Kodak EasyShare Z730

Summary: My co-worker purchased the Kodak 7440I and I was amazed with it’s response. I then went out and bought it’s big brother the new Z730 right off the loading doc at Best Buy. (this camera is so new it still has not made it to many other stores). After 5 digital cameras in the past 4 years including some very advanced and highly “reviewed” cameras (including Sony's DSC-V1, others) I've found a camera I can keep for a while. My needs were simple: A point a shoot camera with some bells and whistles but I mostly wanted to avoid the dreaded shutter lag to catch that perfect smile. Anyone with kids knows what I’m talking about. This camera fits the bill! I love the fact that the auto mode is almost always just right. I'm very very happy with this purchase. Perfect for dad's who love to take indoor and outdoor shots of kids. One last note, the CNET site lists 4MP, the Z730 is actually 5MP.

Here's a summary.

What I liked:
Excellent color renditions. Skin tones very good, bright vivid and real colors.
White balance in auto mode perfect every time.
Faster default flash shutter speed of 1/60 better tolerates hand shaking and subject movement. (Sony V1 was 1/30...this led to blurry shots

Good clarity on posed indoor photos.

Excellent “point and shoot” camera

Quick shot to shot recycle times

Quick flash recycle times

No shutter lag

Great focus even in low light or total darkness. Pictures always sharp.

Large LCD is usable in bright outdoor light or in low light indoors

Menus are intuitively placed and quick to access different features quickly

Can “save” two “modes for often used settings (one mode in ”P” (program) and the other in “C” (custom).

5 flash levels instead of normal 3 levels
Many manual controls

Excellent battery life even when screen is used 100% of the time.

Inexpensive batteries

Numerous easy-to-access scene modes

Lighter weight than other cameras
Smooth edges and ergonomically pleasant.

Very fast processor for quick reviewing of photos.

Quick to access “details” about each photo which don’t leave anything out.

Review photos done in shoot mode so always ready to shoot no matter what mode you’re in.

Self timer has audio cues and can be used with video mode

View finder accurately represents photo composition regarding alignment (although real photo has slightly more area).

Inexpensive SD memory (512 MB for $19.99 after rebates at some stores)

Auto adjust for vertical shots. A sensor can “tell” when the camera is in vertical mode and automatically adjusts the photo (no more looking at pictures sideways on the computer screen before adjusting them!)

Camera comes with a small separate battery charger so I can shoot and charge at the same time. Sony made me pay for that separately!


Why I didn’t give it a 10:
Screen image does not always respond to changes in Shutter, aperture, ISO, etc. in manual modes. Can therefore not always predict photo during more advanced manual setting adjustments. (Sony DSC-V1 did this well).

No manual white balance, although auto works perfectly.

No manual focus (although rarely have the need to use it).

Would have preferred to have custom setting closer to default position on dial instead of a several clicks away on the dial.

Like sound options but would have liked to have had the various shutter sounds available with quite start up.

Movie mode is .MOV which is not the standard .mpg. Therefore, conversion must occur before movies can be used in DVD software suites. Also, not everyone has Quicktime installed which is needed to view the movie. (although I use a camcorder for movies).

Slow transfer times from camera but non issue with purchase of a card reader (Highly recommend getting a dedicated card reader)