Product Review: Kodak DCS 14n Digital Camera

The Kodak DCS 14n is the first dSLR camera to be offered by Kodak, and was first announced in the end of 2002. When first released, this DSLR came with a $5k price tag, which was cheap compared to the rest of the available digital SLRs. The camera can now be found for less than $1500 if you buy a used for refurbished one.

If you've enjoyed Kodak cameras in the past, especially their modern line of digital cameras, then you've likely considered Kodak for your professional needs. If that's the case, read on. This review lists the pros and cons of purchasing the DCS 14n, as well as general info about this DSLR.

Body

The body of this camera is large, but smaller than many dSLRs on the market. The top half of the case is specially designed by Kodak, and the rest or the body is a non-glossy black plastic. It is wider at the bottom then it is at the top.

The lens is centered in the body of the device, and appears a bit too small for the frame, though that is normal with most DSLRs. The camera is designed with a right-hand grip, and the shutter button is lower on the end of the handle, which may make it a bit hard for left-hand shooters to press.

The LCD is below the EFV, and has a neat row of buttons on both sides of the display. The navigational button is ideally place for the thumb when holding the grip, so it's easier to use while in mid-shot.

The mode dial and flash button are on the left side instead of the right, so you'll have to use your left hand to manipulate them.

Features

The DCS 14n features all the options you'd expect to find in a DSLR. It has four exposure modes and six white balance modes. The continuous mode can take up to eight shots at a time before writing. Exposure goes to 19EV, which is approximately the equivalent of 100 ISO.

Shutter speed can go as long as 30 seconds, or as fast as 1/4000second. While it make not be the fastest option, the 30 seconds delay means you'll be able to catch lightening shots, or do nice light graffiti photography.

There is both a built-in flash and a port for an external flash, the battery is proprietary, and the storage medium is SD and MMC cards, not CF cards as most DSLRs use.

Image Quality

The resolution on these photos is amazing, and the sharpness, even at lower megapixels, is quite good. These pictures are very nice, and for someone who understands how to use the manual functions, they can come out quite nice.

Cons

The continuous mode is slower than other cameras, and it won't capture movie like frames of a fast movement.

Also, the photos taken in auto white balance sometimes look a bit washed out, so you will need to manually alter settings. The edges of photos look a bit soft and out of focus, but aren't vignetted. If you're the type that generally crops in th edges, this shouldn't matter too much.

Conclusion

This camera is very good for its price, is smaller then many DSLRs, and would be the perfect camera for certain types of shooters. If you don't need high-action shots, then this camera would likely be perfect for you. The resolution trumps other, more famous cameras, such as the EOS, and is very pleasant to look at.

If, on the other hand, you want fast start, write, and shot times, you might want to look elsewhere.