- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 17 reviews Back to product review
- My rating: 0 stars
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
1.5 stars
"buy lots of extra batteries"
Pros: good picture quality, swivel lens helps in certain situations, short shutter lag when in very good light, small & easy to carry
Cons: battery life is non-existant and can only be charged when in the camera, very flimsy, poor low light performance
Summary: i like the size and the photo quality, but that's it. battery life is so short that this camera is nearly worthless when traveling, and the batteries have to be charged through the camera. the swivelling lens is a nice feature, but unless you absolutely baby the camera at all times, you will break the swivel mechanism from one of the sides of the camera body. each side is held to the body by 4 (what seem to be) microscopically sized screws that will pull out with very minimal rough handling. i solved the problem by epoxying the screws in. they still pulled out, so i epoxyed the swivel mechanism to the body (it still swivels). now it stays put, but if the camera ever needs internal repairs, it's not going to happen. probably doesn't really matter since my understanding is that Kyocera is not responsive to problems and won't fix it anyway.
i don't intentionally abuse my equipment, but i'm not that rough either. i would have expected this to be much more sturdy than it is. the flimsyness of this camera is not a reason not to buy this model (you should be prepared to handle with care), but the battery life and low light performance are absolutely deal breakers.
- 1 reply to this review
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Have both a SL300R and a SL400R taken over 20,000 photos with them in less than 6 months. No problems with the swivel at all. However have had to send both in for warranty repair. The 300 locked up, while changing menu options while the battery was low (the day before my first cruise,) I rushed out and bought the SL400R same day, and the 400 reports batteries as dead and shuts off when they are fine (While on a 30 day trip to Hawaii, switched to the 300 then for rest of the trip). Also sometimes the 400 would not turn on, heard gears making noise. Hit in in palm of hand -then came on - has reaccured several times- I must have recycled the SL400 on and off at least 6000 times so far). Kyocera repaired both cameras with new circut boards and no problem since then. Understand that they are suspending North American. sales however, and farmed out the Warranty repairs. Found that out during my latest warranty repair call...June 15,2003. I carry 3 batteries now ) and both cameras and charge one in the car with a small inverter, while using the other.(I get about 50 - 80 shots per charge-if no flash used. Most pictures are great . High contrast situatios difficult..but then I switch to spot meter and make do. Get one while you can..it is a great attention geter. Also very easy to take candid shots with it ..but when they do notice it (if I let them because I can get photos with the subject looking right at me and not realize what I am doing))they think the camera is fantastic..have meet many people because of the size and design of the cameras. Perry
Kyocera 4.0MP Digital Camera:
