The DX7440's professional-quality, all-glass zoom lens is crafted by the leader in lens optics technology. 4X optical zoom (35 mm equivalent: 33-132 mm) lets you get up close and see your subject in striking detail. 4X advanced digital zoom lets you go the extra distance when you need it. 4.0MP gives you the power to print sharp prints up to 20"x30" (50x76 cm). 32 MB internal memory plus SD/MMC expansion slot lets you keep shooting longer. With the exclusive KODAK Color Science Image Processing Chip every picture comesto life just the way you remember it. A new high-speed digital processor chip, advanced algorithms, and hardware acceleration features lets the DX7440 make simultaneous, split-second decisions to produce rich, vibrant, true-to-life colors in almost any lighting situation. Turn your creative vision into reality with a full palette of advanced manual, program auto, aperture priority, shutter priority, and custom controls. Manual controls: Exposure compensation: (+/- 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps) Aperture: wide (f/2.8-5.6) and tele (f/4.8-9.5) Shutter speeds: automatic: 1/8-1/2000 seconds; manual: 64-1/1000 seconds ISO equivalents: automatic: 80-200; manual: 80, 100, 200, 400, 800 Auto-focus: multi-zone, center-weighted, selectable: left, center, right Exposure metering type: auto: TTL-AE matrix metering; selectable: multi-pattern, center-weighted, center spot White balance: auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent Flash compensation: +/-
Created for the savvy photographer, the Kodak EasyShare DX7440 combines high-performance photographic controls and optics with easy-to-use features for stunning picture quality. It offers a 4 megapixel resolution and a professional quality Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 4x optical zoom lens, as well as a rapid 0.2-second click-to-capture rating, large 2.2-inch indoor/outdoor LCD screen, 32 MB internal memory, and compatibility with both Secure Digital and MMC memory cards.
Optics and Resolution The DX7440 has a 4-megapixel resolution for 2304 x 1728 images and photo enlargements up to 20 x 30 inches. Other resolution modes include 2304 x 1536 (3:2 aspect ratio), 2048 x 1536 (3MP), 1656 x 1242 (2MP), and 1200 x 900 (1MP). The Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 4x optical zoom lens is also supplemented by a 4x digital zoom, for a 16x total. Working with renowned German professional optics designer Schneider-Kreuznach, Kodak equipped the camera with an f/2.8 - 9.5 aspheric lens to provide striking edge-to-edge brightness and sharpness across the frame.
Movie Mode
The DX7440 can capture both full-motion video (24 frames per second at 320 x 240 pixels) and TV-resolution video (VGA; 640 x 480 pixels at 13 fps) with capacity dependent on available memory (32 MB internal memory included; additional memory may be added via the SD/MMC expansion slot).
More Features
The DX7440's precision low-light auto-focus system combines rapid phase detection with highly accurate through the lens (TTL) contrast detection to sharply define a subject, even in almost complete darkness. Continuous auto-focus also delivers rapid click-to-capture (0.2 seconds) to precisely freeze action at a desired moment. Selectable focus zones and exposure metering allow exacting control over each scene, while standard and fine JPEG compression settings give users more power over their file sizes and quality.
The DX7440 offers fully automatic mode for effortless point-and-shoot picture taking, as well as 16 automatic scene modes (e.g., sport, portrait, night, landscape, beach, snow, and macro) that help obtain the best shot in a variety of settings. In addition, manual control mode permits independent aperture settings, shutter speed (1/1000 to 64 seconds), exposure compensation and bracketing, and ISO equivalents for advanced photographers.
Storage and Transfer
Images can be stored within the DX7440's 32 MB internal memory, or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. It connects to Macs and Windows-based PCs via USB 1.1 connectivity.
Sharing
With a touch of the red-jeweled Share button, you can store up to 200 pictures in an on-camera digital album. These pictures can then be shared anytime on the camera's large, 2.2-inch, high-resolution (153,000 pixels) indoor/outdoor LCD screen. The Share button also allows selection of photos for printing and even e-mailing, with up to 32 e-mail addresses stored in the camera's memory.
Kodak Color Science Image Processing Chip
Kodak's Color Science Image Processing Chip offers a new high-speed digital image processor, advanced algorithms, and hardware acceleration features that enable the DX7440 make simultaneous, split-second decisions to produce rich, vibrant, true-to-life colors in almost any lighting situation. Each time you click the shutter, the Kodak Color Science Chip performs an instantaneous and advanced analysis of collected scene data to identify and correct multiple factors that influence picture quality. Scene light source is detected and adjustments are made to capture bright whites and true, vivid colors under difficult lighting conditions--fluorescent, tungsten or daylight. Scene content is analyzed for luminance, focal distance, subject matter orientation and color to determine the correct exposure and capture the natural details, accurate flesh tones, and rich colors you see in your composition.
Power and Size
The camera is powered by a proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery (1050 mAh), which can be charged via the included battery charger or an optional EasyShare Camera Dock. It measures 4 x 2.7 x 1.6 inches and weighs 7.9 ounces without the battery.
What's in the Box
This package contains the Kodak EasyShare DX7440 digital camera, rechargeable lithium-ion battery, battery charger, USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and custom camera insert for optional EasyShare Camera and Printer Docks.
Like all EasyShare cameras, the DX7440 includes Kodak EasyShare software for Windows and Macintosh systems, providing effortless digital picture transfer, organization, basic editing, sharing and printing. The software's exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature--which takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak--helps Windows OS users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from home inkjet printers, while significantly reducing the trial, error and waste usually associated with home photo printing.
1 Battery Latch woes
I agree with the glowing reviews in that the color and ease of use of this camera are great. However, I've had it for 2 months and of course the dreaded orange battery lock door snapped. My wife and I baby this thing and have only charged it about 4 times and already it snapped. This appears to be a big problem. Yes, the larger battery/memory card door appears to hold it in. I say appears because it seems like it shakes around and that can't be good coming and going with the contacts. I have no faith in Kodak but I will try to call them tomorrow. I have little hope because I feel I will be without a camera for 2 weeks to a month minimum, and they may send me a remanufactured unit. $300 I pay for a remanufactured unit. I am very disappointed. My original 5 rating shoots down to a 2 because of shoddy plastic parts.
2 Outstanding choice!
After a couple of months of research and temporizing, I took the decision over the weekend on which digital camera to buy to replace my aging Kodak 2MP model. My new digicam? Another Kodak, the DX7440.
(...)
A few months ago I was looking for a camera for my mom. Since she's somewhat of a technophobe, I wanted something simple. And since your close-up vision starts to go south with age, I wanted something with a big LCD. I also wanted something that about the same size as her old film camera. I brought her to Best Buy and we looked at a bunch of cameras... from Olympus, Canon, Sony, and Kodak. I ended up getting her the DX7440, even before I'd reviewed it.
I'm no technophobe, but I went to look at the camera and was plenty impressed. The LCD screen is huge and high resolution. Life Jeff's mom, my close-up vision isn't what it used to be; compared to the two Canons, the Kodak LCD won in a walk. I found the Kodak's menus much easier to read than the Canons'.
But that wasn't the only thing that made the Kodak win. Not only were the Canons' menus hard to read for me, they were unfamiliar. Doubtless my learning curve would have been fairly short, but I already knew the Kodak's menus. Also, the "scene" customization for the Kodak was slightly more comprehensive and scenes are very easy to select.
