Kodak Easyshare CX7430 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Kodak CX7430 Purchased: June 2004, used frequently
MOST NOTABLE FEATURE: 640x480 VIDEO+AUDIO CAPABILITY (NO TIME LIMIT)
1) Using ordinary 1800mah NiMH rechargeable AA batteries, I have been able to take video with audio at the highest quality setting for over 55 minutes (until my memory card ran out) with the LCD screen TURNED ON the entire time, and the low battery indicator didn't even appear!
2) 1GB SD cards have fallen swiftly in price and are a great addition to this camera. My 1GB Lexar SD card can record over 55 minutes of video with audio at high quality (640 by 480 pixels, 13 frames per second), and 80 minutes at medium quality (320 by 240 pixels, 20 frames per second; max time limit is 80 minutes for this setting). A 512MB SD card can record for just over 28 minutes straight (highest setting), and a 256MB SD card for slightly over 13 minutes.
3) Most digital cameras offer video capability, but limit your filming time to 30 seconds or 3 minutes per video in most cases. Those that don't limit filming time usually provide resolution nowhere as good as the CX7430's high-quality video. (Update: Canon's SD-series cameras are a major exception. Note that you will pay much more [except for the SD110] and that you will only get about 15-25 minutes of 640x480 15fps video/audio out of a 1GB SD card. The SD300's [4MP] picture quality is about the same as the Kodak CX7430's.)
4) The camera is highly competitively priced even when compared to dedicated digital video camcorders that use memory cards rather than tapes or DVDs. Both resolution and frame rate are comparable to or even better than the "digital tapeless" camcorders I have looked at on amazon (as of October 2004), and given its still photo capability the CX7430 is bargain-priced. Anyone considering buying a digital tapeless camcorder should definitely consider this camera when deciding on their purchase.
- NOTE: Videos are recorded in QUICKTIME format.PRO's:
1) Great video capability as described above. The camera's microphone is excellent--I've recorded videos in both quiet environments and an extremely loud dance club and the camera adapted perfectly to both situations--no static or undesirable anomalies (though it did not pick up much of the bass in the club, if that matters). I've even used the camera several times to record audio from my grad classes (camera simply pointed at the ceiling, medium quality video setting; I extract the audio from the file for listening).
2) Takes excellent close-up photos.
3) Photos overall are very satisfactory.
4) Compact enough to fit in an ordinary front pocket. Pretty typical size and weight for its class.
5) The LCD screen is very bright and fine for use in all but very strong direct sunlight, where the LCD image gets slightly harder to see.
6) Interface is excellent. Buttons are responsive and the mode dial is very very convenient.
7) Good start-up time, about 3 seconds and you are ready to shoot.
8) 3X zoom. Perfectly satisfactory; once you start going over 4X zoom you need a tripod to take decent photos.
9) Small speaker to hear the audio when you play back your videos.
10) Extraordinary Battery Life (see above).
11) Sturdy design. Another reviewer complained about the casing being easily scratched; I have used my camera for about 7 months now and it doesn't look a whole lot different from when I bought it. The casing/finish seems pretty normal for this type of camera.
12) Decent variety of manual options, but not enough for amatuer photography (there is no true "manual" setting).
13) Good file compression! I have seen cameras produce pictures of about the same quality (or even worse) as the CX7430 and wind up with file sizes of 1MB or more per photo. Average file size for the CX7430 ranges from 300KB to 750KB depending on the quality setting and content.
14) Fairly quick autofocus--just under one second from the time you press the picture button while the camera is pointed at an unfocused subject until the shutter closes and the picture is taken. If the subject is already in focus the picture is taken almost instantaneously.
CON's:
1) Pictures are easily blurred in some environments. See Taking Photos section below.
2) Several of the provided 7 photo settings on the dial are not worth using.
3) No case provided.
4) Videos taken in the camera's high-quality setting suffer from a very low frame rate (13fps), and the image blurs badly when you move the camera around quickly in softly-lit indoor environments. That said, the video capability is still remarkable for a camera of this type (and at this price).
5) The door covering the SD card slot and the data port is sturdy but doesn't latch very strongly.
6) Zoom cannot be adjusted while taking video. You need to adjust zoom first, then start filming. Focus also does not adjust during filming, but it's not a factor unless you begin filming a landscape and then try to take close-up video without starting a new video file.Taking Photos:
Overall, I think the CX7430 takes pictures pretty typical of a 4MP camera (they look about the same as pictures taken by a friend's Casio Elixim(?) 4MP camera), in terms of both its ability to focus properly and the quality of the photos produced.
- Close up photos are a strong point of this camera. I use it to make photo "scans" of important documents.
- Ignore the landscape, night (unless you have a tripod), and portrait settings. I haven't been to any sports events or anything similar so I haven't used the sport setting. Given the slightly blurred pictures I've gotten at football games from cameras set on Auto, this setting might be useful.
- The best pictures this camera takes are: close-ups; outdoor, well-lit environments; and photos (indoor or outdoor) where the flash has been used effectively, i.e., slightly dim environments with the subject no more than say 20 feet away depending on the lighting.
- I have not found any major problems with exposure or color-balance in the CX7430's pictures. If you want to take a picture of a sunset, however, focus the camera somewhere else first, then take the picture, otherwise the camera automatically adjusts to dilute the color of the sky (i.e., deep orange-pink becomes very light pink).
- Pictures taken indoors in low to medium lighting *without flash* bear a strong chance of blurring unless taken by very very steady hands. Pictures taken indoors outside the range of the flash (say, distance of 25 feet or more) are pretty much guaranteed to be blurred to a significant degree unless the environment is extremely well lit.
- Picture quality decreases significantly in darker environments, but this is typical of most cameras.
- Two-star quality photos are fine for almost all situations. Photo dimensions increase at the three-star setting but quality is not a whole lot better.
Other recommendations:
- Buy rechargeable batteries, they are a must for any digital camera. I suggest 1800mah (milli-amp hours) NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydride) rechargeables. The batteries will pay for themselves very very quickly.
- Some reviewers have liked the software included with the camera, but I usually avoid proprietary software--my understanding is that Kodak software especially is loaded with spyware/adware--and I personally have never used the software that came with the CX7430. To transfer photos, the "Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard" included with Windows XP has been more than adequate. (It should appear automatically when you connect the camera to your computer. If not, go to My Computer, look for the camera icon, and right click on it, then choose "Get pictures." It can also be accessed if you are using a card reader: go to My Computer, right click on the removeable drive, and choose "Autoplay," then find the wizard in the list.) The wizard lets you pick a name for the folder it will create for your photos under My Pictures, and names all of the photos and videos after the folder. I am surprised by the number of my friends who still do not use this simple, clean utility. Windows' Picture and Fax Viewer works fine for viewing photos. Editing, of course, is another matter.
- Buy a large memory card to take advantage of the camera's video features. I have gotten hours of priceless video of my friends and I studying in China. There are definitely times when still pictures just won't cut it, and even if you don't get a large memory card you will appreciate the ability to take a short clip every now and then. Memory prices have plummeted over the past year and a large card is definitely a worthy investment.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend the Kodak CX7430. It's not a top-of-the-line model, but for those with modest photo and video needs, this is a superb value for the price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kodak Easyshare CX7430 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

