Kodak 14n Poll

The Canons look melted; the F5 looks like a camera ought to look...
Jay, Jay, Jay....

This is a "real" car....



This is an "alien" car......



This is a "real" camera.....



This is an "alien" camera.....



"Alien" not good.... Real men need real cars and real cameras. (or
Viagra)

Next go around, lock up the bean counters, and let your engineers
have their way with lady Kodak.

Regards
Mastrianni
 
You probably didn't read the manual well enough. The 14n has this great nose adjustable menu. You don't need to take your eyes or hands of the camera to change menu settings. Very cool!

No kidding, I like the 14n design a lot, from the moment I first rented one. At first I was a bit disappointed that the body was so small, but now I like the fact that I can take it in a small bag with a small lens as a point and shoot. I don't see myself doing that with the F4 1D design. I am often fooled and picking out the wrong camera because the 14n is so small. Unbelievable that this body holds the one and only really full size sensor.
The 14n's only real problem is setting off menu functions with
one's nose. Other than this, it is just another camera.

The idiot who allowed this to happen should be fired - multiple
times. Truly no one ever used the camera in this case until it was
too late.

This, in my Kodak minded opinion, is the reason Kodak's desingers
are second rate.

How can someone miss this if they try the camera. Fire the entire
lot of them and garnish their wages. This type brought us the
Pontiac Aztec - fools and second rate hacks. Guys/gasl who do this
are not camera people, but second rate MBAs from third rate
schools. The CEO should be fired for this cluster XXXXXXX - it is
that simple of a problem and that simple of a solution. Boo on
what would be a great camera, I can deal with the rest b/c its
complicated, this is simple my 4 year old can figure it out.

Other than that, the rest is really not that big a deal. All
cameras have their quirks, this one has a massive stupidity.

Did you read that Jay? I'm on fire tonight.
 
The 14n's only real problem is setting off menu functions with
one's nose. Other than this, it is just another camera.
Use the menu option that uses the "OK" button only to activate the menu buttons.
The idiot who allowed this to happen should be fired - multiple
times. Truly no one ever used the camera in this case until it was
too late.
Hmmm... Fired multiple times? Do you mean hire him/her back and then fire him/her again? Sounds like a foolish suggestion to me.
Did you read that Jay? I'm on fire tonight.
You seem a bit hostile. Did you recently get fired?
 
Do the designers of the Kodak 14n have human hands???
The camera fits my hands perfectly! Are you insulting people like me?
Are they aliens? or just high on crack??
None of the above!
Is the n14 the ugliest camera ever built???
Nope! It's actually pretty cool looking.

You may have stumbled upon this camera by mistake. May I suggest you venture toward the point-n-shoot type of cameras instead. This may suit your style needs better.
 
ofcourse i like!!!!!!!!
sorry me.

just spoke from the design, anbd there i like the 911 without the wing more. sorry again.
Rainer,

You don't like my old 1979 930 Turbo? I'm heartbroken.

Yeah, the R9 is nice,....however, it is just a little too prissy.
Although it does look good with the new, soon to be released 10MP
digital module,...too bad it's not full frame.
exactly therefore i sold my leica lenses and gear.....
and bought a 14n and later slr.
 
I guess you work at Kodak or you are a very good friend of them.

From your profile, seems like you are not a photographer or you do not do that on regular basis.

This thread wanted to be fairly critic, but everybody was doing it with a bit of sens of humor.

Being more serious about the matter I would like to say:

What ever the 14n might fit some one hands properly, it does not to the majority of the users, and this is not subjective. It is a matter of fact.

The 14n it is not pretty cool looking, of course this is subjective, but the majority of people think is not. In any case the 14n it is not such piece of avant gard design that can be understood by an elite of few. It is not that kind of ecception, it just belong on the category of not well designed cameras.

It does not look cool to me because the body looks fat and nothing that is part of this camera body is smooth and sleek. Everything pop out, like if the parts were glued togheter. It seems like parts form different tools (not even different cameras) were taken and then squized together.

The design of buttons and dials is really approssimate and it meet the standard of a 20$ blender that you can buy at a warehouse sale.

There are big gaps between every metal and plastic part and the parts do not join well, all the gaps are irregular.

I have to say that most the American electronics (eccepts Apple and few others) have this approssimate design and assembly. Anytime I give a look at any american household appliances make me feel like I'm back in the sixtyes. The 14n is coming from this mentality. The problems is that at least half of the population in US is familiar and grown up with this bad design and keep buying the same junk for ever and of course the makers of this junk do not need of changing or investing in good and designuntil they keep selling millions units. I hope any American friend do not take this critic on design too personally. Of course there are plenties of Amrican classic design that are well appreciated world wide, but it is not the case of the 14n,, kodak cameras in generals and house old appliances we can buy today.