The Kodak was praised in reviews for its extremely short shutter lag, short shot-to-shot time, and, importantly to me, its low-light performance, including that it would focus even below 1 lux. Its specs in these categories were superior to the Canons'. Both cameras offer full-manual operation, though neither allow manual focusing. The Kodak permits time exposure up to 64 seconds, four times as long as the Canons.
Nonetheless, everything involves tradeoffs. For the Kodak I gave up AA-battery power; the Kodak uses a KLIC-5000 or 5001 proprietary batteries. The 1050 mAh-5000 battery is included and I bought a 5001, 1700-mAh second battery. So far, though, the OEM battery is doing well.
I also gave up some compactness. The Kodak is noticeably larger than the Canons, though not massively larger. So the Kodak is not quite as "pocketable" as the Canon models -room for that big LCD has to come from somewhere. OTOH, the Kodak's larger form factor makes room for dedicated buttons on top for controlling flash, focus and exposure, which I have already found very useful.
Two features the Kodak has that the Canons lack is a diopter-focus knob (again, important for my presbyopic eyes) and a shuttle-jog dial on the top-right rear for easy manual customization. You can also save a manual setting as a custom set, enabling you to create your own scene mode. I don't think you can do this on the Canons.
Both cameras take video with sound. The Kodak will take VGA (640X480) size movies, but only at a jerky 15 frames per second. It also takes 320X240 video at 24 fps, which is 4/5th full speed. That video looks pretty nice actually, but it has less resolution than the VGA mode. Both modes are superior to the Canons, and both modes on the Kodak will record to the limit of your SD card. A high-speed card is not necessary. On my 512kb card I can record more than 45 minutes of 320/240 video, not too shabby! The Canons' recording lengths are limited to 30 seconds in VGA, at an even more miserable 10 fps, and three minutes at 320/240 at 15 fps. Clear winner: Kodak, and you don't need a high-speed SD card to record either mode.
But there is a serious drawback to the Kodak package: the included Easyshare software simply refuses to install on my computer. Judging from the Kodak forums online, I'm not the only one with that problem. I have other photo-management software. HP's ImageMixer was included on my computer, so I'm not out of luck, and the free-download Infraview takes care of redeye, editing and color management. (Speaking of redeye, DC Resource said that it was a real problem on the Canons, very little on the Kodak.) But doggone it, I paid for Easyshare and I want to use it - it's supposed to be a very good package, anyway. (The Kodak help page was not helpful.)
(...)
3 Near-professional quality for an amateur price
This is one of the best digital cameras I've used, and I've worked with a few in my career. Nice, big viewing screen for framing, quick shutter speed, and easy to use. You don't have to be made of stone to hold the machine still enough to get crystal-clear shots, and the camera is compact enough to tote around on vacation or fit into an average-sized briefcase. (You can also use it to make short video clips. While this is not a feature I use on a frequent basis, it's a fun perk to have.)
I did alot of research before buying this camera, and this model has gotten good reviews from almost every authority I consulted before buying. You won't regret it - it's definitely worth the money. Many cameras that sell for more don't match the features this model offers.
4 Great camera - I combined with the Easyshare printer
A little background: I currently have 2 film cameras: a 70s-era fully
manual SLR 35mm with a variety of lenses and a point-n-shoot compact
35mm. Like most, I love the exposure flexibility and lens options on
the SLR but the simplicity of the other is useful on most occasions.
So, of course, I'm looking for the best of both worlds.
The key things I was looking for in a camera:
(in order of importance)
- excellent prints up to 8x11"...which basically means a minimum
of 4M-pixel resolution, allowing for some cropping of the shots
- at least 3x optical zoom
- shoot 640x480 video without an arbitrary length limit (subject to
the available memory, of course).
- print photos without a computer
- largeer than average size screen (>2")
- macro mode - ability to shoot very close-up shots
- full-manual mode - allow control over all aspects of the
shot, just like a high-end 35mm camera
- assisted-manual mode - choose one key setting, such as shutter
speed, and the camera will optimize the other settings for the
best shot
After much online research and two trips to the local camera shop, I
ended up with a Canon camera and printer. The salesperson had WRONGLY
told me there was no video length limit. But even though the built-in
memory was enough for several minutes of video, it would cut off after
30 seconds for no apparent reason. Additionally, the printer could
only print from the camera, not the computer, which I discovered after
several hours of frustration. I was glad that I bought it locally - I
returned both items. Incidentally, I bought them at the local Wolf
Camera. While it could be had cheaper online, the price differential
was not much and the service was great.
I ended up with a Kodak DX7440 and Easyshare Printer/Dock. I also bought
a 512M expansion card for the camera. Total cost ~$600. Normally this
would be a little pricey for my taste. But with the arrival of the
kids, the upcoming holidays with the grandparents visiting and a small
windfall in our pockets, we decided it would be well spent. It was.
Kodak's DX-models are the enthusiast line. One step above the consumer
line (CX), but one below the pro line (Z). This translates to a
professional-grade lens, but still a compact size.
Size
It is small, but not tiny. About the size of most point-n-shoot 35mm
cameras. IMO, if it was any smaller, it would be too small to hold
comfortably. For reference, I have slightly small hands for a 5'10"
male. It is a little thick for pants pockets (except cargo-style pants)
but fits nicely in a jacket pocket.
Screen
The 2.2" screen is large enough to view pics without squinting.
Coupled with the "favorites" gallery, it's a great way to show off
your pics if you happen to have the camera with you. It seems to
be bright enough for viewing anywhere, but I have used it only a
few times outdoors.
Ease-of-use
After demonstration by the salesperson, I have rarely consulted
the manual (maybe never?). The on-screen display and help are
very intuitive. The most-frequently used photo options (flash
setting, burst and normal/macro/lanscape) are on the top
of the camera. The zoom is right in front of the shutter button.
The camera modes and menu/review navigation are all controlled
with a dial and joystick that is intuitive, but probably too
small for fat-fingered-folk. I would have to rate the ease-of-use
as excellent.
Auto-mode
According to the reviews, this camera has one of the best "auto" modes
- which is very point-and-shoot. In my experience, most pictures in
typical situations come out very well. It has a no-red-eye flash mode
that works very well. Except, of course, that the double-flash tends
to make people blink and distracts kids. The Easyshare software (on the
computer) does an excellent job of removing red-eye with a click of a
button - so I rarely use the no-red-eye flash mode. However, this
editing is not available without the computer, so when I'm planning
to print directly from the camera, the no-red-eye is a necessity.
Macro-mode
The macro-mode (very-close-up) is pretty darn good - they claim a
minimum focal distance of 3.9", which I have not confirmed but
I think I've come close to that.
Scenes
It has 16 scene modes, such as daylight-beach, night, sunset,
snow, portrait, indoor-party, sport, text, fireworks, museum,
backlight, etc. These are very handy because giving the camera
a 'hint' about the environment you are shooting in greatly
increases the photo quality in difficult environments. I've
only used a few so far (backlight, party), but they worked well.
I didn't compare them to "auto" mode on the same picture.
Video
With the expansion memory, it will shoot almost 30 minutes of 640x480
video at ~15fps. Although I don't remember it mentioned in the specs,
I seems to have anti-shake compensation because the vids seem steadier
than my hand. Unfortunately, the native format is quicktime (.mov)
which none of the grandparents computers had installed. So I also
needed some software to convert to a more Windows-friendly format.
I wondered if I would really use the video features - they have been
great for the intended usage - sending vids of the boys to the grand-
parents. While we send them plenty of pics, I think they really love
to be able to see (and hear) the kids playing, rolling, sitting, etc.