Kodak's EasyShare CX7430 offers high-resolution image capture with fully automatic point-and-shoot simplicity. You'll be able to print vibrant 20 x 30-inch enlargements thanks to the CX7430's resolution. The CX7430 also integrates Kodak's new camera Favorites feature for storing multiple pictures in an on-camera digital photo album. Other features include a 3x optical zoom, Kodak's new Color Science image processing, TV-quality (VGA) video capture and playback capability, an on-camera speaker, 16 MB internal memory, and compatibility with SD and MCC memory cards.
Optics and ResolutionThis camera has a maximum resolution of 4 megapixels (2304 x 1728 pixels), and it offers a 3.5 MP mode (optimized ratio for 4 x 6-inch prints), 2.1 MP, and 1.1 MP (good for emailing. The CX7430 has a Kokak Retinar aspheric all-glass lens with a 3x optical zoom (34-102mm, 35mm equivalent). It features through-the-lens (TTL) autofocus with multi-zone and center-spot selectable modes.
Movie Mode The CX7430 can capture both full-motion video with audio (20 frames per second at 320 x 240 pixels) and TV-resolution video (VGA; 640 x 480 pixels at 13 fps) with capacity dependent on available memory (16 MB internal memory included; additional memory may be added via the SD/MMC expansion slot). The included A/V cable enables you to show your masterpiece on TV quickly and easily.
More Features
1.6-inch indoor/outdoor LCD with 2x or 4x magnification
Built-in flash with auto, red-eye, fill, and off modes
White balance controls: auto, daylight, tungsten, and fluorescent
Scene modes: auot, portrait, landscape, night, close-up, sport, and movie
Color modes: Color, black and white, sepia
Click to capture time: 0.6 seconds
10-second self timer

Storage and Transfer Images can be stored within the CX7430's 16 MB internal memory, or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. It connects to Macs and Windows-based PCs via USB 1.1 connectivity.
Sharing With a touch of the red-jeweled Share button, you can store up to 100 pictures in an on-camera digital album. These pictures can then be shared anytime on the camera's large, 1.6-inch indoor/outdoor LCD screen. The Share button also allows selection of photos for printing and even e-mailing, with up to 32 e-mail addresses stored in the camera's memory.
Kodak Color Science Image Processing Chip Kodak's Color Science Image Processing Chip offers a new high-speed digital image processor, advanced algorithms, and hardware acceleration features that enable the CX7430 make simultaneous, split-second decisions to produce rich, vibrant, true-to-life colors in almost any lighting situation. Each time you click the shutter, the Kodak Color Science Chip performs an instantaneous and advanced analysis of collected scene data to identify and correct multiple factors that influence picture quality. Scene light source is detected and adjustments are made to capture bright whites and true, vivid colors under difficult lighting conditions--fluorescent, tungsten or daylight. Scene content is analyzed for luminance, focal distance, subject matter orientation and color to determine the correct exposure and capture the natural details, accurate flesh tones, and rich colors you see in your composition.
Power and Size The camera is powered by 2 AA batteries (alkaline included; NiMH rechargeables recommended). It measures 4.0 x 2.6 1.5 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 5.2 ounces without batteries.
What's in the Box This package contains the Kodak CX7430 digital camera, 2 AA batteries, USB and A/V cables, wrist strap, and custom camera insert for optional Kodak EasyShare 6000 series camera and printer docks.
Like all EasyShare cameras, the CX7430 includes Kodak EasyShare software for Windows and Macintosh systems, providing effortless digital picture transfer, organization, basic editing, sharing and printing. The software's exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature--which takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak--helps Windows OS users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from home inkjet printers, while significantly reducing the trial, error and waste usually associated with home photo printing.

