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| Epson PhotoPC 650 |
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Hardware Reviews January 2000 • Vol.3 Issue 1 |
Epson PhotoPC 650 | ||
 The PhotoPC 650 from Epson may be the epitome of what an entry-level digital camera is all about. Its simple design makes it incredibly easy to use, even for novices. It's also affordably priced. Unfortunately, like other entry-level cameras, it doesn't offer much in the way of advanced features for getting creative with shots. In addition, because the camera is aimed at novices, don't expect it to offer the same kind of image quality that a higher-priced model will. The PhotoPC 650 isn't a dog, but its images aren't on par with cameras in higher-priced brackets. What it can do, however, is have you taking shots in no time. It took us literally only minutes to configure the camera and start taking shots without having to consult the users guide. That ease of use is due primarily to the camera's simple design, which incorporates very few buttons. Unlike many cameras, the lack of menu buttons gives the PhotoPC 650 an inviting allure and a design that isn't intimidating. In addition, the camera's colorful, intuitive menu interface is simple to navigate. The tradeoff for that usability is limited manual controls; users can only access flash, image quality, self-timer, and macro settings. The camera does have a 37mm threaded lens for adding accessory lenses. The lens focuses objects as close as 6 inches to 2 feet in the macro mode and from 1 foot to infinity in the normal mode. Unfortunately, the lens has no zoom capability, something many users desire. In addition to omitting a zoom lens, the camera doesn't take advantage of Epson's HyPict enhancement technology to provide an enhanced capturing resolution. Instead, the camera takes images at a true resolution topping out at 1,152 x 864 pixels. Shots we captured were disappointing compared to other models from Epson we've used. Overall, our images with the PhotoPC 650 rendered good brightness and contrast in shots both outdoors and indoors. However, our shots were missing the focus and clarity that we've come to expect from Epson models. By comparison, the PhotoPC 650's shots were pixilated with dull colors. The camera did please us with its USB (Universal Serial Bus) JumpShot feature, which utilizes a Lexar Media JumpShot USB cable to let users transfer images by inserting the bundled CompactFlash-USB card into one end of the unique cable. We found the process to be much easier than connecting a cable to the camera and then to the computer. In addition, the technique saves on battery power. Epson also ships the camera with USB and serial cables to transfer shots. The CompactFlash stores four to 88 shots. In addition, the camera can take uncompressed shots for better quality and has automatic white balance and exposure functions. You probably won't want to purchase the PhotoPC 650 based on image quality alone. But if you're looking for a basic digital camera with a low learning curve, the 650 deserves a look. by Blaine Flamig
$310 (800) 463-7766 (310) 782-0770 http://www.epson.com
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