Said that, I'm using my 14n and getting good results, mostly because of the camera capability, but also because I have been using it with a lot of my patience, precutions and skills.

Even for what it costs the 14n or the SRLc/n are still an expensive tool, that a part for resolution, do not meet the reliability, good design and versatility of the D1x, D100, S2 or 10D whose cost a fraction.

Most of the complaints form the majority of 14n users are on flaws that are not caused by cutting cost in the making of it and the consequent lower price ( compared to 1ds) but just because the camera was not thought and built well enough by its makers. I think that many persons involved on the making of it, are not prepared well enough for the task.

I think Kodak did something that can deliver outstanding quality but in order to get it you need too much precautios that cannot be candidly accepted by the customers.
The guys at Kodak defenitively need to do better.

Please do not tell me that this is not the camera for me, that I'm not ready, or that I should do my home work. I heard that before and I can proove that wrong. I would love just avoid it.

I'm getting outstanding results, If the 14n was behaving as all the others cameras I own or I previously owned, I would not be complaining.

Here is the product that is at fault not the users.

regards.
Andrea.
Do the designers of the Kodak 14n have human hands???
The camera fits my hands perfectly! Are you insulting people like me?
Are they aliens? or just high on crack??
None of the above!
Is the n14 the ugliest camera ever built???
Nope! It's actually pretty cool looking.

You may have stumbled upon this camera by mistake. May I suggest
you venture toward the point-n-shoot type of cameras instead. This
may suit your style needs better.
 
How about this US design:
http://www.fast-autos.net/chrysler/chryslerme412.html

It was done after the 70's...
Hi,
It is copied from Ferrari and it is a concept car.

Let's see if it ever hit the market and how it will look like after the corporate people, will ask some modifications, in order to meet the taste of the market.

I liked American cars until the early 80's, because they looked like American cars.

Now they look like a blend of European and Japanese cars but fatter and without the personality they had in the past.

Anyway, is good exchanging opinion about design if that cann send some message to Kodak, hopefully the next camera they will deliver will look better.

A.
 
The menu turn off is a bandaide fix - should have never happened and on no other camera I own do I need to turn things off b/c of poor ergonomic design (over 40).

Multiple firing - I was being politically correct - it started out with being "shot" but I thought it was too harsh.

Life is good - just that button quirk has upset me too many times - otherwise I like the camera.

My point is this is something anyone who used the camera, regardless of nose size should have figured out. A simple product test would have solved this. Its like no one used the camera before it hit final production and then they changed the software.

Overall I don't mind the camera - I have been a defender, but you asked for opinions - I gave mine. I am not going to sell it, but I may upgrade it to the new CMOS.
 
Some things said here about the 14n have made my heart sink. Did I buy the wrong camera? I can't afford a mistake like that. Magenta shifts, red blobs, moire. But I've worked through those thanks to the enormous help of the professionals here.

But this batch of criticism does not touch me. It all seems minor in the context of what I have been getting with this camera, which is stunningly sharp, detailed images with great color at very high resolution. The 14n does have something in common with the Bradley fighting vehicle, but I like it's tanky look anyway. I don't see the gaping seams and cheap components mentioned, at least no worse than the D100 I'm coming from. Anyway, the body is a mid-level design by Nikon, yes? Even the Hasselblad before that was just a box, in spite of the handmade loving care. I agree with most of the points made, even the criticisms of American design which is all about money unfortunately, and not much about design these days in spite of the enormous pool of talent there is in any country this size. But these criticisms of the camera seem minor compared to the one big huge fact that overrides all of that — the quality of the images. I didn't make a mistake buying a Kodak; in fact the camera is a huge bargain. And that must be why everybody here is using it.

Actually, if you sight the viewfinder with your right eye you don't contact the buttons. I've never accidentally pushed a button with my nose. That must be a problem for the designers, what to do about left-eyed photographers and still fit the full-framed sensor in the camera.
 
Recessing the buttons is an obvious design option.

Another is an extended binocular-style eyepiece (like the Oly 10 has) that clears the back.

But the two ergonomic design disasters with this camera that should have been avoided (as they are all Kodak contributions) are:
  • the portrait grip: there simply isn't enough room between the bottom of the lens and the start of the protrait 'chin' to get your fingers (not unless you are the flat Canon photocopier man anyway) and even if you could the release button is in the wrong place (needs to be further around towards the front of the standard grip); the base of the camera is too fat anyway (unless you have huge hands) and there is nowhere to put your thumb. A bit of a major design howler all around really!
  • The portrait grip (!): it gets in the way of holding the camera by the main grip because the little 'valley' between the portrait grip and the main grip is too narrow and the space between the main grip and the body is too short to fit all your fingers with the result that the little finger gets scrunched into the valley or wags around in the wind. My D100 has a shorter grip but that isn't a problem because there is no portrait grip so my little finger can curl happily under the camera base.
Yah Boo, what were they thinking of!

ps

I still like the camera a lot,though, and the hand strap is good. Just being perfectionist.
Some things said here about the 14n have made my heart sink. Did I
buy the wrong camera? I can't afford a mistake like that. Magenta
shifts, red blobs, moire. But I've worked through those thanks to
the enormous help of the professionals here.

