Kodak DCS Pro 14n SLR Review

Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Pro 14n

Kodak Professional announced the new $4,995 DCS Pro 14n digital SLR at Photokina in Germany in September of 2002. The DCS Pro 14n will become the world's first dSLR to use a 35mm size CMOS sensor with 13.7 million effective pixels and povide variable resolution raw files. This is Kodak's sixth-generation professional digital camera and is designed for professional portrait, wedding, event and commercial photographers. It features a Nikon-F lens mount and a durable magnesium body and includes a vertical shutter release that works in conjunction with the camera's auto orientation sensor.

The camera is equipped with a 4536 x 3024 pixel (effective), 12-bit CMOS imager, covering the full 24mm by 36mm image area of 35mm film. No more focal length conversions, lenses will retain their original coverage which makes for an easy transition from 35mm film to digital. Photographers can select the image size (full 14MP, 6MP, and 3MP) that suits the shooting environment. Images can be saved as DCR raw files or Kodak Professional Extended Range Imaging (ERI) JPEG files. Kodak ERI-JPEG files serve as another form of picture protection for photographers, especially in situations where re-shooting is inconvenient. Kodak ERI-JPEGs allow for later color correction or manipulation, and provide two-stops of exposure latitude and extended color space within a JPEG workflow.

The camera operates in two user modes: basic and advanced. The camera defaults to the basic setting and offers a very intuitive, simple interface. In the advanced mode, the user can adjust many more capture, resolution and storage settings, among others. The camera is capable of capturing images at two frames per second, for a full burst of up to eight frames in full-resolution mode. Kodak Professional offers free firmware and host software upgrades downloadable from the Kodak website. Unlike most competitors' cameras, the DCS Pro DCS 14n can be taken to Kodak Service Qualified Sites to enable a deeper burst depth (from 8 frames to 18) by doubling the camera's built in RAM buffer from 256MB to 512MB image memory.

The camera is powered by a single rechargeable Li-Ion battery pack, or by an included AC adapter. Photographers may select NTSC or PAL video formats for image review. In NTSC mode, the color LCD and the video output are enabled simultaneously, a feature particularly useful for portrait photographers preparing setups. Images are stored on CompactFlash Type I or II or SD/MMC memory cards. The camera can write to both storage media, and the image can be sent to each card simultaneously in any of the available formats.

Pro 14n Features:

• Full-frame 36 x 24mm, 13.85-million pixel CMOS imager
• Kodak RAW and ERI-JPEG images up to 4500 x 3000 pixels
• Selectable image resolutions: 13.5MP, 6MP, 3.4MP
• Simultaneous capture of RAW and ERI-JPEG files
• 36-bit color depth (12 bits per color)
• Nikon-F mount lens compatibility
• ISO 80 to 800 (80 to 400 in 13.5MP resolution) in 1/3-stop increments
• Selectable aspect cropping: 3:2, 4:5 or 2:2
• 5-Area AF with tracking and closest subject priority
• TTL exposure metering: 3D-Color Matrix, Center-weighted and 4mm Spot
• 2fps Burst with a depth of 8 frames at full resolution
• Builtin flash with Red-eye mode, Guide No. 12
• Flash hot shoe for Nikon Speedlights and PC sync port
• Vertical portrait release and orientation sensor
• Shutter speeds: 2 sec. to 1/4000 sec. plus Bulb
• 2.0" color LCD for image analysis and user menus
• Durable but lightweight metal body with familiar SLR functionality
• Lithium rechargeable battery with charger/AC adapter
• Composite video out, NTSC or PAL format
• IEEE 1394 FireWire interface provides up to 400mbps transfer rate
• Voice annotation provides audio notebook to document specific shots.
• CompactFlash Type 2 and SD/MMC card slots for storage flexibility.
• Upgradeable firmware, host software and camera buffer RAM
• Intervalometer to enable time-lapse image capture for remote applications.

Physical Views

Kodak Pro 14n and Canon EOS 10D

Kodak Pro 14n and Nikon D100