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Kodak's DC290 is the company's top of the range consumer digital camera. It features a 2.3 megapixel CCD sensing chip, which was, until the latest 3.3 megapixel models started arriving, the highest resolution generally available. The DC290 is a development of Kodak's original DC260 launched 18 months ago. Besides a 40 percent increase in maximum picture resolution, the near identical looking 290 retains the 260's unique Digita scripting control language which enables camera functions to be automated.
In appearance, the 290 is much smaller than it looks in pictures. Its square profile is unusual, but generous rubberised plastic inserts provide a sculpted and protective feel which is comfortable to hold. The bright 38.4-115.2mm 3X zoom has a built in lens protector. There is the option of using the battery-conserving optical viewfinder or viewing the scene via the built in LCD screen. Care must be taken with the former as parallax error is a problem when photographing anything closer than around 3 feet. The back of the camera also features a thumb-wheel mode selector. Four standard size AA NiMH rechargeable batteries and charger are supplied and alkaline AAs can be used in emergencies. A set of freshly charged batteries lasts around 40 shots, depending on how much the flash mode is used.
The DC290 will only take Compact Flash (CF) memory cards, unlike some rivals which will accept SmartMedia cards as well. A generous 20Mb card is supplied. With a native maximum resolution of 1792 x 1200 pixels, resolution is equivalent to a 6x4 inch print scanned at 300dpi. By letting the camera interpolate the resolution a notch higher, the camera can simulate 3.3 megapixel resolution, but in our experience this mode delivers bigger image files but hardly any noticeable difference in quality.
For best quality, there's an uncompressed mode, which stores 6Mb TIFF format files. The DC290's 20Mb Compact Flash card can only store two of these highest resolution images as some space on the card is used for system data. In JPEG format high quality mode, images average at half a megabyte and around 30 can be squeezed into a single 20Mb card. USB downloading is supported and it only takes a couple of minutes to copy a full card to a PC.
Other features include continuous sequence shooting, red eye flash reduction (which is only rarely needed), automatic portrait/landscape mode sensing (so the image is always upright when viewed) and external flash support. There is also a sound recording facility and wireless infra-red support.
In use, we found the LCD screen difficult to see in bright conditions. Actual results were endowed with vibrant - possibly too vibrant - colours and good sharpness. From switch-on, like many digital cameras, it took several agonising seconds for the camera to reach picture-taking readiness. We also had to reformat the memory card as pictures we had taken disappeared in what appeared to be a hidden folder, never to be seen again.
Verdict Overall, the Kodak DC290 is a rugged and likeable camera with a good lens, plenty of storage space on the supplied memory card and plenty of options for the gadget-conscious. It's not quite a class-leader with its picture quality, but only the most demanding users are likely to be put off by this point.
