Kodak EasyShare DX3215

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 2.5 stars OK
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 5.4 (2.5 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Matthew Klare
• Reviewed on: 02/27/2002
• Updated on: 10/30/2002

An inexpensive point-and-shoot digital camera for the Instamatic crowd, the 1.3-megapixel DX3215 is one of the most affordable models in Kodak's EasyShare line. While 1.3-megapixel resolution isn't considered high quality these days, it's certainly adequate for making small prints and e-mailing photos. Under optimal lighting conditions, it captures decent 1,260x960-pixel snapshots, but this virtually feature-free camera is less than ideal for photographing poorly lit subjects.An inexpensive point-and-shoot digital camera for the Instamatic crowd, the 1.3-megapixel DX3215 is one of the most affordable models in Kodak's EasyShare line. While 1.3-megapixel resolution isn't considered high quality these days, it's certainly adequate for making small prints and e-mailing photos. Under optimal lighting conditions, it captures decent 1,260x960-pixel snapshots, but this virtually feature-free camera is less than ideal for photographing poorly lit subjects.

Easy does it
Weighing a little more than nine ounces with batteries and removable memory installed, the DX3215 has a boxy, compact design. Operating the camera requires little technical sophistication, as its controls are minimal. You can cycle through the flash settings by pressing the Flash button, and there's a dedicated button for deleting images. Macro and picture-quality settings are accessible through the DX3215's menu system, which is very straightforward, but having buttons on the camera to change these settings would be more convenient. Unfortunately, the 1.6-inch LCD is relatively dim, and there's no way to adjust the brightness.

The DX3215's fixed-focus lens provides the 35mm camera equivalent of a 30mm-to-60mm (2X) zoom. That's fine for landscapes or people shots, but even with the extra 2X digital zoom, the camera doesn't magnify distant subjects very well or very sharply. The optical viewfinder works well for distance shooting, but because it doesn't show you the view through the lens, it can cause misframing of nearby subjects (you can remedy this problem by using the LCD as a viewfinder). Another gripe: We missed having an integral or even snap-on lens cap--every camera should have one to protect the lens.

Transferring images from the DX3215's 8MB internal memory or an optional Secure Digital/MultiMedia Memory card is simple via the supplied USB cable and Kodak Picture software. But if it's just not easy enough for you, you can purchase an EasyShare camera dock, which affords one-button image transfer to your computer. This USB-based cradle comes with a set of rechargeable nickel-metal-hydride batteries for the camera and doubles as the battery charger to boot. Kodak bundles the DX3215 with a photo-editing software package, which offers basic image cleanup and manipulation tools. Continue reading

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 19 reviews
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  "IT IS MADE IN 2001!!!! It is good for it's time!!!"

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Reviews from around the WebPowered by alaTest

• alaTest.com

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: alaTest has collected and analyzed 222 reviews of Kodak EasyShare DX3215 from international magazines and websites. Experts rate this product 71/100 and users 69/100. Comparing these reviews to 575707 other Digital Compact Cameras reviews gives this product an overall alaScore™ 80/100 = Very Good.

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• techtree.com

  Editors' rating: 80

  Summary: You get 4X zoom (2X optical and 2X digital), and the DX3215 is equipped with a 35mm equivalent 30 - 60mm f/4.5 - 9.0 zoom lens. It also features a real-image optical viewfinder and a color LCD screen measuring 1.6 inches diagonally, which enables you ...

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• dcresource.com

  Summary: If you don't get the dock bundle, you'll find a non-rechargeable battery in the box. So if that's you, go buy some NiMH rechargeables to replace it. Since the DX3215 only uses 2 batteries, a four-pack will do just fine. The camera can take CR-V3 or AA ...

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