Printing
The print quality for 4x6" prints are excellent quality, IMO. They
look as good as any 35mm shots I've ever produced, anyway. Printing
from the camera directly to the printer is pretty easy. Dock, turn on,
choose picture, choose size, print. You can print 1 4x6, 2 3x4s,
4 2x3s or 8 2x1.3s on a single sheet. The special paper/print
cartridge packs cost $25 for 40 prints. This comes to 60c per print,
which is kinda pricey. However, since we never print a picture we
don't really like, I'm not sure we are spending much more per picture
than with film. The instant gratification is nice when visiting
friends and grandparents can take the pictures home with them.
Summary
Obviously, I'm happy with the purchase. I'm sure there are cameras
that take equally nice pictures and cost less. And the Canon printer
cost significantly less per print to operate. But for the combination
of features I was looking for, this camera/printer was a great choice.
5 Good overall value
This is my third digigal camera and a good value. A good balance between zoom and MP. If you have a spare battery and change it quickly, you will not lose the date - I suggest you buy one. Also buy a large 512 memory. You will not be disappointed.
6 GALLIAN 75
Great camera. My previous two cameras were Nikon coolpix 995 and Cannon Ixus V3. I found this to be extremely user friendly with a variety of shooting options readily avaialble which are easy to comprehend within a short time. Print results were superb. Buy it and you won't regret. Good value for money.
7 Perfection
I've been into photography for about 10 years now and I've taken 4 years of photography class. I never thought I'd switch to digital until my wife bought me the Kodak DX7440. Unbelievable! That's all I can say about this camera. It has the convienience of a point and shoot with all the features of a standard SLR. It can be fully automatic and still take crystal clear photos or it can become partially or fully manual and allows the user to adjust anything they want. I am totally impressed with this camera. I have recomended it to everyone who has talked to me about buying a digital camera. It is perfect!
8 Kodak EasyShare DX7440
Great little camera. Takes really nice pictures. Like the way the sets are placed and shape. Very happy with it. I've had a panasonic lumix for years, thats a great camera too. The body is almost equal but this little EasyShare is lighter to handle.
The only downfall I felt was upon recieving there was no memorie card to insert into the camera. For a new comer this would be a big dissappointment buying this camera kit. Won't work without a memorie card to hold the pictures. Good thing I had bought one. Most camera kits include at least a 16mm memorie card in it. So do your homework...
9 A first time digital camera buyer's take on things
This is my first digital camera. Not knowing too much about digital cameras I did a lot of research on options, reviews, and prices, and I came across the Kodak DX7440. I bought it, holding my breath wondering whether it was a good camera or a lemon, and found out it was neither; This is a GREAT camera!
Things I like about this camera...
-Intuitive design. All the controls can be accessed by the thumb and the forefinger. A dial around the shutter release controls the zoom lens, pressing the shutter release halfway down controls the auto-focus, a large dial in the rear selects the different functions, and a tiny joystick in the center of the dial cycles through the function option. You can literally control the camera with one hand.
-Nice feel. The right side of the camera is enlarged with a rubberized surface to give a better grip on the camera, and it's heavy enough to feel like it's not just a cheap piece of plastic.
-viewer. The LCD viewer is huge, bigger on this camera than I've seen it on others. There is also an optical viewer, but I've found that I don't need it. It also allows you to cycle throught the photos you've taken, and if you don't like it, a press of a button deletes it.
-photo quality. This camera has a color enhancing chip which brings out the true natural color of the subject. Photos appear as if you're actually looking at them, instead of just a flat image like you'd see in film. This $250-$300 digital camera takes just as good or even better photos as my friend's $1000+ regular camera
-aesthetics. The one thing that turned me off from getting a digital camera is that most of them have a weird new-age shiny silver case, like something NASA would make. This one is much more conservative, with a subdued metallic flake gray with black grips and lens.
-compatability. You can plug it directly into your PC to transfer the photos for email, OR you can take out the memory card and bring it to a drugstore photo kiosk, OR you can plug it directly into your TV via video out and show your photos or mini-movies on your television.
-low light quality. The low light photos this camera takes isn't too impressive, but it's no worse than a regular film camera. However, if you use the "night time" option, and if you can hold the camera steady enough, the shots it can take are almost breathtaking.
Things I don't like about this camera...
-Battery life. The battery holds enough charge for maybe 50 pictures, becuase the the LCD viewer you're using to take them is a huge drain on the battery. Remember to turn it off when you're not using it.
-too many confusing icons. There are more icons you need to look up than there are on your PC, and not all of them are helpful. Some of the best photos I ever took with this camera had an icon of a garbage can appear on the monitor when I shot them, which I take to mean "my photo was a piece of trash."
-Constant need to reset date. Every time you take the battery out you need to reset the date, and it gets old fast. However all the other settings you put into the camera remain. Weird.
-Accessories. The DX7440 comes with 32 meg of memory, which you will find out quickly that it isn't enough. You're required to go out any buy an additional SD memory card to take advantage of its capabilities. There's also an available docking station which recharges the camera without needing to remove the battery, as well as transferring the photos you took to the PC. You don't absolutely need it, but Kodak does its bit to "encourage" you to buy it to make your life easier.
All in all, an excellent first time camera with only a few things to detract from it (unless you don't care about them, in which case, go ahead and give it another star). If you yourself are looking for a first time digital camera, you won't be disappointed with the DX7440. Overwhelmed with the options and things you can do with it, perhaps, but not disappointed.
10 A Great Product
Going into digital photography, I had no idea what the factors were to look at, so I read a lot of materials about a lot of cameras. The ones that seemed to be the best were Nikon (which has an attachment for photographing slides), Canon, and (surprising to me) Kodak. The factors that turned me towards this camera were:
1. 4.0 megapixels. 3.2 megapixels is the minimum to get decent pictures that print up well at sizes up to 8x12 inches. Different settings provide different formats in terms of relative dimensions, which may result in some cropping of your pictures (a 3x5 picture will be cropped compared to a 4x6 because of the different dimensions). You can set this camera to shoot at different resolutions, including 3.2 megapixels, which is ideal for shooting 4x6 inch photos. You can select sizes down to 1.2 megapixels, with corresponding losses in resolution and gains in the number of photos that can be stored on a memory card.
2. Quality of the pictures. The resolution and color are excellent. I used it in Florence this last week without flash in the museums, and found that this camera is far better than film cameras with 400 speed film in picking up images.
3. 4x optical zoom, which is significantly better than the 3x offered on most cameras in this price range. Anything more than that, and you'll get blurred pictures, unless you use a tripod.
4. The camera is about the right size (many Asian manufacturers miniaturize their cameras to the point they are hard to use), and is comfortable to hold.
5. Ease of use. The automatic setting will handle most situations, but the camera also has a large number of pre-settings and allows a limited amount of manual control.
Like all digital cameras, you will have to buy several accessories to use this one properly, including:
1. A large memory card. 512MB will store in excess of 350 pictures at fine resolution. Larger cards are now available, but the manual doesn't discuss them, which may mean they're incompatible with the camera.
2. A charging dock, which will allow you to recharge the camera without removing the battery by just plugging it into the dock. The DX 6000 charging dock will take voltage inputs between 110 and 240, which means you can use it overseas, provided you have the appropriate adapter.
3. A larger battery (1750 mAh) to replace the 1050 mAh battery the camera comes with;
4. A carrying case. Get the cheap small one [ASIN: B00006HXMQ]
5. Hold off on buying a printer dock until you know whether you will actually use it. You may want to e-mail your photos to a printing service or use a drugstore kiosk.
