Camera Overview

Kodak's EasyShare line of digicams has consistently proven one of the most user-friendly series on the market, with simplified operation and the convenient compatibility of the EasyShare camera docks for easy image downloading. Debuting with a 5.0-megapixel CCD at a surprisingly low price (just under $400 at the time of its introduction in mid-summer, 2003), the EasyShare DX4530 looks a lot like the rest of the EasyShare line of digicams. Compact, curvy, and similar in style to a traditional point-and-shoot 35mm film camera, the DX4530 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 9.2 ounces (261 grams) with the battery and memory card. There'll thus be little excuse for leaving it behind. The DX4530 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 so you won't lose it). Though exposure features and overall setup are similar to previous EasyShare models (most notably the DX4330 model), the DX4530 boasts a larger, 5.0-megapixel CCD for capturing high resolution, print quality images, as well as smaller image sizes better suited for distributing via email.

The DX4530 is equipped with a 3x optical zoom lens, equivalent to a 38-114mm zoom on a 35mm lens. - This is a range from a moderate wide-angle to a moderate telephoto. A set of filter threads around the inside lip of the lens barrel accommodates a set of Kodak-manufactured accessory lenses, enhancing the camera's wide angle and telephoto capabilities. The camera's autofocus mechanism uses a multi-zone system that "finds" the primary subject in the middle of the frame that's closest to the lens, highlighting the active AF area in red brackets on the LCD display. Though automatically controlled, the DX4530 has a maximum aperture ranging from f/2.8 to f/4.8, depending on the zoom position. Normal focus ranges from two feet (0.6 meters) to infinity, with a Macro setting for more close-up shooting. In Macro mode, focus ranges from 2.8 to 28 inches (7 to 70 centimeters), depending on the zoom position. A Landscape shooting mode fixes focus at infinity, for distant subjects and scenery. In addition to the 3x optical zoom, the DX4530 also offers 3.3x Advanced Digital Zoom, which effectively increases the camera's zoom capabilities to 10x. Keep in mind though, that digital zoom decreases the overall image quality, since it only enlarges the center pixels of the CCD image. For composing images, the DX4530 offers both a real-image optical viewfinder, and a 1.8-inch color LCD monitor.

Exposure remains under automatic control on the DX4530 at all times, although the camera does offer a Long Time Exposure mode for longer exposures up to four seconds. The Mode dial on top of the camera controls the operating mode, offering Movie, Auto, Sports, Night, Landscape, and Macro modes. While Auto mode is best for general photography conditions, the remaining preset modes are tailored to specific shooting situations such as night portraits in front of bright cityscapes or capturing the action of a little league game. In Sports mode, the camera uses faster shutter speeds (from 1/1,700 to 1/30-second) to "freeze" action. Night mode optimizes the camera for darker portraits and scenes, automatically combining the flash with a slower shutter speed to let more ambient light in to balance the image (you can also cancel the flash, for available-light night scenes.) Shutter speeds in Night mode range from 1/30 to 1/2-second, so you'll need to switch over to Long Time Exposure mode for longer shutter times, out to a maximum of four seconds. Landscape mode fixes focus at infinity, for capturing subjects more than 57.4 feet (17.5 meters) away from the camera. Finally, Macro mode adjusts the focus range for close-up shooting.

The DX4530 employs a Multi-Pattern, matrix metering system, which bases the exposure on several light readings taken throughout the frame, taking into consideration subject contrast as well as overall brightness. Although you can't adjust the aperture, shutter speed, or metering mode (apart from the Long Time Exposure mode), you can increase or decrease the overall exposure through the Exposure Compensation setting under the Record menu. Exposure Compensation adjusts the image from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in half-step increments. White balance also remains under automatic control at all times, but the DX4530 uses Kodak's proprietary Color Science technology, which produces an accurate color balance under a surprising range of light sources. (I continue to wonder why other manufacturers can't manage to do as good a job with their auto white balance settings as Kodak does.) ISO remains under automatic control as well, but varies from 130 to 200 equivalent settings, depending on the light level. The built-in flash is effective from 2.0 to 11.2 feet (0.6 to 3.4 meters) depending on the zoom position, and features Auto, Fill, Red-Eye Reduction, and Off operating modes. A 10-second Self-Timer mode provides a delay between the time the Shutter button is pressed and the shutter actually opens, so that you can get into your own shots.

