Testing / Performance

This next chart shows where on the spectrum the camera’s colors fall and where the ideal colors fall in comparison. Ideally, these would all be perfectly stacked on each other, though this is never the case. The circles represent the color output by the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 and the squares represent the ideal color of the original chart.

As you can see, hardly any of the colors are spot on. The reds and purples are quite exaggerated and the greens and yellows didn’t fare too well either. With a mean color error of 13.5, the X60 earned a disappointing 4.44 overall color score. This digital camera did only over-saturate by 6.4 percent, which is noteworthy. However, great saturation levels don’t do much for discoloration.

**Still Life Scene
**Below is a shot of our timeless still life scene captured with the Konica Minolta X60.

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Click on the above image to view the full resolution file (CAUTION: linked file is very large!)](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=X60-StillLife-LG.jpg )

Resolution / Sharpness*(3.9)
*Using the same Imatest software, we measure resolution by taking a set of exposures of an industry standard resolution chart at various settings and uploading them into a program that counts the pixels used. Many times, the resultant pixel count differs from the manufacturer’s count. This is because of varying degrees of in-camera compression and sharpening. We report the resolution score as a percentage of the advertised pixel count, with anything above 70 percent receiving a "good" designation. Above 80 percent receives "very good" accolades and above 90 percent is considered "excellent."

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Click on the chart to view full res. image](https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cameras/viewer.php?picture=X60-ResCH-LG.jpg)

This Konica Minolta X60 received an honorable "very good" designation with its 80 percent count. This DiMAGE recorded 3.9 megapixels, which is quite decent for a compact digital camera. This camera should be able to produce quality enlargements, provided that the images are not cropped any tighter in postproduction editing. Imatest did report 15.5 percent oversharpening within the camera. Most compact digital cameras do this, so this is nothing to fret about.

Noise – Auto ISO*(4.22)
*The Konica Minolta X60 has both automatic and manual ISO adjustments. We tested the camera’s performance when it selected the ISO itself and got fairly positive results. When we took exposures in good lighting, the X60 selected a 100 sensitivity rating. This was an accurate reading and rating, though there was still some noise. The DiMAGE X60 received an overall auto ISO noise score of 4.22, which is decent for a point-and-shoot. Keep in mind that the automatic ISO range on this model is relatively stunted though; it only reaches from 50-160.

Noise – Manual ISO*(4.88)
*The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 performed a little better when the ISO was manually adjusted. Below is a chart showing the noise level on the vertical axis and the ISO ratings on the horizontal axis. These results were put in a regression analysis to get the overall manual ISO score of 4.88.

There is a steady climb in the noise levels from 50 to 200. Then when the camera is adjusted to ISO 400, there is a huge jump in noise. Expect clean images from the Konica Minolta X60 until the ISO 400 rating is used.

Low Light*(3.0)
*The X60 automatically adjusts the shutter speed to go as slow as 4 seconds and the aperture as large as f/3.3 in low light. Using a tripod to keep the camera steady, we took exposures of the color chart at decreasing light levels of 60, 30, 15, and 5 lux. Two table lamps is equivalent to the light emitted at 60 lux. 30 lux is what you’ll get from a single 40-watt light bulb. A softly lit night light emits about 15 lux; 5 lux is close to total darkness. We took all of these stills using the Night Portrait scene mode to ensure the longest exposure possible.

The decreasing light levels didn’t affect the Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60’s color very much, but impeded the camera’s ability to focus and allowed increasing levels of noise to enter the picture. All of the images are blurry and extremely noisy. Pictures taken in low light with this digital camera will be disappointingly unusable.

**Speed / Timing **
*Start-up to First Shot (7.78)
*Because the X60 returns to its default settings when first turned on, and because we always test this section indoors, the flash discharges on this first shot. But this first shot won’t take until 3.42 seconds have elapsed. This is on the slower side of compact digital cameras’ start-up times. The speed is around 1.62 seconds when the flash is disengaged.