The camera comes with Kodak software, which I found useless. If you use Windows XP, your computer will recognize the camera as a memory device, allowing you to transfer pictures easily.
11 Great camera even for digital newbies
I bought this camera in August 2004 and have never regretted it. The Kodak DX7440 is my first digital camera. It takes excellent pictures and is very easy to use. The auto function fullfills the majority of my needs, but I had fun using the more advanced features as well. I posted a couple of pictures to the Amazon online gallery to show the quality when used by a beginner. It made me feel like a pro.
I had one small problem. While the camera LCD screen framed the subject accurately, the viewfinder did not. It was slightly off, so I chopped off the top of most pictures. This problem may be a flaw in my particular camera, but check it out if you want to save your battery life by using the viewfinder instead of the LCD.
12 Excellent
I got this camera for Christmas 2004. I immediately began snapping pictures with it. It takes excellent pictures. I had an earlier Kodak model that doesn't even compare to this. The pictures are crisp and clear. It is not a problem if people are moving around like it was with my old Kodak digital camera. I would highly recommend this to anyone. It is very easy to use also.
13 I love this camera
I bought this camera for myself right before christmas and am very happy with it. I've taken over 1000 pictures and find the quality at all the different settings to be exceptional. Battery life is excellent (about 2 hours to charge and last well over 200 pics at high res) and I carry it everywhere I go. Movie mode is awesome and with sound makes for great memories when "filming" holiday events. It's connectivity to your TV is simple and straight forward for family veiwing. I bought the 256mg card and that's good for almost 15 minutes of video. With just a few minutes of video the card will still hold a few hundred pictures. I can't imagine this camera not being more then what most point and shot photographers will ever need. And even those who really into photography should find this camera pretty useful. It's goes from full auto to full manual and anything inbetween and I had fun learning what all the different settings would do. It's 4x optical zoom works really well and even going to full digital zoom renders some pretty good shots (you must be very steady or have a tripod or sit it on something that doesn't move however to keep from blurring the image). I only hope that 4 or 5 years down the line when I want to get a new one that the DX 7440 is still available so I can buy it again. I really like this camera!
update 5 Mar 05: The little plastic battery latch broke. The battery/memory card door does however hold it inplace so it's still functioning normally. I'm keeping the camera, because it works so well i'm afraid to give it up for a replacement. I carry this camera on my person 24/7 and just passed my 6000th picture. This camera still rocks, but i wanted anyone considering a purchase to be aware of the latch problem.
14 great pictures, terrible mechanical & service
Had a DX4900 for about a year when its internal shutter quit working. Bought the DX7740 so that I could keep using the same extra lenses purchased for the older camera (hated having to buy new batteries, memory cards, card reader). Bought 1st one on 11/11/04 - the shutter button autofocus quit working on 11/21. Exchanged for SECOND new DX7440 on 11/22 and its battery latch (little CHEAPLY DESIGNED orange plastic part) broke on 12/14. Exchanged for THIRD DX7440 on 12/15. Its battery latch broke on 1/12/05. The battery door does a decent job of holding in the battery so I guess I'll keep using it (it's pictures are really good) until it breaks further then I'll buy ANY OTHER BRAND. I'm not even buying any more Kodak film for the Nikon FG I've had for 15 years with NO PROBLEMS. Just try working with Kodak customer service - it's a real joke, nothing of theirs is ever bad. I'll never buy another product of any type that carries the Kodak name, EVER.
15 Fantastic Camera, Great features!
I did a lot of research before buying this camera. The fact that it had the option of connecting lenses and filters via an adapter, and that is had basically full manual override sold it to me.
The camera is fantastic. The picture and color quality is amazing. I have used several brands of digital cameras and this camera and kodak have been the best. The 4mp let's you crop a lot out of a picture and still maintain picture quality and focus.
For those not interested in the complex features it is very simple to use for the average person. The preset modes are more than I have ever seen in a camera. Plus, you can have unlimited video with sound until the memory card fills. Not only that, there is a setting for higher quality video than what your standard digital camera will do. Almost like having a older digital video camera as well!
The lens attachments are fantastic (and not as expensive as another reviewer stated - about $50 each). I was very leary about them, but the telephoto lens doubles the zoon, and the wide angle is definitely wide angle doubling that as well.
A fantastic camera!
Update: After using the camera the only complaint I have is that you havet o watch the way you hold the camera when using the flash. I tend to hold it in a way that I block part of the flash and darken a corner of my photos. I'm going to have to be more concious of holding the camera. However, still the best camera I have ever used, and I love it!
16 nice but. where is Kodak's customer support?
I just bought the camera and am returning it. No I haven't even openned the box. I bought the camera because it looked to have all that I wanted. I wanted a camera dock to go with it. I wanted to use it to charge the batteries in the camera and to up load pictures to the computer. After reading the technical data on the camera dock, I wrote to Kodak to ask whether the camera dock had a windows version since it wasn't clear. I got back what looked to be computer generator responses which saying in effect don't ask me, go back to the vendor or look it up on our web site. I did look it up on their website and sure enough it does, but that is really not the point, I was looking for a little customer support. Also this camera only works with a special battery that costs $30 and takes a special charger. Since this battery only works for 4 of its cameras will Kodak be supporting this setup five years from now or will you be stuck with a camera that you can't use? And when you truly need customer support where will it be?
17 Not That Impressed
Not a bad camera for $299 but it could use some tuning up.
Pros:
- 16 situation presets (portrait, party, sports, landscape, close-up ect.)
- 7 Camera modes (auto, scene, program, aperture priority, manual and custom)
- 2.5 inch screen
- Kodak software makes for easy sharing for beginners
- 4x optical, 3x digital
- You can tag photos as "Favorite" so you don't mistakenly delete them
- You can place photos in an "Album" for sorting
Cons:
- Short battery life, especially when you use the screen as the viewfinder
- Bad auto-focusing
- Poor automatic compensation (f-stop/shutter speed) when the flash is disabled. This makes for very dark pictures
- No manual focusing
- No lense cap. It has a thin plastic shutter that automatically covers the lense when the camera is turned off.
- 32MB internal memory
- Camera menu functions are limited
- Optional 2x telephoto lense pack is $70
18 Didn't meet expectations at all
Very slow between pictures. Terrible auto focus inside/low light where I take most pictures of my infant and toddler. Software would not load on my computer. I'm returning it and getting another Sony.
19 Good quality, fun and easy to use
This is my first digital camera, and if it's easy for me to use, it's easy for you to use. The picture quality is awesome, different scenes are easy to use, the large LCD is cool too. The battery doesn't last too long, my advice is buy a second battery and have it charged up and ready. I also advise buying the printer dock. It's so easy to use, the pictures look better than WalMart. You can only print 4x6 pictures, I'm not an 8x10 fan so that is just fine for me. Both camera and printer dock are so small, both will fit in the large Kodak camera bag for vacations. I'd recommend it to anyone.
20 wow man wow
I spent a week reviewing all cameras and it came down to two the ones with good price and quality.So i had to pick i got this camera for a gift i opened it up to see if it's<br />
as good as people say and to charge the battery.wow man wow<br />
this was easy to use with out a manual this is one awsome camera the pic is a little fuz at first but in time camera got better knock on wood i got a good camera this gift amazed and impressed Everyone with the pictures and the video yah video like a camcorder the rec time is not as long but the camera that can do both great pics and vids is wow and for the price wow again.You can find cameras like this but be ready to pay big bucks yah 300 is not cheap but the camera is not little cheap piece of junk ether and you get what you pay so make count and thats the bottom line.
