Kodak EasyShare Z650

Auto Mode (7.0)
The Z650's auto mode is as it should be. It is the easiest shooting mode with the fewest controls and image options. The end result is a streamlined point-and-shoot image capture process. Options still controllable in auto mode include settings like picture size, AF control, color, album, image storage, and the setup menu in the shooting menu as well as flash, macro/landscape, self-timer, and burst mode. Auto focus and exposure take a little over a second to make the proper adjustments. The auto white balance results were off and overemphasized the red and orange sections of the color spectrum. Despite this, the auto mode will be helpful for point-and-shooters.. The menu system in this mode is identical to the other modes in design with fewer options.

Movie Mode (4.25)
Turning the mode dial on the back of the camera body to the video camera symbol switches the camera into movie mode. The movie mode for the Kodak EasyShare Z650 captures MPEG-4 coded QuickTime videos with simultaneous monaural audio to either internal memory or SD/MMC memory card. Photographers can capture video at an amusingly horrid 11 fps at 640 x 480 resolution or an improved but still anemic rate of 20 fps at 320 x 240 resolution. There is nothing about the movie mode that is impressive and even the audio is worse than the underwhelming quality always found with point-and-shoot cameras. The slow frame rates result in poor video quality when compared either to video captured on a regular video camera or on a digital camera with the standard 30 fps rate. The frame rate and resolution options are listed within the shooting menu only in video mode.

Sure, the quality is better than a cell phone but just barely. The camera does have an internal speaker for audio monitoring in playback that is helpful but nothing astonishing considering the camera's price tag. Want a camera with strong video and audio potential that includes stereo recording? Consider the slightly more expensive Kodak EasyShare Z612; it not only has this benefit but also a massive improvement on control options, features, settings, design and shooting modes.

To read more on the Z650's movie mode, refer to the Video Performance section of the review.

Drive/Burst Mode (6.25)
The burst mode can be entered by pressing the burst button located on the top of the camera body directly behind the macro/landscape button and to the right of the in-camera speaker.

The Kodak EasyShare Z650 has two burst modes. The first burst mode option captures four images while the shutter is pressed. The Z650's specs claim to capture images at a frame rate of 2 fps; we found it shot at around 1.5 fps at best. In addition to this mode, a user can shoot up to 30 images with only the final three being captured to memory. This mode also worked, but like the first burst mode, the processing time eliminated any chance of using two burst series back to back with marginal delay. Expect over a half-a-second delay when saving images to memory in either mode.

Users must first scroll through the self-timer settings before being able to select a burst mode. The burst modes display in the upper right half of the LCD. The delay following capture from resetting and processing makes the burst mode an option that will likely only be occasionally used.

Playback Mode (7.5)
The Kodak EasyShare Z650's playback mode has a simple design, which makes it easy to use. The in-camera editing options aren’t extensive, and photographers familiar with the Canon PowerShot series will find the options to be underwhelming by comparison. In playback mode, images can be viewed in single, 9-image multi-up or slideshow display. Additionally, in the single display mode, viewers can toggle the zoom control to view images at up to 8x zoom. Also included in review mode is a crop option as well as the possibility to copy, protect and change the image storage method. Users can tag images as favorites, for printing, or save images to a specific album like birthday, holiday and wedding. If in-camera image manipulation is what you are looking for, look towards another manufacturer like Canon whose My Colors mode would be an advisable alternative to the Kodak Z650.

Custom Image Presets (7.5)
Custom image presets or scene modes are accessed by turning the mode dial either to the scene setting or one of the three additional settings that are listed directly on the mode dial. The three additional settings listed on the mode dial are the sports, portrait, and night options which are most often used. The position of these settings on the mode dial enables quick access. In scene modes, the options are displayed along the bottom of the LCD in a series of icons. The scene mode options can be scanned by pressing the joystick in the center of the mode dial to either the left or the right. Once a scene mode is highlighted, a brief description will be displayed in the center of the LCD screen providing more information. If several seconds pass and the joystick is not activated again, the symbols at the bottom of the LCD screen will disappear. Pressing the joystick inwards will make these symbols reappear enabling a scene mode switch if desired. The scene mode options for the Kodak EasyShare Z650 tailor the camera's shooting style to perform with greater accuracy when shooting the following: Children, Party, Beach, Flower, Fireworks, Snow, Backlight, Close-up, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night landscape, Manner/museum, Text and Self-portrait. Obviously, these modes only provide a partial adjustment to the camera’s default capture settings and can only really do so much. If a particularly complicated composition is being compromised with auto mode or scene options, the best bet is to move into the PASM shooting modes, which provide more manual control options. With that said, the options included with the Z650’s scene modes should be quite helpful in providing the novice photographer with a number of options that are easy to engage and understand.