Review Of Kyocera Finecam SL400R

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcmag.com/review/0%2C2491%2Cs%3D1563&a%3D134893%2C00.asp' target='_blank'>http://www.pcmag.com/review/0%2C2491%2Cs%3D1563&a%3D134893%2C00.asp</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The 4-megapixel Kyocera Finecam SL400R is a quick performer and is a lot of fun and easy to shoot, thanks in large part to its unusual pivoting lens. But the camera's lack of a lens cap means you've got to be careful about what else you have in your pocket. This, combined with mediocre image quality, makes the SL400R great for lovers of pricey, stylish gadgets but a poor value for the general consumer."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/kyocerasl400r.jpg" /><br /><br />The SL400R replaces the three-star SL300R. It has a solid 2.77-second boot time and 2.34-seconds recycle time however it did not score well on PCMagazine's resolution test. The SL400R gives the same 1,050 lines of resolution as its 3.2MP predecessor which is too low for a 4MP camera. However, it is fairly inexpensive at $280 for a 4MP camera, especially with its f/2.8 to f/4.7, 38- to 115-mm (35-mm equivalent) 3X optical zoom lens and flash head pivots 90 degrees out of the plane of its body for shooting which would be great for portability and comfort during shooting.

[jlp]

I have the SL300R and what I really appreciate is:
very sleek design, totally flat without any protruding part (except the handstrap loop); the SL400R also has a frame around the lens which helps prevent your finger messing it; it's not on the 300R; I don't really miss it coz a) I got used to being careful about it, b) it makesit really sleek to put it into my pouch (see point 3 below)
Thanks to the swivel mechanism and because the line of sight is parallel to the body thickness (instead of perpendicular like other cameras digital or not), if you keep it closed and hold the digicam at waist level and look from above, shooting pix is very discreet and nobody notices your move :twisted:
I bought a PQI USB 2.0 multicard reader that happens to have the exact same measurements; this one came with a soft pouch made of simili-leather and because the 2 devices share the exact same measurements I use this pouch instead of the larger, rigid one that came with the Finecam. So because of the soft pouch material, the digicam is protected against humidity when I put the whole thing in my breast shirt pocket during the hot summer days, etc. Being made of a sort of reinforced thick thread material the original Finecam case could not offer that protection as air gets thru, even more so humidity.

[Suhit Gupta]

Does it shoot only at the 90-deg level or at any point of swivel?

Suhit

[jlp]

Any point on approximately 260°.

As I said in my previous post I do shoot often when it's locked in the closed (entirely flat, as when you put it in the case) position. Rotation goes beyond the 90° frontward (approx 130°) and as much backwards (e.g. for self portraits). When it exactly reaches the 90° backwards locking position (pointing at the shooter) the screen image reverses as expected so you see the image upside up (which means the image would be upside down if it didn't reverse, since its 180° from the normal, open position).

I assume you must master intellectual (imaginative) 3D positioning to get the right idea :D