21 Excellent in Daytime, Flash is underpowered
This camera takes awesome pictures in the daytime. However, at night in my home, I saw poor performance from the flash particularly when you zoom in. I had multiple shots that were too dark or blurry even some when the subject was about 6 feet away. It was kind of hit or miss if the shot was awesome using the flash. These bad shots occured with two regular lamps on in the evening. I just wish Kodak would have beefed up the flash and added a light assist for focusing. If so, this would have been my favorite. The movie mode is excellent.
I decided to return it and get a cannon A85. This kodak camera lacks picbridge, manual focus, white balance in auto, beam focus assist for low light focusing, memory is on bottom (bad for tripod shooting), must use kodak lithium ion battery (cannon uses AA's). The cannon flash is much better than the kodak and I am more satified. The video mode on the 7440 is superior to the A85, but for pictures, the A85 rocks.
Giving it 4 stars in generous, should have been 3.
22 We love it!
We did a lot of research before we purchased this camera, and we are so glad we did. This camera is awesome!!!It takes great pictures and it's super easy to use. I would highly recommend it!
23 I like Kodak cameras so much I just bought Kodak stock
I'm not joking about the stock. This is my second Kodak EasyShare camera. My first was a basic EasyShare CX4310, which is a sturdy digital point-and-shoot. After a year of digital photography, I wanted two things in an upgrade: zoom, which is easy to find, and fast shutter speed, which is not.
Most digital cameras have significant shutter lag. You press the button and tell people to just keep smiling, really. By the time you get the shot, they've started looking elsewhere or the smiles have faded into irritation or the photo is just a blur of movement. I went to several local electronics stores and experimented with display models (often putting in my own media card so I could examine the photos later) before making a final decision.
There are plenty of cameras with more megapixels, but I feel comfortable in saying NONE below $900 with a comperable shutter speed. I didn't want a digital SLR. If you whip out a huge camera at parties, people flinch. I wanted something both fast and discreet, something I could carry in my pocket and whip out the second anything intersting happened without having to stage a shot.
The Kodak EasyShare DX7440 lives up to all my expectations. If it did nothing more than take fast, clear photos, I would be thrilled, but it is loaded with other features I appriciate.
PROS:
* The 16 built in presets work beautifully. I've been very pleased with the results ranging from "Sports" to "Self Portrait."
* If you don't like their presets, you can make your own settings very easily.
* This camera is great for a whole family. Point and shoot people can just leave it on "auto." More advanced photographers can set fstop and aperature settings manually. I particularly appriciate that Kodak made seperate controls for the dummy and pro settings. A little wheel in the upper right corner controls manual settings, so if your point-and-shoot spouse picks up the camera, they don't lose your settings OR take lousy pictures and wonder why you broke the camera.
* The preview screen on back is HUGE, making it very easy to frame shots.
* You can change aspect ratios on the camera itself, so instead of shooting at 4x5 (equilivent of an 8x10 photo) you can set it to shoot at 2x3 (equilivent of a 4x6 photo). This means less cropping and photo editing later. This feature is espically nice if you have a printer dock and want to print straight from your camera.
* The video feature works shockingly well. Set it to video, press the button once, and it will film until you fill up your memory card or you press the same button, telling it to stop. You don't have to hold down the shutter the whole time, which is a major bonus. The video quality is about average, with surprisingly good sound pickup. The ability to simply plug the camera into a TV using standard cables is *wonderful.* I never thought I'd want something like this, but now I'll be disapointed if I ever lose it.
* Burst mode works very well.
* Zoom is smooth and fast. You can set it to either flow organically or to hop to 1x, 2x, etc.
* The interface software is hands-down the best in the business. You don't have to "learn" a Kodak camera. They are very intuitively designed. Other manufacturers could learn something from studying their interface.
CONS:
* The presets are easy to access, but just as easy to accidentally switch while in the process of taking a photo. Several pictures intended for party mode have ended up in "Night Landscape." They were partially salvagable with color correction software, but still pretty unsatisfactory.
* The camera loses the time and date settings every time you remove the battery. If you have a charging dock, this probably isn't an issue, but for those of us who charge the battery seperately, it gets annoying very fast.
* Like most digital cameras, people complain about the brightness of the flash. As a photographer, I'd say they use just enough, but as a subject, it can be painfully blinding. This is all the more reason to take action shots rather than lining people up for posed photos.
All in all, I love this camera and expect to use it for years to come. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality pocket sized digital camera.
24 Really, just average. Soft focus and exposure control issue.
I had a friend with this camera who was happy with it, and read the many good reviews here, so I pulled the trigger and bought a DX7440 after a few weeks of research. I now regret it.
Pictures are often over exposed indoors. Also, you have to manually reset the camera's clock and calendar every time you re-charge the battery (not so with my old Canon). I also get lots of soft focused pictures. I do love the camera's quick shutter - there is virtually no shutter lag. This isn't a bad camera, but 2/5 pictures don't turn out because of the exposure/soft focus issues.
25 Perfect Package
This Kodak is an almost perfect combo of memory, megpixs, and convenience. The camera comes with a load of internal memory which most users will find is all they need. Of course, the docking station - my main reason for buying Kodak - is wonderfully convenient. I use this professionally and the docking is the only way to go.
Complaints: the software is a little wierd and keeps running in the background on my computer - not intuitive as to how to manage photo folders. I would rather make my own folders, thanks.
Also, the power and USB cable connections to the docking station are crumby. Finally, not clear how to replay saved videos (I get about 45 seconds). Otherwise pictures are great and handy to use.
26 DX7440 returned as defective
Because of the glowing reviews on this page, my decision to purchase a DX7440 was reinforced. Unfortunately, when the purchase arrived, it turned out that the "Made in China" camera was defective. There was a large black spot in the center of all photos which appeared to be the fault of either a defective CCD or a severe problem with the optics. Either way, the camera was unusable, and it was returned for a refund.
And therein lies the good thing about Amazon: They will accept a return within 30 days, no questions asked. Kodak technical support was essentially useless, because support appears to be offshored to people who do not speak English as their first language.
Needless to say, Kodak cameras are now on my "do not buy" list.
27 The best camera!
This camera is the best! I upgraded from a 3-yr-old Olympus 3MP/2X zoom to this 4MP/4X zoom, but the best thing about the upgrade is how fast it is. It has an internal memory that is used as a temporary hard drive, and taking pictures is instantaneous. I think the specs on Kodak.com say it takes 0.2 seconds to take picture after picture (to up to about 6 or so pics in a row manually), and only 1.2 seconds from turning the camera on to taking a picture. I can vouch for that personally. You can literally circle the room, taking pictures like a gunslinger.
Don't let the "Professional" grade scare you off. Just put it on auto and go. If you want fine tune your pics, it has 16 modes you can use, like sand, night landscape, night portrait, etc.
It also uses a lithium ion battery, similar to what camcorders use. It even comes with its own charger. I know you might prefer AA rechargable types, but lithium ion lasts a lot longer. And besides, if you don't use the viewfinder to take pictures (since it's unnecessary) your battery will literally last months between charges. So if you are going on vacation, just charge it up before you go. No worries.
If you are thinking about getting the 5MP/3X Zoom that Kodak also sells, which I was also considering, then realize that a zoom level is equal to about a MP. 4MP by itself is plenty, unless you're making posters, and the extra zoom lets you focus on what you want, and helps to eliminate cropping later.