*Shot to Shot (8.18) *

The burst mode is a little slower than most compact cameras with a shot to shot time of 0.715 seconds. The X60 shoots at this speed for four pictures, then rests for 4.47 seconds before taking its next set of four images.

*Shutter to Shot (7.66)
*This Konica Minolta DiMAGE has substantial shutter lag, with 0.67 seconds going by between the time the shutter release button is pressed and the moment the picture is recorded.

Physical Tour

Front*(7.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 has an aluminum front with rounded corners that wrap cleanly around the sides of the camera. Raised across the center of the camera’s front face is a sliding aluminum door that shields the lens when not in use. On the protective strip is a blue Konica Minolta logo accompanied by text reaffirming the identity of the manufacturer. When the sliding door is opened, the camera powers on and the lens is revealed, although it does not extend to zoom. "Konica Minolta Zoom lens" is displayed in small black letters above the lens. Below the glass, the camera’s zoom and aperture range are stated: "8.3-18.9mm/1:3.3-4.0." Etched below the sliding door, on the bottom right corner, is "DiMAGE X60" in raised aluminum letters. Above the sliding strip, directly above the lens, is the camera’s flash. To the left of the flash is the self-timer indicator light; left of the light are four holes that lead to the DiMAGE X60’s microphone.

Back*(7.0)
*The back of the DiMAGE X60 is dominated by the 115,000 pixel, 2.5-inch LCD screen, set into the camera body. The screen has a glossy black frame with "DiMAGE" written along the bottom. Above the screen is an LED, which blinks orange when writing images and red to indicate when the memory is full. To the right of the screen is the DiMAGE X60’s zoom toggle, with "W" on the left and "T" on the right, separated by an indentation. Below the toggle are three buttons that switch to playback, toggle the display options, and bring up the menu. The playback button, which is on top, has a green triangle icon next to it and a small bump to enable identification by feel. The display button is identified by a monitor icon, while the menu button has "Menu" printed next to it. To the right of the three buttons are six small bumps that supply grip and act as a convenient thumb rest.

Below the three buttons is the DiMAGE X60’s navigation control, which consists of four buttons arranged around a selection button. The four navigation buttons each have a square bump that protrudes outward to facilitate their identification by touch. The top button, distinguished by a green trash icon and a black lightning bolt and eye, is used to delete images in playback mode and toggle through the flash options. The right button, which has no icon, is used for menu navigation and for scrolling through images in playback mode. The left button also lacks an accompanying icon and is used solely for navigation and scrolling. The bottom button’s functionality is identified by a black self-timer and burst icon and a slanted green square with an arrow, indicating image rotation. This button is used for navigation as well.

Left Side*(7.0)
*The smooth left side is clean and free of any features except for two screws that hold the front and back halves of the DiMAGE X60’s aluminum casing together.

Right Side*(7.5)
*The left side of the DiMAGE X60 has the camera’s AC adapter jack at the top as well as the USB / A/V out port at the bottom. Between is the door to access the DiMAGE X60’s SD memory card slot. Alongside the memory card door, towards the front face of the camera, is a continuation of a raised aluminum strip intended to aid handling, especially during one-handed shooting. On top of the strip is an eyelet for the DiMAGE X60’s included hand strap.

Top*(6.5)
*The top of the DiMAGE X60 has a raised metal strip that contains the shutter release button, the camera mode toggle switch, and the camera’s speaker. Written on the left of the strip is the camera’s resolution; "5.0 Mega Pixels." To the right of the writing is a series of holes that cover the DiMAGE X60’s speaker. Located in the center of the strip is the mode switch that toggles between still image shooting, preset program modes, and movie/audio recording. The still mode is indicated by a black camera icon, the preset program is adorned with a portrait icon, while the movie/audio mode is represented with a movie camera / classic cardioid microphone graphic. Slightly raised along the far right of the camera’s top is the large, silver shutter release button.

