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August 09, 2007
[ KODAK EASYSHARE Z712 IS digital camera ]
Price: $500
Highly Recommended
The low-down: This 7.1 megapixel camera has a Schneider 36–432mm (film equivalent) zoom lens. The lens is optically image stabilised. Construction is of smooth plastic outer shell and in size, feel and appearance is best described as feminine, consistent with Kodak’s marketing to women. Controls are easy enough to use and there is full manual control for those who want it. Auto focus is fast and accurate, even at the longest zoom extension. The electronic viewfinder is dire and the LCD screen is just acceptable for framing and review.
Like: This camera is really responsive, unlike its Kodak super zoom predecessors. Shutter lag is almost imperceptible and tracking moving subjects is now a doddle. The speed of the auto focus is remarkable. It seems that many of the problems associated with this type of all-in-one super zoom have been solved. The frustrating image freeze when the shutter button is pressed is no longer there.
Dislike: The default settings for colour saturation and sharpness are absurdly high. Left on Normal the camera will produce bleeding reds and yellows with loss of fine detail, and the over-sharpened images will have ugly moire patterns in areas of fine detail such as hair or feathers. It is easy enough to fix the problem – just adjust saturation and sharpness to low – but why create an unnecessary problem in the first place?
Verdict: Once we had cranked down saturation and sharpness we enjoyed using this camera. With 7.4mp on a small sensor we expected noise to be a problem, but at ISO400 the pictures look as though they have been taken with film of the same speed. Noise is tight and more like grain. Resolution of fine detail is excellent and exposures are generally spot on. The macro mode is very good. Point-and-shooters should love this camera but it will also keep a more ambitious photographer happy.
[ There is a small collection of photographs taken with the Kodak EasyShare Z712is in the Gallery ]
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Posted by terry at August 9, 2007 06:13 AM
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