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Kodak Easyshare DX6340 3.1MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)I did my homework and researched this camera before I bought it, and I am so glad I did! What I found is that this camera can work wonders! I took about 50 pictures today in varying light of the Atlanta scene. I printed one out on my printer just to see what it looks like, and I was just amazed at the quality of the pictures! There is absolutely no need to get anything higher than a 3.1 MP. I took a picture of my grandmother close up on the Portrait mode and I can see every little pore and hair! (Perhaps it's a bit too good?)
This camera is for my 63yo grandmother who has trouble operating a mouse. She already, after only one day, knows how to use this camera. It's extremely easy to use. Neither my grandmother nor I needed to touch the manual to work it.
The sole reason I remove a star from its rating is due to the software. Mine was corrupt, so I had to Download it from Kodak.com The software is also a very poor tool for editing your pictures. If you plan on editing them much, I suggest getting a program like Adobe photoshop or Microsoft Photo Editor. The software does make it slightly easier to Download pictures from the camera, but if you have a program like Adobe or Ulead Photo Explorer, the software is not necessary at all.
Ofoto, the website Kodak recommends to upload your pictures to, is great! I like the way they show the pictures online in not only clickable thumbs but also slide shows.
So far, the battery life of the camera is fine! I used it all day today, on and off constantly and there is still no flashing battery light.
Just a word of advise: I would definately invest in at least a 128MB memory card for this camera. 16 is simply not enough, especially once you realize how much you love this camera, and trust me, you will! I'd also recommend rechargeable batteries as Kodak gives you a pair that are not rechargeable.
Oh, and the Dock is a waste of money and a collector of dust. Don't bother with it. First of all it's useless, unless you got the one with the printer attatched, but even if you did get the dock with its own printer, you'd still be spending more on the dock than professional photo developing.
I hope this helps. Enjoy your camera, whichever one you choose.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kodak Easyshare DX6340 3.1MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom

Snap a picture with the Kodak EasyShare DX6340 and you'll be impressed at how easy it is to capture vivid imagery and memories that will last a lifetime. The EasyShare DX6340 features a 3.1-megapixel sensor, 4x optical zoom, large 1.8-inch LCD monitor, and Kodak's exclusive on-camera Share button. Transferring photos to your PC and sharing them is even easier with the optional EasyShare Dock 6000 and Printer Dock 6000.
Optics and Resolution The EasyShare DX6340 delivers a fast click-to-capture performance and focuses easily in low-light conditions. It features a professional-quality Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens that offers a 4x optical zoom and 3.5x digital zoom (for a 14x total). With its 3.1-megapixel resolution (2,032 x 1,524 pixels), you'll be able to make print enlargements up to 11 by 14 inches.
Optional Docks The Kodak EasyShare Dock 6000 includes a USB port for fast and easy transfer of pictures from camera to computer, and offers a two-position tilt feature for improved viewing of images from the camera's LCD. It also comes with a rechargeable battery pack, and the Kodak DX6340 can be stored in the dock any time so that it will always be charged and ready to go.
In addition to the transfer and battery charge features of the Dock 6000, the Printer Dock 6000 adds the ability to print 4-by-6-inch photos directly from your camera. You can also hook it up to your TV for a slide-show presentation.
Storage and Transfer Images can be stored on either the 16 MB internal memory or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Movie Mode In addition to taking still photos, the EasyShare DX6340 is capable of recording continuous video with audio.
More Features Preview your shots with more brightness and clarity with the EasyShare DX6340's 1.8-inch indoor-outdoor display, which is viewable even in direct sunlight. The Share button on the back of the EasyShare DX6340 enables you to tag pictures right on the camera for automatic printing or e-mailing, after transferring to your PC. You can even store up to 32 e-mail addresses in the camera.
Other features include:
Selectable aperture priority, shutter priority, and exposure compensation as well as options for ISO, color, and white balance.
On-camera auto rotation of images so you'll never have to look at a picture sideways.
Built-in flash with red-eye reduction, auto, fill, and off modes.

Power, Size, and Contents The camera is powered by a CR-V3 lithium battery (included; rechargeable batteries are recommended). It measures 4.3 by 2.5 by 1.5 inches and weighs 7.8 ounces. This package includes the EasyShare DX6340 digital camera, battery and battery charger, USB and AV cables, wrist strap, and Kodak EasyShare CD-ROM and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.

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Kodak EasyShare C643 6.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)The Kodak C643 is a "small" point and shoot. It's size will let you fit it in your shirt pocket, but it can be a little too heavy to carry there, so get a small case.
Battery life is "EXCELLENT" with 2300ma (KODAK Brand)rechargeables. I have taken 20 mins of video and 30 pictures with the screen on, and the battery light is still green. I took 41 flash photos in a row on a fresh charge and the battery light was still green! That is pretty darn good for a camera with only two batteries! I haven't yet had to put in fresh batteries during a day of shooting family photos and movies.
The movie mode is superb ( I no longer use my old camcorder) and has good sound capture. Outdoor movies look great, but your inside movies will need some good lighting to obtain adequate quality (remember, it has no camera light like your camcorder.) Movies are recorded in Quicktime (mov) format. If you want to transfer them to dvd for tv viewing, you will need to convert them since most dvd players don't support that format. Kodak software does an avi conversion, but it turned out very poor. Upgrading to Quicktime Pro seems to be the easiest way to make the conversion to other formats. (about $29). Kodak software needs more work. The mov to avi conversion is ridiculous. Very basic control over photo editing. More focused on printing than digital storage.
The photos, however, are stunning. Great Kodak picture color.
The viewfinder is slightly offset,and doesn't fully represent what you will get in your photo.
The C643 has some problems with autofocus when doing macro shots.
I had extreme difficulty locking in doing closeups (less than 2ft).
The camera has a "handshake" logo that pops up when the camera isn't steady enough. Steady photography seems to be an issue with all small point and shoot cameras that use 3x plus zoom. You have to make sure to either use a tripod or rest the camera or your hand against something to obtain good shots in high zoom. All cameras with zoom have that issue unless there is some fancy image stabilization circuity ( which can add another hundred or so bucks to the price.)
The camera build is a little cheap. I do not like the quality of the card door or battery compartment door. The usb cable is a little difficult to plug in.
The menu is easy, the screen is very big and useful unless the summer sun is shinning directly into it. The zoom is fluid, and with 6.1mp, even the digital zoom is sharp.
I like the shutter Long Term Exposure mode. It will allow you to open the shutter for up to 4 secs. That can get you some real fun shots at night!

