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The Imaging Resource Quick Review Kodak EasyShare DX4330 Digital Camera
Eastman Kodak Company has a long history of bringing professional imaging processes to the everyday consumer. Kodak's EasyShare System is the company's digital equivalent to its turn-of-the-century Brownie box camera, which came with preloaded film and no manual controls (once users shot all their film, they simply sent the boxes back to Kodak for processing and printing). While the first two Kodak EasyShare digicams, the DX3500 and DX3600, were much more sophisticated than a Brownie, they did feature the same "just press the button" simplicity, with fully automatic controls and an optional docking station that takes all of the guesswork out of digital image manipulation, management, and sharing. As Kodak has evolved the line, they've introduced more advanced cameras that do offer a few user options, but which still retain excellent ease-of-use. The subject of the current review is the EasyShare DX4330, a compact 3 megapixel design that provides good midrange functionality, combined with a very clear menu system and the latest version of Kodak's Picture Software. Kodak's Picture Software is a big part of the Easy Share story, so much so that I keep hoping to find time to devote a full article to it on its own. Especially in its latest implementation, it walks you through every step of uploading, enhancing, and emailing your photos -- and has about the most graphically intuitive interface of any consumer imaging software I've seen. It automatically sizes the images for printing or emailing, stores copies, applies simple effects, and allows you to make image corrections, such as color, brightness, and contrast adjustments. The entire line of EasyShare cameras are among the easiest and most goof-proof digicams out there, and the DX4330 and Kodak's latest Picture Software carry on that tradition admirably. The latest addition to Kodak's exceptionally user-friendly line of digicams, the EasyShare DX4330 projects a similar aesthetic to the rest of the EasyShare line. Compact, curvy, and similar in style to a traditional point-and-shoot 35mm film camera, the DX4330 measures only 4.3 x 1.5 x 2.6 inches (110.5 x 39.0 x 66.0 millimeters). The camera's all-plastic body makes it light weight as well, at 7.4 ounces (210 grams) with the battery and memory card, making it a comfortable fit for most hands. The DX4330 squeezes into larger shirt and coat pockets, and comes with a wrist strap for carrying. The camera's compact design includes a retractable lens, protected by a removable plastic lens cap (a tiny strap tethers it to the camera body). The 3.1-megapixel CCD captures high resolution, print quality images, as well as smaller image sizes better suited for distributing via email. The DX4330 features a 3x zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-114mm zoom on a 35mm lens. (That's a moderate wide angle to a medium telephoto, a fairly typical range among point & shoot digicams.) The camera's autofocus mechanism uses a multi-zone system to "find" the primary subject closest to the lens. The AF area is highlighted in the LCD display with a set of brackets. The DX4330 has a maximum aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/5.1, depending on the zoom position. Focus ranges from two feet (0.6 meters) to infinity. In Macro mode, focus ranges from 2.8 to 28 inches (7 to 70 centimeters). A Landscape shooting mode fixes focus at infinity, for distant subjects and scenery. In addition to the 3x optical zoom, the DX4330 also offers 3.3x Advanced digital zoom, which effectively increases the camera's zoom range to a total of 10x. Keep in mind though, that digital zoom decreases the overall image quality, since it just "stretches" the center pixels of the CCD image. For composing images, the DX4330 offers both a real-image optical viewfinder as well as a 1.8-inch color LCD monitor. As is usually the case, I found the LCD monitor much more accurate for framing. (Interestingly though, both viewfinders resulted in a smaller image area when framing at full telephoto.) Exposure control is fully automatic on the DX4330, though the camera does offer a Long Shutter mode that allows longer exposures up to four seconds. A Mode dial on top of the camera offers options of Auto, Sports, Night, Landscape, Macro, and Movie modes. While Auto mode is best for general photography, the remaining preset modes help with special shooting situations such as night shots in the city or the winning goal of a soccer game. In Sports mode, the camera uses faster shutter speeds to "freeze" action. Night mode optimizes the camera for darker portraits and other night scenes, automatically