Kodak DC280 $299 at OD B&M

[kyutip]

Don't call to check inventory, just go to Office Depot.
If they only have store display, go PM to Office Max or any other B&M stores.
If your OM still have 155% then you are in luck, otherwise I think $299 is pretty cheap already. pricewatch shows the cheapest price around $420.
I think they sell it cheap because Kodak is replacing it with DC3400, it is still a great camera nonetheless.
For you guys that can't get Canon S10, this is your chance.
BTW, which is better ? (I got both )
I am thinking of keeping Kodak DC280 since Canon S10 need more extra (battery, charger, etc).

 

[Mysterie]

It's a toss up. I gave up my Kodak DC240 for my Powershot A50, and i would pick the S10 over the DC280.

Some of the reaons:
-The metal case (very handly for clumsy idiots like me).
-Weight-the DC240 weights a ton with all those batteries so I believe the same could be said about the DC280 but the S10 weights much less.
-Size,I don't see myself lugging that huge thing all over the place while the S10 slips into my pocket. It's also hard to hold with one hand because it's too heavy and oddly shaped.
-Looks, I know that's not that important but would you walk around with a big ugly thing like the DC280 or a sleek thing like the S10.
-The most important the LCD, on the DC280 (also the DC240) the LCD viewing sucks. It looks like webcam with low framerate and there's snow versus the camcorder quality LCD on the S10.
-On the S10 then lens is enclosed, the DC280 is only covered by a plastic lens that never fails to fall off.
-Something no one ever mentions is the weird viewfinder. The viewfinder leads for some reason are on the right bottom corner not centered, since the LCD sucks I tried using the viewfinder instead and I could never get the picture right using the leads.
-Finally, if you can find it or pricematch it, the S10 is $249 or less versus the DC280's $299.

Some reasons for the DC280:
-The pictures that come out are fanastic, not that the S10 isn't great, the S10's best features are close-ups.
-The ease of use. I know the Kodaks were made for "dummies", they are very user friendly and easy to get used to. I have no problem with the S10 but I'm mechanically inclined and am one of the few people that actually read the manual. Without looking at the manual, some features will be a mystery.

But course, you don't have listen to me there are also reviews found on cnet and PCPhotoREVIEW:
Cnet-Kodak DC280
Cnet-Canon S10
PCPhotoREVIEW-Kodak DC280
PCPhotoREVIEW-Canon S10

Just my two cents...

 

[Croton]

kyutip..
check your private messages

 

[jhassi]

hmmm, if i didn't already have the S10 this would be a hot deal, but the S10 offers identical resolution and it was cheaper, so I'll stick with the S10, but for all my friends that are jealous of my S10 I'll inform them of this Kodak deal

 

[LordSnailz]

Arghh...decisions decisions decisions....which one should I keep? Is the fifty dollars worth it for the 280, of all the reviews on the web, the 280 seems to be the one they picked. But at the same time, I don't think they had the S10 there to compare with the 280. Anyone wanna convince me to pick one or the other?

-ET

 

[sirsolo]

You guys are so lucky worrying about which one to choose. I can't find 280 or S10 in my area.

 

[kyutip]

look at the reviews that mysterie posted.
All are very informative and will help a lot in deciding which one to keep.
Apparently both camera is equally good.
about the price, true Canon S10 is $50 cheaper but you still have to buy the battery charger kit which cost around $50-$70 more.
In the end both camera cost the same (DC280 camera battery is cheaper and readily accessible anywhere, while S10 battery is a bit different).
In the end, all things considered I'm still torn between either one.
Maybe just keep both eh

 

[Mysterie]

To me I think it comes down to looks and size, since everything else is similar or compensates. I forgot to mention,
-the DC280 is kinda slow on picture taking, but on the otherhand I heard the S10 pictures with flash look too yellow. I haven't seen that on my S10 so I guess it's up to how you take the pic or your camera. I do find that the S10 takes darker pics inside with a flash versus my A50, but you can use Photoshop to compensate. I also heard that the DC280 drains the batteries like crazy, I am not sure but the S10 can use the battery for a long time. When I see the low battery show up a few minutes of rest sometimes recovers some of the battery life. I am sure the same can be said for the DC280.

