[Updated August 12, 2007]
It's been 10 days since I acquired the Kodak SLR/c, and a few hundred pictures under my belt, I think it warrants an update so far.

Image quality: still not used to it's noisy image, even at ISO 160 (base ISO). The noise reduction smears details even at very low ISO, but prints do not show this problem. I must say that I really like the colour of the images from this camera. It's very natural and very pleasing.

Focus Speed: Well, there is none. The auto focus system must have come from the Sigma SA-7 (or was SA-9?) film camera from the 90s. The Canon EF 100mm f2.0 is considered to be one of the fastest focusing lenses, and when mounted on the SLR/c, the lack of speed is unbearable. The worst thing is the hunting in relatively low light. BUT, what speed it lacks, is made up by the accuracy. This camera is VERY accurate. Once focus is obtained, the image is tack sharp. No front or rear focusing problems with the Canon low end bodies. My 20D is very very fast in focusing, but it's hit and miss in the accuracy department. I do miss the 1D, where it was fast AND accurate.

Auto White Balance: One word: Horrible. I can shoot a series of 5 frames within a minute time frame, and each one will be slightly to extremely different from each other. It must be a nightmare for those who shoot jpg. Luckily, I always shoot RAW and this is not a problem.

Battery Life: Two words: Very Short. A fully charged battery lasts about 150 to 250 shots. Not really that bad, but compared to my 20D where I can usually go shooting for a few days without worry about recharging the battery, it's annoying.

Memory Cards: It seems to work well with all my CF cards, a 4 GB San Disk Extreme III, a 2GB San Disk Extreme II, and a 1GB ATP. However, none of my SD cards seem to work on this camera, both a 2 GB in size.

[End Update]

It has been my dream to shoot with a full frame digital SLR, ever since I owned the original Canon Rebel 300D. But, more than 6 years after Canon introduced the world's second full frame digital SLR, the EOS 1DS (the first full frame DSLR was the very unsuccessful 6MP Contax N), price for such cameras are still out of the reach of most amateurs like me.

Kodak introduced the original full frame 14n for the Nikon mount, and followed up soon with the Pro SLR/n to address the far cry of 14n owners who had so much problems with it. I think the SLR/n sold quite well, and the Canon version, SLR/c was a short lived camera. It came on the market for less than a year before Kodak pull the plug on 35mm DSLR.

The only way for me to afford such a camera is a used one, and when a Kodak Pro SLR/c came about at a price I think was reasonable, I took the plunge.

I knew and researched this camera before owning it, and knew about it's shorting comings (and there are LOTs.) Actually using it was a totally different experience.

If you have ever used a late Canon or Nikon DSLR, the SLR/c is like an antique from eons ago, and the speed, or the lack of it, puts you in a completely mindset when shooting with this thing. Everything about this camera can be described as SLOW. Focusing is slow, writing to memory is slow (thank god for a deep buffer), image review is slow, and everything else is also slow. I thought the camera was broken when I took the first shot, because the review image didn't come up until 5 or 6 seconds later. Compare this to the instant replay of pictures taken with my 20D, you will understand how frustrating this can be. If you think the original 300D was slow, well, it now has competition.

Let's talk about the ergonomic of this beast. Well, there is none. You will almost think that this camera was conceived and made by some engineer who never used a camera. The camera looks ugly, and handles even worse. The verticle shutter release button is next to useless, because if you hold the camera vertically, you will feel like you are hold a rectangular brick. And, the edge of my palm always seem to press the vertical release button, and for this reason, I have it permanently disabled. The view finder is flush with the rest of the back and when you looking through it, your face will be pressing some of the buttons.

High ISO performance is, well, horrid. Any thing above ISO 200 should be used with caution, especially if you are used to the silky smooth and noise free images from the Canon DSLRs, like I do.

So far, this is just a short list of the negatives I am going to write about the camera, I won't mention about moire, strange auto white balance, the horrible LCD screen, colour shift on the left and right of the image, even with lens optimization on, etc, etc :-) After all, I have to have a reason to own it, no?

There are only three things I like about this camera, and these three is enough to justify my purchase:

1. View finder -- Still not as good as a better film camera, but way better than the reduced frame versions. This will really help when using manual focus lenses, which I have lots. Also, focus confirmation is retained with manual focus lenses.

2. Image quality at base ISO. With a good lens, this baby can record amazing fine details.

3. Wide angle -- finally, my 24mm f1.4L lens is a wide angle again. Put on a 16-35mm f2.8L, and at 16mm, the angle of view is just breath taking.

In summary, this camera should be your second camera. Don't sell your other Canon, because you will need it for low light, high ISO shooting, or when speed is important. This is a camera that make your think before pressing that shutter button, if for no other reason than to avoid chimping, which is painful because you will have to wait 5 or 6 seconds before the image will show up on the dreadful and next to useless LCD screen. This camera is a wonderful portrait camera, if you are careful to avoid moire on certain fabrics, and finally, this camera is a great landscape and black and white camera.

Have I regretted buying this camera? Not yet, simply because I knew what I was getting. I have only owned it for a few days, and I am sure I will get used to its quirks and be able to make some good quality images with it.