combining the flash with a slower shutter speed to let more light into the image from the surroundings. This brightens the background in flash shots, making for more natural-looking night photos. (You can cancel the flash in Night mode too, for those times when you want to shoot with just the available light.) Landscape mode fixes focus at infinity, for capturing subjects more than about 58 feet (17.5 meters) away from the camera. The DX4330 employs a matrix metering system, which bases the exposure on several light readings taken throughout the frame. Although you can't adjust the aperture, shutter speed, or metering mode (apart from the Long Shutter mode that I'll get to in a bit), you can increase or decrease the overall exposure through the Exposure Compensation setting under the Record menu. Exposure compensation adjusts the exposure from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in half-step increments. (Each full EV unit of adjustment represents a factor of two increase or decrease in the exposure.) White balance remains under automatic control at all times, but the DX4330 does a really excellent job under most light sources. Using Kodak's proprietary Color Science technology, the DX4330 manages to achieve an accurate color balance under an amazingly wide range of lighting conditions. ISO remains under automatic control as well, varying from 120 to 200 equivalent settings. The built-in flash is effective from 2.0 to 11.2 feet (0.6 to 3.4 meters) depending on the setting of the zoom lens, and features Auto, Fill, Red-Eye Reduction, and Off operating modes. For shooting in low light conditions without the flash, a special Long Shutter mode lets you manually select exposure times from 0.7 to 4.0 seconds. Using Long Shutter mode, you can capture bright, usable images at light levels only half as bright as typical city streetlighting. You'll need to use the infinity focus mode for shooting under very dim lighting though, because the 4330's autofocus system doesn't work effectively at light levels darker two to four times brighter than typical city street lighting. A 10-second Self-Timer mode provides a delay between the time the Shutter button is pressed and when the shutter actually opens, so you can get into your own shots. In addition to its still photography modes, the DX4330 also offers a Movie recording mode for capturing moving images with sound. Recording stops and starts with a brief, full press of the Shutter button, but if you hold the button down for more than a second or two, the camera will automatically stop recording when you let it back up again. As you record, the duration of the movie appears in a running counter on the LCD monitor. Maximum movie lengths depend on the amount of memory space available. (The 16 megabytes of internal memory will let you record movies up to 64 seconds in length.) The DX4330 is compatible with Kodak's EasyShare camera dock, which offers hassle-free image downloading. You simply put the camera into the dock (a plastic dock insert fits the DX4330 bottom to the dock and comes with the camera) and press the Connect button on the dock. The dock station also serves as an AC adapter and in-camera battery charger (with Kodak NiMH battery packs). Built into the DX4330 is 16 megabytes of internal memory, but the camera also features an SD memory card slot so you can expand the camera's memory capacity. I highly recommend picking up at least a 32 or 64 megabyte card right away, given the camera's 2,160 x 1,440-pixel maximum resolution size. For power, the DX4330 uses either two AA-type lithium or NiMH batteries, or a single CRV3 lithium battery pack. As always, I strongly recommend purchasing a couple of sets of high-capacity NiMH batteries and a good charger, and keeping a spare set of batteries charged at all times. Click here to read my "battery shootout" page to see which batteries currently on the market are best, or here for my review of the Maha C-204F charger, my longtime favorite. The Kodak EasyShare dock is itself a battery charger, and comes with a single NiMH battery pack, but I highly recommend purchasing another set of high-capacity NiMH AA cells, so you'll have spares to pack along on long outings. Basic Features
Special Features
The DX4330 is an ideal choice for anyone looking for a no-fuss digicam with great image quality. Just about everything is automatically controlled, with great results. That said, the DX4330 does offer a few options for extending its performance. The camera continues with Kodak's very user-friendly interface, making it a good option for kids or novice users. Like Kodak's other EasyShare cameras, when combined with the accessory camera dock, the DX4330 is one of the easiest to use cameras I've seen.
