Kodak EasyShare C340 First Impressions Review

Manual Control Options
Kodak did not just forget the manual mode; it was an intentional move on their part. The target audience for the C340 likely would have no use for a manual mode, so why clutter the camera? Although no direct manual mode is included, users can still manually select ISO rating, exposure metering, and focus zones in all modes.

Focus
Auto
The Kodak EasyShare C340 uses a through-the-lens auto focus system that can be set to focus in the center only or in a multi-zone pattern. In the macro mode, the 3x Kodak Retinar optical zoom lens can focus from 5-28 inches — pretty limited. In the standard mode, the C340 focuses as close as 23.6 inches. The landscape mode requires users to be farther away, with its closest focal distance at 32.8 feet. According to Kodak, the auto focusing feature has been enhanced for added performance in low-light shooting situations.

Manual
There is no manual focus mode on the EasyShare C340. At least Kodak did not attempt to include some cumbersome two-button, dual-screen arrangement to create a façade of manual focus and glorify the spec sheet.

Exposure
Exposure alterations can be made in any mode, using the exposure compensation function. There is an adjustable range of +/- 2 EV, moving in 1/3-stop increments; this is standard for a compact digital camera. While exposure compensation does not provide the control over form, depth, and definition inherent in aperture and shutter speed controls, point-and-shoot users can use the compensation function to manually adjust the exposure and brightness values in-camera. Exposure alterations are visible on the LCD display prior to making a selection, previewing the brighter or darker rendition of the scene to help determine the preference.

White Balance
The Kodak EasyShare C340 has a limited white balance selection. There are only four options: Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, and Fluorescent. With the absence of a manual mode or a well-rounded offering of presets, users of the C340 will have to endure the color determined by the camera. The limited selection and lack of a manual offering is expected, although a Shade or Flash white balance setting would have been appreciated. It is understandable that options are consciously restricted to spare less engaged users the headache and to minimize price, though determining the boundary between simplification and limitation is a difficult and recurring plight for manufacturers. While I would personally feel more comfortable with more malleable color options, in previously tested models, we found the Kodak Color Science Chip to render accurate, naturalistic color tones without the blatant oversaturation present in many competing models. If I had to rely on a strictly automatic point-and-shoot color selection, I would feel the most at ease shooting with a Kodak.

ISO
ISO ratings on the EasyShare C340 are only manual if users want them to be. The camera assigns the automatic setting as the default, which provides a sensitivity range of 80-160 in automatic modes and 80-200 in the sports scene. When users feel the urge to alter the ISO rating, they can enter the Menu and select between 80, 100, 200, and 400. This is a typical range for a point-and-shoot digital camera within the price bracket and should provide marginal shooting flexibility; at least the ISO 80 inclusion should minimize noise when under ample lighting. The opportunity to manually alter the sensitivity rating will enable users to shape the exposure and image without having to internalize too many variables.

Shutter Speed
The EasyShare C340 utilizes a fully automatic mechanical shutter. Without the inclusion of a manual or shutter-priority mode, users cannot select the duration of the shutter and must again rely on the camera to make the appropriate decision. The offered automatic shutter range is set by the camera, between 4 seconds and 1/1400 of a second.

Aperture
The fixed Kodak Retinar lens has aperture ratings from f/2.7-f/5.2 at its widest setting to f/4.6-f/8.7 in telephoto mode. The digital camera automatically chooses aperture ratings, as they cannot be manually adjusted. The total aperture range of f/2.7 — f/8.7, though reliant on focal length, will provide users with some opportunity to attain both depth and speed, when utilizing the larger aperture setting in combination with a faster shutter speed.