Konica Minolta's 2004 ultrazoom — 4MP CCD, 35-420mm 12x GT lens, CCD-shift Anti-Shake, AA power
The Konica Minolta Dimage Z3 was an ultrazoom digital camera announced on 7 July 2004, the third model in the distinctive hump-backed Z series and the first Z-series camera to feature image stabilisation. It stretched the line's zoom from 10x to 12x and competed with contemporaries like the Panasonic FZ15 and Canon S1 IS.
It paired a 4.0-megapixel 1/2.5-inch CCD with a GT APO 12x zoom covering 35-420mm equivalent at f/2.8-4.5, stabilised by a CCD-shift Anti-Shake system derived from Minolta's DSLR technology. Framing used an electronic viewfinder or the 1.5-inch 78k LCD, images went to SD cards, and power came from four AA batteries. Maximum resolution was 2272x1704.
The Z3 suits users wanting long telephoto reach with sensor-shift stabilisation in an early, affordable package, and its fast switch-mirror viewfinder system made it quicker-handling than many rivals. Four-AA power is a practical plus today; the 4MP output and small coarse LCD show the camera's age for anything beyond web-sized results.
On the used market the Z3 benefits from AA power, so battery worries are minimal, but check the battery-door latch, a common stress point on Z-series bodies. Test the Anti-Shake system engages, the EVF/LCD flip mechanism works, and the long zoom tracks smoothly. SD support predates SDHC, so cards of 2GB or under are needed for testing.