Kodak Advantix Preview APS Film Camera
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- Film Type: APS
- Zoom Lens: With Zoom Lens
- Zoom Range: 25 mm - 65 mm
- Camera Type: Point and Shoot
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A "preview" of the future
Pros
Unique, easy to use, good quality
Cons
Low-res LCD, only shows last picture taken, not pocketable
Recommended it?
Yes
The Kodak Advantix Preview camera is a great idea well implemented. The Preview is the first film camera to provide a digital view of the captured picture on an LCD screen. The camera harnesses the unique attributes of the Advanced Photo System format to accomplish this.
For the uninitiated: APS is a cartridge-load film format which incorporates some unique magnetic coatings which allow the camera to write data to the film itself. The photo processor can then read the data and use it to produce better pictures. (Up until now, this data exchange function, called ix, has been limited.)
After taking a picture, the user can look at the photo they've just taken by pressing the big preview button. The pictures pop up on the LCD. From here, you can critique the photo for composition. If you really like the photo, you can order up to nine prints right from the get-go. Just move the zoom lever and the P1 indicator moves up to P9. Then, when you get your film back from the processor, you'll have nine pictures of that frame? Why would you want multiplies? Well, let's say you have a group shot, and it turns out good. Now you can have the prints ready of the ones you want to pass out, without ordering reprints.
And, if you don't like the picture at all, you can order zero prints by indicating P0. You have still lost the frame, but at least you're not paying for prints you don't want.
The LCD has a brightness button, which lets you brighten or darken the LCD, depending on the viewing conditions. I wish some digital cameras had this easy-to-use button!
You can also change the print format from among the three choices, C (3-by-5 inches), H (4-by-7 inches), and P (4-by-10 inches). That way, if you take a scenic shot and decide it would look better as a panorama print, you can change it.
Like many APS cameras, you can included canned phrases, like "Happy Birthday", on the back of the print by selecting a specific number on the back, after pressing the Title button. You have to select the phrase you want by looking in the handbook, however, since all you get to refer to is the number, not the actual phrase itself.
Otherwise, this is a fairly conventional short-zoom camera. The camera has a 25-65mm zoom lens, and has a flip-up flash. The flip-up flash, found on most Kodak camera, also serves as a lens cover and must be moved up to turn the camera on. Because the flash is a nice height above the lens, the chance of red-eye is reduced. Flash features include a night mode, a portrait mode, and infinity mode. There is also a self timer.
Being the first of its kind, however, does mean the Preview does have its shortcomings. Foremost among these are the relatively low-resolution screen, which can make difficult the primary function of determining if subjects' eyes are open. Also, the preview function only lets you see the most recent picture taken. (A digital camera lets you see all the photos you've taken.) Word has it future models will have this function, but until then, you've paid $300.
You also have to be careful about your composition. The LCD is not showing you exactly the same picture that is captured on the film, but rather a second exposure taken from a little mini-lens near the main lens. This means, because of the slight distance between the two lenses, there will be a small difference in the composition. Most people probably won't notice the difference, but worth pointing out for those critical photographers.
Another "iffy" prospect is finding a processor that can read the ix data. Not all APS-capable film labs bother to read the data, so make sure your photo lab enables this feature before sending your film.
Overall, though, the Kodak Advantix Preview is a solid APS camera which gives you the best of the film and the analog worlds. Recommended for those not ready or willing to make the more-expensive jump to pure digital.
For the uninitiated: APS is a cartridge-load film format which incorporates some unique magnetic coatings which allow the camera to write data to the film itself. The photo processor can then read the data and use it to produce better pictures. (Up until now, this data exchange function, called ix, has been limited.)
After taking a picture, the user can look at the photo they've just taken by pressing the big preview button. The pictures pop up on the LCD. From here, you can critique the photo for composition. If you really like the photo, you can order up to nine prints right from the get-go. Just move the zoom lever and the P1 indicator moves up to P9. Then, when you get your film back from the processor, you'll have nine pictures of that frame? Why would you want multiplies? Well, let's say you have a group shot, and it turns out good. Now you can have the prints ready of the ones you want to pass out, without ordering reprints.
And, if you don't like the picture at all, you can order zero prints by indicating P0. You have still lost the frame, but at least you're not paying for prints you don't want.
The LCD has a brightness button, which lets you brighten or darken the LCD, depending on the viewing conditions. I wish some digital cameras had this easy-to-use button!
You can also change the print format from among the three choices, C (3-by-5 inches), H (4-by-7 inches), and P (4-by-10 inches). That way, if you take a scenic shot and decide it would look better as a panorama print, you can change it.
Like many APS cameras, you can included canned phrases, like "Happy Birthday", on the back of the print by selecting a specific number on the back, after pressing the Title button. You have to select the phrase you want by looking in the handbook, however, since all you get to refer to is the number, not the actual phrase itself.
Otherwise, this is a fairly conventional short-zoom camera. The camera has a 25-65mm zoom lens, and has a flip-up flash. The flip-up flash, found on most Kodak camera, also serves as a lens cover and must be moved up to turn the camera on. Because the flash is a nice height above the lens, the chance of red-eye is reduced. Flash features include a night mode, a portrait mode, and infinity mode. There is also a self timer.
Being the first of its kind, however, does mean the Preview does have its shortcomings. Foremost among these are the relatively low-resolution screen, which can make difficult the primary function of determining if subjects' eyes are open. Also, the preview function only lets you see the most recent picture taken. (A digital camera lets you see all the photos you've taken.) Word has it future models will have this function, but until then, you've paid $300.
You also have to be careful about your composition. The LCD is not showing you exactly the same picture that is captured on the film, but rather a second exposure taken from a little mini-lens near the main lens. This means, because of the slight distance between the two lenses, there will be a small difference in the composition. Most people probably won't notice the difference, but worth pointing out for those critical photographers.
Another "iffy" prospect is finding a processor that can read the ix data. Not all APS-capable film labs bother to read the data, so make sure your photo lab enables this feature before sending your film.
Overall, though, the Kodak Advantix Preview is a solid APS camera which gives you the best of the film and the analog worlds. Recommended for those not ready or willing to make the more-expensive jump to pure digital.
