I stumbled upon this camera while searching through ciao, so i think i should baptise it with its first opinion.
This, i must state to start of with is not a digital video camera in the respect that you can take it on holiday and film the sunset. This is a webcam, and unless you use the computer on the beach (i suppose it is possible) there will be no sunsets taken with it. With our camera it is restricted to taking a photo of who ever is on the computer at the time.
The camera only has two real features on it, a manual focus wheel and a shutter button which can take snapshots. All of the functions are performed by using the software supplied with the camera, "Presto Videoworks 4.2" Here you can take little video clips, or still
digital photos. After taking the photo or clip what can you do with it? Well, save it to your printer, or just send it via email to a friend who actually wants to see a photo of you! Of course, you can print it off too, but realistically you need a good colour printer for that, mine's not up to the challenge!
One of my problems is that this camera has a 3m cable which really is not enough, you can't film anything particularly interesting. Kodak claim it can be hand held, which is true, but it really does not mean anything with so little reach.
Installing the software was not the easiest feat. You need to install twain software (i still this day do not know what that means) and the DVC325 drivers. Then the additional software you get is Netmeeting (for video conferencing, i'll talk about this later!), the aforementioned Presto videoworks and Presto Mr Photo (what a ridiculous name!) Now then, where should i start? You would imagine that a respectable company like KODAK would have software that actually works with the camera? Incredibly it did not seem to! I had to fiddle about with the TWAIN driver and the camera's drivers for weeks. After fiddling "Select photo source" my machine tells me. It then would not let me select anything. IT HAD CRASHED MY COMPUTER. Infuriating. God knows how i managed to get it working again. After blood, sweat and tears i actually got a picture of my face. What a dissapointment! Anyway, the picture quality was perfect. Now for my videoconferencing on the NETMEETING. You've guessed it. No luck there either. To this day i am at a loss as to how to use it. The camera does work with a program called Eyeball Chat, however.
But was it worth it? Well, not really. This is not a problem with this specific camera, but webcamsin general. I don't go on chat rooms, but i am under the impression the 50 years olds talk to each other and claim that they are both really young and good looking. They are both happy. Then the webcam comes along and ruins everything. People are exposed for what they are, and are unable to live in their fantasy world any more. I mentioned Eyeball chat earlier, now that was an experience. Frustrated people show you things you really don't want to see! I'll leave it to your imagination, but i am so scared of it now so i dont dare go on it any more! I would have thought that if you have friends or family abroad and can set up the netmeeting software this webcam would be a great way to stay intouch.
Sorry, i have been straying from the product. I do have some good things to say for this camera! It comes with a stand, and two mounts. This means you can put it on top of your monitor and also on the laptop. The camera tilts to 75 degrees, and is relatively well made. The picture it produces (if you have the patience to get it) is clear, and the focus wheel is highly effective. Also the camera is powered through the one USB cable, which saves on having to plug it in, and reduced the number of cables which seem to come from nowhere!
I had to buy a microphone with the camera as it does not have an internal one. This added £10 onto the £50 i had originally spent.
Here I am, typing while i look up at my DVC 325 looking down at me from the top of my monitor. The thing has lasted well, and its only small so you have to pity it, and forgive it for all the inadequacies. Alternatively, just don't buy it.
Thanks for reading this review, i know it was long, but well done for sticking with it!
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Good op. Incidentally, TWAIN is a software protocol and applications programming interface standard that regulates communication between software applications and imaging devices, such as scanners, cameras etc...
Mattroberts 26.05.2003 19:57
Excellent review my babe, Matt x x
LBuSBu1 04.05.2003 01:15
Hi. I agreed with a lot of the issues you covered. A well-written and considered op. Take care, Stacey.x
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