If you get this camera, I recommend getting the Kodak camera dock. It not only comes with two rechargeable batteries, but will make transfers and recharging simpler, and save wear and tear on the cheap doors. Also get a 1GB card, because you will end up taking a lot of video with this camera.
NOTE TO THOSE HAVING CAMERA PROBLEMS......USE THE KODAK RECHARGEABLE BATTERY RECOMMENDED FOR THIS UNIT. You will only meet with grief if you try to use a standard alkaline battery. They do not provide the correct amount of current capacity needed and will cause lockups, unexpectant shutdowns, etc. Even other brand name rechargeables may cause issues. Before you take the camera back to the store, purchase the Kodak battery pack with the recharger kit.


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Kodak EasyShare C643 6.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

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Kodak EasyShare CX7330 3.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)For most people, 3 megapixels is all you need. And while I wouldn't have chosen the Kodak CX7330 for myself, my wife bought it for me to replace our old 3-megapixel Konica, and it's quite a capable little machine. Despite extensive photography experience for over 20 years, I'm surprised how much more I use it because I don't have to make so many decisions about the pictures I take.
The CX7330 takes great snapshots, just don't expect much manual control over them. Whether this is the camera for you depends on whether you want that control (in which case you should pick another model), or just want to take decent photos (in which case this one is quite good).
The camera body is not especially small and all plastic, but (other than the memory card door) feels solid and is comfortable to hold. The controls are very straightforward: choose one of five photo modes, or one movie mode, then press a button to shoot. Since the camera has a good lens and intelligent electronics, the results are generally very good, with much better auto-white balance than on many other comparable cameras. For novices or those who don't have or don't want to use a computer to process their photos, the Share button and available dock and printer could be handy, though they're not for me.
Low-light performance without a flash isn't so great. There is no way to force long exposures, the camera lacks an auto-focus assist lamp like Canon models have, and the lens is a bit slow. Startup and shot-to-shot times are decent, but not all that fast, and fairly typical of this class of camera. Battery life, using either NiMH rechargeables or the included lithium expendables, is fabulous, the best I've ever seen from a digicam using just two AA batteries -- and a huge improvement over many other battery-eating models.
The only control you have over the camera is to choose the shooting mode, set how the flash behaves (auto, forced on, forced off, or red-eye reduction), decide on a resolution (you have no control over how much compression the camera uses, just photo size), and set the self-timer or nice 3-shot burst mode if you want. You can adjust the exposure compensation to take longer or shorter exposures, but there's no way to set the shutter speed, focus, or f-stop directly.
One useful option is a 3-megapixel 3:2 ratio size, which makes shots that fit on the longer 4x6" prints from most photo stores, without needing to be cropped. The movie mode (if you're into that) is quite good for this sort of camera: 320x240 pixels with sound, 15 frames per second, with no limit on time other than the size and speed of your memory card. There is also a neat onscreen display of little "brackets" showing where the camera is focusing, though there is no way to change that other than to recompose your photo.
A few other quirks: Other than the image size, most other parameters (like flash mode) reset themselves when you turn the camera off and on. You can choose either to use the internal 16 MB memory OR an SD/MMC memory card (if present), but not both, i.e. there's no easy way to use an external card until it fills up, then switch to the internal memory automatically. You must make the switch using a menu, or remove your memory card. Finally, while the optical (lens-moving) zoom works all the time, the digital zoom (always a misomer; it's really "in-camera cropping") only operates if you have the LCD screen turned on.
So this is not a camera for serious pro or "prosumer" photography, but for carrying around all the time as a family snapshot camera, or as a backup when you just need to get the picture, it does the job well. And for the price, it's quite a deal.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kodak EasyShare CX7330 3.1MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

The Kodak EasyShare CX7330 is ideal for the digital photographer who wants great photos from an easy-to-use camera. The CX7330 offers 3 MP resolution, a 3x optical zoom lens, 16 MB of internal memory, compatibility with SD and MMC memory cards, and a movie mode that continuously captures video up to the full capacity of your card.
Optics and Resolution The CX7330 has a maximum resolution of 3.1 megapixels, for prints at 2,032 x 1,524 pixels (for 10 x 13-inch enlargements). It features a Kodak Retinar all-glass, aspherical 3x optical zoom lens, 3.3x advanced digital zoom, and a multizone autofocus system for crisp prints. It has a 35mm equivalency of 37-11mm.More Features
Bright 1.6-inch indoor/outdoor LCD that makes it easy to view images, even in direct sunlight
Automatic picture rotation
Multizone autofocus easily handles pictures with multiple subjects
Built-in flash with auto, redeye, fill, and off modes
Print directly from your camera on any PictBridge-compatible printer
Multiple scene modes: auto, sport, landscape, close-up, and night

Storage and Transfer Images can be stored within the CX7330's 16 MB internal memory or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. The camera connects to Macs and Windows PCs via USB 1.1.
Power and Size The camera is powered by 2 AA batteries (alkaline included; NiMH rechargeables recommended). It measures 4.0 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches (W x H x D) and weighs 6.8 ounces without batteries.
What's in the Box The package contains the Kodak EasyShare CX7330 digital camera, 2 AA alkaline batteries, a USB cable, a wrist strap, and a custom camera insert for optional EasyShare Camera and Printer Docks.
Like all EasyShare cameras, the CX7330 includes Kodak EasyShare software for Windows and Mac, providing effortless transfer, organization, basic editing, sharing, and printing of digital photos. The software's exclusive One Touch to Better Pictures feature--which takes advantage of proprietary color technologies developed by Kodak--helps Windows users get vibrant, true-to-life prints from home inkjet printers while significantly reducing the trial, error, and waste usually associated with home photo printing.

