Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS

Viewfinder (6.25)
The Z812 IS is fitted with an electronic viewfinder. The inclusion of a viewfinder gives photographers the flexibility to frame a scene looking through the viewfinder or using the LCD monitor. There is a button to the left of the viewfinder that lets users switch between the two.

In EVF doesn’t drain battery life as quickly as the LCD, so it’s a good option when power is low. It’s also easier to see through the viewfinder than the LCD when in bright sunlight.

The EVF has 100 percent field of view, so what you see through the viewfinder is exactly what will appear in the image. With a 230,000-pixel resolution, the EVF is bright with high contrast. The EVF has a quick response time, without seconds of lagging blackout.

Using the electronic viewfinder is awkward. The zoom toggle is located toward the center of the camera, which causes the user’s right thumb to be within poking distance of the eye.

Shooting information can be switched on and off by pressing the "i" button. Some competing models have multiple display options. The Panasonic FZ8, for instance, can display composition guidelines and a live histogram. The Z812 IS also lacks a dioptric control.

The Kodak Z812’s electronic viewfinder is a nice inclusion. Though it doesn’t offer many display options, it has an accurate view and nice resolution.

LCD (7.5)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS has a 2.5-inch color TFT display. Though the monitor is the same size as the EasyShare Z712, its predecessor, it has a higher 230,000-pixel resolution.

The Z812 IS has a good field of view at vertical and horizontal angles, without solarizing. Users can adjust brightness in five levels via the Setup menu.

The "i" button on the camera’s back controls how much shooting information is displayed on the screen. In the Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Speed Priority modes, a live histogram can be displayed so users can monitor exposure.

The LCD screen allows users to effectively shoot and review images and video. Some competing models, such as the Panasonic FZ8, Sony H7, and Canon S5 have LCDs that are the same size, but have lower resolution. Compared to its competitors, the Kodak EasyShare Z812 has one of the best LCDs.

Flash (6.75)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS has a pop-up flash directly above the lens. The flash has a reported illumination range of 1.6 to 25.6 feet in wide shooting. For telephoto shooting, the flash illuminates as close as 3.9 to 14.4 feet.

Users can change flash settings to Auto, Fill, Off, and Red-Eye Reduction using the oddly-placed flash button, located near the shutter release. Most point-and-shoots activate flash via the four-way controller. The unusually-placed flash button takes some getting used to.

Whereas most cameras tend to over-flash at close range, the Kodak Z812 IS has the opposite problem – the weak flash doesn’t illuminate enough even at short distances.
In the manually oriented modes, flash output can be adjusted +/- 1.0 EV in 1/3 increments. Many cameras on the market can be adjusted +/- 2 EV, giving the user more control of how strongly the flash hits subjects. Users can set the red-eye pre-flash to on or off through the menu. There is also no flash bracketing like on some compact cameras.

The poor button placement and weak flash performance will have many shooters avoiding it altogether. Users are better off using ambient light and suppressing the flash.

Zoom Lens (7.25)
Fitted with a 12x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens, the Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS is part of a growing breed of ultra-zoom digital cameras. The Z812 IS lens has a 36-432mm range (35mm equivalent). The current high bar for ultra-zoom lenses is 18x, but that range is only offered on a handful of models. The Z812’s zoom range is sufficient for soccer parents in the bleachers to photograph their child on the field, for instance.

To compensate for blur caused by camera and hand shake, the camera employs optical image stabilization. The Z812 is one of two Kodak cameras that currently offer the technology. The image stabilizer can be set to Continuous, Single, or Off through the Tools menu.

The lens extends from the camera in a single tier. There is no built-in protective lens cover, although the camera includes a separate lens cap that can be strung to the neck strap for safe keeping.

Zoom is controlled with the toggle on the camera’s back. It is too close to the viewfinder and would be better placed around the shutter button.

The lens’s maximum aperture with the lens is zoomed out is f/2.8. When the lens is zoomed in, it is reduced to f/4.8. The aperture at the wide end of the range lets in plenty of light, but competing models, such as the Canon S5, have wider apertures at the telephoto end, which is better for taking pictures in low light.
To further increase zoom, users can engage the 4.2x digital zoom for up to 50x total zoom. Digital zoom can be set to Continuous, Pause, or None through the Tools menu. Users should note, however, that digital zoom degrades image quality dramatically and should generally be avoided.

With its optical image stabilization system and long zoom range, the lens is one of this camera’s strongest elements. For a $279.95 camera, the lens is impressive, but there are better lenses on pricier ultra-zooms that are better. For instance, the Sony H7, one of our best performers this year, has a longer 15x zoom for about $80 more.