Bottom*(3.5)
*The bottom of the DiMAGE X60 houses a tripod socket below the lens. Unfortunately, the socket is made of plastic, limiting its functionality as its material is prone to breaking or stripping. To the right of the socket is a door that covers the DiMAGE X60’s battery. The door unlatches by sliding to the right and springing open.

Components

Viewfinder*(0.0)
*There is no viewfinder on the DiMAGE X60. The space a viewfinder would have occupied is paved over by the large LCD screen. While the LCD allows shots to be composed with a 100 percent field of view, the omission of a viewfinder eliminates a way of framing shots when the battery is low.

LCD Screen*(7.0)
*The DiMAGE X60’s large 2.5-inch LCD screen has relatively limited resolution considering its size at just 115,000 pixels. The 4:3 format screen features Konica Minolta’s anti-reflective coating that is designed to minimize glare and allow images to be seen easily, even under bright light. However, in practice the screen solarized easily and was restricted to a limited viewing angle. The screen’s brightness is controllable within the setup menu and provides a useful range. While the screen’s large size is useful for framing images and viewing pictures, its low 115,000 pixel resolution limits the level of detail provided and can be distracting in scenes with high contrast.

Flash*(5.0)
*The DiMAGE X60’s flash is located in the center of the camera’s body, just a bit left of the lens axis. The flash is nicely situated as to avoid being obstructed by the user’s fingers, though it takes a laborious 6 seconds to recharge between shots. In wide angle shooting, the flash has a limited 7.9 foot effective range, dropping to just 6.6 feet in telephoto shooting. This is about as limited as flash units get these days in terms of power and illumination potential, however, for close subjects, this may help limit the harsh quality inherent in small fixed flash units.

Flash coverage is uniform, although again, it is quite slow to recycle in comparison to other similarly styled cameras, so users will have to be selective in their shots. Available modes are: Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill Flash, and Flash Cancel; there is no slow sync setting.

Zoom Lens*(6.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 has a Konica Minolta 3x optical zoom that reaches from 6.3-18.9mm (38-114mm in 35mm equivalent) and does not protrude from the camera’s body. The non-extending lens helps the body remain compact during usage and should increase start-up speeds. While the conceptually quick boot-up time is a marketed element of the X60, we found its start-up speed to be quite slow – even with the non-extending lens. Perhaps this made the feature more of a functional necessity than a stylistic decision by Konica Minolta’s design team?

The camera also offers an additional 4x digital zoom, though using it is not recommended as it will degrade picture quality. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/3.3 in its widest focus, closing to f/4.0 in telephoto shooting. This puts the X60 at a disadvantage in terms of low light capabilities, as most comparable cameras will open an extra 1/2-stop to f/2.8.

The lens will focus from 4 inches to infinity in wide angle shooting and from 20 inches to infinity in telephoto shooting. For close-up shots, users can switch over to the X60’s macro mode, enabling capture as close as 2 inches from the lens; however, the lens will only operate at a fixed focal length of 12mm (equating to 72mm on a 35mm camera), and focus very slowly.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance*(7.0)
*The DiMAGE X60’s styling focuses on simplicity and the camera is free from any unnecessary adornment. The body has a flat finish to its aluminum casing that is pleasant to handle and look at. The body’s aluminum construction lends a feeling of durability to the camera and doesn’t contribute to excessive bulk of heft. The sliding lens cover protects the glass when not in use and omits the need for dirt collecting components typical of telescoping lenses. The DiMAGE X60’s design seems like it will appeal to style seekers with its sleek and compact form and will be easily transportable within a pocket or palm.

Size / Portability*(7.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 has a compact rectangular aluminum body with rounded edges and resembles many of Pentax’s Optio offerings. The slim, tempered X60 frame measures just 0.9 inches deep and fits nicely into a pocket, without hindering movement. The raised strip on the front of the camera has rounded edges that pose no concern for snagging on cloth or garments. The 3.3 x 2.2 x 0.9-inch camera weighs 4.1 ounces without battery or memory card, and will be easily transportable.

There is raised eyelet on the left side of the DiMAGE X60 and an included hand strap, providing an alternative mode of transport for those who don’t want to weight down their pockets or occupy their hands. The camera’s balanced feel and lack of heft or bulk will make for minimal discomfort when dangling from the user’s wrist. The camera’s compact size and portability is perhaps its strongest selling point.

Handling Ability*(6.5)
*The design of the DiMAGE X60 incorporates several nice ergonomic touches that aid in handling and make the camera easier to use. The raised bumps on the back of the camera provide a nice rest for the user’s thumb as does the depression in the zoom toggle. While the raised Konica Minolta logo serves as a convenient grip during operation, the elevated plane enables users to open or close the lens cover open with a single hand. The DiMAGE X60’s balanced form allows it to rest nicely in the user’s palm and be repositioned easily. Although there are no rubber planes or patches applied to the X60’s exterior, the matte finished coating around the body can be easily gripped due to the strategic array of protrusions and controls.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size*(5.5)
*With the large 2.5-inch screen dominating the back, Konica Minolta had to maximize the limited space allotted to controls to make the diminutive X60 manageable to use. Fortunately, this was done fairly effectively, utilizing horizontal controls and negative space well to optimize this camera for one-handed operation. The navigation buttons have a raised bump in the middle of each one that distinguishes the controls and facilitates their use by touch alone. The navigational controls are evenly spaced around the central "ok" button, although even with proper spacing, the tiny buttons will be difficult for some large-handed users.

The DiMAGE X60’s mode switch is located on the top of the camera and clicks nicely into place when switching from still shooting to preset shooting or video/audio capture. The clicks of the switch are firm yet yield enough for easy one-handed operation. All of the buttons on the DiMAGE X60 are clearly labeled with words or icons that illustrate their purpose, and they are and color coded to boot (black for shooting and green for playback).

Menu*(6.0)
*The DiMAGE X60’s menus are accessed via the menu button to the right of the LCD screen. The menus appear as an overlay superimposed over the live view. This is always a nice inclusion, helping users perceive setting alterations prior to rendering the selection. When cycling though the various options, the camera highlights the choices in four different colors, depending on the mode the camera is in: green for playback, magenta for still and preset shooting, brown for movie/audio capture, and blue for camera setup options. The color coding adds an intuitive graphic quality to the menu that helps to organize and clarify options. The menus are conveniently broken down into submenus so that each subcategory’s choices are all visible at once, and each choice is labeled with a full title.

The menu options differ depending upon whether the camera is in one of the shooting modes or playback. When in still image shooting, the menu button yields the choice of three submenus (1, 2 and 3) across the top of the screen, with their respective menu options listed below. While the options are easily understood, the numerical labeling is utterly ambiguous. Submenu 1 holds controls over image size, quality, white balance, and the Key function, where you choose what menu option comes up after pressing the shortcut key, i.e. the right navigation arrow. Submenu 2 holds Sensitivity (ISO), Metering mode, Exposure Compensation, and Auto reset. Submenu 3 contains Color mode, Voice memo, Date imprint, Digital zoom, and Instant playback.

When in one of the preset shooting modes, the menu button offers the same submenus and choices as it does in the still image mode, but control over certain features are grayed out depending upon which shooting mode the user is in.

When in the Movie/Audio capture mode the menu button brings up two submenus. Submenu 1 contains RecordingMode, Frame rate, and Movie mode. Submenu 2 contains White balance, Exposure compensation, and Color mode.

The Setup menu is also divided into three subsets, but offers the same options regardless of which shooting mode the camera is in. Submenu 1 contains LCDbrightness, Format, Language, File # memory, and Folder name. Submenu 2 holds Audio signals, Focus signal, Shutter FX, Volume, and Power save. Submenu 3 houses Reset default, Date/Time set, Video output, and Transfer mode.

