Connectivity
Software (7.0)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS camera comes with Kodak EasyShare software version 6.3. It’s fairly easy to use, and installation time takes about 10 minutes. The majority of that time is spent going through a mandatory registration on Kodakgallery.com. This step is somewhat annoying because you have to register for it right then and there or else the software won’t open.
In the main browser there is a tool bar on the top of the page with six tools: Add Pictures, New Album, Edit, Burn CD/DVD, Slide Show, and Express Upload. Below that is a drop down menu that allows users to view the images in their gallery by album, calendar months, calendar days, or full screen view.
Users can also choose to sort how they view the pictures in their gallery by Entire Collection, Last Added, My Favorites, or My Albums, which is broken down into an easy view of the different saved albums.
Other features on the tool bar include a details view, quick print, add to online print order, select all, target/untag as favorite, tag/untag as hidden, rotate left, rotate right, delete, and add to picture tray. To the left of the main browser menu is a sliding scale that allows gallery pictures to be seen in large or small size. Any pictures saved to the picture tray appear below the sliding scale.
Editing in the Kodak EasyShare software is not difficult, but can be a bit tedious. Simply click on an image from the gallery and it will automatically appear in full screen. You have the option of viewing your gallery images on a film strip at the bottom of the browser while in full screen mode. For editing options, just move the mouse to the top of the screen and a tool bar appears. The only options here are to edit your pictures or view them in a slide show.
Once in Edit mode, the tools available are Crop, Rotate Left, Rotate Right, Red-Eye, Enhance, Scene Balance, Scene Effects, Fun Effects, and Help. In Fun Effects, users can transform images with a spotlight, coloring book, cartoon, or fish-eye feature. When you are editing, however, the software doesn’t allow you to go back to the main album page, or allow you to view other things you have opened in your browser. Basically, you can’t begin editing and then decide you want to check something else in the meantime. If you do choose to return to the menu or do anything else you must first save your work and then close out of both the editing and view full screen modes.
On the left side of the main browser is another tool bar with six flashy icons. The options are My Collection, Print at Home, E-mail, Order Prints Online, Creative Projects, and EasyShare Center. In the Creative Projects mode users can create their own personalized greeting cards and invitations. Uploading albums in this feature can be rather time consuming, but once it’s complete you will be automatically redirected to the Kodak EasyShare gallery.
On the bottom left of the main browser are a few helpful links to the Kodak Gallery that are marked My Gallery Home, Fun With My Favorites, My Friends’ Albums, and My Saved Projects. The Kodak Gallery gives you several options for customizing your photos and ordering prints.
The software, overall, has its pros and cons. It does all the editing for you, but the registration time and restrictions on editing in multiple browser pages makes it difficult at times.
Jacks, Ports, Plugs (6.5)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS has two ports protected by a rubber cover. The included USB 2.0 cord allows users to connect the camera to a computer for uploading and editing, or to a PictBridge-compatible computer for editing. The A/V function can be set to PAL or NTSC settings via the Setup menu. There’s a separate port on the bottom of the camera for the optional dock accessory, which is required for HD viewing.
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Direct Print Options (6.5)
Users who aren’t fans of using the computer as a middle man can print directly from the camera. The Z812 IS is compatible with the Kodak EasyShare Photo Printer 5000 or other non-proprietary ImageLink or PictBridge-enabled printers.
Pressing the share button on the camera’s back accesses the Print menu, where users can select the number of prints to make of a specific image or all images. Users can also print index prints of video clips or print Favorites tagged and saved in a separate folder. Users should note the optional HDTV dock does not print.
Battery (5.0)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS has many battery options. Users can use the included CRV3 battery, which resembles two AA batteries melted together as one battery unit. There is also an optional compatible rechargeable Kodak KLIC-8000 lithium-ion battery. For convenience, users can also use two AA batteries of either lithium-ion or Ni-MH material. Users can also use the optional HDTV dock to charge the camera. The Kodak specifications don’t cite how many pictures users get out of the battery, but we find the camera needs frequent battery changes, especially for flash photography.
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Batteries
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Memory
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Memory (3.5)
The Kodak EasyShare Z812 IS comes with 32 MB of built-in memory, which is enough to save four pictures at full resolution. The helpful LCD frame counter displays how many pictures are remaining in the memory. For extra storage, the camera accepts SD and MMC external media.
Other Features (4.5)
Optional HDTV dock – As with most HD devices, the EasyShare Z812 IS’s high definition workflow is tedious. Because the Z812 IS can’t play back in HD by itself, users will need to buy the accessory EasyShare HDTV dock. It retails for $99.99, which is a third of the price of the camera. In addition to charging the camera, the dock allows users to play back their still images or videos at 720p on an HDTV via the SD and USB ports.
Panorama – The dedicated Panorama mode, accessed through the mode dial, captures up to three pictures for a single wide photo. Users can capture from left to right or right to left, and the camera then automatically applies the built-in stitching for a surprisingly accurate wide composite. Panorama is helpful for large group photos or landscapes.
