1 camera kodak260
The camera met all my expectations. I am performing a good job with the device.
2 not so good
i has read a review of someone talking about "the great" software interface...
yes, i think its great when do you dont use the letter that the software assign to the camera!!! i was instaled the cam, and later, plug a new HD and installed programs there... then, is very hard to uninstall/reinstall all programs cause a new HD letter assignament, then... i try to move the camera letter...
I CANT!! and kodak, have a solution... MOVE YOUR HD LETTER.
im now reinstalling programs like "websphere studio", "MS VC++ 6" and other heavy disk load :(
3 Superb camera with some shortcomings
I have had my DC for over 2 years, it has travelled over 50,000 miles with me all over and I love it. Never once had a problem with it. The camera was "state-of-the-art" in 2000 when I bought it but has been replaced by better ones now.
The Good
Solid construction, reliable
Excellent Image quality !!!!!!
Superbly configurable
Programmable via scripts(write your own scripts)
Decent Zoom and LCD
Fantastic low light photography when you shoot manual and especially indoors within a limited line of sight
All kinds of connections to TV,InfraRed etc
All cables included
SUPER VALUE!
The Not so Good
Bulky!
Battery Bandwidth (throw away alkaline batteries, they last 4-5 pics with LCD on, get a solid NiMH rechargable batt)
LONG WAIT between shots (5-6 second delay)
Overall, a super product, got my money's worth a long time ago. If you find one cheap, go for it. Trust me, unless you are a PRO or techie, a multi meg pixel camera wont make a difference!
4 Kodak 260
The Kodak 260 is a good camera. It has a zoom feature to include exclude things you do not want in a picture. It also gives you the choice of selecting the picture quality based on how you are going to use the pictures (i.e. on screen, 5x7's, 8x10's, etc.) This allows you to increase/decrease the number of pictures you can take before being required to upload or change memory modules. All the selections can be made on the camera using the onscreen display. The camera has a lot of functions and can also transfer picture using the infra-red connector. It comes with software and cables to connect to your computer in the case that you don't have an infra-red port. Overall I would rate this camera 4 of 5 stars.
5 WOW!
This camera replaces my Sony MVC-FD88 digital camera. There is no comparison. The DC290 takes true photographic qualitiy pictures. I tried the camera in a variety of difficult lighting situations. It took perfect pictures every time! The software interface is great. It makes the camera look like another drive letter in your computer. When the camera is plugged into the computer (USB port), the drive letter appears in windows explorer. You can then simply navigate and use the standard cut and paste tools to move the files. I am extremely impressed with the qualitiy of the pictures, ease of use, and clear instruction manuals. The camera does eat the batteries. It comes with a set of disposable (so you can use the new camera while the others are charging) and rechargeable with charger. I purchased a second set of rechargeable batteries. I simply charge one set while the other is in use.
6 Versatile and handy--an excellent camera
This camera is the best digital camera that I could find on the market when I bought it last June. The quality of pictures in the best mode is astonishing. In fact, even in the lowest mode, the quality is great. The rechargeable batteries that it comes with aren't great, but if you don't spend too long looking at the LCD display, you'll be fine.
The best thing about this is that you won't be disappointed with the picture quality. I got it to take pictures of my new baby, and they're better than the ones I've taken with my 35mm.
7 Things you don't know until you buy and try.
My wife gave me this camera as a birthday gift. I went through two full sets of batteries before I got half way through the instruction manual. What an energy hog! While the camera was fairly easy to learn to operate the software that came with it was HORRIBLE. I'm an experienced computer professional and this was some of the worst software I'd ever seen. I was ready to throw the camera against the wall. Even the 'free' photo image software that came with the Kodak camera software was FOUR VERSIONS past the current version. The camera is now safely back where my wife bought it and the credit card is waiting for our next choice. Not sure what to buy but the Kodak 260 isn't it.
8 Excellent image quality, ease of use
I am an architect and have been using the camera for taking construction progress photos since it first came out. I have found that the battery life is best when I use NiMH rechargable batteries. I carry an extra set at all times. Using the highest quality image setting and a 30 MB flashcard, I can get about 45 shots. I use flash quite a bit for interior shots, and this of course reduces battery life just a bit. I don't quite trust the wimpy little wrist strap, so usually I use a camera bag or my pocket (One of the reasons I bought it was the compact size, compared to other digitals in the price range). I also purchased several auxiliary lenses - a super wide angle and a couple of close-up lenses - from Kodak, and find them quite useful. For my work, being able to date stamp is essential, although I suppose all digitals probably allow date/time stamping. My major criticism is the lack of recovery time after taking a shot. The longer the batteries have been in use, the longer the wait.
9 Great color pics, but don't use the LCD screen too much!
Great picture quality and color balance. Easy to use, but slow between shots. It does eat batteries when the LCD screen is on, but using it only when you need it and getting N-Mh batteries (two sets) cures this problem easily.
10 With this digital camera I gave up my film cameras!
I have had my DC260 for about 9 months now and I have been very pleased with the results. The pictures are every bit as good as a good point and shoot...without the film expense!
I print a lot of 4x6 prints from the camera on my HP Photosmart printer and you cannot tell them from a good 35mm print. Well actually you can....the prints from my DC260 and printer are better!
I bought Ni-MH batteries and charger and they are a MUST. I don't have problems with the batteries draining too fast with the N-MH. Another must have is a USB ScanDisk compact flash card reader. It's lighting fast and saves camera batteries since you just pop the card from the camera and then download to your PC. You need the fast download you get from the USB because you will take a LOT more pictures with a digital camera. There is one last MUST have and that's MSPicture-it2000. I have just about all the photo programs...but the only one I loaded on my new computer was Picture-it.