The USB plug & software works like a charm. Even if you don't use the software, my Windows XP automatically recognizes the camera as another hard drive, in my case, the "J" hard drive. Then just cut and paste. Some people might complain about the low budget photo editing software, which lets you get rid of red-eye, and do some cropping, and that's about it, but if you want something fancy, then go out and get some $50 software that will do everything. Don't let that keep you from getting this camera. The charger that comes included is worth $50 by itself.
The camera looks bigger based on its pics, but it's actually quite small and light, and will easily fit in a pants pocket.
The bottom line is there is nothing I would change about this camera. Every time I use it I literally say, "I love this camera." I was very pleased with the photo quality from my old Olympus, but I'm a die-hard Kodak user now. Don't forget about how fast it is! Nothing's more frustrating than missing out on a great picture because your camera's too slow.
28 My favorite digicam!
I've owned many digicams, and this one is the best! I've had Olympus, Canon, Toshiba, and Sony cameras... this is the first one I've LOVED both the camera and the capability! I've even downgraded from my 5 MP camera for the shutter speed and better zoom.
Pros: The shutter is very fast, MUCH faster than any previous camera. It turns on quickly, and shoots fast. The pictures are great 95% of the time (not in love with the macro mode, though). There are many different scene presets, like museum (where the sound and flash are turned off), Party (red-eye reduction on), etc, etc. There are on screen prompts that tell you when you might want to use each mode. VERY VERY user friendly. It has a neat "favorites" mode, that saves a smaller copy of favorite pics on the camera so you can use it as a sort of album, one touch easy. Very cool. The shot-to-review time is lightening fast. I LOVE this camera, if you can't tell.
Cons: If you have picture preview, and are using the screen to frame shots, the delay is sort of long. (Just use the optical viewfinder to avoid this problem.) The macro mode.. didn't like that preset. Did better getting further away and zooming, but that changes the depth of focus. Need to figure out the manual settings that work for this. Battery life wasn't great: I got about 100 pics, but that's why I always buy a back-up. I'm hard on batteries. Use the LCD all the time, show lots of people the shots, etc. Although the batteries are proprietary, they're not too crazy expensive: less then $25 here.
I thought about the higher resolution DX7640 (6MP, 3x optical zoom), but a manual lens cap? Are they insane? I'm as lazy as the day is long, and would either never put it on, or lose it right away, and end up with a scratched/useless lens very quickly.
I haven't tried the EasyShare stuff, like the dock for the computer and the printer, but some might find this nice. The pictures this camera takes are well worth printing, that's for sure, but I use online printing.
This camera has reinstilled my love of taking photos (note: not photography.. I'm definately not a pro, just a consumer that wants to document puppies and children before they become dogs and adults). The difference a short shutter lag makes is HUGE for me...
As a rank novice, point-and-shoot person I am, I can't tell you about the advantages of the more advanced features. But apparently the PASM can be advantage, if you're smarter than me. For me, I shoot, upload, crop, email and/or print.
I would also like to recommend Photoshop Album for those that are getting into digital photos. It integrates well with this camera, and allows you to keep all your photos much better organized. In my years of digital photography, I've accumulated about 4000 photos... without Album, it'd be near impossible to find particular photos.
29 Great, great camera!
I chose this as my second camera in a rush because my HP "fell ill" after 3 years (that was a good camera also). I could've never made a better choice. I have so much creative control with the focus, zoom, color, lighting and all other choices that I had never had before. This camera gives you the ability to be as artistic in your photos as you want. The photos come out clear and big and as someone said in a previous review, their original resolution gives you a large enough size to work with. The 16 set scenes give you even more creative control, there is one for anything you dream of taking pictures of.
The software is easy to install and transfer is very simple. I had the box open, battery in and had taken the first few pictures all within 5 minutes of buying it. Battery life is about 45 minutes before you need to recharge (takes about 3 hours or less depending on how much you want it charged). This camera even gives you a snapshot sound (which you can change to music) each time you turn it on or take a picture. The pictures take incredibly fast. You can literally shoot in the moment, not 2 seconds from the moment. The 2.2 inch screen is also a good size to work with. I've found no problems with it at all.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend this camera to anyone, beginners and intermediates alike. It will put the life into your photography. You'll never want to stop taking pictures! For the price and the artistic freedom, this would be your best choice, you won't regret it!
30 A GOOD CHOICE
After weeks of online reviews and talking to camera stores I selected the Kodak DX7440. The camera takes excellent pictures and the software that comes with it is EXTREMELY easy to load and use (sorry Microsoft). For the money and for someone that wants a good easy to use point and shoot camera, this is the one.
31 Great Quality and Price!
This is my second digital camera, so I shopped around very carefully and chose this one. I haven't been disappointed.
One thing I really like is that it is relatively easy to hold and handle--not like some of those super compact cameras that are so popular now. The DX7440 has a nice hand grip, and the controls are all very accessible.
This camera is also very FAST. Many digital camera have an awkward shutter lag. This camera focuses very very fast, and there is no discernible shutter lag. Look at the specifications and compare to other cameras!
The "automatic" picture-taking setting work great with no worries and excellent quality, but if you're ambitious, there are lots of manual controls available like aperture priority and shutter priority and etc.
The zoom lens is wonderful; 4x is better than the 3x on most cameras in this price range, and it zooms in very fast and smooth. 4x zoom is actually more powerful than the more expensive Kodak DX7630, with 3x zoom.
4 megapixels allows plenty of room for cropping your shots and still retaining good quality.
I just got a set of photos back from Winkflash, an on-line photo lab, and the picture quality is excellent for 4x6 snapshots.
Battery life is quite good. I went for a 4-day camping trip and filled up an entire 512 mb memory card without running out of juice. That's with the supplied battery, and a longer-lasting one is available for $24 on Amazon.
The extra-large LCD screen is also much better than most of the competition, and can be viewed even in bright sunlight.
On a Macintosh, you do not have to use the Kodak software. The camera interfaces fine with mac's Iphoto software. The Mac X image capture software allows for downloading movies.
You can shoot movies in 640 by 480, double the resolution of most cameras.
I bought a 32x high speed 512 mb Lexar Sd card, which works fine--although apparently there is only a minimal advantage to a high-speed card, and Kodak does not recommend them.
For a camera case, I highly recommend the Lowepro D-Res 10AW. The DX74440 fits PERFECTLY, with room for a battery and spare memory card. The case is well-designed, well-padded, and compact.
For the range of features, ease of use, and price, the DX7440 can't be beat!
32 Wonderful Camera! Highly Recommended
This incredible 4.0 mega pixel camera comes with an amazingly big and high-resolution 2.2" TFT screen and is equipped with a fabulous professional-quality SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON lens, capable of 4X optical zoom, which is - in my opinion - very impressive. The camera is compact and very aesthetic, easy and comfortable to use. It has excellent features, such as the very smart and useful "Share" button, 16 programmed scene modes, 5 color modes (low color, natural color, high color, black & white and sepia) and 2 movie modes. You can also choose image resolution out of five options: 1.1 MP, 2.1 MP, 3.1 MP, 3.5 MP and 4.0 MP.
The camera also includes manual and custom controls. You can choose between auto mode (camera sets settings for you), scenes mode, program mode, aperture priority mode, shutter priority mode, manual mode and custom mode.
A feature which I found helpful is the image-rotating sensor, which automatically rotates the vertical image once it's taken. It saves you the trouble of doing it yourselves with an image-editing program.
