Kodak DC290
Written: Nov 21 '99
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great Pictures
Cons: Boot and Process time
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| gormly's Full Review: Kodak DC290 Zoom Digital Camera |
The DC290 is the latest Kodak prosumer camera available as of today (Nov. 1999). I recently got a chance to test one out (Although I could not keep it (sniff,sniff)
It has 2.15MPP resolution and includes a 3.3MPP interpolated mode. Storage memory is 20MB Compact Flash. I had tested before a DC260 as the basis of comparison for this product. The DC290 is far more superior in terms of processing time and image quality, but it is still slow. At 1792x1200, the images produced are really stunning with spot on colors.
Kodak listened to its customers and included Uncompressed TIFF as one of the file formats, the other one being JPEG. There are 15 possible resolution/compression combinations - ultra (3.3MPP) can be saved only in JPEG, though, while the rest can be saved as 6++ MB uncompressed TIFF.
Although the DC290 has the same form factor and same DigitalOS as the DC260. It included some minor changes in its physical form - a rubberized contoured hand grip and a far better texture for the case. OS-wise, it is the same and includes some additional functions such as Remote Shutter Release (cable is optional) and it saves the last camera settings automatically (although I wish it can be switched on and off).
Digital Apps and scripting, just like the 260 and 265, give the camera a lot of flexibility. One can download free scripts and applications from digitalcamera.com and flashpoint.com. However, current available Digital Applications such as Jigsaw, slideshow and DigitalFX will not work on the DC290.
An included Digital application, FILE, is a nifty tool that allows you to manage all the files (image files as well as data files such as scripts and applications) in your CF card. It even allows you to copy files from one CF card to another.
Now for the bad side.
Boot time is a considerable <5 seconds - thanks to DigitalOS. It is understandable because it takes a full OS to initialize. However, after booting up, the photo-to-photo lag time is very little - you can take up to 5 high quality/high resolution images before waiting around 10 seconds for the camera to process all of it. The LCD refresh rate has been the DC260/265's weakness.
The 260 has 3 fps, which the 265 improved to 7fps. The DC290 has 11fps taking the awful color streaking when capturing moving object but this is at the expense of the LCD not being usable in low light conditions - something the 260 and 265s do beautifully.
If you want to use the LCD to frame your subject, be sure that you have enough light to see what you are shooting. The DC290 package comes with the DC290 software, Kodak PicturesNow, Adobe PhotoDeluxe and Adobe PageMill.
The DC290 software only works for Windows 98 due to its USB support. Windows 95B owners will not even be able to install it. However, Kodak is shipping the Serial Connectivity Kit for Win95/2000/NT owners for FREE.
Kodak PicturesNow is a printing tool. An improvement over the Picture Easy software bundled with the 260 and 265. It has a better interface but is still slow. To sum up, the DC290 is a great camera, producing the same colour accuracy that Kodak is known for.
Bottom Line:
I would recommend it to all those who asks me on what camera to buy around $1000 range.
It out Produced my PDC3000 easily.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gormly
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Member: Eric Gormly
Location: Waterbury, Ct
Reviews written: 125
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