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Kodak EasyShare M863 8.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Red) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this camera for a few weeks now and I really like it. In fact I like it better than my digital SLR for the most part. I purchased this because I am a mom and I like to take pictures of my kids when we are out. It really isn't practical to haul an SLR to the park, Disney, etc. So I did a lot of research and went with this one. I love that you can watch the pictures in HD on your TV. It takes good video for a camera (not really an issue for me because I have a video camera. I am very impressed with the overall picture quality. Also the camera has tons of modes to take pictures in and my favorite feature of the camera is that you can crop the picture right there on the camera. Finally, I love that these cameras come in colors it helps make the camera standout so you don't forget it or get it confused at parties. Anyway I am very impressed so far. I only gave it 4 stars because I haven't had it that long.

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Small meets powerful meets cool. That's the Kodak EasyShare M863 digital camera. Choose your favorite color and go. So compact, it fits in just about any purse or pocket. So advanced, you can take the pictures everyone will be talking about. And all for a price that fits your budget.

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Kodak EasyShare C613 6.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)For the past few weeks on trips around the state, I have been taking basic snapshots with my cell phone camera, and then picture-messagin them to the web. But after a few hundred snapshots this can start to add up ($$$), and cell phone cameras are not exactly the highest quality.
So, last week I set out to find a very simple, basic, low-cost digital camera. Browsing through Amazon, there were plenty of cameras to choose from. And ultimately, I decided to stick with the tried-and-true Kodak company with their Easyshare cameras. And in particular, I settled on the lower-end of the scale - the Kodak C613.
And then, over this past weekend, I went out the eastern High Sierra and snapped away with about 150 photos.
Overall, I was pleased with the camera. It's nothing fancy - just your basic point-and-shoot camera, which is exactly what I'm looking for. There are about a dozen different settings you can play around with, but for about 90% of the time the "auto" function is just fine. I'm not the type that is trying for "high art" photography - I don't have the patience nor the skills for the high-end stuff. I just want to center the photo on the screen, click the button and that's it. And this camera is good for people like me.
Got back home, and hooked up the camera to the computer with the USB cable, and downloading all the photos was a snap. I haven't tried using the Easyshare software (and I don't really plan to). I was also very pleased to see that the quality of the pictures (once on the computer) was quite a bit better than they had originally appeared on the camera viewscreen - more detail and brighter.
Problems - I was surprised at the tiny internal memory - it can hold only about a dozen 6 Megapixel pictures (or several dozen smaller-sized pictures), so I immediately went out and bought a 1Gb card for the camera - this is an absolute MUST. Now I can store thousands of pictures without worry.
It runs on AA batteries, and they lasted through the weekend and no more. I would turn on the camera for about a minute, snap a picture or two, then turn it off until the next shot. I did this at least 100 times over the weekend, rarely leaving the camera on for more than a couple minutes at a time. I don't know if this is normal operating time for the batteries, but it would be a good idea carrying around spare batteries.
The manual that comes with the camera is a complete joke. Totally useless.
The button layout and operation is a little non-intuitive, but I figure it will just take a little bit of time getting used to it, that's all.
The only feature I wish this camera had is a "timer" function, so I could set it down and take pictures of myself in front of a big mountain backdrop, for example. As far as I can tell, no timer.
And finally, twice the camera would not start up when I pressed the "On" button. But all I had to do was open and close the battery cover - and it was fine - I assume it's just a very slight short where the battery is/not touching.
So, after one weekend trial, I give it a tentative thumbs-up. It's nothing big and fancy - but then again it's not supposed to be. Just a simple, low-cost point-and-shoot camera for the simple photographer.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Kodak EasyShare C613 6.2MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

The EasyShare C613 features a 6.2-megapixel CCD for stunning prints up to 20 by-30 inches, and more megapixels means you can crop and still get a great picture, while Kodak Color Science helps to capture bright, beautiful color. A Kodak AF 3x optical aspheric zoom lens (35 mm equivalent of 36-108 mm) captures crisp details and gets you closer to your subjects without losing picture quality, and 5x digital zoom enlarges your pictures even more. Plus, we made sure it had the one feature you've come to expect -- simplicity. Because if your camera is simple to use, you'll love to take pictures.

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Kodak EasyShare C530 5MP Digital Camera Review

