual identical to the Konika Revio KD-420, apart from a few details and the large six megapixel sensor, this is a reworking of an existing unit, or rather an updated revision. 

I am not so sure the six megapixels is really needed. However, the camera is fast, and rather convenient to carry. Not too small, not too big, the camera has a nice solid feel that makes it perfect for a large shirt pocket. As far as portability is concerned, this camera makes it into the “ so small you can carry with you anywhere” category, but just barely. 

My main gripes with the camera are with two notorious problem areas with all types of cameras and camcorders: overly complex menus and poorly designed doors to access memory cards and batteries.   For a camera of this make and size, I am not expecting all of the bells and whistles.  However, I do not think it is too much to ask that the unit be designed so that doors do not just pop open. 

In fact, the door that holds the battery is so flimsy that I actually lost the rechargeable battery.  In the entire time I have reviewed digital cameras, I have yet to experience that particular design flaw.  I am just as equally unimpressed with the battery placement. Situated next to the rechargeable battery, accessing the memory card and battery is not a great pleasure. 

The other Achilles heels here, the menu system, is a bit confusing.  I had thought Sharp created the most convoluted system, that is until now.  For some reason, makers of convenience cameras seem to consistently overlook this important area. If you can get to the feature or features you want, you may as well forget it completely. 

Aside from these problem areas of a weak menu and a poorly designed battery and memory card placement, there is a lot to like about the camera. 

Summation 

For the point and click crowd, this offering is not a bad unit, but not a particularl outstanding one either. The picture quality is above average. The actual placement of features, your level of configurability and the design issues inherent in this unit make this an average camera, but not an outstanding one in its class.