Minolta combined an existing SLR with a three way splitter and three separate CCD image sensors, giving 0.41 megapixels (MP) of resolution.

The RD-175 was also notable as the first consumer digital camera to be used in a professional stop motion production, being used to create the full-motion claymation adventure video game The Neverhood.

The light bundled on the smaller sensor area increased the effective sensitivity (ISO) by 2+2⁄3 stops.

Since state of the art single-CCD resolution at the time was insufficient for Minolta, the light was split and sent to three separate 4.8 × 6.4 mm sized 768 × 494 pixel (3 × 0.3 MP) image sensors, two used for green and one for the red and blue color,[3] reducing the sensitivity increase to about 2 stops.

The output of the three sensors were combined digitally when imported to a computer and interpolated to the final size of 1.8 MP (1528×1146 pixels).