In addition to the range of still photography modes, the DX4530 also offers a Movie recording mode for capturing moving images and sound, at an image size of 320 x 240 pixels. Recording stops and starts with a full press of the Shutter button (you can also hold it down), and the full length of recording time appears in the LCD monitor. Movie lengths depend on the amount of memory space available. In an interesting and useful departure from the norm, the 4530's self-timer function works in Movie mode as well as for still pictures. Through a menu option, you can program the 4530 to record fixed-length movies of 5, 15, or 30 seconds when triggered by the self-timer, or to simply begin recording when the timer runs out and run until either the memory card is full, or you stop the recording by pressing the shutter button again. (Note that the LCD display is turned off when the camera is running from the self-timer in Movie mode.)

The DX4530 is compatible with Kodak's EasyShare camera docks, which offers hassle-free image downloading. You simply put the camera into the dock (a plastic dock insert provided with the camera fits the DX4530 bottom to the dock) and press the Connect button on the dock. (Some camera kits include the EasyShare Camera Dock II as part of the bundle.) The dock station also serves as an AC adapter and in-camera battery charger (with Kodak NiMH battery packs). The DX4530 is also compatible with the recently-released Printer Dock 4000, which lets you print 4x6 snapshots directly from the camera. Built into the DX4530 are 32 megabytes of internal memory, but the camera also features an SD/MMC memory card slot so you can expand the camera's memory capacity. I highly recommend picking up at least a 64 or 128-megabyte card right away, given the camera's 2,580 x 1,932-pixel maximum image size. For power, the DX4530 uses either two AA-type lithium or NiMH batteries, or a single CRV3 lithium battery pack. For the best performance, I recommend keeping a spare set of batteries freshly charged at all times. See my Battery Shootout page to see which batteries currently on the market are best, my review of the Maha C-204F charger, my long-time favorite.

Basic Features

• 5.0-megapixel CCD delivering image resolutions as high as 2,580 x 1,932 pixels.
• Real-image optical viewfinder.
• 1.8-inch color LCD monitor.
• 3x, 38-114mm (35mm equivalent) lens.
• 3.3x Advanced digital zoom.
• Automatic exposure control.
• Automatic white balance control.
• Maximum aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.8, depending on lens zoom position.
• Built-in flash with four modes.
• 32MB internal memory.
• SD/MMC card storage (card not included).
• Power supplied by two AA-type batteries, one CRV3 lithium battery, or optional AC adapter.
• Compatible with Kodak EasyShare camera dock (some kits include the Camera Dock II) and Printer Dock 4000.
• Kodak EasyShare software included for both Windows and Mac platforms.

Special Features

• Movie mode (with sound).
• Night, Sport, Landscape, and Macro photography modes.
• 10-second Self-Timer for delayed shutter release.
• Long Time Exposure mode for longer exposures up to four seconds.
• DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatibility.
• USB cable for connection to a computer (driver software included).

Recommendation
Like the rest of the EasyShare series of digicams, the DX4530 is a great choice for anyone looking for hassle-free shooting but good color, white balance, and exposure. Just about everything is automatically controlled, with great results, although the DX4530 does offer a few creative options for enhancing its performance. The camera features Kodak's very straightforward user interface, complete with clear, helpful feature descriptions, making it a good option for kids or novice users. With its no-fuss design, camera dock compatibility, and generous 5.0-megapixel CCD, the DX4530 does credit to the EasyShare name, providing good image quality and unbeatable ease-of-use at a low price.

