Reading mode: Light Dark

DX6490 Firmware Wishlist

Go to last post
D

David J Russell

Well-known member
Messages
126
Reaction score
0
Location
US
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF

2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include RAW support.

Thats about it.
 
I agree with the Menu structure some what however, the Menu on the 5700 I had was far worse.

The compression hasn't affected the quality of the photos I have been taking what-so-ever. In fact, I like it as you can fit many more photos on your SD card. I have had well past 300 2300x1700 photos on my 256MB SD card.

I compare the photos from the DX6490 to the Nikon 5700 I had and they easily equal the quality - amazing, too the bare (no memory) 5700 was $1700 Canadian when it first came out. I paid about $850 Canadian which included 256MB SD and tax for the DX6490. What a difference 11 months makes. ;)

Here are some examples: http://www.juetts.com/DX6490/

korvus
David J Russell said:
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next
firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.

Thats about it.
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
 
Great Pictures.

I agree, the pictures are excellent with the current compression. It would just be a good feature to be able to tweak it a little, just to see what a picture looks like with no compression whatsoever.

I saw your pics, awesome!

Here is one of my first attempts; my awesome son!


korvus said:
I compare the photos from the DX6490 to the Nikon 5700 I had and
they easily equal the quality - amazing, too the bare (no memory)
5700 was $1700 Canadian when it first came out. I paid about $850
Canadian which included 256MB SD and tax for the DX6490. What a
difference 11 months makes. ;)

Here are some examples: http://www.juetts.com/DX6490/

korvus
David J Russell said:
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next
firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.

Thats about it.
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
Click to expand...
 
Hi David,

Thanks for the compliment. One thing I did notice is, if you have PhotoShop, click on File > Save for Web and choose 100% the 'compressed' image file double/triples in size. eg: I had a 800KB image expend to almost 2MB. I guess PhotoShop uncompresses the image in some fashion, I'm hardly a PS expert so who knows ;)

koruvs
David J Russell said:
I agree, the pictures are excellent with the current compression.
It would just be a good feature to be able to tweak it a little,
just to see what a picture looks like with no compression
whatsoever.

I saw your pics, awesome!

Here is one of my first attempts; my awesome son!


korvus said:
I compare the photos from the DX6490 to the Nikon 5700 I had and
they easily equal the quality - amazing, too the bare (no memory)
5700 was $1700 Canadian when it first came out. I paid about $850
Canadian which included 256MB SD and tax for the DX6490. What a
difference 11 months makes. ;)

Here are some examples: http://www.juetts.com/DX6490/

korvus
David J Russell said:
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next
firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.

Thats about it.
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
 
David J Russell said:
1) Include function to disable AF
Click to expand...
Yes! And wouldn't it be cool if you had a + - focus point with a readout
of the DOF for the apeture you were using! Hey what are computers for! ;-)
David J Russell said:
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
Click to expand...
Is this what they mean by UserFriendly? Sounds like a good idea.
David J Russell said:
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.
Click to expand...
Definitely a RAW mode would be cool, compression might be ok.

OOh, and a histogram (hey, its a computer) ala the luminous-landscape.
(good reading if you're interested)

An option for turning EVF info items off (like the three stars, sorry but I always
take 3star pictures).

An option for setting the auto focus framing to one of the choices and not trying the others

(I'd probably always choose center focus). Keep the framing marks, but just use 1.
Oh, and make it GREEN for focused and RED for not focused. This seems backwards
to me (RED for focused and GREEN for not focused).

Nice picts, juetts. Makes me think I should get out and take some!

thanks
jim cowan
 
jim cowan said:
An option for setting the auto focus framing to one of the choices
and not trying the others
(I'd probably always choose center focus). Keep the framing marks,
but just use 1.
Oh, and make it GREEN for focused and RED for not focused. This
seems backwards
to me (RED for focused and GREEN for not focused).
Click to expand...
er but it does work with GREEN for success and RED for failed focus. with AE for failed exposure and AF for failed focus.
 
