Konica Minolta DiMAGE X1

CONDITION: 8.0/10

THE CAMERA IS IN EXCELLENT COSMETIC CONDITION WITH MINIMAL SIGNS OF USE. THE WINE RED GLOSSY METAL BODY IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH SLIGHT SCRATCHING ON THE DOOR AND TINY DISCOLORATION ON THE GLASS BACK SIDE NEXT TO THE UPPER LEFT SCREW. THE 2.5-INCH LCD SCREEN IS IN VERY GOOD CONDITION WITH ONE OR TWO VERY SURFACE LEVEL SCRATCHES. THE PERISCOPE LENS IS PERFECT AND CLEAN WITH THE METAL COVER WORKING PROPERLY. ALL FUNCTIONS WORK PERFECTLY INCLUDING SHOOTING, ZOOM, ANTI-SHAKE, AND ALL BUTTONS. INCLUDES MULTIFUNCTION CHARGING/TRANSFER STAND, BATTERY, AND AV CABLE. A GREAT WORKING EXAMPLE OF THIS INNOVATIVE ULTRACOMPACT.

Konica Minolta's DiMAGE X1 arrived in mid-2005 as what the company called "the ultimate digital camera for image quality, function, design, and size"—ambitious words for an ultracompact that packed 8 megapixels into a body just 19.5mm thick. Building on the innovative periscope lens design that made the original DiMAGE X so remarkably slim back in 2002, the X1 added Konica Minolta's newly miniaturized Anti-Shake system to the mix. Today, its characteristic soft, slightly grainy output makes it a strong pick for anyone chasing that authentic vintage digicam aesthetic.

THE PICS

THE LOOKS

In brown (described as "wine red" with a glossy mirror finish), the X1 has that distinctive early-2000s futuristic aesthetic with its rounded capsule-like all-metal body and smooth edges that fit naturally in your palm. At just 95 × 68 × 19.5mm and weighing only 135 grams, it genuinely disappears into a shirt pocket, while the 2.5-inch LCD dominates the flat rear panel behind a protective screen cover. The periscope lens sits behind a metal cover that keeps everything flush when powered down.

THE SPECS

The X1 uses an 8-megapixel 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor paired with Konica Minolta's CxProcess III image processor. The innovative "non-protruding" 3× optical zoom lens covers 37-111mm equivalent with a compact f/3.5-3.8 aperture range and focuses down to 5cm in super-macro mode. The newly developed Anti-Shake system provides up to 3 EV stops of stabilization, while the 2.5-inch LCD with 118,000 pixels handles all composition and playback.

DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS

• Periscope lens design: The 3× zoom lens mounted vertically inside the body with a 90-degree reflecting prism meant the camera stayed incredibly thin at 19.5mm—thinner than the original DiMAGE X that pioneered the design.
• First X-series with Anti-Shake: A newly miniaturized stabilization system specifically designed for the folded optics allowed handheld shooting at shutter speeds as slow as 1/6th of a second at wide-angle.
• Multifunction cradle included: The X1 was the first Konica Minolta compact to include a docking cradle for TV playback, PC downloads, direct printing via PictBridge, and simultaneous battery charging.

THE VERDICT

The DiMAGE X1 is a stylish ultracompact from Konica Minolta's innovative X-series lineup. Its combination of genuinely slim design, 8-megapixel resolution, and built-in stabilization made it a distinctive option for photographers who valued both aesthetics and portability, even if image quality didn't quite match the impressive specs on paper.