Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 Digital Camera Review

Connectivity
Software (7.5)
The DiMAGE X60 ships with Konica Minolta’s DiMAGE Master Lite editing software, a scaled down version of the software shipped with the company’s DSLRs and scanners, as well as Kodak’s EasyShare Gallery software for organizing and sharing images. Mac and Windows versions of both programs are provided. Additionally, a Windows-only driver that permits the DiMAGE X60 to be used as a webcam ships with the camera. A CD with foreign language versions of the manual comes with the software too.

Konica Minolta’s Master Lite software is a very capable package that allows users to utilize numerous advanced editing tools. While the program does not directly download images from the camera (this is accomplished by dragging images to the computer when the camera is mounted like a USB flash drive), it allows users to manipulate numerous image parameters ranging from levels and saturation to sharpness and contrast. Tools such as resizing and cropping are also available as is a neat tool for comparing two images side by side to match their color. Users can also tag images as their favorite or store them in collections for retrieval later. One of the software’s nicer touches: if the user moves the cursor over a tool or button, a text box will pop up explaining what the tool or buttons does. While the editing tools in Master Lite fall slightly short of Photoshop’s capabilities and usability, they provide more than enough options to satiate point-and-shooters.

Kodak’s EasyShare Gallery software that ships with the camera provides a nice companion to Master Lite. Once images have been edited in Master Lite, users can take advantage of the albums and organization and printing tools available in Kodak’s EasyShare Gallery. Users can browse for images and organize them into albums. Images can also be prepared for printing at home or uploaded automatically to Kodak’s online photo printing service, where once printed, they can be either mailed to you or picked up within an hour at any CVS/Pharmacy store. Users can also open an email account and a sharing account to send or share images online. EasyShare Gallery has a few basic editing tools: crop, red/eye, enhance, brightness/contrast, exposure, fun effects, rotate, and zoom. With the exception of the easy to use and effective red-eye tool and the fun effects, users are better served using the more powerful and effective tools in Master Lite to edit images. The tools in EasyShare Gallery may be a good option, though, for novice users who find themselves overwhelmed by the complex control in Master Lite.

Jacks, Ports, and Plugs (6.0)
The DiMAGE X60 has a combination A/V / USB 2.0 port, hidden behind a sliding door, and a jack for an optional AC adapter, which is unfortunately not included with the camera. Konica Minolta should have included the AC adapter as the manual recommends that one be used when transferring files to a computer.

Direct Print Options (6.0)
The DiMAGE X60 supports the PictBridge and DPOF standards for printing without a computer. With PictBridge, the X60 can be connected via a USB cable to any PictBridge compliant printer. It's possible to select which images should be printed, how many copies of each should be made, the print quality, if an index print is wanted, paper size, and whether image data is printed with the images.

With DPOF printing, the print options are saved on the SD memory card. You can take the card to a photo lab and download the print order to a kiosk or the lab's computer.

Battery (5.0)
The DiMAGE X60 ships with a 3.7 volt lithium-ion battery. The user must remove the battery from the camera so it can be recharged in the supplied external battery charger. A full charge takes roughly 90 minutes, and a red light glows when charging is in process. When charging is complete, the light goes out. An optional AC adapter is available so users do not have to remove the battery to recharge it or risk draining the battery when transferring files. Konica Minolta designed the DiMAGE X60 to work well with the AC adapter. Unlike many other cameras which hide the AC adapter jack behind a door, Konica Minolta left the DiMAGE X60’s open to the world, facilitating easy use.

In testing, the camera battery exhibited poor life and fell far short of the 150 shot life Konica Minolta quotes in the DiMAGE X60’s literature. The flash particularly drained the battery and its use required that the battery be recharged twice in a 24 hour period. Users planning to shoot pictures for an extended period should consider buying an additional battery and keeping it charged up.

The camera continuously displays the condition of the battery on the right side of the screen. Either a solid battery or one partially filled in is displayed, depending upon how much power is left. The half-filled battery indication is as low as it goes and in testing the camera shut off abruptly with no warning when the battery died. It’s a good idea to go ahead and charge that battery whenever you see the half-filled icon.

Memory (3.5)
The DiMAGE X60 has 15 megabytes of internal memory. The camera supports MMC and SD memory cards in its slot, which is found on the right side of the camera under a protective door. Konica Minolta advises in the DiMAGE X60’s manual that users use an SD memory card as they can read and write fast than MMC cards. Unfortunately, there is no card of either type included with the camera.

When shooting in Fine mode at 2560 x 1920 resolution the DiMAGE X60’s memory can only hold 6 images in its internal bank. It is recommended that users purchase an SD memory card with a capacity of at least 256 megabytes, to ensure that they have adequate space for images. The DiMAGE X60 displays the number of shots left that the memory can hold in the lower right-hand area of the screen. When capturing audio or video the camera will display the amount of time left that can be recorded at the current settings.

Other features (4.0)
Self-Timer – The DiMAGE X60 has a self-timer which captures a picture 10 seconds after the shutter is released.

Sound Recording – Users can record up to 180 minutes of audio. Audio captions and voice notes up to 15 seconds long can also be added to images.

Box Contents - Besides the DiMAGE X60, the following items are included in the box: lithium-ion battery NP-700, battery charger BC-800, hand strap, USB cable, A/V cable, printed manual, and two CD-ROMS with Master Lite and EasyShare Gallery software and PDF.