Color (7.84)
We analyzed the color reproduction performance of the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 using Imatest Imaging Software and a GretagMacbeth color chart. The software allows us to measure the color error of any digital camera. The chart below is a modified version of the Gretag chart. The outer squares on each color tile represent the color produced by the Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The inner squares are a version that digitally corrects for the camera's error. The smallest inner vertical rectangle is the ideal version.

The below graph represents the color error of the Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The circles represent the colors produced by the camera and the squares represent the ideal version. The distance between the squares and the circle represents the error of the camera for that color. The greater the distance between the square and the circle, the greater the error.

Color is a strength of the DX6490 and reflects Kodak's experience in both imaging and color technology. Kodak takes a different approach than most, opting for under-saturated color replication. This is particularly unusual in the digital imaging market, where so many cameras are engineered towards over-saturating their tonal values. While it is common to over-saturate red and orange values to gain depth in skin tones, all too frequently this gets abused because many people enjoy the Monet-like veil exaggerated color tones provide. The 94.43% saturation score the Kodak DX6490 received is a remarkable divergence from this trend and gives its imagery a unique, muted overtone. This is a refreshing perspective for a digital camera and for those who feel blinded by the brightness of the common, over-saturated aesthetic, the Kodak DX6490 will be a pleasant alternative.

The DX6490 received an overall color score of 7.84. This is an honorable score and should be a reason for looking into the Kodak DX6490. Although it will take a particular taste to prefer the muted imagery of the DX6490, it is nice to know it is available. As for color accuracy, the DX6490 was right on with many of its blue and green tones. The brighter colors, particularly red, orange, and lighter green, do drift from the ideal tone a bit but fall towards a muted replication of the tone rather than towards over-saturation. There is some fallout in the brighter orange hues; they approach yellow and it appears that the DX6490 is more accurate with darker colors. All in all, I would say the Kodak DX6490 is a distinct color imager, providing a different perspective of color and for those who like the muted, matte look, I don’t think you could do much better for the price.

Still Life Scene

Click on the above image to view a full resolution version (CAUTION: The linked image is very large!)

Resolution (3.13)
Using an image taken of an ISO Resolution Chart and Imatest Imaging Software, we calculated a resolution score based on the image’s performance rather than the manufacturer’s reported megapixel count. We took multiple shots of the same chart, to reduce the amount of error, and used Imatest to determine a real resolution number. This number factors in camera electronics, image processing, and optics, giving an accurate representation of the Kodak EasyShare DX6490’s capabilities.

The high resolution claims given by many manufacturers are often inaccurate and overexaggerate the digital camera’s capabilities. There is a surprisingly low amount of digital cameras that match the manufacture’s proclaimed megapixel count. There is also a variance in how close digital cameras will come to their intended performance. A well performing camera will produce 80% of the manufacturer’s megapixel count and 90% is excellent. Kodak EasyShare DX6490 performed pretty well for a digital camera at this range, producing images with 3.13 megapixels, 78.47% of the reported capabilities. This discrepancy is primarily due to loose play with decimals and marketing intentions.

Noise - Auto ISO (8.67)
The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 performed very well in both manual and automatic ISO modes. The automatic ISO function has the same settings as manual, but does not require the user to stop and change the settings for each shooting condition. Characteristic of most digital cameras, the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 will do well at low ISO settings in bright light situations. This camera offers as low as an ISO of 80, which is more than many digital cameras offer. As to be expected, the noise level increases at higher ISO settings, making low light shots without a flash a little unclear.

Noise - Manual ISO (7.06)
When multiple ISO settings are available, we test the noise produced by the camera at each setting using Imatest Imaging Software. The graph displayed below shows our results tests for all the ISO settings for the Kodak EasyShare DX6490. The horizontal X-axis signifies the ISO ratings while the vertical Y-axis is the noise reading.

From the graph above, the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 maintains low noise levels when a low ISO setting is applicable, but reported higher noise scores as the ISO ratings were pushed. We put the noise values and ISO settings into a regression analysis to give an overall noise value. As you can see, the performance of the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 declines when ISO ratings are increased.

Speed / Timing
Start-up to First Shot (6.48)
The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 had a very poor start-up time of 3.52 seconds. In this day in age it shouldn’t take a digital camera this long to be ready to shoot. There are many other cameras on the market today that can be ready in a little over a second.

Shot to Shot Time (6.99)
Again the Kodak EasyShare DX6490 was a little slow with an average of 3.01 seconds in between shots, but it compares better than the digital camera’s start-up time.

Shutter to Shot Time (8.44)
The Kodak EasyShare DX6490 does redeem itself, however, in its shutter to shot time. It took only 0.28 seconds to go from pressing the shutter to taking the shot. There is very little shutter lag, which is an otherwise common problem among digital cameras.