Title : Kodak Easyshare LS443 4 MP Digital Camera w/3x Optical Zoom (Includes Dock)
Author : Kodak
Release Date : 20021106
Binding : Electronics
Regular Price : $550.00
Amazon.com Price : $455.95
(17
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Editorial Reviews : Kodak's 4-megapixel LS443 is so feature-rich and easy to use that it has the potential to appeal to nearly anyone. Kodak also includes a docking station that serves as a battery recharger and as an easy connection to the PC that lets beginners upload shots to the computer. Working in conjunction with the docking station, the EasyShare software enables you to easily print, e-mail, organize, and edit pictures. In testing, we were able to adjust everything from the white balance and ISO settings to focus zones and exposure controls. Beginners can simply set everything to automatic and snap away. Either way, the camera takes clear pictures with true colors, and close-ups look particularly good.
However, taking quick action shots is virtually impossible because of the camera's relatively slow reaction time. The delay between pressing the button and the shutter release is long enough that we had to carefully anticipate every shot, and the recovery time as the picture is processed makes taking a quick follow-up shot impossible.
Unfortunately, the camera's aggressive compression scheme robs large images of their quality. The LS443's highest-resolution setting yields pictures with enormous dimensions that are squashed into 1 MB JPEG files, resulting in a multitude of compression artifacts when images are viewed at full size. The good news is that the large pictures look fine when scaled down to smaller sizes. Unfortunately, Kodak doesn't include a low- or no-compression option.
This compression does benefit this camera's target audience, though, as it enables users to stuff more large pictures into a smaller amount of storage space while also making it easier to e-mail the large pictures. But there is a lot to like about the LS443, a great choice for those looking for a 4-megapixel point-and-shoot camera. --T. Byrl Baker
Buyer Reviews : I loved this camera until I decided to buy a memory card and card reader. When I loaded the software for the card reader on two separate computers, one running ME and the other 98, I ran into big problems. The computer with ME refused to update the drivers and the software completely trashed the system with 98. I later learned from technical support, I didn't even need to load the software but could just download the drivers but by then it was too late. Now I'm stuck with one computer that barely functions.
I didn't like the EasyShare software anyway. Paintshop Pro is much better for editing photos. And the camera records movies in .mov mode which means that if you want to make them accessible to everyone you have to run a conversion utility which degrades the quality. Since most people have older versions of Windows Media Player or Realplayer that do not recognize the QuickTime extension, this becomes a necessity to allow them to access the files.
I also learned that Kodak now uses a proprietary media card instead of Smartmedia or Compactflash cards which also was an issue since I wanted to use a Flash Path adapter.
Then to top it off, the camera itself stopped working after two weeks. I sent it back and am trying a different brand.
I gave this three stars instead of one because the camera itself took great pictures while it worked and had a lot of adjustable settings which were easy to use. And the price is right but I guess you get what you pay for. Kokak needs to recognize that the real world is Microsoft dominated and there are very few Apple users and they need to address their software issues.
(by A customer)
Features/Technical Specs : * 4-megapixel sensor captures 2,448 x 1,632 images for prints at sizes up to 20 x 30 inches * Autofocus lens with 3x optical/3.3x digital (10x total) zoom * Store photos on 16 MB internal memory or optional Secure Digital/MultiMedia cards * Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port; includes EasyShare LS443 camera dock * Powered by Kodak EasyShare Li-Ion rechargeable battery
