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| Kodak DVC325 |
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Hardware Reviews December 1999 • Vol.2 Issue 12 |
Kodak DVC325 | ||
 Web cams are some of the most uniquely designed pieces of hardware you'll find in the computing world. The Kodak DVC325 from Eastman Kodak is in turn one of the most uniquely designed Web cams. But the camera isn't all about a flashy design. It also features an easy connection, good image quality, and an integrated shutter button. Kodak didn't venture very far when it designed the DVC325. It shares the same design as Kodak's previously released DVC323 model. Both cameras share the look of a phaser gun you're likely to see on a late-night rerun of Star Trek. Where the cameras differ is in the improvements the DVC325 offers, including its ability to detach from the removable base it sits in. The third-generation Kodak Web cam also has an attachment to connect it to a notebook computer. When the camera is connected to its base, it swivels up and down at nearly a 75-degree angle. Unfortunately, the DVC325 doesn't swivel side to side, but it does sit solidly on the monitor top, thanks to a rubber coating on the bottom of the base. In addition, a manual focus wheel on top of the camera focuses objects from 4 inches to infinity with a 4.6mm lens and 50-degree diagonal field of view. What we really appreciate about the DVC325 is its integrated manual shutter button. Combined with the extra long 9.8-foot USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, the shutter button allowed us to take still images and video in a wide area around our desktop area. Installing the DVC325 proved to be no problem, thanks to the camera's USB connection. Still images and video are captured at a high resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. The camera also captures 30fps (frames per second) at 320 x 240 pixels, but we got better results in generating smooth flowing video at 176 x 144 pixels. Both resolutions displayed good brightness and color; although, our still images were a bit dark, and the focus wasn't as crisp as we would have expected from a Kodak product. Overall, we expected the focus to extend farther into the background of images. The camera did impress us with its ability to adjust quickly when we pointed it at a bright light source. The DVC325 was less impressive when we placed it in a darkly lit surrounding; it lost some of its detail. You'll have to scrounge up your own microphone to use the DVC325, but the camera does ship with Presto! Video Works, Presto! Mr. Photo, and Microsoft's NetMeeting software. Overall, the DVC325 offers a unique design, adaptable features, and above-average images at a reasonable price. by Blaine Flamig
$110 Eastman Kodak (800) 235-6325 (716) 724-4000 http://www.kodak.com
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