Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS
Digital Camera Review
Mar 28, 2007
- By Tom Warhol
At PMA 2007 in Las Vegas, Kodak unveiled their latest digital camera, the EasyShare Z712 IS, a lightweight, 7.1-megapixel, 12x optical zoom camera with Optical Image Stabilization and High ISO mode. Available in April 2007 and retailing at $299, this camera is cheaper than many in the high-zoom camera segment. It’s also competitive with some of the higher-end compact cameras. According to Kodak’s marketing materials, Kodak is responding to market trends that claim 70 percent of digital cameras last year were second-time buyers and 70 percent were also women. So will this lightweight digital camera appeal to more informed women camera buyers and translate into increased sales for Kodak? That remains to be seen, but in the meantime, we’ll take a sneak peak at the camera to see how it performs on the Convention Center floor.
| Top Point & Shoot Cameras |
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| Likes |
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-12x optical zoom.
-Good optical viewfinder.
-Good level of exposure control.
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| Dislikes |
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-All plastic body.
-Narrow aperture range.
-Poorly located zoom control button.
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Conclusion
In the increasingly crowded high-zoom, SLR-like digital camera market, consumers are faced with many options. These cameras offer the feel of an SLR in a smaller size with many automatic options. Some manufacturers are offering solid examples and are also constantly improving the category. While the Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS offers some new technologies, like Perfect Touch and their new Color Science Image Processing Chip, its major selling point is the price. If you want a high-zoom camera with a lightweight design at an affordable price, this camera will suffice. However, if you are drawn to this camera because of its “Easy” designation, don’t be fooled, most cameras in this category have a full auto mode and will function as a direct point and shoot. For those interested in the Z712 IS, it will likely serve your needs, it just may not provide as much control or the image quality of its competitors.