Users must use the menu button to control all of the features on the DiMAGE X60 aside from shooting mode, entering playback, and display of overlaid image information. The space between the buttons and the raised bumps on them makes navigating the menus fairly simple and easy to do, even one-handed. The menus are consistently arranged and have the same layout and feel. Navigation of the menus is accomplished with the navigation buttons and selecting and confirming options is done with the central, round "OK" button.

Ease of Use*(8.0)
*As a fully automatic camera, the DiMAGE X60 is intuitive and easy-to-use. With limited manual controls other than exposure compensation, white balance, and ISO, the interface should be easy for any level user to manage. The buttons are well positioned and clearly labeled, with few choices to minimize confusion. Menu selections are easily made and confirming them is done in a consistent manner, helping to minimize the camera’s learning curve. The manual that accompanies the DiMAGE X60 is well written and contains numerous pictures and diagrams to explain the camera’s features. When certain buttons are required to initiate a specific function, the manual will provide a diagram of the buttons and darken those that need to be depressed, offering a handy means of explanation to those that require assistance. This is fortunate for less-photographically knowledgeable users, as the camera does not provide an in-camera help menu.

Transferring images to the computer is relatively easy as the camera mounts on the desktop like a USB flash drive, allowing users to simply drag and drop images to where they please on their computer. Recharging the battery, though, is not as simple of an affair and requires users to remove the battery from the camera and use the supplier’s charger, unless they purchase the optional AC adapter.

Modes

Auto Mode*(6.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 is a fully automatic camera that also offers 7 preset automatic shooting modes. The regular automatic shooting mode is indicated by a magenta camera icon in the upper left corner of the screen and each of the shooting modes is marked by a unique icon situated to the right of the camera icon. While the focus and exposure are automatically controlled, the DiMAGE X60 does allow users to control exposure compensation and white balance if they wish.

The DiMAGE X60’s EV adjustment works in all modes and adjusts exposure in 1/3 stops from 2 stops under the metered value to 2 stops over. White balance control is either available or locked out depending on the shooting mode and is adjustable by selecting from four presets.

In practice, the X60’s auto mode is reliable but not overly impressive. Auto focus was an issue indoors and in low light and will result in many unusable images. The auto white balance feature performed admirably in daylight, but again, under dim tungsten lights, accuracy waned.

Movie Mode*(5.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 records video at 320 x 240 at either 30 or 15 frames per second. The low resolution of 320 x 240 produces video that lacks much detail; 640 x 480 is required to produce high quality video files. The autofocus is fixed at the beginning of video capture, so if you move the camera around, focus will be lost. However, the digital zoom will remain active during video capture, and while not a preferred means of altering perspective, it does grant some level of flexibility.

Drive / Burst Mode*(5.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 is quoted by Konica Minolta as having a 1.6 frame per second burst speed. In practice, the camera was only able to achieve this rate under ideal lighting conditions. When shooting in low light or capturing fast moving objects, the camera was unable to properly expose or focus on subjects when using the burst mode. Additionally, exposure is set on the first image captured in a burst and then applied to each subsequent picture, which can result in improperly exposed images. The DiMAGE X60 has a six second flash recycle time, so forget about any sort of burst shooting if a flash is required.

Playback Mode*(7.0)
*The DiMAGE X60’s playback mode offers generally standard functionality. Pressing the Playback button calls up the most recent shot. Pressing the zoom rocker in the wide angle direction brings up the index display, which shows the last six shots taken. The four-way controller scrolls sequentially through all images in the camera's memory. Pressing the zoom rocker in the telephoto direction magnifies the image up to 6x, which isn't really enough to judge the sharpness of a 5 megapixel image. The index view can only display a maximum of six images on the screen.

The DiMAGE X60 includes a control to rotate images so vertical images can be properly oriented on the camera’s display. The orientation change is saved in the image file, so that it will display correctly the next time the camera is turned on. Pressing the Display button toggles between displaying information such as the date, time, file name, quality, and hiding all the aforementioned information.