K8 said:
jim cowan said:
Oh, and make it GREEN for focused and RED for not focused. This
seems backwards
to me (RED for focused and GREEN for not focused).
Click to expand...
er but it does work with GREEN for success and RED for failed
focus. with AE for failed exposure and AF for failed focus.
Click to expand...
Hi K8,
Hmmm, the User's Guide that came with my dx6490, page
23, says:
1. Press the Shutter button half-way and hold.
The framing marks are displayed. When they turn red, focus
is accomplished.

Playing around with the camera a bit, and reading around the manual some
more... page 17
3. Press the Shutter button half-way to set the auto-focus
and auto-exposure.
The AF/AE indicator is displayed. If focus and/or exposure failes,
recompose the shot and try again.
(side bar)
red dot -failed
AF - failed focus
AE - failed exposure

Seems to me Kodak's programmers weren't consistant. The focus brackets definitely

seem to go to red when the focus is ok. And if the exposure is bad I get a red dot and red "AE".

In the closet with the door closed, total darkness pointing towards hanging clothes, 1/2
shutter pressed I get no focus brackets and red dot, red "AE" and red "AF".

I think I had it right. The blue focusing brackets go to red when there's a good focus.
I'd ask for a more consistant GUI where GREEN says OK, and RED says NOT OK,
and BLUE is fine for when its not ready yet.
(This reminds me when I was helping rework a CAD package UI, it was surprizingly
hard to get a consistant UI from several programmers, and management agreement,
they just wanted to ship it).

thanks
jim cowan
 
David J Russell said:
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next
firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.

Thats about it.
Click to expand...
Menu-wrap would be excellent.

I've gone from a DC290 to a DX6490 and miss a couple of things:
1) 3 by 2 format with all resolutions

2) 16 shot burst mode at 720 by 480 - I would have thought the DX6490 could easily manage this
3) Sound memo function for individual photos - or have I missed this?
--
Ian Ford
 
jim cowan said:
K8 said:
jim cowan said:
Oh, and make it GREEN for focused and RED for not focused. This
seems backwards
to me (RED for focused and GREEN for not focused).
Click to expand...
er but it does work with GREEN for success and RED for failed
focus. with AE for failed exposure and AF for failed focus.
Click to expand...
Hi K8,
Hmmm, the User's Guide that came with my dx6490, page
23, says:
1. Press the Shutter button half-way and hold.
The framing marks are displayed. When they turn red, focus
is accomplished.

Playing around with the camera a bit, and reading around the manual
some
more... page 17
3. Press the Shutter button half-way to set the auto-focus
and auto-exposure.
The AF/AE indicator is displayed. If focus and/or exposure failes,
recompose the shot and try again.
(side bar)
red dot -failed
AF - failed focus
AE - failed exposure

Seems to me Kodak's programmers weren't consistant. The focus
brackets definitely
seem to go to red when the focus is ok. And if the exposure is bad
I get a red dot and red "AE".
In the closet with the door closed, total darkness pointing towards
hanging clothes, 1/2
shutter pressed I get no focus brackets and red dot, red "AE" and
red "AF".

I think I had it right. The blue focusing brackets go to red when
there's a good focus.
I'd ask for a more consistant GUI where GREEN says OK, and RED says
NOT OK,
and BLUE is fine for when its not ready yet.
(This reminds me when I was helping rework a CAD package UI, it was
surprizingly
hard to get a consistant UI from several programmers, and
management agreement,
they just wanted to ship it).

thanks
jim cowan
Click to expand...
ah now I follow ur thoughts Jim, yes I was thinking only of the dot, and not the brackets. (silly me ;)

Agree re hard to get conistant UI from different developers. I have so rarely had bad focus that it had not twigged that the bracket can in fact be another colour. Though as u say should be green really for when focus is acheived. Manual.. what's one of them ;) though to be fair I do have it on my PDA for review.

I have no further suggestions but agree with all those posted so far, but would add, would be good to have that one feature of the DC290 where it would take elapsed time pics, or at least the ability to set burst, but with say 10 second delay between each frame and set like video, either by time selection, or till the card was full. (may have been covered already...)
 
Thanks, Val.

