| Kodak EasyShare V1073 Digital Camera Review |
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Digital Camera Review by: Katrina Putker
After testing the Kodak EasyShare V1073, three words immediately spring to mind: value for money. This compact touch-screen-operated camera priced at rrp $399 offers the user an array of features for that price: 10 megapixels, a 3 inch (7.6cm) LCD screen, High Definition video record, 22 scene modes, 3x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom and smart capture mode – perfect for point-and-shoot operation with great results. The 100 percent glass Schneider – KREUZNACH lens also ensures high picture quality and excellent sharpness for a camera in this price range.
The box kit includes everything you need to get shooting: wrist strap, carry case, manual, software, rechargeable dedicated battery, USB cable, AC adapter for charging, and an insert for optional Kodak EasyShare docks. The only missing component and an important one at that, is a memory card, which very few manufacturers supply anyway. Fortunately, the internal 32MB memory compensates for this exclusion and can store 15 images at full quality and upwards of that as the picture size is decreased. Remember to purchase a SD memory card suitable for your shooting needs in store to avoid the frustration of getting your camera home and being unable to use it as much as you would like.
The camera itself is designed well with a stainless steel outer. It does fair well in terms of being scratch and fingerprint resistant so if you’re worried about appearances, be assured that the V1073 will always look clean and sleek. Weighing in at less than 150g and being no bigger than the size of a standard deck of cards, this is definitely a great choice for anyone who wants the convenience of being able to take their camera with them everywhere: slip it into your pocket or handbag with ease and off you go.
A generous 3-inch LCD monitor makes framing and viewing, organising images and navigating through menus easy, and ‘sleep-mode’ will automatically turn the screen off after a minute without use as a means of preserving power. This may be compensation for the amount of power lost by the automatic focus function when in smart capture mode. Each time the camera is even slightly repositioned, the internal focusing mechanics rearrange themselves. Despite this, the shutter must still be pressed halfway to ensure the final shot is in focus. Fortunately, this automatic function does not operate when in program or scene modes, which means more battery time and less irritation from constant focus mechanic noises.
Standard scene modes including: portrait, landscape, sport and close-up (macro) are available and complimented by additional modes: text, self-portrait, panning shot and high ISO, to name a few. No doubt there is a scene mode for almost all shooting situations but it’s likely only the savviest of shooters will take advantage of each of the different options. For most, smart capture mode - where all settings are automatically set for optimal results - will be a popular option.
Another favourite scene mode available is the panorama function. Simply shoot three frames in succession panning across the subject either left-to-right or right-to-left and wait less than 15 seconds for the images to be stitched together in-camera with quite impressive results. It may take a couple of tries to begin with but is certainly worth the experimentation in the end. It is also satisfying to try shooting in program mode where manual control over white balance, ISO (up to 3200) and exposure metering etc. is available. For users wanting more control over their images, this is a desirable option.
The V1073 is also able to record High Definition video with audio in QuickTime and MPEG 4 format and can be marked in camera with either text or sound tags. This feature is also available for still images and proves useful when searching for favourite videos/photos at a later date. While the playback sound is fairly soft in-camera, even at full volume, this is not a problem once uploaded to your computer using the provided Kodak EasyShare software.
As with any camera, it is important to spend some time getting to know the features and operations of the V1073 - which shouldn’t take much time at all - and the results will be well worth it. Everything is laid out in a fairly logical order and only requires the user to be somewhat adept with digital technology. Overall, this is a praiseworthy unit that produces solid results. Highly recommendable.
     
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