The DiMAGE X60 offers a fairly basic slide show function that scrolls through the images stored in the camera’s memory. Users can control whether images dissolve from frame to frame or not; otherwise there are no other slide show options.

The camera provides two copy functions in the Playback mode that allow the user to zoom in on a image and save a new copy as well as copy a low resolution version of an image for sending via email. There is also an option to take a saved image and paste in a portion of a new image, cropped in one of nine preset shapes that include such options as a rectangle, thought bubble, and heart. These are fairly unique options that will provide users with a bit more in-camera flexibility once the shot has been recorded and free them from constant PC reliance.

Aside from crop and save functions, there are no editing features on the DiMAGE X60. To do any sort of basic editing of images a computer is required; however, Konica Minolta has included its useful Master Lite editing software (see Software section). Users also have the option of adding audio captions to images in the playback mode.

Custom Image Presets*(4.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 offers 7 preset shooting modes, four of which the camera can automatically select based upon shooting conditions. When the mode switch is set to Digital Subject Program they can be selected via the navigation buttons. The seven modes are: Portrait (zooms to telephoto to minimize depth of field and warms skin tones); Sports action (uses faster shutter speeds); Landscape (increases color saturation); Sunset (saturates red hues); Night portrait (uses longer shutter speeds); Text (boosts contrast to bring out black text); and Super Macro (fixes the lens at the 35mm equivalent focal length of 72mm and focuses as close as 2 inches).

The 7 preset offerings are a bit skimpy for an automatically-oriented imager. Some cameras currently exceed 30 options, which may be overkill, but the options are there for users to select from. With limited manual controls and fewer automatic options, the X60’s users are encouraged to just point-and-shoot. 

Control Options

 

**Manual Controls **

The DiMAGE X60 has no manual controls. The only things the user can determine are which of the four preset white balance modes is in use, exposure compensation, and ISO.

**Focus
***Auto Focus (6.5)
*Two auto focusing modes are available on the DiMAGE X60: spot and wide. Wide auto focus uses five points, which are not displayed, to automatically determine the plane of focus. The spot setting will focus on the center of the composition. Unfortunately the camera does not allow the spot point to be shifted and users must position their subject in the center of the frame. The auto focus emits a choice of two noises when it focuses, indicating focus is achieved, but they are fortunately not loud enough to become an annoyance.

The DiMAGE X60 uses TTL contrast-type auto focus to focus as close as 4 inches from the lens in wide shooting, 20 inches in telephoto shooting, and 2 inches in macro shooting. When the camera is unable to focus, a red circle blinks in the lower right-hand corner of the screen. When the camera locks focus on the subject, the circle changes to white. The DiMAGE X60 is able to focus quickly enough when the user focuses by partly depressing the shutter release, but when the focus is left to its own devices it takes much longer and sometimes finds itself unable to focus at all. There is no autofocus assist light, which is sorely needed. In low light the X60 badly floundered and was unable to find anything to lock onto.

*Manual Focus (0.0)
*There is no manual focus available on the DiMAGE X60.

Metering*(6.5)
*The DiMAGE X60’s through-the-lens metering system offers two choices: Multi Segment and Spot. The spot metering mode takes measurements from inside a white circle that is displayed in the center of the frame. There is no way of moving the circle around the frame, so users must center their subject. The DiMAGE X60’s multi-segment metering measures the center and surrounding areas of the composition in 256 places to determine an average overall exposure, resembling matrix metering systems. The multi-segment mode works well under most bright or evenly-lit conditions; however, it does not fare well with backlighting or extreme contrast.

Exposure*(6.5)
*While the X60 does not offer a selection of exposure modes or manual control over shutter speed or aperture, users can still brighten or darken the exposure using the camera’s exposure compensation function. EV levels can be manually altered by the user in a +/- 2 range in 1/3-stop steps. When adjusting the compensation, a live view is available, so users can immediately see the effects on the exposure.