Design
Compact and reasonably small in size, the DX4530 measures 4.3 x 1.5 x 2.6 inches (110.5 x 39.0 x 66.0 millimeters), just small enough to fit into coat pockets and purses, and possibly larger shirt pockets. The DX4530 is light weight as well, thanks to its all-plastic body, at just 7.4 ounces (210 grams) with batteries and SD card loaded. A wrist strap comes with the camera, but a soft carrying case would be a good idea for protecting the camera when traveling.

The DX4530's front panel features the telescoping lens, which takes up almost the entire right side, surrounded by a thick, plastic lip complete with filter threads for accessory lenses. The lens extends outward about another 3/4-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 just enough of a ridge for your fingers to cling to as they wrap around the camera.

The opposite side of the camera features the DC In jack, covered by a flexible flap. A small eyelet just below the jack compartment attaches the lens cap strap.

The Shutter button, Mode dial, Flash button, and speaker are all on the DX4530's top panel.

The rest of the camera controls are on the rear panel, along with the optical viewfinder and LCD monitor. An indented thumbrest on the right side cups your thumb as you hold the camera, reinforcing the front handgrip. Above the thumbrest is the zoom rocker button. The Share, Delete, Menu, and Review buttons are laid out near the four corners of the LCD monitor. The Four-Way Arrow pad on the left side of the LCD monitor has a rubbery nub in the center that makes it easy to grip, and which also acts as the OK button. The optical viewfinder eyepiece is quite small, but has a fairly high eyepoint to accommodate eyeglass wearers (I could see the full view at 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 DX4530 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 DX4530 is clearly designed for on-the-go shooting.) I generally prefer to see metal tripod sockets, but the small size and low weight of the DX4530 mean the plastic socket should hold up fine under normal usage. 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 docks for quick image downloading or printing.

Camera Operation
As I've come to expect from Kodak's EasyShare digicam line, the DX4530 has a clear, easy-to-understand interface. The fully automatic exposure control and limited exposure options keep user exposure decisions to a minimum, although you can adjust a few variables such as flash mode and exposure compensation. The LCD menu system is short and simple to navigate, with the familiar Kodak design standard, and the Mode dial lets you change camera modes quickly. Given the simple interface and limited controls, you should be able to snap images right away, without much more than a glance at the manual.

Record-Mode Display
The DX4530's display shows the center autofocus area along with currently-selected options for image size/quality, macro and flash mode, the number of images of the current size and quality that can be stored in the remaining space on the memory card. A battery icon also appears, reporting the approximate level of charge left. A half-press of the Shutter button highlights the AF area selection in red. (Pressing the OK button simply turns the LCD monitor on or off.)

Playback-Mode Display
In Playback mode, you can press the DX4530's multi-controller to zoom in or back out of an image, with a maximum enlargement of 4x. Through the settings menu, a more detailed information display is available, reporting date and time of capture and the image quality setting. (Sorry, I missed grabbing the zoomed-playback view for the screen shots above.)

External Controls

• 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 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. Combines the flash with the longer exposures for brighter night shots, although you can disable the flash if desired.
• Landscape Mode: Fixes focus at infinity, for capturing distant scenery.
• Macro Mode: Changes the focus range for close-up subjects.

• Cancel Prints: Cancels all print marks.
• Print All: Marks all images on the card or in the internal memory for printing.
• Print: Marks the current image for printing, letting you set the number of copies.
• E-Mail: Tags the current image for email transmission. Once tagged, and the image is downloaded to a computer, the Kodak EasyShare software pulls up an email screen for sending the image.
• Favorite: Designates the current image as "favorite," indicated by the heart icon in the LCD display.