I think the best way to make sure which to keep is to try both for a few shots and choose. If you don't want to open the package go somewhere with these cams and bring a CF card. Take a few pics, go home and compare.

Make sure you check out these points:
-Is it easy to use? User friendly or tough to figure out.
-How do you like both the LCD and the viewfinder. Remember when you can't use one you may need to use the other, so this could be very important.
-How does it feel? I am sure those with large hands my find the S10 too dimunitive, and the DC280 perfect. On the otherhand some might find the S10 perfect but the DC280 too large to hold (kinda like I did, but my hands are smaller, most guy's hands tend to be larger so the DC280 maybe fine for them).
-Do you like the way it looks?
-How is the picture quality?
-Is the picture taking fast enough or does it take too long from when you push the button down to when the picture is taken.
-Are the indoor and outdoor pics to your liking?

Can't rememeber any more points, anyone?
Hope this helps!

 

[kyutip]

Thanks Mysterie, that's really help
I start to make some list too and in the end Canon kinda have a little edge that I like.
What I'm considering is the microdrive capabilities of S10.
Since HD price has been falling, who knows how much microdrive will fall (currently $256 for 340 MB at buy.com).
even at that price it came out to about .75 cent/MB, which is cheap.
I'll just wait for it to fall a bit more.
I guess I might keep Canon after all.
One last thing, for people who have been dealing with Canon for sometimes.
how is Canon service and support ? is it as good as Kodak ? (in term of updated driver, firmware, patch, etc)

 

[Mysterie]

Well on the customer service issue...
I had to call Kodak for help (on my LCD and viewfinder issue before I found out THAT was normal). The guy who helped me had no clue. I was very disappointed in the service I got from them. On the otherhand, they come out with drivers and firmware pretty quickly.

I called into Canon because I needed to find out whether or not they were coming out with the special drivers for Windows ME (they have this new intergrated feature I read about that required special drivers). the guy seemed to be pretty together and dealt with me effiencently. They are also far nicer. They have a firmware update for the S10 but no updates on drivers and such yet for Windows ME (but it works fine).

 

[bestfry]

Hi,
As for the Microdrive, I am happened to talk to an IBM person. He told me that those Digital Camera use Type II Compact Flash card will also be able to use that MicroDrive.
But I am not sure about that. Anyway, he is an expert on this area. I will give it a try. I do not know if I can get a microdrive for my Nikon 950.

 

[Mysterie]

I bleieve the camera must not only support Type II Compact Flash but Microdrive itself. I don't hear of many cameras support this right now and in checking up on the Coolpix 950, I see no mention of it supporting the Microdrive (or anything abouve 64MBs???).

 

[barebottoms]

Microdrive needs to have a CF Type II + slot. Its a tiny bit thicker than a CF Type II. Didn't fit in my CoolPix 800. grrrhh. Back to the Z50 it went.

 

[el taco]

ARggghhh...decisions....decisions...decisions...anyone wanna clear up the battery charger thing for the S10? I mean if I get the charger wouldn't the price for the two cameras be the same? Can the charger be use for something else? help help =) thx

-ET

 

[doneedlove]

hi,

I checked Office Depot and they listed for $500 + .. not $299.. $299 is for DC215... and i didn't see any Canon S10 at OD or OM.. so i could'nt pricematch with Staples.. could you please explain how to get Staples to price match Canon S10.. bye.

take care,
TnT

 

[Mysterie]

For the original thread go here:
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.cfm?catid=40&threadid=252032

Here's a scan of my receipt that you may use to try to get a pricematch:
Office Max receipt for $249 Powershot S10