Likes

- Simple menu structure and image sharing abilities - Solid grip when shooting one-handed - Inclusion of multiple exposure control options including bracketing, metering and compensation - Includes optical Image Stabilization

Dislikes

- Lack of texture and polished surfaces impaired controllability both physically and visually - Lack of editing features in playback mode - No manual white balance control: ludicrous

Conclusion
The Kodak EasyShare Z612 provides a 6.1 MP CCD, a 12x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization, manual control over aperture, shutter speed, focus, exposure and metering and a simple menu structure in either full manual or full auto modes. The Kodak EasyShare Z612 has a handful of useful presets, live and review Histogram displays, and a 2.5-inch, 230K LCD. Movie settings allow users to capture MPEG-4 video clips with stereo audio recording and in-camera playback options.

With all these features come a few inconsistencies and shortcomings. The user can only control white balance via presets, and a poorly designed jog dial control is responsible for controlling the manual options listed along the bottom of the LCD screen. In review mode, Kodak ironically hasn’t caught up with the competition and is only providing one editing option for images; this is underwhelming when compared to the plethora of editing options available for both still and video review from other manufacturers.

But so far, the price of $399.95 seems reasonable. It boils down to testing, and the value will be in the quality of images. Check back for the test results when we conduct our full review of the EasyShare Z612 in the coming months.