Self-Timer: Turns the 10-second self-timer on or off.
Image Storage: Dictates where images are stored, either in the 32MB internal memory or on the SD/MMC card.
Exposure Compensation: Adjusts the overall exposure from -2 to +2 exposure equivalents (EV) in half-step increments.
Long Time Exposure: Accesses longer exposure times, for darker shooting conditions. Manually-set shutter speeds range from 0.7 to 4.0 seconds.
Picture Quality: Sets the image resolution to Best (2,580 x 1,932 pixels), Best 3:2 (2,580 x 1,720 pixels), Better (2,032 x 1,524 pixels), or Good (1,288 x 966 pixels).
Date Stamp: Turns the date stamp function on or off, which records the date over the image. You can choose from a selection of date formats as well.
Orientation Sensor: Controls the camera's orientation sensor, which detects when the camera is tilted sideways, and reflects that in the LCD monitor.



Setup Menu: Accesses the following main camera settings:
Return: Returns to the previous menu display.
Default Print Quantity: Sets the default number of prints specified when "tagging" images.
Quickview: Turns Quickview on or off. Quickview automatically displays the most recently captured image, with options to delete or Share.
Liveview: Disables the LCD's "live" view, meaning you can turn off the LCD as a viewfinder by pressing the center of the Four Way Arrow pad. If off, the LCD remains active at all times.
Shutter Sound: Enables the shutter noise or turns it off.
Date & Time: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
Video Out: Specifies PAL or NTSC as the Video Out signal.
Language: Sets the menu language to English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, or Japanese.
Format: Formats the SD memory card or internal memory.
About: Displays the camera's firmware information.

Magnify: Enlarges the displayed image, so that you can check on fine detail and framing.
Protect: Write-protects the displayed image, preventing it from being accidentally erased or manipulated (except via memory or card formatting). Also removes protection.
Image Storage: Selects between the internal memory or the SD card for image storage.
Slide Show: Enables a slide show of captured images, with user-adjustable intervals between images.
Copy: Copies files from the internal memory to the SD card, or the reverse.
Video Date Display: Turns on the date display over movie files, with a choice of formats.
Picture Info: Displays the filename, directory, date, time, and quality information for the current image.
Setup Menu: Displays the same settings as under the Record menu.

In the Box
In the box are the following items:

• Kodak EasyShare DX4530 digital camera.
• CRV3 lithium battery pack.
• USB cable.
• A/V cable.
• Wrist strap.
• Lens cap with strap.
• EasyShare dock insert.
• Software CD-ROM.
• Operating manual and registration card.
• Some models are also bundled with the Camera Dock II.
  

Recommended Accessories

• Large capacity SD memory card. (I'd recommend 64MB as a bare minimum.)
• Additional set of rechargeable batteries (or battery pack) and charger.
• AC adapter.
• Small camera case.
• EasyShare camera dock or printer dock.

Specifications
See the specifications sheet here.

Picky Details
Information on shooting speed, battery life, etc. can be found here.

User Reviews

• Kodak EasyShare DX4530 user reviews on PriceGrabber.com
  
  
• Kodak EasyShare DX4530 user reviews on PC PhotoREVIEW
  

Sample Pictures
See our sample pictures and detailed analysis here. The thumbnails below show a subset of our test images. Click on a thumbnail to see the full-size photo.

Outdoor	Indoor Flash	Indoor
House	Musicians	Macro
Davebox	Resolution	Viewfinder Accuracy

Conclusion

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Kodak's EasyShare digital cameras excel in user-friendliness, and offer good image quality in addition to their convenient setup and compact size. The DX4530 updates the line with a larger, 5.0-megapixel CCD that captures high-quality images with good detail. Although exposure control is fully automatic, the DX4530 performs surprisingly well in a variety of situations, and offers a few preset scene modes for shooting in low lighting or capturing action shots. A range of manually-selectable longer exposure times extends the camera's capabilities as well, without getting too complicated. If you're looking for a lot of pixels combined with ease of use, all at an attractive price, the DX4530 would be a good choice.