Kodak DX3700 EasyShare 3MP Digital Camera

Rating:
Summary: Good, But There Is Better!
Review: I purchased a Kodak dx3700 camera for Xmas for my extremely non-technical wife (no docking station). After reading countless reviews and visiting manufacturer websites, I decided on a Kodak Easyshare Camera. I originally wanted the dx3600 because it had an optical zoom lens. Unfortunately, due to lack of supply and time frame, I had to get to the dx3700 in order to have a gift under the tree. This was my 1st digital purchase. Ease of use and picture quality were my main concerns because we will primarily print the photos.
To my surprise, the ease of taking photos and downloading photos was EXCEPTIONAL!!! I was even surprised that the photos had a date/time stamp and downloaded pictures were automatically categorized into new folders by date (GREAT FEATURE!). In regards to ease of use, THERE IS NOTHING BETTER! Literally, after 10 minutes, we were taking photos and making prints. We were all impressed. However, we had nothing to compare the picture quality to. My wife was also hesitant to let me know that she would have liked a zoom lens.
I began to research "comparable" cameras with zoom lenses. After thinking about upgrading to a dx3900, I decided to try another brand. I already knew Kodak's picture quality because the dx3900 is basically a dx3700 with 2x zoom.
After reading many more reviews and evaluating pros & cons, I decided to try the Canon A20. It was "only" 2.1 Megapixels, but it had a 3x zoom and looked like a Point & Shoot. Unfortunately, it did not have a date/time stamp. I purchased one from a retail store knowing that I would return it and buy it much cheaper online. I unpacked it. I immediately noticed that it required 4 AA batteries. The Kodak required only 1 Lithium or 2 AA Ni-MH. The Canon was MUCH more difficult to set up. Kodak had spoiled me. Canon's camera interface and software installation were MUCH more complex. I became nervous because I thought it would be to complicated for my wife to enjoy. I completed all setups. I had her hold the Canon and Kodak, then take some identical pictures with both cameras using the zoom and different settings indoors (where most of her pictures would be taken anyway). I printed them, then gave her a "Pepsi Challenge".
All of the pictures that she preferred were from the 2.1MP Canon, not the 3.1MP Kodak. The Kodak's were not bad. The Canon's were just better. Contrary to what I would have thought (being a digital novice), she was right. Although Canon's "ease of use" was definitely inferior to Kodak's, it had superior picture quality and a 3x optical zoom (remember: the dx3900 only had a 2x zoom). Although we LOVED Kodak's simplicity, we had to opt for picture quality. Although there will be a greater learning curve, picture quality lasts forever (If I can only get her to truly believe that).
I returned the Kodak, and ordered the Canon A20 online. I was even able to get the Canon for less than a dx3900. Although I will really miss Kodak's simplicity, every time I look at a printed photo, I will know that I made the right decision. I only hope that battery drain will not be too much of a nuisance.

Rating:
Summary: No optical zoom, no thanks.
Review: Bravo for the clean images of the 3.3 megapixel setup, but take one star away for the lack of a true (optical) zoom and another for making the camera compatible with MultiMediaCard memory format (harder to find, costlier, smaller max memory size than CF) and there you have it, a 3 star pkg.

Rating:
Summary: Great digital pictures for a small price
Review: I have been putting off buying a digital camera for months. I was debating on the Sony Mavica, but the pixel quality just wasn't there. 3.1 pixels for such a low price! True, it doesn't have all the bangs and whistles that other digital cameras have, but it has the most imortant feature. Oustanding pictures. It doesn't have an optical zoom, but I seldom use that anyway. The camera dock (sold separatly) is a must. A simple push of the button on the docking station, and the pictures are in your computer ready for emailing or printing. What more could you want for so little money?

Rating:
Summary: Memory Problem!
Review: Honggang Ma is exactly right. I saw this product in a store. Loved it's simplicity, 3.1 Mpixels for an incredible price. I thought: "What's the catch?" Then I asked about the type of memory. The store clerk had no idea. He climbed a ladder to find the box, and still we couldn't make heads or tails of the info. I used the web to find all sorts of reviews. Nothing specifically mentioned the memory. Then I found the previous review here at Amazon (GREAT reviews). This settles the issue for me. What do you do when on vacation and you simply MUST buy another mem card? With this camera, NOTHING! If you are not concerned about this issue, then definitely buy this camera. You will not find a higher resolution for the price. Be aware though, this is a "point & click" snapshot camera only.