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(More customer reviews)Detailed reviews often sound negative, so I will start with the simple good stuff.
If you are thinking "I just want a camera that works, is this one OK?" the answer is yes, it's OK. It takes generally decent pictures with good colors, has been reliable for me (no random glitches or picture loss), and is no trouble to connect to a PC. If that's all you wanted to know, go ahead and buy it. If you have only used cheap film cameras before, most of the c530's drawbacks won't surprise you. The c530 is a decent camera and will make a lot of people happy. It's an improvement over Kodak's previous low-end models with smaller size, faster operation, and larger resolution pictures.
But the price of this model creeps very closely to better cameras, some of them only $10 higher, while still maintaining some of the characteristics of cheaper cameras. So here are the things you might not like if you ever compare it to a better camera...
Fixed focus:
Like a $10 film camera you used to use, this camera does not have adjustable focus. The lens is arranged so, through most of it's range, it takes OK pictures. The pictures are not "bad" but never quite perfect either. For old film cameras, this was often an advantage for people wanting a simple, fast camera. But the disadvantage is you can't be sure to get a well-focused picture at any specific distance, and you can't get a good picture at all of anything less than 3-4 feet away (you won't be able to get a good full close-up of a face). Digital cameras with automatic focus are available for only a small price increase, and often can focus and take a picture as fast as the c530. For a few bucks more, you could have nearly perfect focus on most pictures, and the camera does all the worrying.
No "optical" zoom:
"Optical zoom" means the optics (lenses) do the zooming, like a telescope. "Digital zoom" means the camera "fakes it" by ignoring the outer portion of the image it would normally take and stretches the middle pixels. So if you use digital zoom, you aren't really getting a 5 Megapixel picture. You are taking only, say, 2 megapixels (depending on the zoom level used) from the middle and muddling them to stretch them to 5 megapixels. A camera with optical zoom instead would have the same clarity at full zoom as it would for close-ups. If your old film camera had no zoom at all, you might not care, but if you get a camera with real zoom capability you will never want to go back.
Shutter response:
For any digital camera, there is a slight delay from when you press the shutter button to when the picture is taken, and if your camera is slow you risk missing those brief moments that would be fun to photograph. This is not convenient, but is unavoidable in affordable digital cameras. This camera is about average speed for it's price range, but does not have to take time to focus. In the same time it takes this camera to take a picture, other cameras are able to adjust the focus automatically first and then take a picture just by mashing the shutter button. Better cameras also let you "pre-focus" by pressing the shutter halfway, then waiting for just the right time to click it. If your dog starts to sniffle, you aim and press the shutter halfway, then wait to click it right when the dog sneezes. No such option here, because focusing isn't the delay, the delay is just slow operation.
Small lens:
The plastic window covering it is large, but the actual lens is smaller than a pencil lead. Smaller lenses capture less light, which means slower shutter speeds are necessary to get a good exposure, which means more motion blur. It also means pictures in dark areas won't come out quite as good. Technically there is more to it than lens size, and it's not as bad as I make it sound, but better cameras definitely perform better.
Harsh picture compression:
Most digital cameras will compress the image they take to reduce the file size and fit more pictures on a memory card, although it also reduces the quality of the picture. The picture is analyzed by the camera's software and all kinds of fancy math is done so the picture can be encoded into a smaller size file that still displays as many pixels. Compression of images generally works very well. A picture can often be reduced to 20% or less of its uncompressed size and you don't even notice. But the c530's best picture quality compresses your pictures to less than half the file size that most cameras do. This might actually be balanced with the lens and focus quality and not stand out, but all of these things combined make the 5-megapixel c530 not quite as good as other cameras with the same number of pixels.
No lens cover:
Most cameras have some kind of cover that slides over the lens when the camera is off to protect it from scratches or dust. Sometimes it's a fancy automatic mechanism, other times it's just a piece you push manually. This camera has a fixed window in front of the lens, so it isn't directly exposed, but you don't want that scratched either.
No sound for videos:
If you are moving up from a cheap film camera, this part you might REALLY not care about. But nearly all digital cameras have this feature. Some, like this one, don't record sound, which can be disappointing later. It's much more fun to record videos of silly things if you can hear the crash or the subject saying "OK, watch this!"Should you buy it then?
You might still want the c530. It's smaller than some other cameras, and depending on how you will use it maybe it's fine. I keep the c530 in my car in case I need it and my other cameras are not handy, so even after all of the drawbacks I listed I still find it to be useful. But recently a lot of newer cameras are looking like a better deal. This review of the c530 is very similar to my opinion of the c300 (a larger, older, cheaper model Kodak), except the price of this camera along with newer competitors that are now available make the c530 not necessarily a great deal for the price.
Right now I think the best alternative is the Canon a430. I had this camera in mind when writing this review. As I write this, it's only $10 more. It has 4 Megapixels instead of 5 like the c530, but the a430 has optical zoom so you get the same detail when zoomed in as you do for close-ups and everything in between. Its auto focus can take clearer pictures at any distance. You can select better picture quality (less compression). All of that adds up to the a430's 4-megapixel pictures looking better than the c530's 5 megapixels. If I could trade in a c530 today and pay only $10 to get the Canon a430, I would do it gladly.

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The Kodak EasyShare C530 digital cameraits a friendly, fun, and very affordable little camera that makes it really simple to get great picturesones that are bright, beautiful, and made to share.Introducing the C530.Youre sure to love its size and simplicity.

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Kodak EASYSHARE 5100 All-in-One - Multifunction ( printer / copier / scanner ) - color - ink-jet - printing (up to): 32 ppm (mono) / 22 ppm (color) - 100 sheets - Hi-Speed USB, Bluetooth Review

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(More customer reviews)I am so happy with my new 5100. I got my new printer at Walmart for $99, after finding the ink cartridges I needed for my old Lexmark were going to cost me over $70 for color and black. I have not really been happy with my Lexmark print quality and the printer drank ink. I was very motivated to try the Kodak.
My first impression, out of the box, was the complexity of the install. I read through all the instructions before getting started and was very glad that I know something about computers. Kodak might consider making installation a bit easier, because it was quite a chore. I had problems getting the printer to print the page that calibrates the printer. I was glad for the printer paper that was included. I would have been in trouble without it.
Once installed, I started testing my printer. I printed one 4X6 photo, a 25 sheet report, 150 business cards, 6 pieces of sheet music and my tax forms for 2007. My ink is STILL showing at 100%. The print quality was excellent. I was able to print all my docs in draft mode and they look great. Draft mode on my Lexmark was grainy and looked washed out. I was so amazed at the crispness of the colors. Plus, printing is nearly twice the speed of my Lexmark. The pages shot out so fast, it startled me a bit.
The paper tray is annoying a bit. It is a fold out piece that fits up into the paper tray. If this piece is not folded out, your papers end up on the floor. Folded out, it seems very flimsy and some care must be taken to make sure it does not break. If you break it off, you will have nothing to catch your papers with.
The printer is a bit noisy. It is rather loud when it is printing and from time to time, just seems to come on by itself. I think it is cleaning the printer head.
I am also concerned about the cost of a replacement head. I says the head is permenant but no printer head has ever been created that lasts forever. The cost of a replacement head could be quite high, as with other models that have separate heads/inks (ie: cannon multijets) But with the ink costs so low, as long as the printer head lasts for a good number of pages, it will be so worth not paying $70 for ink. I will keep printing and see how it goes. If something changes, I will record it here but for now, I am totally happy with my new printer.
Overall, I give the Kodak 4 STARS!!!
LEAnderson

