What optional accessories are available for the DiMAGE A1?

I bought a card reader and use it instead of directly connecting to computer with camera. Saves battery life and cost under $30 canadian. Simple file transfer this way. At least your camera is still working! Mine is dead and Sony says no parts available.

Sounds like a CCD fault. Many A1 users, including myself, have had this. Allegedly, Sony, who made and fitted the CCD sensors, had a manufacturing "issue" at the time. Many A1s were recalled and others, including mine, have been successfully repaired free of charge by Sony on request. I suggest that you contact your vendor or a local repair shop to discover whether this service is (still?) available in your location. It's well worth the effort as this is a fine camera. Good luck.

Hope you still have the camera. If so, Sony will fix your Minolta camera for free (with free shipping) regardless of warranty. You need to do this before March 31, 2008 so get going! See this link:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?template_id=1&news_id=131#
The Dimage models that Sony is accepting for the recall repair are:
Dimage 7HI, 7I, A1, Xi, F300, XT, X20, S414.

This sounds like a defective Sony CCD issue. If so, Sony will fix your Minolta camera for free (with free shipping) regardless of warranty. You need to do this before March 31, 2008 so get going! See this link:
http://esupport.sony.com/US/perl/news-item.pl?template_id=1&news_id=131#
The Dimage models that Sony is accepting for the recall repair are:
Dimage 7HI, 7I, A1, Xi, F300, XT, X20, S414.

BP-400 is a exclusive external power battery pack for DiMAGE A1 and A2. It can be attached to the body and has portability and movability. It is very convenient for the customers who want to use AA size battery or take a long time picture. One or two exclusive lithium-ion battery NP-400 can be attached. 6 AA batteries; Ni-MH and Alkaline battery can be used. (Nickel dry battery and lithium battery cannot be used. Recording: Approx. 560 frames,continuous playback: Approx. 480 min.(2 pcs. NP-400 batteries) Recording: Approx. 290 frames,continuous playback: Approx. 270 min.(6pcs. 2100mAh Ni-MH batteries) Recording: Approx. 80 frames, continuous playback: Approx. 80 min. (6pcs. Alkaline-manganese batteries) Standard Accessory: Holding Strap HS-2 Optional Accessories: Dedicated lithium-ion battery (NP-400), battery charger (BC-400) INPUT: AC100-240V/50-60Hz, OUTPUT: DC8.4V 700mA

The firmware for telephoto-converter/ wide-converter is included in the attached CD-ROM. Please update it if you have DiMAGE series 7i to A1. Please confirm the firmware version and update it if you have DiMAGE A2 and its version is 1.10. * Tele Converter ACT-100 and Wide Converter ACW-100 will be available at the end of March, 2004.

Yes, it is possible to control the camera from PC with "DiMAGE Capture".(sold separately)

This is the external battery pack for DiMAGE 7, 7i,7Hi, 5, S414, S404 and S304. This is the type of external battery pack to connect the camera and the battery part with cord. Taking a picture while keeping the battery part only warm in a cold place. As there is a belt loop at the part of battery, it does not bother to capture images. Battery:Two lithium batteries NP-100 Battery performance: Approx. 580 frames(recording), Approx. 580 min(playback) Accessories: Battery Charger BC-100, Lithium ion battery NP-100(2pcs), Battery holder BH-100 Optional: Battery Charger BC100 is sold separately. BC-100 specifications: INPUT: AC100-240V/50-60Hz, OUTPUT: DC8.4V1.1A

Yes. The following Minolta dedicated external flash units are compatible with the DiMAGE A1 for automatic flash control: Program Flash 3600HS(D), Program Flash 5600HS(D), *Program Flash 2500(D), Macro Twin Flash 2400*, Macro Ring Flash 1200*. * Program Flash 2500(D) will be available around August, 2003. *Macro Flash Controller is necessary

The DiMAGE A1 employs three metering modes; ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering, Preflash-TTL metering and Manual. The ADI flash metering mode combines distance information from the autofocusing system with information from a pre-flash exposure. On the other hand, in Preflash -TTL metering mode, the exposure is calculated with a pre-flash only. Flash emission control is manually selectable in three levels from 1/1, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16. Pre-flash TTL metering must be used when a diffuser is attached to an external flash or a filter to the lens. Attachment of those accessories may cause error in distance information necessary for ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) metering due to reduced entering light. While manual output control is active, pre-flash will not burst.