Digital Camera Review

Digital Camera Review

The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 is a compact but articulate and consistent camera; it lists with an MSRP US $499. An expansive 2.2-inch LCD screen and an LED lit Mode dial immediately make this camera an attractive product. The 10x Schneider-Kreuznach Varigon optical lens is also capable of 3.0x digital zoom. The matte black body, with silver highlights, is squared, and alludes to Kodak’s higher-end manual models, giving this camera the immediate appearance of a serious amateur/professional unit. The 4.2 MP CCD resolution allows for higher resolution options than the other lesser priced models in the series, and an advanced number of manual control features enables more user control. This hybrid camera is also capable of capturing video with simultaneous audio, the length of which depends upon the size of the SD/MMC memory card chosen by the user.
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Viewfinder (7.5)
The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 is equipped with an electronic viewfinder of 1.1 cm and a resolution of 180K pixels. To change between the EVF and the LCD,  press the silver button located on the back of the camera and to the left of the viewfinder itself. To adjust the sharpness of the image within the electronic viewfinder, engage the dioptric adjustment located on the side of the viewfinder itself (a small, barely noticeable jog dial). The accuracy for the LCD screen on the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 is 100%, and because the electronic viewfinder is basically a smaller version of the LCD screen, the image will be extremely close to if not 100% of the final image captured. You cannot adjust the position of the viewfinder on the Kodak EasyShare DX6490, forcing the EVF to remain in one position, obscuring portions of the LCD screen when not in use.

LCD Screen (8.5)
The LCD screen for the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 measures 2.2 inches, making it a nicely sized, even luxurious screen for the overall price of the camera. It's very slightly compromised by the viewfinder, which obscures a slight amount of the screen, depending upon the angle its held at. The LCD screen features 153,000 pixels, with indoor/outdoor display potentiality.

Flash (7.0)
To access the flash options available on the Kodak EasyShare DX6490, press the flash button located on the top of the camera. The flash button symbol appears as a lightening bolt with an arrow at one end. To actually use any sort of flash, the user must also open the flash by moving the flash open button to the right. The flash will emerge from the body of the camera, ready to engage. There are four flash choices set up for the user: Auto, Red-eye, Fill, and Off. Each mode is selected by pressing the flash button, rotating through the selections until the proper flash is displayed on the LCD screen in the information bar located at the top of the screen. Even if the flash is selected, it will not be engaged unless the flash is opened. The picture will still be taken, but a red line will appear through the flash sign on the LCD screen, implicating the lack of flash on the previously shot photograph. There is a flash port for an external flash located on the left side of the camera, under the top port cover. Though there is no accessory shoe on the camera, it is nice to see a company acknowledging the possibility of an external flash on a digital camera.

Zoom Lens (8.0)
The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 is equipped with a Schneider-Kreuznach Varigon 10x optical zoom lens with 3.0x digital zoom, with maximum aperture of f/2.8-f/3.7 (equivalent to 38-380mm) and a thread for possible filter attachments. With this extremely high zoom level of 10x, the user is assured a much wider range of shooting options unavailable on most digital cameras. The manual zoom feature on the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 is located on the back portion of the camera body, in the upper right-hand corner. It is possible to adjust for wide angle shots by pressing the zoom lever to the left, and telephoto shots by pressing the lever to the right.

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