Introduction

Review Links Overview Picky Details Design Operation Recommended Accessories Test Images Specifications Conclusion

The Kodak EasyShare DX7440 is one of the latest in Kodak's hugely popular line of consumer digicams. Like others in the "DX" series, the Kodak DX7440 offers both fully automatic operation and a range of exposure options that let more experienced users exercise greater creative control. True to their name, the EasyShare line of cameras are indeed very easy to use, a fact that's no doubt contributed to their great popularity with consumers. The subject of the current review is the EasyShare DX7440, a compact 4.0-megapixel design that provides full manual exposure control, an easy-to-understand interface, and a wide selection of user options while at the same time retaining the ease of use that gave the EasyShare line its name.

The DX7440 is compatible with Kodak's EasyShare camera and printer docks, which offer hassle-free image downloading and printing. You simply put the camera into the dock (the DX7440 comes with a plastic insert that fits the camera bottom snugly into the dock) and press the Connect button on the dock. The dock station also serves as an AC adapter and in-camera battery charger. Built into the DX7440 is 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-megabyte card (preferably a 128 MB one) right away, given the camera's 2,304 x 1,728-pixel maximum resolution size. For power, the DX7440 uses a Kodak EasyShare Li-Ion battery pack, or the optional AC adapter. Since the camera does not accommodate AA-type batteries, I highly recommend picking up a spare battery pack and keeping it on-hand and freshly charged. The camera comes with a battery charger in case you don't have the accessory dock. Also packaged with the DX7440 are USB and AV cables, as well as a software CD loaded with the EasyShare software for downloading and managing images.

On the right side of the camera (as viewed from the rear) is only the shiny, silver eyelet for attaching the wrist strap.

Shutter Button: Located on the camera's top panel, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed, and fires the shutter when fully pressed. In Playback mode, pressing this button returns the camera to the selected Record mode.

Zoom Lever: Encircling the Shutter button on the camera's top panel, this lever controls the optical and digital zoom in any record mode. In Playback mode, the lever controls the amount of digital enlargement applied to captured images, to a maximum of 8x.

Flash Button: Diagonally behind the Shutter button to the left, this button cycles through the Auto, Fill, Red-Eye Reduction, and Off flash modes.

Focus Button: To the left of the Flash button, this button controls the camera's focus mode, cycling between Normal AF, Macro, and Landscape focus settings.

Drive Button: Next to the Focus button, this button cycles through the First Burst, Last Burst, and Exposure Bracketing drive settings.

Delete: Next to the optical viewfinder on the camera's rear panel, this button calls up the Delete menu in Review mode. You can delete individual images or all images on the card. There's also an option to cancel.

Menu Button: To the right of the Delete button, this button displays the settings menu in Playback or Record modes.

Review Button: Directly to the right of the Menu button, this button activates Playback mode when pressed in any record mode. Once in Playback mode, pressing the button again, or the Shutter button, returns to the Record display.

Jog Dial: Tucked in the top right corner of the rear panel, this ridged dial controls a handful of camera settings when rotated. In Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, or Custom exposure modes, turning the dial moves a triangular yellow cursor between different exposure variables on the LCD monitor, while a full press of the dial selects the current exposure option for adjustment. Once selected, you can change the setting by changing the dial. Pressing the dial again de-selects the current option, so you can choose a different parameter to adjust. Available exposure settings (depending on the particular exposure mode you're in) are exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

Share Button: Located in the top right corner of the LCD monitor, this button lets you tag images for printing, emailing, or as a favorite image. (A heart icon appears on "favorite" images.) Pressing this button in Review mode automatically enables Playback mode, and displays the Share menu with the following options:

• Cancel Prints: Cancels a print order.
• Print All: Prints one copy of each image on the memory card or internal memory.
• Print: Designates the number of copies of the current image to be printed.
• E-Mail: E-mails a low-resolution copy of the image to a recipient, based on a saved address book.
• Favorite: Marks the current image as a "favorite."

Mode Dial: Taking up the lower right corner of the rear panel, this large dial features a small locking button that releases it for turning. The following camera modes are available:

Multi-Controller: Located in the center of the Mode dial, this joystick-like controller navigates through menu options in any settings menu. When pressed, it confirms menu selections.

In Playback mode, the controller scrolls through captured images, when moved left and right. Pressing the button down activates the index display mode.

