11Sep kodak z712is

Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS 7.1MP
Al Hansen: Andrea Rosen Gallery.: An article from: Artforum International
The Kodak SureShot Z712 IS is the least expensive camera in the "Super Zoom" class. It is a better buy than the competition. This camera requires lithium AA batteries and uses a lot of power. I moved up from the dependable Kodak EasyShare C613. The Z712 is my best camera; I bought it for 9. I need Kodak's color saturation for my work with colorful costumes.

Awesome camera...but...
We are super pleased with the quality of the camera. Picture quality is awesome. However, batteries drain super quickly. It doesn't work with just double A batteries...you have to use the C2 (Double AA's taped together) and they need to be Kodak. We have bought rechargeables...don't work. So, if you are willing to spend everytime you need a set of batteries...it's worth it. Again, the camera is our favorite and the best...you will see us paying for batteries...

Kodak Customer Service is Awful!
I bought this camera 10 months ago. Although it was fairly easy to use and took great shots it keeps breaking down. After contacting someone at Kodak they had me pay for shipping to send it to Precision Camera Repair who decides whether or not it is under warranty. I included that I had to pay for shipping because everything else Ive had to send in for repairs the company paid for the shipping. After mailing the camera it somehow takes weeks for them to get it. Then each time they decide its not under warranty and will cost me in the vicinity of 0.00 for repairs....PLUS Shipping. I will NEVER buy another Kodak product I dont care how good of pictures they take... this product is obviously poorly made and if the company is not willing to back it up...Im surely not going to. By the way, the Fuji I bought several years ago and gave to my kids may not look pretty however it still works.

Easy To Use, Great Pictures...
I've had this camera for over two years now, and I STILL love it. I was recently looking to replace it with a newer model(Z1012 or Z1485), but after playing with them in the store, I just can't let go of my Z712. I've always used Kodak, mainly because their software is so user friendly, and I upgraded to this camera from the C-class. I was wanting something more then a pocket camera, but not as fancy as an SLR...this is the PERFECT in-between!

The main reason I love this camera so much is the click-to-capture speed. When I hit the button, I expect the camera to take the picture that second, not 2 seconds later (the C-class did this, which was VERY annoying at Nascar races or football games). Also, the 12 zoom has been very convenient to have on family vacations. I have a young son, and this camera has been awesome at capturing his day-to-day activities. I use the Energizer CRV3 Lithium Photo batteries for it, and they last a LONG time, usually a few months per battery!

It's a nice size, but some may find it a bit cumbersome at first, especially if your used to little pocket size cameras. The first time we took this to Disney, I wasn't sure if I'd made the right choice in getting it due to it's bulkiness, but as soon as I saw my pictures, I was in love! I bough a generic camera case for it, and my husband wears it on his belt during trips, so we've adjusted!

Overall, I DEFINITELY recommend this camera. I'm always on the hunt for the latest and greatest, but it's gonna take A LOT for me to replace this one. If you're just an average, takes pictures of the family kinda person, then you'll LOVE this camera!

Surprised at all the positive reviews
I am not a digital camera aficionado, so you may want to read some more reviews, but I based my purchase on several positive reviews here. I wish I had done some more personal testing of other cameras before my purchase. Yes, it takes a good picture, but there are several things not to like about this camera.

1. It uses AA batteries (may be a plus to some people) but if you take a lot of pictures, the batteries will constantly be dying. And if you buy rechargable batteries, the batteries start to die by the 3rd picture.

2. It takes several seconds to resume the ability to shoot after each picture, not good if you have kids sitting in poses.

3. It is gigantic - bigger is definitely not better in this instance. For a professional camera that might be acceptable, but when one half its size is just as good, there is no reason to buy such a monster of a camera.

4. Every time you change the batteries, you need to reprogram the date and time. Again, if you are trying to catch your kids doing something cute, this is sooooo annoying.

5. The "on/off" button malfunctioned after about 2 months and I had to send it in to be fixed. Not such a big deal, but it is worth mentioning.

I'm sure there are other things not to like about it, but I am pretty easy to please and I really really dislike this camera. Hope this helps.