Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS

Model Design/Appearance
The Kodak Easy Share Z712 IS is a very lightweight camera, making it easy to carry and light around the neck. It adopts the standard design of other high-zoom digital cameras, but the plastic construction doesn’t seem very durable or capable of withstanding much abuse. However, the low weight might be appealing to Kodak’s target demographic: women. But, we’re betting that anyone who buys this type of camera is going to want something that at least feels more substantial and robust.

Size/Portability
The Z712’s size is right within the range of all the high-zoom, SLR-like compacts. It measures 4.1" x 2.9" x 2.7" and weighs 10.6 ounces. This makes it very portable and lightweight, even when hanging by the neck strap. By virtue of its shape and handling, it still gives the feel of mini SLR; however, as stated before, the all-plastic construction coupled with its lightweight doesn’t inspire confidence in the unit’s durability.

Handling Ability
The unit felt comfortable in the hand. The grip is substantial allowing for easy carrying and manipulation. The proximity of the LCD so near to the left side made finding a place for the left hand a bit awkward, as well as using the viewfinder. The eyecup fits so close to the body that it was easy to press your nose onto the LCD, thus clouding the view with grease.

Control Button/Dial Positioning/Size
The controls atop the camera were logically organized. They were easy to operate and spacing was good. The problem comes with the rear panel controls. The lens toggle switch is way too close to the mode dial, leaving fumbling fingers searching for it. Worst of all is the use of the focus switch when using the viewfinder. The switch presses against the side of the cheek, making it difficult for your finger to find and operate it. The toggle switch is easily located, but it is not the most intuitive of devices. In manual mode, you spin it to scroll over exposure options you see in the viewfinder or the LCD, press it to select the option, scroll again to select the specific setting, then press it again to select that option. The 4-way control is also poorly constructed, without enough physical distinction between arrow directions. It’s remarkably easy to inadvertently press one of the arrow dials when selecting the OK button. Even small fingers would have difficulty not hitting one button while trying to press another. This convolutes the shooting process and makes the camera more difficult to use effectively.

Set-up
LCD Brightness	1-5
Image Storage	Auto, Internal Memory
Set Album (Still)	Select Album Names to Organize Pics
Capture Frame Grid	Off/On; places frame on viewfinder to compose image by rule of thirds.
Image Stabilizer	Single, Continuous, Off
Quickview	Off/On; displays image for 5 seconds after pic or video taken.
Advanced Digital Zoom	Continuous, Pause, None
Orientation Sensor	On, On Transfer, Off; rotates image top up.
Camera Sounds	Apply sounds to these functions: Exit, Theme, Power On, Focus Lock, Shutter, Self-Timer, Error.
Sound Volume	Off, High, Medium, Low
Date and Time
Auto Power Off	10, 5, 3, or 1 minute
Video Out	NTSC (default), PAL
Language
Reset Camera
Format
About	Camera Model, Firmware

Playback	A.k.a. Review
Select All
View By	All, Date, Album, Image Storage
Album	Tag images and video with album names.
Perfect Touch Technology	Automatically corrects common flaws and mistakes; options are Save as New, Replace Original, Cancel.
Crop
Protect
Slide Show	Begin, Exit, Interval, Loop
Copy To	Copy from internal memory to card and vice versa.
Multi-Up	Display up to 9 thumbnails.

Ease of Use
All of the major modes on the Z712 are accessed through the mode dial, and the other major functions—flash, drive, and focus—are accessed via the buttons near the shutter. Manual exposure settings are accessed in manual mode using the jog dial to select items on screen. Once you figure out the jog dial, changes are made easily enough, and it's certainly nice to have all the options displayed for you at once. But it’s unclear why there needs to be a separate dial when the 4-way control could serve as the selector for these functions, as it does on other cameras. Also, the crowded controls and menus make it awkward to use at times, particularly when using the viewfinder.