The only negative to the camera is that it takes a little long to process mulitple pictures...this camera is not for quick action shots!
I have been VERY happy with my digital camera and my "digital darkroom" setup.
11 Excellent pictures but battery life absolutely poor
I have been using the DC260 for almost a year and the pictures are 100% fabulous! no complaints there... But the AA battery life is terrible (good for maybe 10 shots) and the delay in pressing the actuator to taking a picture is rather long... As with all digital cameras the USB and serial connections are slow... But if you can (and your PC has FIR), try the built in infra red connection... it will more than double image transfer speed!
12 Awesome toy
I take mine scuba diving, and one of the things I love about it is using the "Instant Fix" button in Adobe PhotoDeluxe to bring up all the "hidden" colours (everything appears blue or green underwater). But the one thing I hate is the delay between pressing the button, and taking the picture. It can be very hard to stay still for that long when there's a swell! I use NiMH rechargable batteries, and they last for 2-3 dives/day if I don't use the LCD screen.
13 Great Pictures BUT Poor Battery Life...
I've had this camera for 8 months and I'm on my THIRD one from Kodak. Each has the same problem, it eats batteries like crazy. You CANNOT use conventional alkaline batteries - not even KODAK brand PhotoLife batteries - they last less than a dozen or so shots! And it freezes up on occassion and the only way to reset it is to open the battery compartment and release the batteries then reset it by closing the battery compartment. Three cameras and all have the same problem - not good! Not exactly the best design either - clumsy to hold and awkward to use - not much thought went into the design of this particular model while other Kodak models seem better designed... not smart for the "top of the line!"
No wonder Kodak discontinued this model. Now if they will only take it back and give me one that works! (in defense of this model - it does take great shots and while the download via USB is sluggish at best, the outcome is the best I've seen in any digital.
14 Can't beat the price, image quality and connectivity
After 15 years freelancing with a 35mm system, this is the first digital to balance price, image quality and ease of use in moving files. First started using it parallel with film to support an industrial client's web pages. Now client appreciates my ability to remotely file same-day images of emergency operations.
It's obvious I wish this camera had more lens options, but it's doing the job at a fraction of the cost of comparable professional digitals.
15 Lots of drawbacks
Yes, it takes great pictures, but there are several things I'd change about it. First, don't trust the wrist strap to hold the camera. My broke in a matter of days and the camera plummeted to the ground. It's extremely flimsy for and $800 camera. Second, there is a one-second delay between the time you push the shutter button and the time the camera takes the picture. This is extremely annoying for users of traditional cameras that respond the instant you activate the shutter. It makes candid shots nearly impossible. Third, the camera is ridiculously clumsy to hold. It's not built to fit the human hand at all. The user's thumb naturally lands on the LCD screen, which is very difficult to clean after ; the camera fall over too easily when standing on its base; it's very easy to drop. Fourth, the LCD screen is hyped as a great feature: well, what Kodak fails to tell you is that using the LCD screen while the camera's running on batteries causes the batteries to overheat and freeze the camera until the batteries return to normal temperature. Yes, the camera takes great pictures, but you'll probably be disappointed by everything else wrong with it.
16 Good color in pictures, slow USB implementation
I have taken over 2,200 pictures with this camera and I am amazed of the quality. Even pictures that I didn't think would come up due to poor lighting come out excellent. The medium resolution is my favorite. It gives the best balance between picture size and storage.
The USB interface allows you to drag the photos from the camera to your computer. You just highlight all the pictures and drag them to the folder you want to store them in. It transfered each image fast but there is a long pause between each picture. I purchased a USB card reader and it copies about 15 times faster.
Basically don't think that the USB interface for the Kodak means fast downloads, it will be just as slow as serial (or even slower).
17 Excellent camera
The picture quality of this camera is fantastic! I've taken over 2,000 pictures with it and nearly everyone has been as good as film. I even took pictures of fireworks in DC and it had no problems adjusting to the lighting. It's a little slow writing pictures to Compact Flash at times. At the low res setting, you have to wait about 6 seconds after every 4 pictures. Other than that, this is a great camera.
18 Good stuff
I bought this camera when it first came out, and have been happy with the results ever since. It still has amoung the best resolution over a year later.
I do recommend a LARGE memory card, 48 or 64 Mb.
19 Excellent Camera
I've had one of these for a while, and this is truly an excellent camera. Clean, clear picture quality. Easy to review/delete pictures currently in the camera with the LCD screen. Super-fast transfer of the images if you add a PCMCIA SCSI card reader to your PC or Mac. Add a huge flash card for high capacity (98 highest-quality pix on a 48MB card).
Only things I don't like about it is that the 'manual focus' isn't truly manual--you can choose from a number of set distances, and same with the exposure.
20 High resolution images are more versatile.
I found the high resolution images make this camera more versatile. Not only can I can share photos with friends by e-mail, but I can crop small parts of the photos and these parts become great images in their own right. For example, from an image of a croud of people at a graduation party, I was able to print an excellent 8x10 of a couple that had just become engaged. I recommend buying and using a 32 meg flash memory with the 8 meg as a back-up. I also like that the camera can connect to my computer's USB port because my LPT1 port was already over-used. The only downside is that this camera EATS batteries (but probably no more than other digital cameras.)
