Kodak Advantix Preview APS Film Camera
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Similar in Film Cameras
- Film Type: APS
- Zoom Lens: With Zoom Lens
- Zoom Range: 25 mm - 65 mm
- Camera Type: Point and Shoot
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89
Exploit the True Benefits of APS.
Pros
Convenience, Innovation, perfect enhancement for APS
Cons
Price
Recommended it?
Yes
Kodak has taken the APS format and borrowed from digital camera technology to create a point-and-shoot class camera which takes full advantage of the benefits and convenience of APS by allowing you to preview your shots before committing to having them developed. The Kodak Advantix Preview is an APS camera with an LCD screen for previewing your most recently taken shot which can be then be kept for processing or flagged as a discard based on your own discretion.
A Word on APS
APS which stands for Advanced Photo System is a relatively recently introduced format which is supported by a consortium of camera companies. APS offers some advantages which contribute to ease of use and the format is primarily targeted at those wishing to take hassle free snap shots of half decent quality without having to become a camera expert to do so.
APS uses special film which comes in 15, 25 and 40 exposure cartridges. This is color film only, although Kodak offers ?chromogenic black and white? film which will produce black and white prints although the film is actually processed in color chemistry and the prints are made on color paper. APS film is loaded by dropping the film into a hatch door on the camera and thus no film leader is exposed. This allows the Kodak Advantix Preview to support mid-roll changing (MRC) of film cartridges which can later be reinserted to be completed. Another major advantage of APS film is that it has a magnetic coating on the backside which allows for data to be encoded on the film which will tell the developer which exposures to develop, which ones to create multiple prints from, and what size prints to produce for each exposure. APS film processing also comes with an index print included, which is a 4x7 master print of thumbnails of all the exposures on the cartridge which can be useful for ordering further reprints etc. Another neat thing about APS film is that the negatives are stored permanently and securely within the film cartridge after developing. The main drawback of APS film when compared to 35mm is that the an APS negative is roughly half the size of a 35mm negative and thus has limited ability to produce the same quality enlargements available with 35mm. The largest pure quality print possible from an APS negative is 8x10 which is probably sufficient for the target market anyway.
Features of the Advantix Preview
The Advantix Preview?s dimensions are 4 5/8x 2 7/8 x 1 15/16 and weighs 255 grams making it just slightly larger, but about 60% heavier than the other Kodak Advantix camera I?ve seen (which was the C400 Auto focus). This is to be expected with the extra weight of the 1.8? LCD screen and the digital circuitry to support it. As with most APS camera user changeable setting are limited on this camera. The film speed is automatically set and the focus is automatic. There are however different exposure modes for close-ups, group photos, distance, flash-off, night view which operate the 2.6 to 1 zoom lens (25mm to 65mm).
The flip-up flash is a nice feature on this camera which is also standard on some of Kodak?s other APS Cameras in the Advantix series. Having the flash a distance above the lens is designed to reduce red-eye and provide a longer flash range. When in the down position the flash housing serves as the lens cover.
There is also a monochrome status screen located below the LCD which displays the number of exposures remaining, the date, the film speed and the exposure mode and flash status.
The LCD Preview screen is of course what sets this camera apart and uses digital technology to build on the functionality and convenience offered by the APS film format. Here?s how it works: Using the normal viewfinder you frame your shot and take the picture. An exposure is made at this point. That exposure is then available to be viewed using the LCD Preview Screen and can be selected for a single print, for multiple prints or to be discarded which will cause it not to be developed when the film cartridge goes in for processing. The digital image is only available for previewing and selecting whether you?d like to keep the exposure or not. It uses the ability of instant preview made possible by the digital LCD to fully exploit the advantages and benefits of the APS format.
Some other added features include a self-timer, the ability to add titles to prints and support for 5 languages.
Construction
This camera isn?t bogged down with a lot of extra controls or appendages which are likely to break off. The flip-up flash door which could have been a weak point in the construction seems solidly built and not likely to be easily damaged. The camera?s casing however has a consumer product feel, (which of course it is) and although I haven?t dropped it, I wouldn?t want to. The buttons seems responsive enough, but this may be something that will diminish with time as I?ve had experience with other buttons of this type with other products in the past.
Conclusion
This may appear at first glance to be the marriage of digital and APS. That isn?t the case, nor is this a digital camera with APS capability. It is very much an APS camera with some features from the digital world which allow it to really expound on the capabilities inherent to APS. The Kodak Advantix Preview uses its LCD to bring APS to a new level of functionality. This is a hint that the future may hold a camera with full digital capabilities and a variation of the APS format to combine the best benefits of digital convenience with the quality currently achievable only through 35 mm film processing. This is the camera for those who wish to take full advantage of all APS has to offer over 35mm in terms of convenience yet are happy with best quality somewhere between 35mm and digital and don?t require the convenience of pure digital. I think there is a market for a camera like this out there and only time will tell whether other manufacturers come out with their own versions of this idea. As for value this camera retails at $299.00 US and does not offer the savings in film and processing that a digital camera does. APS Film is still required as well as processing. The savings comes in with the idea that if a picture happens to be out of focus or a thumb gets in the way, you can choose not to process that exposure and thus save on the processing charges. On the other hand if you have a 25 exposure cartridge of APS film and take 25 bad exposures, you?ve used up that roll of film on bad pictures and need to throw it away. For the price, in my opinions, slightly more of a novelty that a necessity, but if you have the $ to burn it?s a nice extra level of convenience and perhaps will be a conversation piece of sorts for the present at least. A good novelty gift item for someone who likes taking pictures, but is not particularly a photography fanatic.
