Kodak Z1015 IS
Digital Camera Review
Sep 26, 2008
- By Alfredo Padilla
The Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS is an affordable ultra-zoom point-and-shoot retailing for $299.95. A 15x optical zoom for that price is certainly a deal, and we're sure that many will be attracted by that feature alone, even if the resolution is an unremarkable 10 megapixels. The user interface of the Z1015 IS is simple and easy to learn, and more advanced users will appreciate the full complement of manual controls available along with RAW support.
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Model Design / Appearance
The Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS is not a particularly attractive camera. It has clean lines, but there's not a lot of styling here. We noted the large amount of empty space on the camera. We understand that this isn't targeted at high-end shooters who want a button or dial for everything, but if that's the case, the controls provided could have been larger larger and more comfortable.
Size and Handling
The camera measures 4.65 x 3.26 x 3.06 inches (118 x 83 x 78mm), a rather large footprint for a non-SLR. There are definitely smaller cameras in this ultra-zoom class. The weight is not too bad at 15.3 ounces (434g) thanks to the largely plastic construction of the camera. This means that despite its size you should be able to hold it comfortably with just your right hand wrapped around the grip. As for transportation, get a bag or use the neck strap, since this camera won't be fitting in any pockets or even smaller purses. We're also concerned that the slick matte plastic on the Z1015 IS will make this camera a bit too easy to drop, especially as there's no texturing on the grip to make it easier to hold.
This guy's hands were pretty big, but you can
see the camera still looks fairly large.
Menu
The Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS's menus system is fairly simple and straightforward. The first one or two tabs in the menu system offers options for your current mode, while the last tab presents general settings for the camera. This means that sometimes it will take a few button clicks to find the option you want, but on the other hand this camera is targeted more at amateur shooters who don't necessarily want to change the white balance or metering options very often. There are a few items you won't find in this menu including the manual controls, which are positioned on the rotating dial to the left of the electronic viewfinder.
Ease of Use
With a relatively simple menu system and a point-and-shoot Auto mode, the Kodak EasyShare Z1015 IS is one ultra-zoom camera you can just pick up and use. Slightly more advanced users will find the presence of manual controls a plus, and accessing these is relatively easy using the scroll wheel found at the top left of the camera, although we should note the scroll wheel might be a bit too sensitive.
