The attractive features of the
DX-6490 are obvious: a 4-megapixel image, a 10X optical zoom
signed Schneider-Kreuznach, and both an EVF monitor and a 2.2
inch LCD screen.
Moreover, the DX6490 provides both priority modes, a fully manual mode,
and a Program mode that has a bit more latitude than the Auto mode offers.
Based on its specifications, the DX6490 has a lot to offer.
Aperture: f3.7; shutter speed: 1/500 sec.; 380mm equivalent;
tripod used;
file size for original image 972 KB.
Aperture: f8, shutter speed: 1/10 sec., 76mm equivalent,
macro mode;
tripod used; file size for original image: 541 KB.
At the wide angle of the zoom,
the equivalent of a 38mm, the DX6490 reveal that the lens does
a good job of correcting barrel distortion, and only a very
bit of distortion can be observed if there are vertical or
horizontal elements in the image that are aligned along the
edges of the frame. Moreover, the image show a good edge to
edge sharpness.
At the telephoto end, images also show a good edge to edge sharpness,
while pincushion distortion is negligible. However, with strong contrasts,
a very light chromatic aberration can be seen.
As with other cameras that
offer a very long zoom, the DX6490's maximum telephoto also
requires a lot of light to capture camera-shake free images.
With no internal stabilization system, the slightest movement
is greatly amplified when the lens is at the equivalent of
380mm.
Although the DX6490 has a design that allows the camera to be held securely,
it is still relatively small and light weight, and that tends to make
telephoto shots difficult unless the subject is very bright, or very
directly lit.
Aperture: f5.6; shutter speed: 1/350 sec.; 38mm equivalent;
tripod used;
file size for original image: 1,140 KB.
With a camera such as the DX6490,
a tripod or at least a monopod must be considered an essential
accessory to ensure shake-free images when the zoom is used at
its maximum magnification.
Aperture: f5; shutter speed: 1/750 sec.; 380mm equivalent;
tripod used;
file size for original image: 1,306 KB.
In use, the DX6490 is not a very
fast to capture images when set to the single shot mode. With
both the image review and shutter sound turned off, the shot
to shot time is approximately 2 seconds if one does not wait
for the image to reappear on the monitor. While if one waits
for the image to return, either with the EVF or the LCD monitor,
the shot to shot time is approximately 3 seconds. Burst mode
is the alternative for a fast sequence, but while 6 shots can
be captured, the EVF or the LCD monitor are blanked out as the
sequence starts, making it difficult to follow a moving subject.
Used in the Auto mode, the DX6490 pre selects saturated colour
in the colour option setting. While this is fine for many subjects,
blue skies tend to become a bit too blue. Switching to Neutral
colours, the default in the PASM modes, yields more realistic
colours.
Although the DX-6490 offers a excellent zoom, and many interesting features,
the compression used to save images can work against the image quality
with complex subjects.
With complex images (such
as the one above), the compression can be 1/10 the uncompressed
file size of 11.4 MB. While with subjects that lend themselves
to an even greater compression — where there are broad
areas of similar colour hues such as sky — file sizes
can drop to 1/30 of the uncompressed size. Regrettably, no
alternative compression is provided.
Generally, although the compression is strong, its effects are not noticeable
in prints unless these are very large format prints.
400 x 300 pixel crop from
original image shown above.
In summary, the DX6490
has a lot to offer: a powerful zoom, a large image size, all
with the ease of use offered by Kodak's EasyShare system. Its
one drawback however is that the image quality can, depending
on the subject, be lowered by the strong compression used at
the largest image size.
Compare Prices for Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 0.7x Wide Angle Converter Lens for Kodak DX-6490 Digital Camera
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