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Design
The telescoping lens takes up the right side of the camera's front panel, surrounded by a thick, plastic lip complete with filter threads for accessory lenses. The lens extends outward approximately another 7/8 inch when the camera is powered on. Also on the front panel are the optical viewfinder window, flash, self-timer lamp, light sensor, and tiny microphone. A gently-sculpted hand grip on the side of the camera features a soft, rubbery pad for fingers to cling to.
On the right side of the camera (as viewed from the rear) is the SD memory card compartment and Video Out jack. A hinged plastic door protects the compartment, and opens from the back panel. Below the SD card slot is the USB jack, for connecting the camera directly to a computer. A shiny silver eyelet is also on this side of the camera, for attaching the wrist strap.
The opposite side of the camera features the DC In jack, covered by a flexible flap. A small eyelet just below the jack compartment provides an attachment point for the lens cap strap.
The Shutter button, Mode dial, Flash button, and speaker are all on the DX4330's top panel, which is slightly curved.
The rest of the camera controls are on the back panel, along with the optical viewfinder and LCD monitor. An indented thumb rest on the right side cups your thumb as you hold the camera, reinforcing the front handgrip. Above the thumb rest is the zoom rocker button. The Share, Delete, Menu, and Review buttons are at each corner of the LCD monitor, and protrude slightly from the back panel. I liked the operation of the Four-Way Arrow pad on the left side of the LCD monitor, which has a rubbery point in the center that makes it easy to grip. The optical viewfinder eyepiece is quite small, but has a fairly high eyepoint to accommodate eyeglass wearers (I could see the full frame even with my eye a good distance from the camera). Next to the viewfinder is a small LED lamp, which lights or flashes to indicate camera status (such as when focus is set, flash is charging, etc.).
On the bottom panel of the DX4330 are the tripod mount, dock jack, and battery compartment. The plastic, threaded tripod mount is off-center and too close to the battery compartment for quick battery changes while working with a tripod. (I doubt that this will be of much concern to most users though, as the DX4330 is clearly designed for on-the-go shooting.) I prefer metal tripod sockets, but the small size and low weight of the DX4330 mean the plastic socket should hold up fine. The battery compartment features a locking, hinged door, which slides forward to open. The dock connection jack is protected by a sliding plastic door, and connects the camera directly to the EasyShare dock for quick image downloading.
Playback Mode: Accessed by pressing the Review button, this mode lets you review captured images and movies, as well as manage files.
Test Images
Test Results
Conclusion
Kodak's EasyShare digital cameras have consistently proved to be among the
easiest to use of any I've tested, and the DX4330 is no exception. It's fully
automatic exposure control performs surprisingly well in a wide variety of conditions,
with the automatic white balance system deserving special commendation. A handful
of preset scene modes help with special shooting conditions, and a few manually-selected
long exposure times let the camera snap good photos under typical nighttime
streetlighting levels. (Although you'll need to use the infinity focus option,
as autofocus operation is limited to much brighter conditions.) The 3.1-megapixel
CCD captures high resolution images, with good color and clarity and plenty
of detail to make sharp 8x10 prints. Overall, the DX4330 is a perfect choice
for novices who want to take great digital pictures without needing to understand
photographic jargon and exposure settings. Stay up to date with all the latest - Sign up for our free biweekly email newsletter! |
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Movie: Records
moving images with sound, for as long as the memory card has available space.
Off: Turns
the camera off, and signals the lens to retract.
Automatic Record:
Best for most average shooting conditions, this mode places the camera under
automatic exposure control, with limited user options available through the
Record menu.
Sports Mode:
Optimizes the camera for moving subjects, freezing action.
Night Mode:
Employs longer shutter speeds to allow more ambient light into the image.
Syncs the flash with the exposure for brighter night shots.
Landscape Mode:
Fixes focus at infinity, for capturing distant scenery.
Macro Mode:
Changes the focus range for close-up subjects.
Record
Menu: The following menu items appear whenever the Menu button is pressed
in any Record mode. However, not all menu options are available in all modes.
Setup
Menu: Accesses the following main camera settings:
Playback
Menu:
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