I have split this opinion into 2 sections – the first part provides some general advice on what to look for when buying a digital camera, the second part provides the specific review of the Kodak DC280. So, if you don’t need the advice but just want to read about this particular camera, scroll down until you see “PART 2”….

If you are looking for a new camera it is worth asking yourself a few questions first to be sure that the camera you buy meets your needs.
·What are you looking to accomplish?
·Do you want to print your photographs or simply view them on your PC monitor or publish them on the Web?
·If you are going to print, what kind of output device will you be working with and what are its resolution requirements?
·How big do you want to print your images?
·How many photographs will you need to be able to store on the camera?
·Will you be taking pictures of items smaller than a business card? (If so you will need a macro facility); and of course……
·How much money do you have to spend?

1. Pixel Power. The more mega pixels (the dots that make up the image) the higher the resolution (better quality) the image. Cameras with less than 1 mega pixel are more than adequate if you want to publish images on the web but will result in poor quality photos if you print them out. If you want to print your photos, then 1 mega pixel is the absolute minimum specification you need, but I would recommend 2 mega pixels.

2. Memory. The amount of memory available determines the number of digital images that can be stored on the camera. Some digital cameras just store images in their internal memory. When you fill up the capacity of such a camera, you must download your files to a computer to free up more space. Others us removable storage media (called Flash RAM, PCMCIA cards etc.) – this allows you to expand the memory of your camera so that it will hold more pictures. Much like a floppy disk, the card is simply inserted it into the card slot on the camera. Additional cards can be purchased (although these can be expensive) so you can store more photos while away from your PC or laptop.

4. PC Interface. You will need to transfer your images from the camera or memory card onto your PC. This can be done through a direct connection from a serial or USB port. Serial connections are very slow so I would highly recommend a USB connection. Some cameras are supplied with an interface cradle. Other options include a removable card reader which acts like a mini disk drive.

Another thing you may want to look for is macro close-up capabilities. A macro mode allows you to bring the camera closer to your subject allowing you to take those must-have shots of postage stamps, the head of a flower, your fingernail. Well whatever.

8. Battery Consumption. As mentioned earlier, overuse of the LCD monitor will seriously reduce battery life. However, there are considerable differences in battery consumption between different models of camera. It is advisable to either get a camera with a rechargeable battery pack or one which can take standard rechargeable batteries.

I bought my DC280 in January 2001 – it was bundled with a Lexmark P11 colour printer, total cost £360. For that price I got:

Resolution - The DC280 has a maximum picture resolution of 2.3 mega pixels which gives very high quality images in terms of detail, colour and sharpness. This resolution is more than sufficient for printing out good quality photos. I have printed A4 sized photos on Kodak photo inkjet paper using a Lexmark P11 printer and the results are very good indeed – you cannot tell the difference from standard film processing output.

Memory - My DC280 was supplied with a 8MB memory card which can store about 11 photos (best quality); 17 (better quality); 70 (good quality). An additional 16MB card is currently available from Kodak (see http://www.kodak.co.uk) for £40. Other reviewers on Ciao have had their DC280 supplied with a 16MB card as standard, so it’s worth checking.

On-Screen Menus. The DC280 has an LCD status display panel at the top of the camera which indicates how many pictures are remaining, the selected resolution and picture quality, battery level, whether infinity or close up (macro) focus is selected, flash / red-eye reduction on/off etc. These items are permanently displayed as long as the camera is switched on.

Batteries. The DC280 can be powered either by an AC adaptor or 4 AA batteries – the camera is supplied with 4 rechargeable batteries and a charger. Battery life is very good (my last set lasted 2 months with moderate use). However, if you use the LCD monitor as a viewfinder then battery life is reduced to literally hours!

Software. The DC280 is supplied with Kodak software which allows you to transfer your images from the camera to your PC hard drive, undertake limited editing functions and even control the camera from your PC (change the camera set-up etc.). The software is very user friendly and easy for a complete novice to install. If you want to do more detailed editing of your pictures though, you will need to invest in more specialist editing software – something like Photoshop or equivalent.