jadison
03-01-2002, 6:27 AM
Its battery life may be long, but using this camera is a pain.
http://neotech.8m.net/images/kodakdx3700.jpg
WHAT'S HOT: Aimed squarely at consumers, the Kodak DX3700 is easily the least expensive 3-plus-megapixel digital camera you can buy. Learning to use it takes very little time, mainly because of the dearth of controls. You adjust all settings via the color LCD display; there are few buttons and dials. A simple in-camera function lets you display slide shows on a television via its video-out port--no computer necessary.
Using one standard nonrechargeable CRV-3 battery, the DX3700 lasted for 2.5 hours, or 429 shots--the best showing of any camera in recent memory.
WHAT'S NOT: The DX3700 fared poorly in our digital camera image quality tests. The camera takes relatively good outdoor shots, with nicely balanced exposure and adequate detail, but indoor shots of our test mannequin were far from pleasing. Without the flash, the mannequin looked chalky and grainy; with the flash, the image looked so dark that we couldn't tell that the flash had gone off. A cropped, magnified 8-by-10-inch print looked very fuzzy, despite the camera's relatively high pixel count.
This camera is torturously slow. Hit the power button, and about 10 seconds pass before you can take a shot. During image playback, moving from one picture to the next takes several seconds. While you're shooting, the LCD display blacks out when you press halfway down on the shutter to autofocus; the image reappears after a couple of seconds. After you actually take a shot, you have to wait up to 20 seconds before you can take another (you can chop that delay in half by turning off the image review option). Most other operations--such as taking a couple shots in succession, deleting an image, or accessing settings--make the camera behave arthritically.
The DX3700 lacks a zoom lens, a movie mode, and many settings available even on many other low-priced cameras. You can't choose settings while in shooting or playback mode: You must switch to the settings mode to adjust the quality setting or the interval of the slide show--or you must use macro mode. The camera has no power-management settings, though the LCD display will shut down after about a minute. The display is dim, very grainy, and suffers from a poor angle of view--you must hold the camera just right to get an accurate view of a just-taken picture.
WHAT ELSE: Like most Kodak digitals, the DX3700 works with an optional docking station; the dock and an optional rechargeable battery cost $100 (a nonrechargeable CRV-3 battery comes as standard equipment with the DX3700). Place the camera in the dock and press a single button to upload images to your computer via its USB connection; the dock also recharges the optional battery. You cannot recharge the battery without the dock, however, so if you take the camera on trips, you must truck along the dock as well. If you don't want to spring for replacement CRV-3 batteries or for the dock and rechargeable, you can use two AA batteries, including NiMH rechargeables. The camera feels lightweight and not very substantial, though it's easy to shoot with one hand.
Nine images will fit in the camera's 8MB of internal memory at its best-images setting; the unit has a MultiMediaCard slot as well, though you'll have to furnish your own card.
UPSHOT:
The high pixel-to-price ratio will prompt many prospective buyers to consider this camera, but our advice is to steer clear. For the same price, you can find a 2-megapixel model (notably, the Toshiba PDR-M25) that takes better photos and operates more efficiently.
OVERVIEW:
3.3 megapixels, 2160 by 1440 maximum resolution, 37mm focal length (35mm equivalent), f3.3 to f5.6 aperture range, shutter speeds from 1/8 seconds to 1/2000 seconds, optical and LCD viewfinders, USB and video connections, 8MB internal media, one CRV-3 battery, 8.7 ounces with battery; Kodak picture software, QuickTime viewer. One-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 11 hours on weekdays.
Price:
$279
Purchasing Info
http://www.kodak.com/
800/235-6325
*Courtesy of PCWorld HERE* (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,85167,tk,prx,00.asp)
http://neotech.8m.net/images/kodakdx3700.jpg
WHAT'S HOT: Aimed squarely at consumers, the Kodak DX3700 is easily the least expensive 3-plus-megapixel digital camera you can buy. Learning to use it takes very little time, mainly because of the dearth of controls. You adjust all settings via the color LCD display; there are few buttons and dials. A simple in-camera function lets you display slide shows on a television via its video-out port--no computer necessary.
Using one standard nonrechargeable CRV-3 battery, the DX3700 lasted for 2.5 hours, or 429 shots--the best showing of any camera in recent memory.
WHAT'S NOT: The DX3700 fared poorly in our digital camera image quality tests. The camera takes relatively good outdoor shots, with nicely balanced exposure and adequate detail, but indoor shots of our test mannequin were far from pleasing. Without the flash, the mannequin looked chalky and grainy; with the flash, the image looked so dark that we couldn't tell that the flash had gone off. A cropped, magnified 8-by-10-inch print looked very fuzzy, despite the camera's relatively high pixel count.
This camera is torturously slow. Hit the power button, and about 10 seconds pass before you can take a shot. During image playback, moving from one picture to the next takes several seconds. While you're shooting, the LCD display blacks out when you press halfway down on the shutter to autofocus; the image reappears after a couple of seconds. After you actually take a shot, you have to wait up to 20 seconds before you can take another (you can chop that delay in half by turning off the image review option). Most other operations--such as taking a couple shots in succession, deleting an image, or accessing settings--make the camera behave arthritically.
The DX3700 lacks a zoom lens, a movie mode, and many settings available even on many other low-priced cameras. You can't choose settings while in shooting or playback mode: You must switch to the settings mode to adjust the quality setting or the interval of the slide show--or you must use macro mode. The camera has no power-management settings, though the LCD display will shut down after about a minute. The display is dim, very grainy, and suffers from a poor angle of view--you must hold the camera just right to get an accurate view of a just-taken picture.
WHAT ELSE: Like most Kodak digitals, the DX3700 works with an optional docking station; the dock and an optional rechargeable battery cost $100 (a nonrechargeable CRV-3 battery comes as standard equipment with the DX3700). Place the camera in the dock and press a single button to upload images to your computer via its USB connection; the dock also recharges the optional battery. You cannot recharge the battery without the dock, however, so if you take the camera on trips, you must truck along the dock as well. If you don't want to spring for replacement CRV-3 batteries or for the dock and rechargeable, you can use two AA batteries, including NiMH rechargeables. The camera feels lightweight and not very substantial, though it's easy to shoot with one hand.
Nine images will fit in the camera's 8MB of internal memory at its best-images setting; the unit has a MultiMediaCard slot as well, though you'll have to furnish your own card.
UPSHOT:
The high pixel-to-price ratio will prompt many prospective buyers to consider this camera, but our advice is to steer clear. For the same price, you can find a 2-megapixel model (notably, the Toshiba PDR-M25) that takes better photos and operates more efficiently.
OVERVIEW:
3.3 megapixels, 2160 by 1440 maximum resolution, 37mm focal length (35mm equivalent), f3.3 to f5.6 aperture range, shutter speeds from 1/8 seconds to 1/2000 seconds, optical and LCD viewfinders, USB and video connections, 8MB internal media, one CRV-3 battery, 8.7 ounces with battery; Kodak picture software, QuickTime viewer. One-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 11 hours on weekdays.
Price:
$279
Purchasing Info
http://www.kodak.com/
800/235-6325
*Courtesy of PCWorld HERE* (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,85167,tk,prx,00.asp)