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(More customer reviews)Quick background on my purchase/purchase decision process:My price range was around $299, give or take $30 plus tax.
I am going to EU soon, so I wanted the flexibility of being able to use disposable batteries, so that ruled out several brands. Both the Sony & Kodak cameras in this review can take Lithium, NICAD, Nimh, or the disposable "digital alkaline AA" style hybrid batteries that have been coming out.Both cameras were within my budget. I also should mention until doing some heavy research I would have never considered Kodak as an option. Sony or Canon were the sure finalists in my mind. Then I read several reviews on the 6000 series Kodak cameras, decided to see what the deal was with Kodak and was amazed at the quality I saw.
So I had my final two contenders: Sony Cybershot P72 and the Kodak 6340. I know this is a 6440 review so please read on.After comparing the pros and cons of both cameras for over a week, and not being able to make a decision based on the pros and cons list I had compiled, I decided to drive down the the store and look at each one on final time. AFter a few hours, I finally decided on the Kodak. Here is the key factor why. The main difference in taking pictures with both units was that most of the Sony picture modes and cool ISO tricks were all software driven. That meant if I wanted to snap a picture quickly, it couldn't be done as easily with the Sony unlerss I left everything on auto, and as good as auto is, sometimes it isn't good enough. I had to dig into the Cybershot menus, set up for the shot by selecting several submenus and then take the picture, hoping that what ever I wanted to take the picture of was still there. With the Kodak, 90% of all the mode settings (night, portrait, landscape, action, manual ISO override) were all on the outside wheel. The flip of the mechanical wheel on the outside and I was ready to snap pictures be it night or day (or twilight).So there. All things considered, that was the deciding factor for me. I want to take a picture nearly as fast as I can think "Damn, I wish I had a camera right now", and the Kodak lets me do that.
Once I decided on the 6340, I actually upgraded to the 6440 for two reasons. One, I was going to buy the Kodak dock for my 6340 which was going another $80, bringing my total to $380. I thought, "Why not just buy the 6440, it comes with 1) a dock 2) a rechargeable battery 3)it is 4 mega pixels instead of 3 on the 6340.So that's what I did. I went the way of the 6440 and have been super impressed.Hope that helps out some.Other mentionable features while doing drive by shootings (with a camera, not a gun):Pictures file names are different depending on what mode your in. For example, regular pics are labeled 100_01 while pictures taken in picture quick bursts (like 3 in a row) are named 100B_01. So you can tell just by looking at the file names if the file is a regular picture or a a burst of pictures. Very handy when all your pics start to fillup your computer.Kodak uses SD cards. This is handy cause they are not proprietary Sony mem sticks. I also have a Pocket PC with an SD slot, so if I forget my cameras USB cable, I can put my SD card in my Pocket PC and move them to my desktop that way as well.Get the family into the living room, not the computer room.
The video out slide show lets me not only look at my pictures on a TV, but I can watch the videos I took with the camera as well. Very cool. Oh, as a side note, video format is Quicktime, which I prefer instead of low quality avi files.Menu system seemed to simplistic at first, and it is. It's easy. However, it is way customizable then I first thought. That means I can keep it simple or get complicated if i have the time.I can send pics I take to specific folders on the SD card instead of having everything in one folder. I can also import my email address book into the camera, letting me tag pictures to send via email when i get home and connect it to the dock.Outside screen is the best I have seen for this price range. Ask anyone, they will tell you the same.Flash quality is very respectable.
Negatives? Of course there always a bad side, but it's not to bad. It would be nice (in order to save battery power) if the lens would not engage or turn on when you just want to review pictures instead of take them. The Sony does this, and I bet in the future Kodak does as well. Battery? If you use the realtime view, flash etc., the battery life isn't great. a few weeks of poking around will yeild the best practices to get the most life from usage. Again, disposables can be used with this camera, so getting caught without a charger doesn't mean you have to stop taking pictures.Also, switching between modes takes a few seconds, which seems like eternity when I want to take a picture.
Hope this helps.
Kevin
Amazon since 98
Click Here to see more reviews about: Kodak EasyShare DX6440 4MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom and Dock
Product Description:
Take the compact Kodak EasyShare DX6440 with you wherever you roam and snap beautiful, high-resolution 4-megapixel images. The DX6440 also features professional-quality optics, a 4x optical zoom, and continuous video with sound. And with the included Kodak Easyshare Camera Dock 6000, recharging your camera and transferring photos is done with the touch of a button.
Optics and Resolution
The DX6490 features a 4-megapixel resolution for 2304 x 1728 pixel images for photo-quality 11 x 14 enlargements. Other resolution modes include 1656 x 1242, 1200 x 900, and 640 x 480. It also offers a Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 4x optical zoom and 3.8x advanced digital zoom for a 15x total zoom.
The DX6440 introduces the new Kodak Color Science Image Processing Chip, which instantly analyzes your image each time you press the shutter. The result is sharp, consistent, lifelike colors that jump off the page.
Movie Mode
In addition to capturing still images, the EasyShare DX6440 can also shoot 320 x 240 pixel video with sound at 15 frames per second. Your video length is limited only by the size of your memory card. Note that the optical zoom cannot be used while shooting video.
More Features
Review your photos using the 1.8-inch high-resolution indoor/outdoor LCD screen on the back of the DX6440, which enables you to see your images even in direct sunlight.
The Share button on the back of the EasyShare DX6440 enables you to tag pictures right on the camera for automatic printing or e-mailing, after transferring to your PC. You can even store up to 32 e-mail addresses in the camera.
Built-in flash with auto, fill, red-eye reduction, and off modes.
White balance modes: auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent
High-speed, low-light autofocus with selectable modes (multi-zone, center-zone)
Scene modes: automatic, sport, portrait, night, landscape, close-up, program (aperture priority, shutter priority)
Shutter speed: 4 seconds to 1/2200 second
10-second self timer
The Kodak EasyShare Dock 6000 includes a USB port for fast and easy transfer of pictures from camera to computer, and offers a two-position tilt feature for improved viewing of images from the camera's LCD. It also comes with a rechargeable battery pack, and the Kodak DX6440 can be stored in the dock any time so that it will always be charged and ready to go.
Optional: Kodak Easyshare Printer Dock 6000
In addition to the transfer and battery charge features of the Dock 6000, the Printer Dock 6000 adds the ability to print 4-by-6-inch photos directly from your camera. You can also hook it up to your TV for a slide-show presentation.
Storage and Transfer
Images can be stored using the internal 16 MB memory or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. The internal 16 MB memory will store approximately 10 images at the DX6440's highest setting (2304 x 1728), or 18 2-megapixel images. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via ultrafast USB 2.0, which means it can be connected to any USB-compatible Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software. When used with USB 1.1 connection, transfer will slow to USB 1.1 rate.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by a CRV3 lithium battery (included) or 2 AA batteries (either alkaline or rechargeable). Rechargeable NiMH batteries are recommended for digital cameras, and the optional camera dock 6000 includes a NiMH battery pack. It measures 4.3 by 2.5 by 1.5 inches and weighs 7.8 ounces (excluding batteries and media).
What's In The Box
This package includes the Kodak EasyShare DX6440 digital camera, Kodak EasyShare Camera Dock 6000, CRV3 lithium battery, USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and custom camera insert for Kodak EasyShare 6000 series camera and printer docks. The included CD-ROM features Kodak EasyShare software CD with interactive software tutorial and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
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