 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Kodak DC20 Digital Camera Stan Johnstone stanj@melbpc.org.au |
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This review is of a camera - not one that requires film and processing - but one that takes photographs and stores them in 1 MB of internal RAM!
Photographically
The focus-free lens works from 0.5 m to infinity. The automatic shutter ranges from ^1/30 to ^1/4000 second, and the aperture is f/4 to f/11. The sensitivity is equivalent to 800-1600 ISO depending on conditions.
Somehow, all of this is sorted out internally with storage available for either 8 high or 16 standard resolution images. The camera's dimensions of 102 x 61 x 31 mm and an-all up weight of about 200 g enable it to fit into any pocket.
There is no focal length quoted, but the image area is about what you would expect with a 35 mm lens on a normal 35 mm camera.
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The only controls are Power, Shutter and Erase buttons - what could be simpler? Just below the eyepiece three LEDs for Power On, Busy, and Memory Full.
The Power button switches the camera on. After the Shutter is pressed the Busy light glows for a few moments. As you reach the memory's capacity the Memory light starts to flash and then remains on after the last photo is taken. Automatic power down occurs after being left idle for 90 seconds.
Electronically
There are two image resolutions - high at 493 x 373 pixels, or standard at 320 x 240 pixels. Both are 24-bit colour.
PC and Mac cables are provided, they connect between a socket on the side of the camera and a computer serial port.
Software
All the software is contained on a CD-ROM and installation is very straightforward.
To copy photos from the camera to the computer you connect the cable, switch on the camera and run the software.
Individual photos are displayed as a page of mounted transparencies. As one is highlighted with a mouse click, it is downloaded from the camera and displayed on the screen. Images can be saved in TIFF, BMP or JPEG formats.
Once your photos are saved, you can erase the memory in the camera, either with the software or at the camera.
Enhancing
The package includes Photoenhancer software, with which you adjust colour balance, sharpness and contrast. It has a By Example facility where part of the original photo is displayed with 12 variations. Choose the best, and then repeat the exercise for the next set.
The software has a selection of templates to make greeting cards, calendars, etc, complete with all or part of your original photograph.
For those who want more, FunPix creates special effects with shakes, zigzags and colourful-bordered
cartoons.
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Quality
The camera works under an amazing range of light conditions. Photos taken under artificial light gave no indication of camera shake, but undoubtedly bright sunlight with the sun over your shoulder produces the best results. Colours suffer badly in poor light conditions.
At 493 x 373 pixels the photos are of limited value for reproduction in a magazine such as PC Update as the full photo image would be limited to about 50 x 37 mm, or less after cropping.
However on normal bond paper in a colour printer, quite good results were obtained when enlarged to 100 x 75 mm or even 160 x 120 mm.
But it is in their digital form that the photos come into their own. Family snapshots can be e-mailed or added to your home page, and be seen worldwide in a matter of minutes.
Acknowledgment
The review camera was provided by Michaels Camera & Video, and has been donated to Melb PC by Tony Michaels.
Reprinted from the September 1996 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