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KOD 8290207 EASYSHARE 5100 ALL IN ONE PR

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Kodak ESP-5 EasyShare All-in-One Printer (8509408) Review

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(More customer reviews)I am thoroughly impressed with the ESP-5. I was foaming at the mouth when Kodak came out with their first line of "All in One" 5300 series printers, but after having read many marginal reviews I decided to pass and fight it out with my Lexmark X7350 until the next Kodak generation arrived. I'm glad I waited and put shortly... Kodak has ARRIVED!
The Kodak ESP-5 prints great looking full frame 4x6 and 5x7 lab quality prints. The sheet feeder is both reliable and accurate. I print a lot of labels and reproducible alignment is important. The ESP-5 does a wonderful job in terms of reproducibility and color quality. The blank paper feed on my Lexmark is unreliable at BEST! The Kodak has been 100% in terms of mechanical reliability. Color rendition is basically "WYSIWYG" when compared to a calibrated monitor.
The scanner works reliably and produces great resolution scans with accurate tonal quality.
I am also thoroughly impressed with the Kodak Perfect Touch technology software included in the Kodak Home Center. The enhancements such as color restoration and sharpening work fantastic. Please look at the Humming bird picture that I took and enhanced with the included Kodak Home Center.
And last but not least is the cost of the refill cartridges. Thank goodness I'll no longer have to run down and buy another expensive Lexmark or HP ink cartridge. Kodak has a great product with a great marketing strategy... i.e. Sell a decent printer with reasonably priced inks, unlike Lexmark and HP who basically give you the printer for $40 and make their $$$$ on overpriced ink that they purposely engineer so that you can't refill and reuse them. (I still can't grasp Lexmark's and HP's "One Use" License concept...)
Simply put. As soon as you use up that last expensive Lexmark or HP ink cartridge either recycle your old printer or put it in the nearest dumpster and run and buy yourself the Kodak ESP-5!
Footnote 1: I downloaded the latest Kodak Home Center software and ESP-5 firmware upgrade before I printed my first page, so I can't attest to the original software version that came in the box. Seems like all manufacturers always have an upgraded version waiting on their website. This approach worked flawlessly for me, so I'd suggest you do the same.
Footnote 2: I'm running Windows XP (latest service pack) and have had no software problems.
Footnote 3: I am in no way associated with Kodak, Lexmark or HP. Just trying to provide an honest unbiased review based on my experiences.
Footnote 4: The ESP-5 came with an USB cable and bonus Print Artist software. Printing directly from the SD memory card slot works great.

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PRINTER ALL IN ONE KODAK ESP-5

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Kodak Easyshare Z7590 5MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)I reside in mainland Europe. I bought KODAK EasyShare Z7590 in June 2005. I have used a Canon AE-1 program with normal and telephoto 27-105mm lenses for the last 25 years. I have also used a digital HP C-20 1Mpxl. since 1999. I used to shoot on ASA100, 400 Kodak and Agpha films and on ASA60, 100 Agpha & Kodak slides. I mainly shoot portraits, landscape, close-ups. I consider myself an advanced amateur.
I have been waiting for digital SLRs to become cheaper as I did not want to reconcile my photo taking. I used HP C-20 for computer images only and therefore I carried both the Canon and the HP with me on trips.
What I liked in Kodak z7590 when I first read the specifications was its 10x zoom lense and its full auto and manual buttons. Theoretically it can not focus manually, however the auto focus motor along with the use of the zoom button have the same effect. But, tell me really, how many times have you focused manually with success on a multi-leaf flower. Kodak z7590 focused succesfully every single time with autofocus and macro mode enabled on a number of flowers in sunlight and the shade. I did not even have to change the focus area, which you can do on Kodak z7590.
The histogram is an added plus as you can see and adjust the exposure before hand and the battery that lasts for more than 2,5 hours with full use of the LCD is great. The big 2,2 inches (56 cm) LCD screen was my assistant in taking pictures under the harsh light of southern Mediterranean as it is a real bright screen and can been easily seen in a sunny day.
The 16 auto modes for almost any occasion will help you take nice photos the moment you want to. I have used them heavily and I rely on them fully. On the other hand change to any of the semi-automatic modes where you can adjust one of the parameters or to the fully manual or the custom mode and dial and save your own parameters for difiicult or peculiar situations. I repeat, although you cannot focus manually in the old fashion with Kodak Easyshare Z7590, you actually do not need it.
In the 20 days I owe and use the camera I have taken more than 150 pictures and in only 4 cases I had to refocus. I shot a variety of pictures: portraits, flowers, landscapes throughout the day and night with or without the flash. If you shoot close-ups you'll also appreciate an extra connection for an external flash as in some close-up cases of low light the big lens may obstruct the light from reaching the bottom of the image.
For successful everyday picture taking use the 16 auto modes and you'll have no failures. However, for the semi-automatic and the manual modes and especially if you are not familiar with the latest photo digital technology, I suggest you read the Kodak Easyshare Z7590 manual from cover to cover. It is included in printed and electronic form in the package in a number of languages.
The only extra I bought was a 256Mb SD memory card (28 Mb of internal memory are available for images but you need a card for more than 10-15 pictures) and a spare battery (20-35 Euros, depending on the model) but you can get an extra wide lens for fish-eye photos. I did not buy their dock and/or printer.
I used though the free Kodak Easyshare software included on CD-ROM (I actually updated it from their site to version 5 and I suggest you do it as you can even manipulate the Qtime videos you shoot with Kodak Easyshare Z7590). Using the Kodak Easyshare software I printed 4 photos on an A4 page, 2 photos on an A4 page pictures and full A4 photos on an HP inkjeet 940c (600x600 PhotoReIII) and on HP glossy photo paper.
Well, it was very difficult to tell the difference between photos of similar themes I had taken with my analog Canon AE-1 and the photos I took with Kodak Easyshare Z7590. I like bright colors and contrast and this is how Kodak Easyshare Z7590 delivers the initial images. However, if your are for more pale colors and smoother color-wise images, the free Kodak Easyshare software will allow you to manipulate images to your taste in a very easy way.
Kodak Easyshare Z7590 is recommended with no hesitation for advanced amateurs or those who wish to become advanced amateurs and those professionals who want a second easy to use for all occasions digital camera.