A Word on APS
APS which stands for Advanced Photo System is a relatively recently introduced format which is supported by a consortium of camera companies. APS offers some advantages which contribute to ease of use and the format is primarily targeted at those wishing to take hassle free snap shots of half decent quality without having to become a camera expert to do so.
APS uses special film which comes in 15, 25 and 40 exposure cartridges. This is color film only, although Kodak offers ?chromogenic black and white? film which will produce black and white prints although the film is actually processed in color chemistry and the prints are made on color paper. APS film is loaded by dropping the film into a hatch door on the camera and thus no film leader is exposed. This allows the Kodak Advantix Preview to support mid-roll changing (MRC) of film cartridges which can later be reinserted to be completed. Another major advantage of APS film is that it has a magnetic coating on the backside which allows for data to be encoded on the film which will tell the developer which exposures to develop, which ones to create multiple prints from, and what size prints to produce for each exposure. APS film processing also comes with an index print included, which is a 4x7 master print of thumbnails of all the exposures on the cartridge which can be useful for ordering further reprints etc. Another neat thing about APS film is that the negatives are stored permanently and securely within the film cartridge after developing. The main drawback of APS film when compared to 35mm is that the an APS negative is roughly half the size of a 35mm negative and thus has limited ability to produce the same quality enlargements available with 35mm. The largest pure quality print possible from an APS negative is 8x10 which is probably sufficient for the target market anyway.
Features of the Advantix Preview
The Advantix Preview?s dimensions are 4 5/8x 2 7/8 x 1 15/16 and weighs 255 grams making it just slightly larger, but about 60% heavier than the other Kodak Advantix camera I?ve seen (which was the C400 Auto focus). This is to be expected with the extra weight of the 1.8? LCD screen and the digital circuitry to support it. As with most APS camera user changeable setting are limited on this camera. The film speed is automatically set and the focus is automatic. There are however different exposure modes for close-ups, group photos, distance, flash-off, night view which operate the 2.6 to 1 zoom lens (25mm to 65mm).
The flip-up flash is a nice feature on this camera which is also standard on some of Kodak?s other APS Cameras in the Advantix series. Having the flash a distance above the lens is designed to reduce red-eye and provide a longer flash range. When in the down position the flash housing serves as the lens cover.
There is also a monochrome status screen located below the LCD which displays the number of exposures remaining, the date, the film speed and the exposure mode and flash status.
The LCD Preview screen is of course what sets this camera apart and uses digital technology to build on the functionality and convenience offered by the APS film format. Here?s how it works: Using the normal viewfinder you frame your shot and take the picture. An exposure is made at this point. That exposure is then available to be viewed using the LCD Preview Screen and can be selected for a single print, for multiple prints or to be discarded which will cause it not to be developed when the film cartridge goes in for processing. The digital image is only available for previewing and selecting whether you?d like to keep the exposure or not. It uses the ability of instant preview made possible by the digital LCD to fully exploit the advantages and benefits of the APS format.
Some other added features include a self-timer, the ability to add titles to prints and support for 5 languages.
Construction
This camera isn?t bogged down with a lot of extra controls or appendages which are likely to break off. The flip-up flash door which could have been a weak point in the construction seems solidly built and not likely to be easily damaged. The camera?s casing however has a consumer product feel, (which of course it is) and although I haven?t dropped it, I wouldn?t want to. The buttons seems responsive enough, but this may be something that will diminish with time as I?ve had experience with other buttons of this type with other products in the past.
Conclusion
This may appear at first glance to be the marriage of digital and APS. That isn?t the case, nor is this a digital camera with APS capability. It is very much an APS camera with some features from the digital world which allow it to really expound on the capabilities inherent to APS. The Kodak Advantix Preview uses its LCD to bring APS to a new level of functionality. This is a hint that the future may hold a camera with full digital capabilities and a variation of the APS format to combine the best benefits of digital convenience with the quality currently achievable only through 35 mm film processing. This is the camera for those who wish to take full advantage of all APS has to offer over 35mm in terms of convenience yet are happy with best quality somewhere between 35mm and digital and don?t require the convenience of pure digital. I think there is a market for a camera like this out there and only time will tell whether other manufacturers come out with their own versions of this idea. As for value this camera retails at $299.00 US and does not offer the savings in film and processing that a digital camera does. APS Film is still required as well as processing. The savings comes in with the idea that if a picture happens to be out of focus or a thumb gets in the way, you can choose not to process that exposure and thus save on the processing charges. On the other hand if you have a 25 exposure cartridge of APS film and take 25 bad exposures, you?ve used up that roll of film on bad pictures and need to throw it away. For the price, in my opinions, slightly more of a novelty that a necessity, but if you have the $ to burn it?s a nice extra level of convenience and perhaps will be a conversation piece of sorts for the present at least. A good novelty gift item for someone who likes taking pictures, but is not particularly a photography fanatic.