Info Button: Positioned in the lower right corner of the LCD monitor, this button reports various camera settings for quick reference when pressed.

Camera Modes and Menus

Movie Mode: The first mode on the Mode dial, Movie mode is indicated by a movie camera icon. In this mode, you can record 640 x 480 or 320 x 240-pixel resolution movies with sound, at 13 or 24 frames per second, respectively.

Favorites Mode: An album icon with a heart on its cover indicates this mode on the Mode dial. In this mode, any images that have been designated as "favorites" are displayed. (Note that it only displays Favorites that have been processed through the EasyShare software, so newly-capture images marked as Favorites will not appear.)

Auto Mode: Marked with a camera icon and the word "Auto," this mode is best for most average shooting conditions. Exposure is automatically controlled, but a small selection of user options is available through the Record menu.

Scene Mode: The letters "SCN" indicate this mode on the Mode dial, which offers 16 preset shooting modes. Available "scenes" are Portrait, Sports, Landscape, Close-up, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Snow, Beach, Text, Fireworks, Flower, Manner, Self-Portrait, Party, Children, and Backlight.

Program Mode: A single letter "P" notes this mode, which provides basic user control over Record menu options, but leaves the camera in charge of shutter speed and aperture settings.

Aperture Priority Mode: The initial "A" stands for Aperture Priority mode, where the user has control over the lens aperture setting. The camera maintains control over the shutter speed.

Shutter Priority Mode: Like Aperture Priority mode, this mode places the user in charge of one exposure variable. Here, the user can set the shutter speed, while the camera selects the best lens aperture. An "S" marks this mode on the Mode dial.

Manual Mode: Indicated with an "M" on the Mode dial, this mode provides complete user control over both shutter speed and lens aperture simultaneously.

Custom Mode: The final position on the Mode dial, this mode lets you save a selection of exposure settings for recall later.

Playback Mode: Accessed by pressing the Review button, this mode lets you review captured images and movies, as well as manage files.

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.

• Custom Mode: Selects which exposure mode (Program, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, or Manual) is activated in Custom mode.
• Self-Timer: Activates the 10-second Self-Timer, or disables it.
• Picture Size: Sets the resolution for still images. Choices are 4.0 MP (2,304 x 1,728 pixels), 3.5 MP 3:2 ratio (2,304 x 1,536 pixels), 3.1 MP (2,048 x 1,536 pixels), 2.1 MP (1,656 x 1,242 pixels), or 1.1 MP (1,200 x 900 pixels).
• Compression: Sets the JPEG compression to Standard or Fine.
• White Balance: Sets the color balance to Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, or Fluorescent settings.
• Exposure Bracketing Interval: Designates the exposure equivalent (EV) step size that images vary by when the Auto Exposure Bracketing feature is used. Choices are +/- 0.3, 0.7, or 1.0 EV.
• Exposure Metering: Sets the camera's metering mode to Multi-Pattern, Center-Weighted, or Center-Spot.
• Focus Zone: Controls what portion of the frame the camera's AF system determines focus from. Choices are Multi-Zone, Center-Zone, or Selectable-Zone (either center, left, or right).
• AF Control: Sets the autofocus to Continuous or Single modes, or to Accessory Lens.
• Color Mode: Allows you to record images in High, Natural, or Low Color, or in Black and White or Sepia tones.
• Sharpness: Controls the in-camera sharpening, with options of High, Normal, or Low.
• Reset to Default: Resets all camera settings to their defaults.
• Set Album (Still): The DX7440 lets you set up albums through its interface software on a computer. If albums have been set up and downloaded to the camera, you can associate images with an album as they are recorded.
• Image Storage: Dictates where images are stored, either in the 32MB internal memory or SD card. If Auto is selected, the camera automatically stores images to a memory card if one is present.
• Liveview (Auto): Disables the LCD's "live" view in Auto mode, meaning you can turn off the LCD as a viewfinder by pressing the multi-controller. If this setting is off, the LCD remains active at all times.
• Video Size: Sets the pixel resolution for Movie mode. Choices are 320 x 240 or 640 x 480 pixels.
• Video Length: Sets the default video length to Continuous, or to 5, 15, or 30 seconds.
  