A couple more:
  • Keep both sharpness and saturation "sticky" when switching from PASM to auto and back.
  • Manual WB option (ideally a way to set WB from grey or white card, maybe by adding to the manual control wheel, where selecting the manual WB option by pressing the wheel would activate the mode until balance process either succeeds or times out)
  • Zebra stripes on highlights when highlights are too hot (like on pro video cams)
While we're on wish list, how about EasyShare?
  • Fix the bug in Easyshare so it does not lose the file timestamp info when copying files from the camera or SD card (it saves the internal timestamp OK, but the file itself gets its timestamp set to the upload time).
  • Bring back some of the tweaking control options from previous versions.
  • Have an option to package and bundle files not just to CD, but to some arbitrary destination e.g. folder, SD card, etc. This would be nice not only for people using the camera for slide shows, but also for people like me who can't use ES to make a CD because the CD-R drive in my laptop is not supported by ES.
One can always dream, no? ;)
 
Hi all,

I'm a new member to this forum but i've read this Kodak forum for a few months now, it is really helpfull for me! Thanks to you all!

I have a Kodak DX6490 for 6 weeks now and i am really very happy with it. Wonderfull camera with a wonderfull lens! I've already made 1600 pictures with it, many of them indoors with low light.

Very nice pictures i've taken, but i think they could get better in my opinion with a Firmware update. This is my wishlist for a Firmware update:

-Less compression level, user selectable (all the reviews of the DX6490
also really complain about the high compression level)
-Less noise reduction, user selectable (same as above)
-Flash strenght selectable (i wish it was stronger)
-Better low light focusing (could be tweaked a little better in my opinion)
-Manual focus (also possible i hope)
-Histogram function (should be real handy)

How often Kodak release new Firmware updates usually?

This camera is already a few months old now and still there where no new updates? I really think this camera got even better reviews when the above things where updated!

Bye,
Eric_L
 
The compression level is complained about far too much. Pictures from the camera are awesome and very acurate.

The compression level has not hindered my photos or printing ability. I have printed 2 13x19s and they look every bit as detailed as the Nikon 5700 photos/prints I made.

I can fit more photos on the SD Card because of the compression - this is a good thing!

korvus
Eric_L said:
Hi all,

I'm a new member to this forum but i've read this Kodak forum for a
few months now, it is really helpfull for me! Thanks to you all!
I have a Kodak DX6490 for 6 weeks now and i am really very happy
with it. Wonderfull camera with a wonderfull lens! I've already
made 1600 pictures with it, many of them indoors with low light.
Very nice pictures i've taken, but i think they could get better in
my opinion with a Firmware update. This is my wishlist for a
Firmware update:

-Less compression level, user selectable (all the reviews of the
DX6490
also really complain about the high compression level)
-Less noise reduction, user selectable (same as above)
-Flash strenght selectable (i wish it was stronger)
-Better low light focusing (could be tweaked a little better in my
opinion)
-Manual focus (also possible i hope)
-Histogram function (should be real handy)

How often Kodak release new Firmware updates usually?
This camera is already a few months old now and still there where
no new updates? I really think this camera got even better reviews
when the above things where updated!

Bye,
Eric_L
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
 
I just want the camera to process the photo faster so I don't have to wait between shots. I would also like the EVF to clear immediately after the shot is taken so I can see the next pic
Coz
korvus said:
The compression level has not hindered my photos or printing
ability. I have printed 2 13x19s and they look every bit as
detailed as the Nikon 5700 photos/prints I made.

I can fit more photos on the SD Card because of the compression -
this is a good thing!

korvus
Eric_L said:
Hi all,

I'm a new member to this forum but i've read this Kodak forum for a
few months now, it is really helpfull for me! Thanks to you all!
I have a Kodak DX6490 for 6 weeks now and i am really very happy
with it. Wonderfull camera with a wonderfull lens! I've already
made 1600 pictures with it, many of them indoors with low light.
Very nice pictures i've taken, but i think they could get better in
my opinion with a Firmware update. This is my wishlist for a
Firmware update:

-Less compression level, user selectable (all the reviews of the
DX6490
also really complain about the high compression level)
-Less noise reduction, user selectable (same as above)
-Flash strenght selectable (i wish it was stronger)
-Better low light focusing (could be tweaked a little better in my
opinion)
-Manual focus (also possible i hope)
-Histogram function (should be real handy)

How often Kodak release new Firmware updates usually?
This camera is already a few months old now and still there where
no new updates? I really think this camera got even better reviews
when the above things where updated!

