Model Design / Appearance (6.0)
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 is definitely not a sexy compact camera; the body appears more like a space module, connected to the space station (right-hand grip). While the Z5 is not completely horrific in appearance, it certainly lacks an aesthetic appeal. Opting to stray from the common rectangular form or SLR shape, the Z5 continues with the distinguishable “H-shape” Konica Minolta design. The lens and grip are joined by a much thinner frame that grants some unity to the form. The plastic body has a lot of texture, which adds in handling but tends to attract and trap dust. This is slightly bothersome, as the color of the camera is black; every particle of dust is visible. However, many of these observations may be trivial, as most interested consumers will likely be gravitated to the camera’s strong performance over its awkward appearance.

Size / Portability (6.5)
The Z5 hovers between the small compact models and the bulky single lens reflex digital cameras. This DiMAGE is not as bulky as an SLR, but not as small as the compact models. It will need some kind of camera bag (a very odd-shaped one, I imagine) for easier transport. The included neck strap will come in handy, as the Z5 weighs about 12 ounces without the card and batteries. With measurements of 4.27 x 3.15 x 3.31, this digital camera is not the most portable choice, but should not become a major hindrance for consumers.

Handling Ability (6.5)
The general purpose of a larger right-hand grip is to provide added stability and make extended periods of photographing more comfortable. However, my hand was a bit too small for the bulky grip. When my palm was comfortable on the grip, my fingers couldn’t quite reach the deep valley; in essence, I was pinching the grip in all the wrong ways. This setup may work perfectly for large, masculine hands or people with very long fingers, but this is not conducive to short fingers or a slight feminine grip at all. The positive side of the bulky grip is that it nicely balances the large lens on the opposite side of the camera. The even distribution of weight makes the Z5 easy to hold with one hand (if you can access all controls), although that is not the most stable way to hold the camera. In a balanced, two-hand position, users will have substantial control over the camera, though a manual focus ring would have added immensely.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (6.0)
The right hand will make all of the adjustments on the Z5, as all of the dials and controls are placed to the right of the LCD screen or on the top near the shutter release button. Most of the buttons are properly sized and placed, with the exception of the three buttons directly to the right of the LCD screen, which are slightly undersized and run the risk of accidentally multiple engagement. Other than those specific controls, the general layout is logical and orderly. The only button completely out of its traditional position is the power button, which is located below the center of the LCD screen on the back. This doesn’t seem like a logical place to put the button, especially if users want to power up the camera and take a shot quickly.

Menu (7.5)
The menus are easy accessible with the Menu button to the right of the LCD screen. All of the menus appear in file folder fashion, with the options laid out in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get manner. Each “folder tab” has five options, so instead of scrolling through one endless recording menu, users scroll horizontally through three menus to find the option they want. Navigating around the menus is easy with the four-way dial located just above the Menu button. All of the menus are in printed text. Some options offer live views, such as the white balance and color mode menus.

The Recording menu includes the following options on its first tab: Drive Mode, Image Size, Quality, White Balance, and Anti-Shake. On the second tab, Focus Mode, Full-time AF, Flash Mode, Flash Compensation, and Metering Mode are offered. The third tab has these options: Sensitivity, Color Mode, Sharpness, Contrast, and Key Function.

The Setup menu consists of four menu tabs. The first has LCD Brightness, Power Save, Instant Playback, Lens Accessories, and Language options. Within the Language menu, the following options are available: Spanish, Chinese, Italian, Swedish, Japanese, English, German, and French. Most of these are quite common, but congrats to the Swedes; they finally have a digital camera that speaks their language. In the second tab, the following options are available: File Number Memory, Folder Name, Date/Time Set, and Date Imprint. In the third tab: Reset Default, Audio Signals, Focus Signal, Shutter FX, and Volume. In the fourth tab: Video Output, Transfer Mode, Digital Zoom, and Self-Timer. The Z5’s volume can be set to three different levels or completely turned off.

The Playback menu offers three fun-filled menu tabs with different purposes. The first tab groups most common functions together: Delete, Format, Lock, Edit Movie, and Copy. The second tab pertains to slide show playback: Slide Show, Playback, Duration, and Repeat. The third tab groups image transfer options: DPOF Set, Date Print, Index Print, and E-mail Copy.

Ease of Use (6.5)
The Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 has its pros and cons in the ease of use department. Like I said before, to connect a camera to the printer, you must enter one menu. Then once connected, you enter another to actually print. The Z5 has a few inefficiencies such as this. It also has some vague icons in its menus; for example, once the preset white balance option is selected, users must scroll through a series of vague icons. Luckily, the Z5 has live views to show what color changes the icons bring on the picture. The live views are available in other menu options as well (but not all). Navigating through the menus is simple and the tabs enhance ease of use because users can view all options in one screen, rather than scrolling endlessly to the unknown portions of a menu. Overall, I’ll have to say that this digital camera doesn’t come close to some of the newer Kodaks that have text, icons, help menus, and of course, the Share button. The Konica Minolta Z5 is not as easy to use as other models, but is still manageable and can be learned with easily with usage.