**White Balance ***(5.0)
*In addition to auto white balance, the DiMAGE X60 offers four preset white balance modes, which are indicated by icons and words: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, and "Fluoresnt," which appears to have been spelled phonetically so that it could squeeze into the menu. Unfortunately there are no other options, which may leave users with shifted color tones under more extreme lighting conditions. As users scroll through the menu, a live view is provided so users can preview the effect of white balance selections. There is no fully customizable white balance mode, which may prevent users from achieving proper white balance under mixed lighting.

ISO*(5.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 offers the standard point-and-shoot manual ISO range of 50-400. However, when auto ISO is used, the camera selects ISO from a truncated and very limited 50-160 ISO range. Users shooting in subdued or low light will need to manually select a higher ISO or endure underexposed images. ISO cannot be changed in movie mode or any of the preset settings. For an elaboration on the X60’s ISO vs. noise performance, see the testing sections of the review.

Shutter Speed*(0.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 offers a shutter speed range of 4 seconds to 1/1000 of a second. The user cannot manually adjustment shutter speed. There are two shutter sound effects that can be selected: one that sounds like a muffled fake camera shutter, and the other that sound like a strange electronic noise that would be more suitable on a spaceship. The camera does not display shutter speed information or record it with images. When shooting with the nine-on-one frame shooting option, the camera locks the shutter speed at 1/15 of a second, and when shooting in the Sport preset shooting mode the camera utilizes fast shutter speeds.

Aperture*(0.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 offers an aperture that opens up to f/3.3 in wide shooting, closing to f/4.0 in telephoto shooting. There are no controls over aperture, nor does the camera record or store any information about the aperture setting in captured images. When using the Portrait preset, the camera will attempt to open up the lens to reduce the depth of field.

Image Parameters

Picture Quality / Size Options*(6.0)
*The DiMAGE X60 stores all still images in JPEG format. There are three image quality settings, which apply different amounts of compression, and four available resolutions. The picture quality and size is set in Submenu 1 of the menu in either still image capture or one of the preset shooting modes. The following image sizes are available in Fine, Standard, and Economy compression: 2560 x 1920, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480.

Picture Effects Options*(5.5)
*The DiMAGE X60 has two color settings in addition to full color shooting: black and white and sepia tone. The color settings are applied before taking an image and are found in the color menu of submenu #3 in the still image menu. Users are locked out of the color menu when using one of the preset shooting modes. There is also an option to take 9 low-resolution images and have them put on a single frame. This feature is accessed by pressing the self-timer/burst button until 9 small squares arranged together appear on the screen.

The DiMAGE X60 also has picture effects that can be applied in playback mode, following capture. Users can copy images and add a cropped portion of another image, framed by a choice of shapes including a thought bubble, heart, and teddy bear, by using the Copy function located in Submenu 1 of the playback menu. Users can also use the Email Copy function in Submenu 2 of the playback menu to make a low-resolution copy of an image for emailing.

Connectivity / Extras

**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.

Overall Impressions

Value*(5.5)
*For its $349.99 list price Konica Minolta is providing a stylish camera with a rugged, durable design that lacks manual options and user control. At the camera’s currently lowest online price of $217, the DiMAGE X60 is a bargain for point-and-shoot users. In testing, the camera had decent resolution scores, mediocre noise test results, and downright poor color accuracy. Given this, at any price above $250, the DiMAGE X60 loses any sort of value.

The camera’s menus are simple and effective and the camera’s layout and button design are pleasing to use. The software that ships with the camera far exceeds the needs of any point-and-shoot user.

At the price Konica Minolta is asking consumers to pay for the DiMAGE X60, it would be nice if they would provide a camera that reproduces color better and does so with far less noise. The camera could benefit from a higher resolution LCD screen and better battery life, too. If these things could be accomplished while maintaining the DiMAGE X60’s styling, Konica Minolta would have a hot seller. Unfortunately they aren’t, and Konica Minolta doesn’t.