But this batch of criticism does not touch me. It all seems minor
in the context of what I have been getting with this camera, which
is stunningly sharp, detailed images with great color at very high
resolution. The 14n does have something in common with the Bradley
fighting vehicle, but I like it's tanky look anyway. I don't see
the gaping seams and cheap components mentioned, at least no worse
than the D100 I'm coming from. Anyway, the body is a mid-level
design by Nikon, yes? Even the Hasselblad before that was just a
box, in spite of the handmade loving care. I agree with most of the
points made, even the criticisms of American design which is all
about money unfortunately, and not much about design these days in
spite of the enormous pool of talent there is in any country this
size. But these criticisms of the camera seem minor compared to the
one big huge fact that overrides all of that — the quality of the
images. I didn't make a mistake buying a Kodak; in fact the camera
is a huge bargain. And that must be why everybody here is using it.

Actually, if you sight the viewfinder with your right eye you don't
contact the buttons. I've never accidentally pushed a button with
my nose. That must be a problem for the designers, what to do about
left-eyed photographers and still fit the full-framed sensor in the
camera.
 
i agree with you JTF
Do the designers of the Kodak 14n have human hands???
The camera fits my hands perfectly! Are you insulting people like me?
Are they aliens? or just high on crack??
None of the above!
Is the n14 the ugliest camera ever built???
Nope! It's actually pretty cool looking.

You may have stumbled upon this camera by mistake. May I suggest
you venture toward the point-n-shoot type of cameras instead. This
may suit your style needs better.
 
Anyway, is good exchanging opinion about design if that cann send
some message to Kodak, hopefully the next camera they will deliver
will look better.
First off, this is nothing but a troll-post. This guy has four posts in dpreview, and all bash Kodak.

But to your point, what has been raised here that has not been noted over a year ago?
What here is so insightful to make anyone not use the camera based on its looks?

Sure it could have been this or that, but lets get back to photography guys! sheesh.
 
... The 14n does have something in common with the Bradley
fighting vehicle, but I like it's tanky look anyway.
A very apt comparison! :-)

I really don't care what the camera looks like. I can't see much of it with my nose jammed into the back and my eyeglasses jammed into my nose while I'm trying to look through the viewfinder. For that matter, I can't see all that much of the viewfinder, either.

I am right-eyed, and my nose turns on the menus about every 5 seconds while I'm tring to look through the viewfinder. But I don't want a menu option that requires more button presses to use the menus because I have to use the menu to change the 14n lens optimization just about every time I change lenses. I guess I need to practice turning the menus off with my nose.
 
yes your right. generalisations never are very clever,( - even if they come from me...). and tody i remembered to apple....
and ibm. they made nice things. and there is nice architecture in US.
Anyway, is good exchanging opinion about design if that cann send
some message to Kodak, hopefully the next camera they will deliver
will look better.
First off, this is nothing but a troll-post. This guy has four
posts in dpreview, and all bash Kodak.

But to your point, what has been raised here that has not been
noted over a year ago?
What here is so insightful to make anyone not use the camera based
on its looks?
Sure it could have been this or that, but lets get back to
photography guys! sheesh.
 
i cannot see why a S2 or a D100 is in any aspect better designed.

all this cameras are not designed at all or the technicians have cutten out any idea which came from ( if it even exist...) the design departement. they just tried to fill the needs with a minimum of costs.

the S2 ( i had long time one ) a.e. is more ugly and cheaper for the plastic feel. and as posted above in response to my "US- design" post- there have been much much more ugly cameras in the history,- and very few one which have been beautyfull.
as the nikon cq coolpix...
or the leica m3 / m4
and the r8 / 9

even the fm2 i like,- although this is not a "beautyfull" design,- it just has some 2.war tank estethetic, but thats nice in some way...
or the rollei 35
the canon 1,
the hasselblad system
the old little pentax reflex...

sure there are many more which i dont remember or i dont know but
i think most of the others are more or less just functional.
and there the kodak has not one of the last places.

as said the bad thought functionalities bother me more,- a.e. i really like manual focus, but this knob teach me to use af.
the hand strip is great for meon the other side.
so comfortable to take the camera with one hand...
Being more serious about the matter I would like to say:

What ever the 14n might fit some one hands properly, it does not to
the majority of the users, and this is not subjective. It is a
matter of fact.
The 14n it is not pretty cool looking, of course this is
subjective, but the majority of people think is not. In any case
the 14n it is not such piece of avant gard design that can be
understood by an elite of few. It is not that kind of ecception, it
just belong on the category of not well designed cameras.

