I'll admit that I'm hardly a shutterbug. I recently purchased the bulky, low-end Hewlett-Packard Photosmart 635 and it was more than adequate for my limited needs -- taking photos at an occasional party or sporting event, and quickly downloading them to my PC.
So the first thing that struck me about Konica Minolta Photo Imaging Inc.'s DiMage X50 was its tiny form factor. Smaller than a wallet and weighing a little more than four ounces, it can easily fit on a keychain or in a trouser pocket. After spending a minute looking for the power switch, I realized that the device intuitively turns itself on when the lens cover is flipped opened.
From there, the sizable 2-in. LCD monitor lit up immediately, displaying images with lifelike vibrancy. Taking a photo was a snap -- after flipping the mode switch on top of the camera, I was clicking away in no time. The device was able to store several dozen "average" quality images on the included 16 MB memory card, though when viewed on my Windows XP PC, the quality of the .jpg files appeared to be above average. On the highest quality setting, the X50 takes incredibly detailed photos, but a handful of them quickly eat up the camera's memory.
Downloading the pictures to my PC was only a matter of plugging the X50's included USB cable into the computer's port. Windows XP quickly recognized the camera and allowed me to copy photos manually or use the photo wizard program to retrieve them. With Windows 98, the process was a little more of a chore.
One small problem with the test model, however, was that I had trouble taking "action" shots; I couldn't shorten the delay between when the shutter is pressed and the picture is taken. Fortunately, the X50 can also capture 40-second video clips. Again, I was pleasantly surprised by the high quality output from the tiny device -- in an outdoor setting or one with ample ambient light, the quality of the QuickTime-compatible movies was comparable with that of an older camcorder.
Battery life is an issue with many digital cameras, but without being fully charged the X50's special Lithium-ion battery handled several batches of photos and three videos with power to spare. The spring-loaded battery cover was a classy touch.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed using the DiMage X50 and was impressed by its capabilities, though its complex menus and advanced features might be overwhelming for first-time digital camera users. Otherwise, it's near the top of my digital camera list.
