Konica Minolta's 2003 ultrazoom — 3.2MP CCD, fast 38-380mm f/2.8-3.5 10x zoom, AA power
The Dimage Z1 was announced on 7 August 2003, the first of the Z-series ultrazooms, arriving just as Minolta merged with Konica; it was branded Minolta DiMAGE Z1 and is listed by sellers under both Minolta and Konica Minolta names. Its unusual angular body with a raised viewfinder hump made the Z series instantly recognisable.
It matched a 3.2-megapixel 1/2.7-inch CCD to a fast 10x zoom covering 38-380mm equivalent at f/2.8-3.5, producing images up to 2048x1536. A switch-mirror system routed the single display to either the eye-level finder or rear LCD. It recorded VGA movies at 30fps, stored to SD cards, ran on four AA batteries and weighed about 305g, with notably quick autofocus and a 0.06s shutter lag claim for its day.
The Z1 appeals to collectors of early-2000s ultrazooms and budget shooters wanting big reach with cheap AA power. There is no image stabilisation, unlike the later Z3, so the 380mm end demands good light or a support; the 3MP files are modest but the bright f/2.8-3.5 lens was strong for the class.
Used checks: the plastic battery-door latch is the known weak point on early Z bodies, so confirm it still locks. Test the mirror-switch between EVF and LCD, zoom motor smoothness across the range, and AA contacts for corrosion. SD support is limited to non-SDHC cards of 2GB or under. Many examples surface from lofts untested, so insist on power-on proof.