It does not look cool to me because the body looks fat and nothing
that is part of this camera body is smooth and sleek. Everything
pop out, like if the parts were glued togheter. It seems like parts
form different tools (not even different cameras) were taken and
then squized together.
The design of buttons and dials is really approssimate and it meet
the standard of a 20$ blender that you can buy at a warehouse sale.
There are big gaps between every metal and plastic part and the
parts do not join well, all the gaps are irregular.
I have to say that most the American electronics (eccepts Apple and
few others) have this approssimate design and assembly. Anytime I
give a look at any american household appliances make me feel like
I'm back in the sixtyes. The 14n is coming from this mentality. The
problems is that at least half of the population in US is familiar
and grown up with this bad design and keep buying the same junk
for ever and of course the makers of this junk do not need of
changing or investing in good and designuntil they keep selling
millions units. I hope any American friend do not take this critic
on design too personally. Of course there are plenties of Amrican
classic design that are well appreciated world wide, but it is not
the case of the 14n,, kodak cameras in generals and house old
appliances we can buy today.

Said that, I'm using my 14n and getting good results, mostly
because of the camera capability, but also because I have been
using it with a lot of my patience, precutions and skills.
Even for what it costs the 14n or the SRLc/n are still an expensive
tool, that a part for resolution, do not meet the reliability, good
design and versatility of the D1x, D100, S2 or 10D whose cost a
fraction.
Most of the complaints form the majority of 14n users are on flaws
that are not caused by cutting cost in the making of it and the
consequent lower price ( compared to 1ds) but just because the
camera was not thought and built well enough by its makers. I think
that many persons involved on the making of it, are not prepared
well enough for the task.

I think Kodak did something that can deliver outstanding quality
but in order to get it you need too much precautios that cannot be
candidly accepted by the customers.
The guys at Kodak defenitively need to do better.

Please do not tell me that this is not the camera for me, that I'm
not ready, or that I should do my home work. I heard that before
and I can proove that wrong. I would love just avoid it.
I'm getting outstanding results, If the 14n was behaving as all the
others cameras I own or I previously owned, I would not be
complaining.

Here is the product that is at fault not the users.

regards.
Andrea.
Do the designers of the Kodak 14n have human hands???
The camera fits my hands perfectly! Are you insulting people like me?
Are they aliens? or just high on crack??
None of the above!
Is the n14 the ugliest camera ever built???
Nope! It's actually pretty cool looking.

You may have stumbled upon this camera by mistake. May I suggest
you venture toward the point-n-shoot type of cameras instead. This
may suit your style needs better.
 
And I agree too - I have NO major problem with the camera , and even have no difficulty with a vertical orientation - there is a nice little place for my middle finger right next to the ' Nikon F Mount' label, that fits perfectly and gives me a very strong one-hand use with good access to the vertical release button (I also have rather small hands). In my opinion there are still a few technical features such as the inability to use a remote mc-20 trigger with longer exposures that should be improved, but ergonomic design is not anything I believe needs further tweaking.

I wonder if many of the negative posts come from people who are not very adaptable to new environments, and want all current and future cameras to be just like their old cameras? Anyway, I guess the results of the poll are not coming out quite as the 'Fashion Diva' expected. Oh well, she (he) can try again later with another poll.
Bob Cody
Do the designers of the Kodak 14n have human hands???
The camera fits my hands perfectly! Are you insulting people like me?
Are they aliens? or just high on crack??
None of the above!
Is the n14 the ugliest camera ever built???
Nope! It's actually pretty cool looking.

You may have stumbled upon this camera by mistake. May I suggest
you venture toward the point-n-shoot type of cameras instead. This
may suit your style needs better.
 
Sorry man, not trolling here.

I have more than four posts in dp rewiew and more than 4 criticizing Kodak if you like. But did not only criticizing posts, I also did some positives one where necessary.

I just have a different opinion from your, and i'm critical with this camera, I'm not so critical with other equipment I have.

Anyway not trolling but neither blind ass kising to camera makers.

regards.
Anyway, is good exchanging opinion about design if that cann send
some message to Kodak, hopefully the next camera they will deliver
will look better.
First off, this is nothing but a troll-post. This guy has four
posts in dpreview, and all bash Kodak.

But to your point, what has been raised here that has not been
noted over a year ago?
What here is so insightful to make anyone not use the camera based
on its looks?
Sure it could have been this or that, but lets get back to
photography guys! sheesh.
 
...
I wonder if many of the negative posts come from people who are not
very adaptable to new environments, and want all current and future
cameras to be just like their old cameras?
I've been using Nikon F-series cameras for 35 years, but I am quite happy with the Sony F717 for 8.5x11 inch prints when I want to travel light. The Sony is certainly not just like a Nikon F4.
 

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