**Comparisons **
*Nikon Coolpix S2 –*The Coolpix S2 lists for $449.95, considerably more than what the DiMAGE X60 sells for. It does have a weatherproof case, but not much else. At 5.1 megapixels it has nearly the same resolution and in testing, also exhibited poor results for its price. The S2 shares the same aluminum design as the DiMAGE X60 but requires users to use its cradle to charge the battery and transfer files. The S2 has more preset shooting modes and a more complex metering system. If point-and-shooters have the money and are not turned off by the S2’s tacky design, they will be better served by the Nikon offering.

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 –* The Lumix DMC-LZ2 beats this Konica Minolta on price and doubles this DiMAGE’s zoom range with a 6x optical zoom, something that is nearly unheard of in the entry level point-and-shoot segment. The Panasonic LZ2 has a similar aluminum styling and the same resolution as the DiMAGE X60, but offers the option to use AA batteries. The Panasonic LZ2 also includes optical image stabilization, clearly surpassing the DiMAGE X60 on the spec sheet showdown.
  

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Fujifilm FinePix Z1 - The Z1 lists for $450 but can be found online for about $100 less. For this price you get a camera with similar resolution and an aluminum body, though the Z1 is certainly more stylish and more equipped to handle low light situations with a sensitivity range that extends to ISO 800. In testing the Z1 had worse color accuracy but it was much quicker to start up and shoot. The Z1 lacks the little manual control on the DiMAGE X60, but it has a quicker autofocus. The choice between the Z1 and the X60 is a tough one that comes down to price and personal stylistic preference.

*Olympus Stylus 500 -*The Stylus line is billed as "weatherproof" which Olympus says means that the camera can endure splashes and dust, but not full immersion in water. At the same suggested price as the DiMAGE X60, the Stylus manages to outshine the DiMAGE X60 with 21 shooting modes and a large 2.5-inch LCD screen that stands up to bright light and can be seen well at an angle. At 3.9 x 2.2 x 1.2 inches the Olympus is bigger than the DiMAGE X60, and big enough such that users will notice a difference in handling and storage ability. With better color accuracy and an ISO range that extends to 650 (ISO 800 at reduced resolution), some users, particularly those in the damp Pacific Northwest, may want to opt for the Olympus.

**Who It’s For **
Point-and-Shooters – The DiMAGE X60 is aimed squarely at the point-and-shoot crowd. With no manual controls and a minimalist design and interface, novice users will find the DiMAGE X60 to be an easy camera to use, albeit an unsophisticated one.

Budget Consumers – At a suggested price of $349.99, the DiMAGE X60 is bit pricey, if you’re paying list, for the minimal feature set included. The camera can be found as low as $217 online, and at that price users will get some value for their money in a slim camera that is easy to use and handle.

*Gadget Freaks - *With fairly limited sophistication and a lack of any serious gadgetry, gadget freaks should leave the DiMAGE X60 to those who just want to take a snapshot here and there.

Manual Control Freaks – The DiMAGE X60 has no real manual controls, which will certainly leave manual control freaks out in the cold.

Pros / Serious Hobbyists – The X60 is definitely not a serious photographer’s choice. With no manual controls and strictly point-and-shoot capabilities, serious hobbyists should look elsewhere.

Conclusion

**Conclusion
**The Konica Minolta DiMAGE X60 is a decent camera - if it’s found at the right price, and if all you want out of it is its ability to take snapshots. It has a rugged stylish frame, very easy to use functions, and has the perfect button layout and ergonomics to facilitate one-handed use. Unfortunately, the camera also has poor battery life and below average performance in color accuracy and noise. Its slow start-up and shot to shot speed may hinder shooting situations with lots of activity. The screen is prone to washing out and its low pixel count doesn’t help either. The camera however is perfectly sized for unburdened pocket portability. Novices looking for a simple on-the-go point-and-shoot that is easy to handle and has a great feel have found their match. Unfortunately, those more intent on performance and features will have to keep up their search.

Specs / Ratings

**Specs Table
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