Minolta DiMAGE A1 5.0 Megapixel

The A1 looks, feels and performs like a "real" camera. Right down to the full manual controls (which is why I got it). The unique anti-shake extends your slow speed handheld shots. And where else are you going to find a 5MP non-pro digicam with a shutter speed of 1/16000? Enough to stop humming bird wings. Noise is a problem at 800ISO too much even to cover up in post. Otherwise great shots and a lot of latitude in processing in RAW mode.
The only two accessories I've gotten are the remote and the 3600HS flash.
Anyway, my A1 has given me no trouble in 2 years, though for some reason, I feel I'm "on borrowed time" like the Mars rovers since KM abandoned the A1 less than 2 years after intro. Only 1 firmware upgrade and that's it.(One of my main beefs with digicams and the reason it only got a 4.)The A1 is the last in the Minolta series that started with the DiMage 5.
In 2007,a class action suit had KM making up for a faulty imager in the A1 and other models that shared it. They were required to fix the thing until March 2008.
If you get one now, be prepaired to have it pass in an untimely and painful way.
Some warm-up time will be the first sign.
That said, though, it was a killer cam for it's time. BTW, a good replacement would be the Canon S3 IS

Well I bought a used Minolta Dimage A1, and when I recieved it I turned it on and started taking pictures immediately. It took very sharp pics. and for a novice with this camera, it was very easy to figure out without even going through the book.But I must admit this is probably because I already own a couple of Sony digital cameras, and am familiar with their workings, and could apply that knowledge to the Dimage.But by my reading sooo... much aboutthe camera I had to try it for myself.I was sooo.... impressed after the first day, that I bought another one on ebay, just for a back up...lol, anyway it is a great camera,and originally priced around $900.00.....now it's a steal to buy and own.It would have been nice if the seller,whom I gave positive feedback to would have at least left positive feedback for me, especially after I wrote him a e-mail, and brought it to his attention, and he still didn't leave feedback....go figure.