improves writing speed to high
performance memory cards. What will we see
fixed limits it’s surprising how
much can be enhanced with the few
You can download digital minutes it takes to load this new
camera samples taken by David
Kilpatrick by visiting www.pbase.
com/davidkilpatrick. You may in 2006 – and on?
operating program into a camera.
So, you should always check from
time to time, and read this list which
need a password to access the will be printed in each issue from
galleries – this is hypo1 or hypo. now. Keep you camera (or other
There are Portable Document were within normal adjustment limits. product) updated with the latest
Format versions of articles of interest The enhanced colour modes and firmware program and you will
to members available on the Icon C
ontrary to anything you might
think, we have no inside infor-
mation at Photoworld which slightly tweaked sharpening of the 5D ensure the best performance.
Publications Ltd f2 subscription web can help predict the future launches make more instant-printable images. The same goes for software
site – www.f2photo.co.uk – and from Konica Minolta. In fact there Later during October, I found upgrades. Sometimes they are
there is also a new Konica Minolta are brief periods when we have more that the 5D was far more friendly to necessary. We had to upgrade our
discussion forum on this site. information from other makers, then my old 70-210mm ƒ4 than the 7D is. Dimage Master software from
There is also a European owner a spell when Konica Minolta releases It just seems to like the lens better, Version 1.0 to Version 1.1 in order
club site called Konica Minolta a group of new products. So sensitive to focus faster and more accurately. to read Dynax 5D files properly.
Photo World which requires regis- to ‘leaks’ is international marketing This intrigued me and I spent a little The upgrade brought several more
tration (a simple process of filling in that no-one is ever told anything, or time swapping the dozen and more benefits with it, and once again, you
an on-screen form) to use. This is at: shown anything, before the right time. different lens of many ages (and two should check regularly for updates.
www.konicaminoltaphotoworld. This can lead to some remarkable or three makes) between the 7D
com. There are monthly com- situations. The UK headquarters and 5D. Overall the 5D was more
Bigger and better
petitions which can be entered scheduled a launch for the Dynax tolerant of older AF lenses. I tend
on-line, together with all the latest 5D, carefully worked out for timing, to advise buying the latest lenses As the magazine neared completion, I
product information. There is are which was cancelled because of the for the 7D. If you have a cupboard was called away for almost an entire
two Konica Minolta discussion London tube and bus bombings. As a full of 20 year old AF optics (which working week for a press launch
forums at www.dpreview.com. result we got to see, handle and finally they can now be – just!) try the of a new semi-professional ‘other
You can join a Minolta discussion use the 5D later than expected and 5D. It seems to focus positively and make’ DSLR with a 12 megapixel
group at www.yahoogroups.com; this issue has been delayed almost quickly with almost any lens model. CCD APS-C sized sensor, not without
fill in Yahoo membership, which is beyond its season. October is, for our It is also very well optimised for interest to those who speculate on the
free, and you will find this group small publishing company, one of the certain CF memory cards. In the future for Konica Minolta models.
founded in 1998 now has nearly busiest months of the year as we have 7D, we use the standard Lexar 80X The team involved was not able to
5,000 members. There is another the annual Professional Photographic Write Accelerated Pro card. It’s one let anyone shoot with the camera or
Web Minolta mailing list called the Awards to attend with advance of the best for Dynax and Dimage examine image files, as the cameras
Minoltians, available at www.themi- preparation of the catalogue of digital models. We have also had were pre-production samples. New
noltians.com, with on-line galleries. winners. If we don’t have Photoworld very good performance from Apacer sensors like this are subject to much
ready to print before the first week of and Ridata 80 to 100X cards. fine-tuning before public release.
Copies of manuals
October, it’s very unlikely we will be For the 5D, I picked up a SanDisk There is, of course, a natural
able to print it until a month later. Ultra II card – they do not seem to rumour that Konica Minolta will be
Bernard Petticrew is once again in state the speed, but it is believed to be among makers aiming for a similar
charge of the archive of instruction
5D impressions
around 40X on other makers’ scales. pixel-count in the now standard APS-
manuals which can be supplied SanDisk Ultra and Extreme cards C (1.5X factor) sensor. It will, I am
to replace missing ones. While Shirley and I did manage to get the 5D appear to be very well matched to sure, happen. In the meantime Shirley
some older camera manuals may – alongside our regular 7D – away the Konica Minolta cameras. There and I are happily forking out for a 5D
be available, others are not and to the Italian ‘Lake District’ for three was certainly no disappointment. despite its conservative 6 megapixels.
it is essential to telephone first. quick days of shooting before our The Ultra II proves that a large Why? Because this isn’t just mature
Compacts – £3.50 busy month set in. We caught one day memory buffer is not essential. technology, it’s refined. Each new sen-
SLRS – £5 of misty sun, one day of persisting-it- The 5D may only have half the sor generation is subject to problems
Digitals – £10 down rain, and finally one gloriously memory buffer of the 7D, but when the consumer never gets to experi-
Call him on 0870 242 1222 option clear day driving up one inside leg equipped with the Ultra II card is ence. These products are remarkable
4 if you need a replacement manual. of Lake Como and down the other. just as fast for sequence shooting. feats of engineering (almost beyond
null I used the 7D, and Shirley used the comprehension when you grasp the
5D. Having liked the 7D’s viewfinder,
Firmware potential
scale involved). It can take years to
most emphatically when contrasted optimise each generation. They are so
Technical Help
with other DSLRs, she was warned Which leads me back to the slow to make, and capacity is so rela-
Digital – UK 0870 0104107 that the 5D was not as large. No sweat! original point – what is in store? tively limited, that a camera maker
Film – 01908 208 325 It proved well suited to spectacle One thing which we shall certainly can’t simply get on the phone and ask
distances, and the shape of the see is Firmware Updating. You for another ten thousand next month.
Brochures/Stockists
body worked well for her hands and will find on the inside back cover of It would be like asking a distillery if
stockists 0208 751 6121
eye/forehead/specs/nose angles. The this issue a list of current Firmware they can please double next month’s
moment we began to view the results levels for various products. All delivery of 20-year-old single malt.
Service and Repairs
on the iBook, it was obvious that the the updates, with instructions, Right now Konica Minolta has
5D more than matches the 7D when are available by visiting: in the humble 5D an extremely
0870 242 1222 Option 3
used in our normal dumb fashion, www.konicaminoltasupport.com stable, bug-free, finely performing 6
Programme mode and… just shoot. Some of these updates correct megapixel camera which can claim
Camera Manuals Improvements, for the casual minor glitches but over many add the best colour reproduction in
0870 242 1222 Option 4 user, include an immunity against functionality, altering menu or its class. A lot of people are going
the effects of bright light sources operational behaviour, improving to be very happy with this afford-
Photoworld Club
included in the frame. There may be card write speeds or downloading able digital SLR this Christmas!
01573 226032
just a hint more tendency to burn by cable to computer, and so on. – David Kilpatrick
highlights but all the RAW files shot While firmware upgrades have null
5 photoworld
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