Editorial Review:Product Description:Get incredible image quality with the first print-optimized 4.0MP point-and-shoot digital camera. With the EasyShare DX4900's 4.0MP, you'll get stunning prints from 4' x 6' to 20' x 30'. And thanks to KODAK color science, you'll get superb color consistency and more versatility for better pictures no matter where or what you're shooting. The KODAK all-glass, high-quality aspheric lens with 6X zoom lets you zero in on your subjects with crisp detail. And with exclusive Advanced Digital Zoom technology, you'll get great 4' x 6' and 5' x 7' prints.The DX4900 has automatic and manual settings that cover everything from color, focus, sharpness, and burst mode to ISO, white balance, and shutter speed. Its six resolution settings mean you can pick the right size for your needs, from e-mailing to enlargements. With the KODAK EasyShare Camera Dock system, your pictures are transferred from your camera to your computer at the touch of a button. Now you're ready to e-mail your pictures to family and friends, create prints using KODAK Inkjet Papers, and share your memories. Plus, the dock conveniently recharges your camera's battery pack so you'll always be ready when the next moment to remember arises.
Amazon.com Review:The Kodak DX4900 builds on the success of the EasyShare range, bringing 4.0 megapixels and a whisper-quiet 2x optical zoom lens to this easy-to-use and extremely affordable package.
The DX4900 is essentially an update to the successful 3-megapixel DX3900, but with a new 4.0 megapixel CCD capable of producing good poster-size prints. Indeed, the camera was named best point-and-shoot digital camera in its price range at the 2002 Photo Marketing Association Awards, based on color accuracy and image and print quality. This is important because the EasyShare range of digital cameras, while not among the prettiest available, perform extremely well against the competition and at the same time offer extraordinary ease of use.
The DX4900 is, in fact, as easy to use as a compact film camera. Taking pictures is simply a question of loading the flash card and the battery and setting the date and time. From there, the camera operates in auto mode and takes pictures with excellent color balance in most situations.
Should the need arise, the camera can be set to override the ISO settings from 100 to 400, shutter speeds from 0.7 to 16 seconds, sharpness, metering, resolution from 1 to 4 megapixels, color settings, white balance, and exposure compensation from -2 to +2 in 0.5 EV steps. Despite the ability to set these, we feel that this camera does such a good job of capturing images in the auto mode that you will rarely have to alter these settings.
Another new feature on the DX4900 is the 'advanced digital zoom,' which claims improved performance, reducing pixilation. Limited testing showed that the combination of real-time interpolation combined with modest image sharpening does improve the appearance of pictures taken using the digital zoom.
What is missing from the package is, of course, the EasyShare docking station. Kodak has done this to make its cameras even more competitive, but at the expense of usability. Remember that the camera is supplied with a nonrechargeable lithium-ion battery that will prove costly to replace. You can use a couple of AA batteries, but the best bet is to invest in the docking station, which is supplied with a NiMH rechargeable battery and an AC power adaptor.
The software supplied with the DX4900 includes USB connection software, album creation software, image transfer software, and Kodak picture software. The transfer software runs in the background and starts up whenever the camera is detected and then guides you through transferring your images. Once an image is transferred, you are passed over to the picture software, which allows you to view your images and apply simple image enhancements, e-mail them, and organize images in an album.
The camera is supplied with wrist strap, Kodak picture software, USB and video cables, a lithium-ion battery, and a 16 MB CompactFlash card.
--Nick Baxter Pros: - Affordable, easy-to-use point-and-shoot 4-megapixel camera
- Auto mode very satisfactory, but you can override with good range of manual controls
- Named best point-and-shoot digital camera in its price range at the 2002 Photo Marketing Association Awards--and we agree
Cons: - Doesn't include EasyShare docking station, which we recommend
Amazon.com Product Description:Kodak's goal in creating the DX4900 was an ambitious one: to provide the highest-resolution, easiest-to-use digital camera at the lowest possible price. The results are impressive--a simple 4-megapixel point-and-shoot with optical zoom for the same price as many 2-megapixel cameras.
Resolution and Optics The 4-megapixel sensor on the 4900 creates images with filmlike detail, providing ample resolution for sharp, detailed prints--even at sizes up to 11 by 14 inches. Though most people will never actually make a poster-sized print with any of their photos, this level of detail has a more practical use--the ability to crop away unwanted portions of the picture on your computer and still produce a crisp print.
A 2x optical zoom lens (35-70mm equivalent) isn't as powerful as the 3x zoom lenses found on many digital cameras, but it's still useful in composing exactly the photo you want. An additional 3x digital zoom (6x total) further magnifies your image. Digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly, but the sensor has so much resolution that you can use the digital zoom and still have very good results.
To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.5-inch LCD display (which is also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to using a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll be capturing, use the LCD display.
More Features Kodak bills its EasyShare cameras (including the 4900) as being some of the easiest-to-use digital cameras ever, and it's true that you can simply turn the camera on, point, and shoot. However, the DX4900 also includes a surprising number of advanced features for adventurous photographers who choose to delve into the multiple menus displayed on the camera's LCD screen, including exposure compensation, sharpening, ISO and white-balance adjustment, and spot metering.
