Value (7.5)
Users seeking a basic, well designed camera with uncomplicated controls and menu structure will be attracted to what the Kodak EasyShare C360 is able to offer. The camera provides an impressive all glass 3x optical zoom lens, 4 MP CCD, 24 fps video mode with audio, 32MB of internal memory, abundance of presets, and the ease and simplicity of the EasyShare printing system which allows for either EasyShare, PictBridge, or ImageLink printers to work with this camera system. The screen on the C360 is a well sized 2.0-inch 110,000 pixel LCD, and there is the option of saving battery life and using only the optical viewfinder.

Kodak offers the camera with or without the EasyShare Printer Dock Series 3. With the dock, the C360 is a practical solution for most snapshooters, helping less photographically-inclined users capture memorable events to paper easier than any other alternative currently on the market. For $379.95 consumers are getting the entire process (camera, battery, software, and printer).

Comparisons
Canon PowerShot A510 - The Canon PowerShot A510 retails for less than the C360, although it doesn’t have the slick, stylish exterior of the C360. It does however take conversion lenses and slave flash attachments as well as offering a substantial degree of manual control. The A510 contains a smaller 1.8-inch LCD along with a smaller 1/2.5-inch 3.3 MP CCD. The A510 provides manual settings for focus, white balance, shutter speed, aperture, EV compensation, ISO, and metering control – most of which are not accessible to users of the C360. If users are unsatisfied with the diminished manual controls on the C360, they should look to the Canon A510 as a suitable alternative within the same general price bracket. The A510 also offers direct print capabilities, but video recorded on the A510 is captured at a laughably slow 10 frames per second and makes the fluidity of the video feature look like choppy slow motion.

Nikon Coolpix 5600 - With a 3x optical zoom lens and 5 MP CCD, the Nikon Coolpix 5600 offers the same basic, uncomplicated shooting platform that serves beginner users as well as those seeking a camera that will just do the work for them. The Coolpix 5600 also provides novice users with 16 preset shooting modes to choose from. The 5600 retails for around the same price as the Kodak EasyShare C360 when not bundled with a printer. The 5600 contains a smaller 1.8-inch LCD screen, 14MB of internal memory, and enables in-camera alterations to images. The LCD screen has a poor resolution level and is hard to use. When we tested the resolution of the Coolpix 5600, we found it to be so poor that it makes the 5 MP CCD (a major selling point) a moot point. Although similar to the automatic controls of the Kodak, the EasyShare printing system and other simplified control make the C360 a much more suitable option for the novice, strictly automatically-oriented user.

Olympus D-630 - Like the Coolpix 5600, the Olympus D-630 offers a 5 MP CCD and a 3x optical zoom lens. The D-630 is both smaller and lighter in weight when compared to that of the C360, and has a similarly clean design. Like the C360, this camera is intended for users who prefer automatic settings over manual control. Unlike the C360, the white balance setting does provide the opportunity for a live view feed. The movie mode settings are unfortunately much worse when compared to the C360 and will leave users desiring increased resolution and faster frame rates. The 2-inch 115,000 pixel LCD screen is the only viewing option on the D-630 and is nearly identical to the screen fixed to the C360. The D-630 includes 14MB of internal memory and an extremely user-friendly interface, while retailing for slightly more than the C360.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60 - Although the DSC-S60 lacks the clean sleek lines of the Kodak EasyShare C360, it does offer a Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens, 32MB internal memory, and a 2-inch LCD. It has a 3x optical zoom although with a smaller 4.1 MP CCD. The S60 retails for around the same price as the Kodak EasyShare C360. The DSC-S60 does not offer the same amount of preset modes as the C360 and also lacks overall manual control. That being said, the S60 sports impressive movie mode statistics, capturing video at 30 fps at 640 x 480 resolution with audio recording. For video lovers, the S60 would be the way to go in this price range.

Who It’s For
Point-and-Shooters — Designed for simplicity, the C360 provides snapshooters with a host of preset modes, one-touch print structure, basic menu design with large font face, and help menus to assist point-and-shooters of any level.

Budget Consumers — When selling without the printer bundle, consumers can find this camera available for a suggested retail price of US $279.95. With the Series 3 printer dock the total comes to $379.95. Considering the opportunities that come with an ImageLink compliant printer and the direct, simplified print structure, the bundled package actually offers consumers a far stronger value.

Gadget Freaks — Although the lights on the top of the camera are sure to temporarily amuse the gadget freak, much as that neon frame on your license plate might briefly amuse all your cool 16-year-old friends, there really aren’t features on this camera which will astound the gadget lover.

Manual Control Freaks — This camera contains a stripped-down design which avoids full manual settings in favor of preset options for standard control settings like White Balance, ISO and focus. Following the purchasing decision, users will relinquish most of the control to the camera. In other words… no.

Pros/Serious Hobbyists — There is no real reason that the pro or serious hobbyist would turn to the Kodak EasyShare C360 other than portability; however, professional photographers looking for a pocket-sized sidekick would likely opt for a compact camera with a bit more available control.

Connectivity / Extras Page 10 of 12 Conclusion Kodak EasyShare C360 Digital Camera Review Navigation