Digital Camera Review

First Impressions Review

Jan 16, 2006 - By Richard Baguley
Priced at just $139, the Kodak EasyShare C530 is one of the cheapest digital cameras we’ve ever reviewed. And, for the price, the 5 megapixel resolution is not bad, along with the 16MB internal memory and direct printing ability. But you get what you pay for in other ways: there’s no optical zoom, only a 1.5” LCD screen, no A/V port, no scene presets, and a limited selection of features. The C530 will cost $139.99 and be available this February.
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Likes
- Simple, straightforward interface
- LCD screen is not big, but is sharp and bright
- At only $139.99, you can’t get too upset if you lose it, break it, or one of the kids accidentally flushes it down the toilet
Dislikes
--No manual controls (not even preset white balance or ISO)
- Fixed focus lens means no macro or close shooting
- LCD screen is too small to really show off photos
- Can’t connect it to a TV to show off photos  Screen is not as big as some other cameras: it’s not big enough to show photos to a group
- Lacks Autofocus
- Movie mode cannot record sound  
- Offers TIFF instead of RAW            


Conclusion
The Kodak EasyShare C530 reminds me of the compact, point-and-shoot 35mm film cameras that used to be popular before digital. They, too, had fixed focus, aperture and similar limitations. Also like the C530, they were cheap, and that’s the defining characteristic of the EasyShare C530, although still not quite cheap enough to justify its purchase. Perhaps those few consumers who have been resisting going digital, claiming that it’s too expensive, complicated or awkward might appreciate its suffocating simplicity. For them, the C530 could be the perfect birthday present, plus, it’s so cheap you won’t be too offended if they don’t use it much. However, for those just looking for a decent, affordable digital alternative, there are many, many superior cameras out there right now that offer far more practical options without much additional cost or confusion.

The Kodak EasyShare C530 definitely has a market, albeit a very specific one. For the extremely budget-minded and technophobic first-time photographer, the camera will certainly not pose any intimidation, but by today’s standards, it seems to be a poor bargain. Even the most frugal consumer would be better served holding out a bit until they are comfortable spending an additional $20-30 for optical zoom and autofocus. Now, for an extra $60, consumers can have effective optical image stabilization in the Panasonic LS2.

Know what you want before you buy. Because if you don’t…$139 is practically pocket change in digital camera terms, but that’s a mighty expensive paperweight.
Overall Impressions Page 10 of 10
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