The important feature that this camera offers, aside from many more terrific options it has, is the "Share" button, that allows you to tag pictures for printing and for emailing, and later when you connect the camera to your computer it can do that immediately - according to the software settings. The software is not the best I've seen, but still it's pretty good (of course, there's lots of room for improvement). I personally don't like it very much, but it helps you organize your pictures and it also has some minor editing options that help you make corrections in your images to achieve the result you want. Once the camera is connected to the computer, the software wizard pops up and helps you transfer the pictures from the camera to the computer. Also, you must work with this software in order to create an email address book and then transfer it to the camera so that you will be able to tag the pictures. For instance, if you have Friend 1 and Friend 2 in your address book, you can do the tagging so that the image will be sent to Friend 1 when the camera is connected to the computer.
I am generally very satisfied with the camera, and it surprised me big time when I got it with some awesome things that I didn't expect to see. The camera delivers stunning pictures at an excellent quality. The pictures are sharp and detailed, colors are accurate and the result is as good as promised. The first few pictures I took with this camera didn't turn out very successful, but since these were my first ones and I hadn't known how to use the camera fully, the camera is not to blame. The last few pictures I took are stunning.
I have a 256 MB SanDisk memory card. With an empty card like this I can shoot a video in 640x480 mode in the length of 13:55 minutes. You can also choose the 320x240 movie-shooting mode, which allows you to make a 24:28-minute long movie. That's a very good thing that I haven't seen so far in the cameras I know. The video comes out very good, but the thing I was disappointed about is you cannot use the camera zoom while shooting a video.
The menus are nicely designed, have lots of options and let you choose and control quite about everything.
One thing that I found lacking is the way the mode dial is built. "Video" and "Favorites" are both located behind "OFF", and that means that you have to turn off the camera first and then turn it back on to get to these.
I have owned it for a pretty short time, but already impressed a lot from it, but then again haven't fully figured out how to use all the smart advanced features it has to offer. I bought my camera for 283 dollars, and I think this camera is a great value for this amount of money.
The camera comes with a Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery (isn't it much better than those AA batteries?) that takes about two hours to recharge, and all the necessary accessories, plus the EasyShare Software CD and a manual book that explains the basic things you need to know about the camera and the way to use it. The book is very helpful, and helps you learn what you need to know.
Plus, the fantastic Kodak website offers all the support you need (and if you lost your book you can find it there and read all of its contents on the web!), advices for taking pictures and using your digital camera, and of course if you want to buy and haven't decided yet, just go to the camera page, where you'll find everything you want to know: detailed camera specifications, larger views, camera demo, package contents, features highlight and system requirements. I highly recommend visiting the Kodak website.
I would recommend the camera to anyone. It's simple and easy to use on one hand (you just turn the camera on auto mode, take as many pictures as you like and then press the "review" button to see them); but it's professional and has many options and qualities on the other hand, and that allows the advanced user to produce great images maximizing the camera's abilities. The camera also has an option for a date stamp for those who don't want to forget when the image was taken.
Summary: Superb camera, except one weakness - the software. Apart from that, I must say I'm really pleased with this camera. You get your money's worth.
In my opinion, the Printer Dock / Printer Dock 6000 (you might want to wait for the new model, Printer Dock Plus) would be a perfect addition. The Camera Dock would also be a nice thing to have.
33 Excellent quality
This is a full featured yet easy to use camera that takes excellent quality pictures and has a high quality 4x optical zoom lens.
It is extremely fast in focusing and taking pictures, and the focus is almost always perfect. It has a large number of preset settings for circumstances like landscape, portrait, close up etc, but has manual options as well where the enthusiast can set all the settings. It has a burst mode to take pictures rapidly and the ability to take 3 bracketed exposures to get just the right one. The shutter can be set for as long as 64 seconds, for long exposure shots of dark scenes.
The image quality, which is where cameras must perform, is really excellent. There are setting to adjust the sharpness and color saturation to the users choice, so if one wants more muted colors they can be obtained. The usual 'normal' setting though provides rich perfect color. I've taken over a 1000 pictures on this camera to date and have been delighted in the quality of the vast majority--any problems have been the photographers, not the camera! The color reproduction is perfect both indoors and out. Kodak cameras tend to give pictures with high color saturation, but as mentioned, this can be toned down in one of the settings if desired. I like the saturation as it is--looks vibrant and lifelike. The 4 megapixel size is plenty--I've had 8x10 prints made that look identical to film.
Battery life is excellent. The flash is powerful for indoor shots, and it's power can also be adjusted by one of the settings. It is easy to use--the settings are intuitive and the controls are easy to use and easy to find on the camera.
The price for this is also great--making it a stand out deal in the 4 megapixel, 4x zoom lens category.
Highly recommended--easy enough to use by a novice, but has more than enough settings and features for a more expert user.
34 Good features, easy to use, average image quality
PROS: Easy of use, 16 scene modes, large LCD display, rechargable battery, burst shooting mode, unlimited movie mode
CON: Above average noise in picture, flash too concentrated in center area, blurring on the edges.
I went shopping for a 4MP digital camera and the final candidates were: Kodak DX7440, Canon S410, and Nikon 4200. In comparison, Kodak DX7440 has a great form when holding with right hand, large LCD, very easy to use, lots of features. It's also cheaper than theother two products by about $100. So it's a great value. I took some photos in the show room, and with the larger LCD (2.2') display the Kodak DX7440 seem to have pretty good picture when comparing to the other LCD displays (1.8').
So I bought it. But when I uploaded the pictures I took onto the computer and blow it up using Windows XP picture viewer, I see significant amount of noise in the photo. The edges of objects were a little blurry. In the past, my relatives/friends have emailed me picture fromtheir comparable Canon and Nikon cameras, that's when I realize the picture quality on the Kodak isn't as great.
I like all the cool features the Kodak DX7440 can offer, some of which the rival models don't even have, but for me where it counts is the picture quality.
So if you only look to take picture and print it out to 3x5 or 5x7 photo paper, then the noise would not matter as much, and all the features the dx7440 offer is definitely a plus. But if you are looking to blow the photo to its full size 11x14 or enlarge it as your computer screen saver, then it will be a factor in your decision.
35 Great camera that makes you a pro!!
I have been using my new dX7440 for about two months now. I agree with the other user that the movie mode is a blast!!! the TV-quality of the movie is just wonderful and I have a 512 MB secure digital card that stores up to 24 minutes of movies in the highest resolution of this DX7440 movie mode.
Most of the time, I use the "auto" mode to take still pictures. The colors are not satuated. I don't quite understand why there is another review that suggests the otherwise. The trick is that, one has to press the shutter button half-way for half a second, let the computer chip analyze the brightness, colour pattern and speed of the object BEFORE totally pressing the shutter button all the way down and take the picture. Try it, and you get a much improved results.
When you take pictures in "auto" mode, the huge 2.2 inches LCD screen shows where the focus is with a pair of squares. If you are taking picture of a moving object, the computer chip senses it and automatically traces the object; this is some high-tech feature!
You can also use manual mode to select your own focus point. This comes in very handy.
All in all, I highly recommend this Kodak DX7440. I have owned a SONY, Fuji cameras. One was 3.2 Megapixel, the other was 2.0 Megapixel. In no way, can those two cameras' quality matches the Kodak's. You don't have to take my word for it, try it yourself. This [the Kodak] is the BMW or Lexus in digital photography!!
I have one suggestion for Kodak though, the flip-door on the side of the camera where the USB connector is, is hard to open. I think that using a hard plastic door will fix this. However, this is just pretty minor.
After I installed the software, I connected the camera to the computer with the USB cable and it automatically uploaded the pictures and movies at once.
