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Kodak DC3400 Kodak updates the popular DC280 with a new sensor, lower power consumption, and a new color scheme... Select a topic Reference: Datasheet DC3400 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on DC3400 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software Review First Posted: 10/5/2000

Video Out
The DC3400 supports display of images to a television set through a video out cable supplied with the camera. The video out port is located on the left-hand side of the camera, hidden beneath a rubber protective flap. Both the NTSC signal format for US and Canadian use, and the PAL signal format for European use are supported. (US cameras ship with an NTSC cable, European models with PAL cabling, but any DC3400 can be used with the foreign standard simply by changing the video setting in the setup menu and using the correct cable.


Power
The DC3400 is powered by a set of four AA batteries, either 1.2v nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries or 1.5v alkaline batteries. A set of alkaline batteries is included in the box with the camera so you can begin using it immediately, but we really recommend that you invest in a couple of sets of high-capacity NiMH batteries and a decent charger.

When the camera is turned on in Capture, Review, or Camera Set-Up Mode, the Battery Status Symbol is displayed on the Control Panel on the top of the camera to tell you how much battery power is remaining. This is a rough approximation only ("full", "partly full", and "almost empty" is all the icons tell you) but is still useful in knowing when it's time to change the batteries. The battery compartment on the right, bottom side of the camera is easily accessible for battery changing, but requires the camera to be removed from a tripod in order to access it.

Besides battery power, the DC3400 can be powered from a standard AC wall outlet using the optional AC adapter. Simply plug the AC adapter into the AC adapter connector under the connector cover on the left-hand side of the camera and you're ready to snap some pictures.

Use the Power Save feature on the camera to reduce the amount of time that the camera stays on when not in use to save battery power. (This mode puts the camera to "sleep" after thirty seconds, as opposed to a minute with Power Save turned off.) Kodak also recommends that you limit your use of the DC3400's LCD to 10 continuous minutes or less at a time. The high load of longer continuous usage tends to drain batteries very quickly.

We now routinely actual power consumption of digicams, to provide an objective basis for comparison between models. Overall, the DC3400's power consumption is about typical of a 2 megapixel digicam, slightly higher than average in capture mode with the LCD operating, slightly lower than average when the LCD is turned off. Overall power consumption is slightly less than the earlier DC280, on which the 3400 is based. We couldn't get the camera to "sleep" when connected to our test-station power supply, so couldn't report on power use in that mode. Here's a table showing power consumption in various modes ("mA" means "milliamps," or 1/1000 of an ampere of current):

Operating Mode	Power Drain
Capture Mode, w/LCD	740 mA
Capture Mode, w/o LCD	100 mA
Half-pressed shutter, no LCD	740 mA
Memory Write (Transient)	390 mA
Flash Recharge (Transient)	1160 mA
Image Playback	390 mA
"Sleep" Mode (Auto power-down)	(?)

In looking at these figures, it seems that the DC3400 should be able to run for many hours in capture mode with the LCD left off, and for an hour or more with continuous LCD usage, when operating from high-power NiMH batteries. (Note though, that at high power levels such as with the LCD on, you can't just divide the power drain into the batteries' mAh capacity to get run time: Battery capacities are rated for drain at the "0.1C" rate, or a drain of 1/10th of the batteries stated capacity, over 10 hours. Higher drains can greatly decrease the effective capacity.)


Included Software
The DC3400 is packaged with a variety of different software packages for you to use on your home computer, whether it's a Windows-based system or a Macintosh. The software is bundled on two Installer CDs: One for the Kodak and one for the ArcSoft applications.

The following applications are included for both Mac and Windows systems:

• Mounter Software: Lets you view pictures on the picture card and copy selected pictures to your computer. (Picture Transfer application instead, for the Mac.)
• TWAIN Acquire Software: (For Windows applications.) Lets you copy images from the picture card into TWAIN-compliant software programs such as Adobe PhotoDeluxe and Adobe Photoshop.
• Camera Controls Software: Lets you further customize your camera's capture and communications settings using your computer.
• Border Transfer Application Software: Lets you change bitmap (BMP) files into border (BDR) format so that you can copy the borders to your picture card and use them when capturing images.
• PhotoImpression: By ArcSoft - Lets you copy, edit and enhance, organize, and print pictures from the camera. Includes humorous templates from ArcSoft's PhotoFantasy application, and provides all the printing functions of ArcSoft's PhotoPrinter application as well.