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The Schneider lens of this fine quality Kodak Easyshare Digital Camera 7590 has a 10x zoom that has a 35 mm equivalent of 38-380 mm focal length. That exceeds most SLR lenses but this camera is relatively compact when you consider its amazing optical performance. Included 3x digital zoom brings you much closer. With up to 5 effective megapixel imaging, you can achieve a 2576 x 1932 high resolution for still pictures. It also does movies too, up to 640x480 VGA resolution - higher than many camcorders deliver - with sound. There's a built-in automatic, multimode electronic-flash. Programmable autoexposure and auto focus modes make operating this camera truly Kodak easy. Exclusive KODAK Color Science Image Processing Chip optimizes image quality to the max. The 7590 works with optional KODAK EASYSHARE Printer Dock Series 3. This camera can easily transfer images with both Windows PC and Macintosh computers and is PictBridge compatible to make prints without a computer.Electronic-Flash range -wide - 0.6-4.9 m (2-16.1 ft.) at ISO 140 / tele - 2.0-3.7 m (6.6-12.1 ft.) at ISO 140Self Timer modes - Select from 2 seconds or 10 seconds Tripod mount Custom mode allows you to create your own capture mode / Program mode (P) - camera sets optimal shutter speed and aperture combination /Aperture priority mode (A) - you choose aperture, the camera sets shutter speed / Shutter priority mode (S) - you choose shutter speed, the camera sets aperture / 16 programmed scene modes / 5 color modes Auto-focus - multi-zone, center weighted, selectable -left, center, right Continuous exposure capable -First burst mode - captures up to 5 frames in rapid succession at 2 fps /Last burst mode - captures up to 30 frames at 2 fps, with the last 4 frames saved

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Kodak ESP 7250 All-in-One Printer Review

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(More customer reviews)For this review I've decided to compare the Kodak ESP 7250 to similarly priced models from Canon, HP and Epson. All 4 models are Wireless All-in-One Ink Jet Printers (printer/scanner/copier).
Basic Summary of the Kodak ESP 7250
- 35 second warm up after powering on.
- Prints nearly instantly. No secondary warm up before each print job.
- Colors are not as bright as the competition, but very natural looking.
- Prints very quietly. Minimal body shake while printing.
- Double sided printing.
- Separate paper tray and photo tray.
- Digital menu on printer is great. Very easy to navigate options. Very intuitive interface.
- Small footprint. Smaller than competition.
- Most attractive design in price range. Smooth lines. Not too techy.
- CHEAP INK. Lower priced manufacturer ink than the competition. VERY BIG PLUS.Kodak ESP 7250 vs:
1) Canon PIXMA MX870
- Kodak is quieter, prints faster, looks better.
- Canon has slightly better print quality - not much better though. Most people won't notice the difference.
- Canon is louder while printing, shakes a lot, and takes longer to warm up and print.
- Canon has more buttons. Kodak has a better menu system.
CONCLUSION: Canon is more business. Kodak is more family.
2) HP Photosmart Premium
- HP's touch screen menu is awesome.
- Both have similar print quality. HP produces a bit brighter colors. Kodak is more natural looking (muted colors).
- HP warms up a bit faster by a few seconds.
- Both print with equal speed, equal noise and equal printer shake (almost none).
- Nearly equal footprint.
- Both are visually attractive designs.
- HP ink is more expensive.
CONCLUSION: Very similar printers. HP's touch screen is awesome. Kodak ink is more affordable.
3) Epson Artisan
- Epson's 5-ink system prints amazing! Best in class.
- Epson ink is expensive.
- Kodak printer is more visually attractive.
- Kodak prints faster.
- Kodak has a better menu system.
CONCLUSION: Epson prints awesome photos. Kodak is a more economical all-around printer.
In the land of printers, there are those who print amazing photos (like the Epson), those that are super techy (like HP's touch screen), those that are work horses (Canon) and those that are just good, middle of the road, some bells but no whistles printers. The Kodak ESP 7250 is one of these middle of the road printers. The photo print quality is good, but not fantastic. But everywhere else the Kodak is a solid performer, having all the features a printer should have while looking good and staying quiet. What sets this printer above the rest is the low cost of printing.
So if you aren't super picky about your photos and you want to save some money in the long run, while still getting a solid printer, then the Kodak ESP 7250 is the way to go.
If my review was helpful, please click the "YES" button below. Thank you and happy printing!

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Kodak's All in One Printer has the Best-in-Class Wi-Fi Setup - It's Wi-Fi Simplied! Start Saving on Ink: Kodak offers the Industry's LOWEST INK REPLACEMENT COST - Save on average $110 a year on ink, based on as few as 4 pages a day! 2.4" LCD, 10Mbps, UPNP Connectivity enabled for iPhone & Blackberry printing and frame picture sharing, Card Slots and PictBridge, 100 Sheet Paper tray, 40 Sheet Auto-Engaging Dedicated Photo tray, Automatic 2-sided printing,

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