Power The DX4900 uses two AA batteries--disposables are included. The benefit to using standard AA batteries instead of a custom proprietary battery is that AA batteries are widely available, so missing a once-in-a-lifetime shot due to dead batteries won't be an issue. The downside is that a digital camera will kill a set of alkaline batteries extremely quickly, especially if you're using the camera's LCD display. Instead of alkalines, you'll want to use a pair of high-capacity rechargeable batteries.
There are two ways to resolve the battery issue. One is to get a charger and four rechargeable batteries. In this way, you can always have two batteries in the camera and two fresh ones waiting in the charger. The second is to get the optional EasyShare dock. In addition to simplifying image transfers to the press of a button, the dock also includes a rechargeable battery pack that goes inside the camera. While the DX4900 is sitting in the dock, its batteries are being recharged automatically.
Movie Mode Unlike many digital cameras now on the market, the DX4900 does not include a movie mode.
Storage and Transfer Images are stored on standard Type I CompactFlash (CF) cards. Consider the included 16 MB card a 'starter,' since its 12-picture capacity means you'll need to return to your computer often to transfer images and free up the card for more pictures. A 128 MB card is a great size for this camera, storing around 100 images.
To transfer pictures to your computer, you have several options. You can connect the camera directly to the computer with the included USB cable, or you can use the optional EasyShare dock (mentioned above). Drop the camera into the dock, press the button on the dock, and the computer will automatically launch software to start moving pictures from the camera into the computer. A third option is to use a CompactFlash card reader, which lets you use the removable memory cards more or less like floppy disks.
Printer Compatibility Most inkjet printers manufactured in the past several years will produce excellent prints if you use the right settings and paper. Set your printer to its highest-quality mode and use glossy inkjet photo paper for results that look very similar to those from a photo lab. Of course, you can also use an online photo service (like Amazon Photo Services by Ofoto.com) to create pictures using traditional photo processes on genuine Kodak paper.
Size At 4.6 by 2.6 by 1.7 inches and 8 ounces, the DX4900 is a pretty typical for a point-and-shoot. It's small enough to fit in a purse or coat pocket, but people whose hands get cramped trying to use an ultracompact shouldn't have problems with this model. The body is made of plastic and feels durable.
Contents The package includes the camera, 16 MB memory card, USB and video cables, wrist strap, disposable batteries, instruction manual, dock insert (for use with the optional EasyShare dock) and software CD.
Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend these accessories to make the most of your camera: the EasyShare dock (or rechargeable batteries and a card reader), a carrying case, and a higher-capacity memory card. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
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DX4900 Sucks
This is the second Kodak camera that DIED on me. Time to change brands.
Rating: 
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This camera has never let me down!
I have owned this camera since the day it first hit the market and it has never failed me! I also bought the docking station and a 128 mb card. It takes outstanding photos and the macro closeup feature is SO handy for taking Ebay selling photos! I have more than gotten my money's worth out of this camera over the years. It has been to Mexico, the beach all up and down the east coast and I have it to thank for tons of wonderful memories! I use an Energizer Lithium photo battery and they last a long time. I will have to say that I don't care for the rechargable batteries but that isn't the camera's fault! Overall, the only thing I would have to say I wish were different is the viewer size (maybe that's because I am getting old!). I have just learned to snap away and load them on my computer when I get home. There aren't many that I delete! As with any camera, if you use the lcd viewer to take your photos rather than the viewfinder, you will use up you battery MUCH more quickly. I buy a Lithium CRV3 battery for about $10 1x per 6-8 months and that's with pretty heavy use! Overall, a work horse of a camera!
Rating: -
long time - heavy use - great camera
I have had four digital cameras over the years. This is my third Kodak. I've had it for maybe three years.
About a year ago the battery compartment clip that keeps it shut broke off. Pretty flimsy. Since I have a rechargable in there, however, I just crazy glued it shut and recharge it on the base. Works great!
I abuse this camera quite heavily. Its had sand in it, causing the little lense cover to fail to open. I just fiddled with it and picked at it to clear it out.
Its gotten wet from being in my back shirt pocket in the rain on a bicycle ride. It has fallen many times onto hard surfaces. It is a tough little beast and it takes great shots.
Many of the bad reviews are about battery life. That's not really the camera, and these reviews aren't fair. This is only my second rechargable battery pack, and its still holding a full charge after over a year of very heavy use.
Rating: 
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long time user here
I have had this camera since it first came out. I paid around 400 dollars for it then, including the dock, an expanded card, and the carrying case. I had no trouble with it, even loaned it out extensively to family, until I dropped it onto cement - twice. Now it will not hold a charge, even off the dock. My fault. The only down side is that the camera would not take close ups which makes Ebaying a bit hard! Otherwise, it has been a very reliable camera.
Rating: -
Horrid.
I just bought this camera and will return it promptly. The camera is big, bulky and heavy. I found the camera difficult to use as the 1.5 inch LCD screen was too small and not very clear. The photos also came out rather fuzzy; nothing as sharp as my previous Pentax Optio 20 camera. Besides the LCD screen, the camera looks exactly the same as other Kodak film cameras. Neither does it have movie mode.
Don't buy this camera- it's not worth the money.
