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DXG -308U
Underwater and Outdoor Digital Camera
Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Author: Jsgolfman
Provided By: DXG
Page: 4 of 4
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A nice package of software that has you covered from start to finish and easy to use to boot. If you were to purchase each of these components separately, you would spend upwards of $200. Each of the programs has extensive help files to get you through any rough spots.
A few other items I want to mention are the Quick Start Guide, which is a small poster of the camera with all the pertinent buttons and such labeled with their functions. This card will have you taking pictures in no time. Another document you will find is the manual for the camera "Sport Housing". It contains care and use directions for the all-weather housing. Follow them carefully and you should experience few problems taking pictures in inclement weather or near the coral reefs. Finally, don't forget to check out the information insert concerning Photosite.com. It is a free, personal photo website for you to share pictures and create custom albums. It's like getting a free website with your camera.
I want to discuss two aspects of quality here. One is the quality of the camera itself and the other is the quality of the photos produced by the camera. While it may sound a little redundant, as you will see they are not one and the same.
Anytime you mention the quality of any piece of hardware, you have to consider the construction. The DXG-308U is a solidly built, durable peripheral. You will find no loose parts or cheap components. One of the finest elements of the camera is also one that might cause you some concern; it's diminutive size (5.1x3.5x2.4"/130x90x60mm). How can something so small still stand up to the normal wear and tear that most of us put our property through? The simple answer is quality workmanship. Its lines are smooth and pleasing to the eye. It is lightweight (only 350g/12oz w/batteries), yet strong. Although I wouldn't recommend doing it on a regular basis, I accidentally dropped mine onto the ground from a distance of about 4 feet, sans housing. Though sustaining a few grass stains, the unit was none the worse for wear. It's amazing how excited you can get at a youth football game ( we won!). The housing, although not a shock absorber, does provide a modicum of protection from abrasion. Again, I do not recommend testing this on your own unit. I would place the quality of this unit up against any other camera in its class. One item though, the red, spring-loaded buttons used to access the various functions when the camera is in the housing can be a little stiff. They worked flawlessly while I was using the camera, but they require a little more pressure than I would have liked.
I can write all day and explain how good the pictures look, but that wouldn't convey half as much as the pictures themselves. So, I will simply show you the photos with a simple explanation of the settings below each picture. That way you can judge how making adjustments effect the same shot under the same conditions.
Hold your mouse over the thumbnails below for more information
I apologize for having only one picture underwater, but it is not exactly swimming weather here in the mid-west. I did, however, submerge the camera w/housing under approximately 2 feet of water. No leaks were detected after 30 minutes. I simply toweled the exterior of the housing off before I opened it up. The seals of the housing, buttons and lens cover are very tight-fitting. If you follow the care instructions in the included manual, you should have no problems whatsoever using it. All macro shots were taken 10-12 inches from the subject, while the other images were taken from as close as 10 feet to as far as 75 feet.
As far as the camera and its affiliated components, I would say I am very satisfied with the function, feel and look of the unit. It is small, yet versatile enough to cover just about any situation you find yourself in. It is solidly constructed and the controls are well thought out. There are a couple of issues that need mentioning.
The small size of the internal memory and non-inclusion of a memory card of at least 32MB. I think this is an oversight by the whole industry. For minimal cost that addition alone would be a real incentive to purchase.
The flash is non-operable in macro mode. Yes, you will rarely need it but it would be nice at times.
The stiffness of the buttons on the housing is something that you have to get used to. With use they loosen up a bit, but I think it is mainly caused by the tight seals. It's a catch-22. If the seals were less tight, you could get a leak.
The software is adequate but perhaps a little redundant. It should be plenty for all but the advanced photographer. When using macro mode, be sure your hands are steady or you have some surface to steady the camera on. Slight movements will make the image blur. Overall, I was impressed to find a 3MP digital camera for under $150 that took such high quality pictures. This is one unit I would definitely recommend for those of you with the itch to try digital photography but don't want to shell out big bucks. Of course that's just my opinion, your mileage may vary.
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