EasyShare DX7590: Kodak's Second Ultra-Zoom Digicam
by Stephen Caston on February 11, 2005 12:03 AM EST- Posted in
- Digital Camera
Final Words
With the DX7590, Kodak has successfully packaged a tremendous array of features into an intuitive and powerful digicam. The DX7590 provides its users with a versatile 10x zoom lens and 9 recording modes, including 14 preset scene modes. After reviewing the DX7590, we find ourselves with mixed feelings regarding its performance. For example, when it comes to color reproduction, this camera is possibly the best that we've seen. The Auto white balance setting worked very well and the preset WB settings offer even better accuracy. Still, we would have liked to have seen manual WB as an option.The DX7590 has a very aggressive noise reduction process that indeed leaves images with very little noise. The downside to this is a significant loss of detail and clarity. In fact, we found that images from the camera tend to have a soft/muddy quality. On the topic of image quality, we were somewhat surprised to see JPEG artifacts in images taken at the highest quality setting. In addition, we found that purple fringing is a fairly common occurrence with this camera. With respect to speed, the camera is rather inconsistent. For example, it has a decent startup time and exceptional shutter lag times. In addition, cycle times are fast until the buffer fills up. At this point, the camera really slows down while the buffer empties data out to the flash card/internal memory.
In the end, this camera is certainly not suited for everyone. For example, if you are looking for a camera that can keep up with a lot of continuous shooting, the DX7590 will probably frustrate you with its leisurely buffer clearing time. However, if continuous shooting isn't your priority, the DX7590 is easily capable of making beautiful 8"x10" prints and offers flexibility of a 10x zoom and manual exposure controls.
| Pros | Cons |
| - Great 10x zoom range - Very accurate WB system - Good noise control - Very little shutter lag - Excellent battery life - Wide range of recording modes - EVF great for bright conditions |
- Soft/muddy images - Sluggish write times - JPEG artifacts - Purple fringing - No manual white balance - No histogram - Movie mode limited to 12 or 20 fps |
Thanks again to Newegg.com for loaning us the Kodak DX7590 for review.
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Locut0s - Saturday, February 12, 2005 - link
I could be wrong but isn't Kodak well known for making relatively low quality consumer and prosumer digital cameras while making really good top of the line digital cameras? By top of the line I mean REALLY top of the line.bpt8056 - Saturday, February 12, 2005 - link
I have been looking at both the Panasonic FZ20 and the Kodak DX7590. I just spoke with the VP of Digital and Film Imaging from Kodak the other day and she basically said that the DX7590 is considered a "prosumer" type of camera, but with simplicity in mind. There's the keyword: simplicity. I like to take good quality pictures and I know the FZ20 is the one to get. However, my wife does all the organizing and printing since she's a consultant from Creative Memories. She wants the process of organizing, printing, ordering, etc. as easy as possible which the Kodak cameras can help her with. Even after repeatedly showing her the procedure with our current camera, she still needs my help and I tend to be busy doing something else.Here's my take on the DX7590 and the FZ20:
FZ20:
Pros
+ High resolution, sharp details
+ Image stabilization
+ Hotshoe
+ TIFF Mode
+ High Zoom (12x)
+ Colors are good, but shows a hint of yellow
+ Chromatic aberration almost nonexistant
Cons
- Poor low-light/indoor shots (external flash can fix this)
- Noise level is nasty above ISO 100 (hence indoor pics won't look too sharp)
- Not quite as compact as DX7590
- Simplicity??
DX7590:
Pros
+ Kodak Color science
+ White balance (the best I've seen)
+ High Zoom (10x)
+ Noise level is pretty good
+ Can be configured as point-and-shoot
+ EasyShare (simplicity)
+ External flash can be used (need to have bracket)
Cons
- Aggressive compression
- Soft details (grass looks muddy)
- Chromatic aberration is apparent
- No image stalization
- No TIFF or RAW mode
The FZ20 will give better results with pictures, but the DX7590 provides a better ease of use.
defter - Saturday, February 12, 2005 - link
Don't forget Panasonic FZ3: small size and 12x zoom with image stabilizer at ~$320.BPB - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
The Panasonic reviews are impressive. Interesting that it too has slow frame rates for video with sound.One big plus, to my way of thinking, is the Kodak printer dock. We have one and love it, even though the price per print isn't that cheap. Still, it's a lot easier than heading out to a store or emailing to an eshop.
Wesley Fink - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
#5 - If you are running the native and highest 1600x1200 resulution on your Dell, you are still compressing your image from 2576x1716 to 1600x1200 when you view it. Your Dell screen is less than 2 megapixels, so filling the screen is not any great indication of the quality of a 5 megapixel image. You would likely be better judging quality by viewing actual pixels on screen and scrolling around the image.ironman67 - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
I've had a Lumix DMC-FZ20 for over a month--Fantastic!!! Pictures taken at medium quality at sharp and detailed even when I enlarge them to fill my 20 in. Dell LCD.BPB - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
As a DX6490 owner, I think I'd be very happy with this camera. We may sell the 6490 and upgrade. Not being a bigtime photographer, the problems they mention here wouldn't matter much. The few annoyances the 6490 has for us seemed to have been bettered in this model. So, as an average camera schmuck, I think this would be a good camera.But I am going to look into the Lumix mentioned above.
plk21 - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
I bought my mom the DX6490 (the 4MP version) for Christmas 2003, and it's a GREAT digicam. I'm thinking of getting this one for myself.The Doc is a nice feature for technophobes like my mother, with simple instructions like "Put the camera on the doc, and press the big button". That's one reason I reccomend Kodak cameras to less tech savy people. combined with Picasa2, they're absolutely perfect for those types of people. I get a lot less "support calls" for the Kodaks than other digicams.
Souka - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
Agree....Also...yet another Kodak review on AT...ugh.... :(
fass mut - Friday, February 11, 2005 - link
for $500 clams..i'd go for the Lumix DMC-FZ20, 12X image stabilized!