  
  
• Setup Menu: Displays the following Setup options:
  • Return: Returns to the previous menu display.
  • Quickview: Turns Quickview on or off. Quickview automatically displays the most recently captured image, with options to delete or Share.
  • Advanced Digital Zoom: Controls how digital zoom is accessed. The Continuous setting allows you to seamlessly zoom from the optical zoom range into the digital range. "Pause" tells the camera to pause between ranges. "None" disables digital zoom altogether.
  • Print Warning: If activated, this feature turns the zoom slider red if the digital zoom is set too high to render an acceptable 4x6-inch print.
  • Sound Themes: Selects the camera's operating sounds. Choices are Shutter Only, Default, Classical, Jazz, and Sci-Fi. (All sounds are disabled in the camera's Manner scene mode.)
  • Sound Volume: Sets the volume to Low, Medium, or High, or turns sound off.
  • Mode Description: If enabled, displays a description of each camera mode on the LCD monitor when first accessed.
  • Date & Time: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
  • Video Out: Specifies PAL or NTSC as the Video Out signal.
  • Orientation Sensor: Controls the camera's orientation sensor, which detects when the camera is held vertically. Vertical-format images captured when the Orientation Sensor is enabled are rotated to their correct orientation on-screen when they're played back.)
  • 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.
  • Video Date Display: Like the Date Stamp option above, imprints the date and time on video files, with a choice of display formats.
  • Language: Sets the menu language to one of nine languages.
  • Format: Formats the SD memory card or internal memory.
  • About: Displays the camera's firmware information.
    

Playback Menu:

• Album: Adds images to an image album, created on a computer with the camera's interface software.
• 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.
• Multi-Up: Enables a index display of images on the memory card or stored in the internal memory.
• Setup Menu: Displays the same settings as under the Record menu.
  

Recommended Software: Rescue your Photos!
Just as important as an extra memory card is a tool to rescue your images when one of your cards fails at some point in the future. I get a lot of email from readers who've lost photos due to a corrupted memory card. Memory card corruption can happen with any card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now, so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for Windows or PhotoRescue for Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF manual and quickstart guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen. (Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly scheduled review...

Specifications

See the specifications sheet here.

Picky Details

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

Sample Pictures

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

"Sunlit"	Indoor Flash	Indoor
House	Musicians	Macro
Davebox	Resolution	Viewfinder Accuracy

Test Results

In keeping with my standard test policy, the comments given here summarize only my key findings. For a full commentary on each of the test images, see the EasyShare DX7440's "pictures" page.

As with all Imaging Resource product tests, I encourage you to let your own eyes be the judge of how well the camera performed. Explore the images on the pictures page, to see how the DX7440's images compare to other cameras you may be considering.

Not sure which camera to buy? Let your eyes be the ultimate judge! Visit our Comparometer(tm) to compare images from the DX7440 with those from other cameras you may be considering. The proof is in the pictures, so let your own eyes decide which you like best!

• Color: Good color accuracy, somewhat high saturation. Like many consumer digicams, the DX7440's color is quite bright and punchy. - But that's because most consumers like bright, snappy-looking photos. The DX7440 did tend toward a slightly reddish color balance in a lot of my shots, regardless of white balance setting, but the color cast probably isn't enough to bother most consumers. The reddish tinge did tend to make skin tones a little more pink than in real life, but wasn't too visible otherwise, particularly when viewing the 7440's images in isolation. (That is, it's much more evident when comparing the camera's images to those from a camera with a cooler or more neutral cast, but by themselves, the 7440's photos generally look OK. On the Indoor Portrait (without flash), the 7440 did a pretty good job of handling the very warm-hued household incandescent lighting, something many cameras have a lot of trouble with.
  
  
• Exposure: A slight tendency to overexpose, and rather high contrast. Exposure was typically a little bright with the DX7440, with fairly high contrast as well. The camera came closer than most do to the correct exposure on the high-key outdoor portrait shot, requiring only a small amount of positive exposure compensation. That said though, midtones remained slightly dark and some detail was lost in the strongest highlights. Indoors, the camera required a lower than average amount of positive exposure compensation, and the flash exposure was reasonably bright as well. The DX7440 had no trouble distinguishing the subtle pastel tones on the Q60 target of the Davebox, despite high contrast and exposure, though shadow detail was limited. Overall, not bad, but I'd have been happier with a little better accuracy and lower contrast.
  