Bye,
Eric_L
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
Click to expand...
--
Coz!
 
Turn off Quick View to speed up times between shots. As soon as you take the photo the EVF/LCD clears immediately so you can focus on the next shot.

koruvs
ecwallace said:
korvus said:
The compression level has not hindered my photos or printing
ability. I have printed 2 13x19s and they look every bit as
detailed as the Nikon 5700 photos/prints I made.

I can fit more photos on the SD Card because of the compression -
this is a good thing!

korvus
Eric_L said:
Hi all,

I'm a new member to this forum but i've read this Kodak forum for a
few months now, it is really helpfull for me! Thanks to you all!
I have a Kodak DX6490 for 6 weeks now and i am really very happy
with it. Wonderfull camera with a wonderfull lens! I've already
made 1600 pictures with it, many of them indoors with low light.
Very nice pictures i've taken, but i think they could get better in
my opinion with a Firmware update. This is my wishlist for a
Firmware update:

-Less compression level, user selectable (all the reviews of the
DX6490
also really complain about the high compression level)
-Less noise reduction, user selectable (same as above)
-Flash strenght selectable (i wish it was stronger)
-Better low light focusing (could be tweaked a little better in my
opinion)
-Manual focus (also possible i hope)
-Histogram function (should be real handy)

How often Kodak release new Firmware updates usually?
This camera is already a few months old now and still there where
no new updates? I really think this camera got even better reviews
when the above things where updated!

Bye,
Eric_L
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
Click to expand...
--
Coz!
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
 
Another feature that you may want to disable is Mode Description. It is located in the Settings. What this does is initially speed up the time when you rotatae the dial to preset modes. By default you see something like :" Night Shot" or "Action" mode on the EVF/LCD. The above turns that 2-3 sec delay off between modes.

korvus
don mitchell said:
korvus said:
Turn off Quick View to speed up times between shots. As soon as you
take the photo the EVF/LCD clears immediately so you can focus on
the next shot.
Click to expand...
hey that is a really handy trick, thanks. i guess I need to read
the manual some more.
Click to expand...
--
+---------------------+
~ Kodak DX6490 ~
+---------------------+
 
I agree w/ your list except for disabling the AF. Since there's no manual focus at all, you'd just be dead in the water. But what I would like to change is: Add a menu option in PASM mode to disable the exposure compensation. I've tried to do some out-of-the-ordinary shots with long exposures and such and I've ended up fighting the auto exposure compensation. It's a great feature, most of the time, but I'd just like to turn if off when necessary.

Jase
David J Russell said:
Just got this camera, love it! But here is my wishlist for the next
firmware release.

1) Include function to disable AF
2) On Menu's, allow you to go up (wrap- so you don't have to go all
the way down on the menu, to get to the last item).
3) Include an option to relax compression method used, or include
RAW support.

Thats about it.
Click to expand...
 
artisto said:
Please keep it coming.
Val
Click to expand...
Date Stamp: To be able to adjust the position, font size, intensity and color. This would be great when taking shots for documentation purposes. I love the camera. The ability to lock focus in almost total darkness amazes me still. Been following reviews and forums since mid year(Canon, Oly, Kodak, Sony) to replace our 4 year old Fuji. Settled on Canon Dig Rebel for me and 6490 for my wife (Point/Shoot). Glad I bought the 6490 first, don't need the Canon. 6490 is wonderful.

http://www.pbase.com/boblenz/bird_friends
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Keyboard shortcuts

f
Forum
m
My threads
Mobile site
About
Editorial content
Cameras & Lenses
Community
All content, design, and layout are Copyright © 1998–2025 Digital Photography Review All Rights Reserved.
Reproduction in whole or part in any form or medium without specific written permission is prohibited.
When you use DPReview links to buy products, the site may earn a commission.
©GPS Media - Guides, Products, Services.
Back
Top