One can use the Kodak software to enlarge photos and zoom left and right. This is pretty good. One can also adjust contrast, brightness, make black-and-white photos, cut unnecessary parts, etc. One can even download from Kodak for a better software and have more editing features.
I have also considered the new SONY 4.0 megapixel with full movie mode camera, I forgot about its model number. Anyway, it is not important, I've found that the SONY's picture was kind of fake and the movie mode doesn't provide enough anti-handshake power. The Kodak is definiety better.
If I would ever consider buying digital cameras, I would only consider either SONY and KODAK, I wouldn't consider any other brand, not even CANON. Last time, Sony won. This time, the Kodak DX7440 wins hands down!!!
If BMW is the "Ultimate Driving Machine", the KODAK is the "Ultimate Picture Taking Machine" !! Forget about other brands.
36 Almost great, but...
I bought this camera after reading many glowing reviews (here and elsewhere) and was prepared to love it. And there's a lot to like:
* Ergonomically, it's fantastic -- fits well in my hand, mechanical controls are firm and snappy and well-placed.
* LCD screen is super-large and bright
* Very fast, almost no shutter lag
* High quality lens
* Works well as an automatic point-and-shoot camera
* Offers lots of manual controls if you want do things yourself
* Menus are well-designed and very easy to use
BUT... the colors it produces seem garish and unnatural. I imagine they've done this on purpose, because a lot of people are attracted by brilliant, strong colors, but I found it off-putting. I'd prefer to have the colors in my pictures actually represent the colors in whatever I'm shooting.
So I ended up returning the Kodak DX7440 and getting a Pentax Optio S4i instead. The Pentax doesn't match all of the Kodak's good features (it's not quite as good ergonomically, has a less powerful flash, and offers less manual control) but its color rendition is more natural, and it's super-compact size means I can carry it in a pocket and literally take it anywhere without a second thought.
If the Kodak didn't produce such overblown colors, I would have had a very hard time giving it up. It's got a lot going for it, but in the end, I just didn't like the pictures it produces.
37 Perfect digital camera for anyone except super-pro!!
I have received this Kodak new digital camera DX7440 for two weeks. The lithum-ion battery and charger that come with the camera are nice extras. The 32MB memory is enough for 20 pictures or about 1.5 minutes movie in highest resolution.
I love the movie mode right away. The camera also record sounds, I filmed my cousin's birthday party with a brand new 256 MB secure digital memory card. We connected the camera to the big screen 42" TV and it was a moment of blast!! We laughed and enjoyed every moment of it. It captured a lot of details and it seemed that the camera erased a lot of my hand movements and shaking; i.e. stabilizer. The sound recorded was good as well.
Man, the pictures are wonderful. We went to the dark backyard at evening time, played hide and seek, and the viewfinder lighted up and I saw everybody in the viewfinder even though it was very dark.
The flash light worked excellent in dark as well and the pictures turned out great no matter day or night. The 4X optical zoom was amazing, better than my other friends' 3X; and the viewfinder was big measured at 2.2 inches wide.
The joystick was fun to play with, it controls a lot of things, such as when reviewing your pictures and you like to zoom to an area and enlarge it. The camera lets you zoom to 8X as big when reviewing pictures. Man, you see a lot and a lot of details. And, the quality is so amazing!!!
I am so much in love with this light-weight Kodak that I want to enjoy its full extend by purchasing the camera printer dock and print pictures myself. As of this writing, I am waiting for the printer dock. I will give you an update soon.
Man, this is one heck of a digital camera. Kodak, you did it! Highly recommended.
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Update One (8/6/2004):
Later found that the CD that comes with the camera contains interactive tutorials about how to use the camera, how to email photos, how to printer photos, etc. Nice!!
Just got our 10"X8" photots ordered from Ofoto.com, the pictures look perfect, no distortion, vivid and true colors. We even got our first 10 free 4"X6" prints. Wonderful!! I know that its capable of getting up to 20"X30". Yet, we don't have room for that big a picture yet.
My Kodak Printer Dock has just arrived. It automatically recharges the battery, nice!! Emailing pictues to friends and relatives is just one touch away after inputting email addresses. It's so very easy!!!
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Update two (8/9/2004):
The camera comes with 10 4"X6" free printer dock photo paper, the printer dock also comes with another 10 free 4"X6" photo papaer. I printed 5 of my pictures; since Kodak says that the printer automatically laminates prints, I put one of them in a bowl of water and see. I got up the next morning and picked up that picture from the water, the pictures was still intact. The lamination was perfect and make the picture free of weather attack. Still, one has to keep the picture from direct sunlights, but at least it is free from moisture attack and finger prints. This is an advantage over other print sources for 4"x6"s.
The quality of the prints are also great, with true colors and sharp clarity; just as how they look from the viewfinder.
Some of my friends ask if there is another Kodak that may be about the same quality, functionality, but cheaper. I also suggest the LS743, which also let you take 4.0 Megapixel photos and TV-quality movies with sound. I think that that one is slightly cheaper from Amazon.com. Yet, that one has a slightly smaller viewfinder and 1X less zoom (3X instead of 4X of the DX7440).
Also, taking movie seems easier than using the camcorders. The advantage is that it is smaller and lighter, making it easier to carry around and my hand does not get tried fast. The quality is already TV-quality, which is the same as the camcorders.
The disadvantage is that the battery does not last as long as the camcorders as theirs are heavier and bigger. And, movie length is limited by the size of your memory card. So, you may need a bigger card to take longer movies. Yet, memory card prices are getting cheaper and cheaper; and battery lives are getting longer and longer.
In conclusion, this is the camera for all the photo and movie needs, with ease of use and handy features, especially big viewfinder, TV-quality movie functionality so one can occaionally take movie for memory. My other friends are surprised by its various abilities and quality.
38 Great features - Easy to Use!!!
The Kodak DX7440 is a near perfect combination of features and ease of use. The 2.2" viewfinder is great for framing shots both inside and outside and the 4x zoom gets you a little closer than most cameras in its class. The ergonomics of the camera are also a plus. It fits comfortably in my hand and the dial and joystick are very easy to use. The Kodak DX7440 produces vivid colors that other digital cameras just can't match and the images are much sharper than the Canon I previously owned.
For the beginner photographer, it has a full auto mode and a number of special scene modes to help take great pictures. For the intermediate photographer, it has PASM modes which give you even more creative control. The movie mode is better than most cameras, but if you really want to make movies, you should probably get a camcorder.
I have only 2 complaints about the DX7440 - the lack of a superfine compression mode and the use of a proprietary battery. However, neither of these issues are too big of a deal. Hopefully Kodak will release a firmware update at some point in the future to address the superfine compression. I ended up buying 2 backup Li-Ion batteries so that should not be an issue in the future.
In conclusion, I would recommend this camera to any beginner or intermediate photographer who wants a camera that is simple and fun to use.
39 Fantastic camera!!!
I had been looking for a digital camera to carry around for special events instead of lugging around my 35mm. I researched all kinds of cameras. Sure there are more expensive cameras that probably do more, but for the average picture taker this is a winner!!!! I used it right out of the box; without using instructions. This is my first digital camera too! I took pictures of fireworks with the special night mode for fireworks and they turned out great. Also the video part is great too! It will go as long as your memory card holds out. I purchased an additional 256 mb memory card. It comes with a charger so you don't have to buy a camera dock unless you want to. The batteries really hold up. I went a week and took numerous pictures and decided to charge it just in case. I love this little camera. The color in the pictures are great and I even put it on night mode and took a picture in the dark and the flash lit up the whole room and I got my picture. Kodak you definitely have a winner in my book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