  
• Resolution/Sharpness: High resolution, 1,150 lines of "strong detail." The DX7440 performed well on the "laboratory" resolution test chart. It started showing artifacts in the test patterns at resolutions as low as 800 lines per picture height, in both horizontal and vertical directions. I found "strong detail" out to at least 1,100, arguably 1,200, lines. "Extinction" of the target patterns didn't occur until about 1,400 lines.
  
  
• Image Noise: Low image noise at low ISOs. Also low at higher ISO settings, but a heavy price is paid in terms of image detail. Image noise is present in the DX7440's images but quite low at the 80 and 100 ISO equivalent settings. As the ISO increases, the noise levels remain fairly low, but that's because the camera makes a heavy tradeoff with subtle subject detail to suppress the noise in the final images. The net effect isn't too bad at ISO 200, but the ISO 400 shot looks almost like a watercolor painting in places. - Don't shoot with the DX7440 at ISO settings over 200 if you care about subtle detail in your photos.
  
  
• Closeups: An average size macro area, with some softness in the corners but overall good detail. The DX7440 turned in about an average performance in the macro category, capturing a minimum area of 2.99 x 2.24 inches (76 x 57 millimeters). Resolution was high, with clear, sharp details in the brooch, coins, and dollar bill. As with the macro modes of most digicams I test, there was some softness in each of the four corners, but it didn't extend very far into the frame. Color balance was pinkish with the Auto white balance setting, but exposure was good. Undoubtedly tricked by the reflections from the coins and the brooch, the DX7440's flash throttled down a little too much for the macro area, producing a dim exposure. (With less reflective subjects though, the DX7440's flash should work well for macro shooting.)
  
  
• Night Shots: Excellent low-light performance, with good color and exposure in almost total darkness. Very good low-light focusing as well. With a maximum exposure time of 64 seconds and full manual exposure control, the DX7440 is well-suited for low-light shooting. The camera produced clear, bright, usable images down to the 1/16 foot-candle (0.67 lux) limit of my test, with good color at all four ISO settings. Noise was very low at the 80 and 100 ISO settings, and only increased to a moderate level at ISO 200. Even at ISO 400, image noise is lower than I'd expect, but as we saw earlier, the way the DX7440 achieves its low noise levels at high ISO settings is by trading away a lot of subtle subject detail.
  
  
• Viewfinder Accuracy: A somewhat tight optical viewfinder, but accurate LCD monitor. The DX7440's optical viewfinder was somewhat tight at the telephoto setting, showing about 85 percent of the final frame area. (While a lot tighter than I like to see, this is actually about average among consumer digicams.) However, at the wide angle lens position, frame accuracy was better, showing about 90 percent of the final frame. The LCD monitor fared much better, showing 99+ percent frame regardless of lens settings. (Though the measurement lines were just out of frame at wide angle.) Given that I like LCD monitors to be as close to 100 percent accuracy as possible, the DX7440's LCD monitor performed very well here, but I'd like to see the optical viewfinder a little more accurate.
  
  
• Optical Distortion: Very low distortion, good sharpness to the corners of the frame. Optical distortion on the DX7440 was very low at the wide-angle end, where I measured only 0.2 percent barrel distortion. The telephoto end fared about the same, also with an 0.2 percent barrel distortion. Both numbers are quite a bit lower than average. Chromatic aberration is also very low, showing at most about four pixels of very faint coloration on either side of the target lines. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.) Finally, the DX7440's lens seems to hold sharpness very well out into the corners, with less of the softness there that I'm accustomed to seeing in digicam images. All in all, a very high-quality lens.
  
  
• Shutter Lag and Cycle Time: Very good timing performance. I found the DX7440 to be quite a bit better than average, both in terms of shutter response and shot to shot cycle times. Its full-autofocus shutter lag ranged from 0.38 to 0.54 seconds, quite a bit better than average. Its lag when prefocused was 0.13 seconds, also quite good. Shot to shot cycle times are likewise a good bit better than average, at 1.18 seconds for up to six frames.
  
  
• Battery Life: So-so battery life with LCD on, excellent battery life using only the optical viewfinder. With worst-case runtime of 96 minutes in capture mode with the rear panel LCD illuminated, the DX7440 has only average battery life. BUT, with the LCD turned off, record-mode run time stretches to well over five hours, a very good performance indeed. Playback-mode battery life is also pretty good, at a little under 3 hours.