Rating:
Summary: Memory Compatibility
Review: The main reason I bought this camera is because it has a SD/MMC Card. I looked at the more expensive DX-3900 and counted it out. It did have 2x optical zoon but used the wrong memory for me. I own a Palm M505 and want to have compatibility with that and my MP3 player. Even though the other chips may be superior in maximum memory capacity and probably speed, I think companies should standardise or we end up wasting our money as they change their minds. I purchased a 64MB MMC chip at Amazon quite cheap and it will work in my palm, the MP3 player and the Kodak camera... Go Figure. At least Kodak gave us the option in the DX3700. Others should but the DX3900.

Rating:
Summary: Trap! This camera uses a universally incompatible card!
Review: The pictures are excellent. In fact, they are among the best for 3-mega digicams. This is where the virtues of this camera end. The 3700 uses an SD or MMC card that is hard to find. Once you find them in some retail stores, they cost 3 times more than their CF counterparts. SD or MMC are smaller in size and are intended for miniaturization, yet this camera is bigger than Kodak 3900, an excellent camera that uses CF card. Therefore, this card format doesn't make any sense. Another disadvantage of this format is the maximum size for the SD card is 64 MB as compared with 512 MB for CF card. Since the internal memory allows me only about 7 pictures at the highest resolution, I tried to order a 64 MB SD card... The price in retail stores costs up to 5 times more. Now I have to use the pitiful internal memory and always carry a notebook computer wherever I go. The purchase turned out to be a disaster.

Rating:
Summary: BUYER BEWARE.
Review: This product is junk. There is no useful purpose to this hunk o' crap. The pictures suck unless you are in BROAD daylight. The flash dosen't work, and even more pitiful, it makes the pictures DARKER when you have it on. The dock sucks- if it breaks (like it did for me) then you are screwed and cannot charge the camera. Additionally, the battery lasts for about 2 pictures and then it dies. If you turn on the LCD screen, you can probably only count on .5 pictures before it dies. This is the worst electronic product I have ever owned and I am sorry I ever bought a Kodak camera. I will never buy one again, nor will I buy another Kodak product, as I am severely disappointed with this one.

Rating:
Summary: Buy this camera used - 100's of people want to dump theirs
Review: This camera is terrible. I can't begin to count the number of precious moments I've LOST because of it. And you can't know how bad it is until AFTER you buy it (unless you read a couple reviews like this one).

See the other reviews for the long list of bad attributes.

The camera has only two advantages:
(1) It's cheap for 3 mega-pixels (but you'd better use it within an hour of removing it from the cradle, and only take about a dozen pictures! Then it's back to the cradle for another day of charging).
(2) There are SO MANY unhappy people with it, you can get it cheap on Ebay, including dock and accessories. (But I wouldn't.)

DON'T BUY IT! Kodak should have recalled it... they make some other good cameras, but this one is an embarrassment.



Rating:
Summary: Dont Buy this camera
Review: If you already bought it, congratulations, you have been fooled by Kodak to be included into their Beta testing on Digital products.
Bad pictures, except for in good light, Bad battery, Zoom is useless, Memory too small. Pictures have a dark lines when taken in the dark.

This product has the worst of All the features I have seen in Digital cameras. I sets an standard for other manufacturers on how low they can get in quality. Kodak should recall this product to keep thier reputation. If they dont somebody should force a recall.


Rating:
Summary: Kodak 3700 - a total disappointment - DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA
Review: First let me start by saying: "DON'T BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK"

Our first digital camera was a Kodak easyshare, I don't recall the model. However, it was a great little point and shoot camera that took at least 20 - 30 photos without any problems. We filled up the memory before we used up the battery life. Because we were comfortable with the Kodak we had, we went ahead and bought the Kodak 3700 camera for my daughter's 16th birthday only to be completely disappointed months later. The camera has almost never worked correctly. After a few months we started experiencing the charging problems just like many others who have posted their reviews here. The camera takes 1 or 2 pics and then the battery is dead. We thought perhaps our daughter never charged the battery correctly when it was brand new, so we replaced the lithium battery, but the problems did not resolve. We tried rechargeable batteries, but the problems did not resolve. We thought it might be the camera dock and tried at a friend's house, but the problem still did not resolve. This product is junk and should have been recalled as there is an obvious manufacturer's defect. Kodak has offered no resolve or replacement. Too little information too late for us, but heed the warning for those looking to buy this camera today. DON'T DO IT!!!!!