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Photograph: Rick Rizner
Kodak EasyShare Z740 Digital Camera (5.0MP, 2576x1932, 10x Opt, 32MB Internal Memory)
- Spec Navigator
- Digital Format
- Display
- Exposure
- Image Processor
- Included Software
- Lens
- Shutter
- Storage
- LCD Screen
- Exposure Controls
- Dimensions
- Power
- Flash
- Lens Features
- Connectivity
- Other Features
Image Processor
| Number of image sensor pixels | 5 megapixels |
| Image sensor | CCD |
| Maximum horizontal image resolution | 2576 |
| Maximum vertical image resolution | 1932 |
| Image sensor quantity | 1 |
| Image format | JPEG |
| White balance | 0 |
Exposure Controls
| Maximum shutter speed | 1000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 8 |
| Bulb setting | 0 |
| ISO equivalencies |
|
| Exposure settings | 0 |
| Exposure compensation range | 0 |
| Number of scene modes | 17 |
3
9 User Reviews Add your own »
$179.00 - $212.00
From 2 Vendors
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- Lab Tested
- How We Test Cameras »
Pros
Easy photo sharing
Powerful zoom
Cons
Autofocus is unreliable
Bottom Line
The Z740's easy photo sharing and powerful zoom are enticing, but tentative long-distance focusing reduces the latter's value
Kodak EasyShare Z740
EasyShare Z740 Digital Camera (5.0MP, 2576x1932, 10x Opt, 32MB Internal Memory) Review, by Eric Butterfield June 7, 2005
Kodak's $380 EasyShare Z740 is designed to simplify the sharing of photos through prints, e-mail, and an online gallery. The camera's share button, included software, and optional snapshot printer all seem targeted at PC-phobic beginners. This seems at odds with the looks of the camera, which resembles a more advanced model with its rubber right-hand grip and large lens.
The optional Printer Dock Series 3, which costs $100 extra, is a portable dye-sublimation printer with a camera dock on top and is designed to make 4-by-6-inch prints by pressing the print button on its top panel. The test unit sent to me, however, did not work, and I was unable to remove its dye-sub ribbon to replace it. I also thought the small printer felt flimsy. If you forgo this option, the cost of the four snapshot printers we recently tested averaged almost $200.
To help beginners, the camera offers 17 scene modes; an explanation of each mode appears on the LCD as you scroll through. The nub that sits in the middle of the scroll wheel on the back of the camera serves as both a toggle and a button; you press it left/right and up/down to move through menus, and press it inward to select an option. When I was trying to use the manual mode, I found myself accidentally pressing the nub and thereby making a selection when I was trying to toggle to the next selection. Ultimately, using the menus extensively could prove frustrating.
The Z740 has a generous 10X optical zoom, which I enjoyed using at a baseball game to get close shots of far-off players. But I had problems using the autofocus--the camera intermittently had a difficult time locking onto my subject, whether it was a player or the distant right field wall. At first, I thought the stadium lighting might be the culprit, but the camera performed similarly indoors and in bright daylight.
The photos I took using the scene modes under stadium lighting all looked slightly underexposed, though I was able to remedy the exposure with an image editor. Limited sensitivity may have contributed to the underexposures: The Z740's highest ISO setting is 400. Also, the lens is a little slower than most point-and-shoots these days, topping out at 1/1000 second versus the very common 1/2000 second. Admittedly, a sports stadium at night is a challenging setting for point-and-shoot cameras. Even so, compared to other point-and-shoots the Z740 earned below-average scores for image quality, and the sharpness of its images was particularly disappointing in our lab tests.
Once you've connected the printer to your PC, you must press the transfer button to fire up the EasyShare software and upload your photos or send copies via e-mail. The software works with Kodak's EasyShare Gallery Web site (formerly Ofoto), where you can build an online album or order enlargements. I found the software easy to use for transferring and e-mailing files, though I was disappointed by my experience as a recipient. To print the images sent to me via EasyShare, I had to first sign into the service, and then download Kodak's Print@Home software. This software wouldn't work with Mozilla Firefox, so I had to use Internet Explorer. For all that trouble, I would have preferred to receive a standard e-mail attachment, though for users on dial-up that may not be practical.
Upshot: The Z740's claim to easy photo sharing and its powerful zoom are enticing, but lackluster image quality and tentative focusing make it difficult to recommend.
Kodak EasyShare Z740
5.0 megapixels, 2576 by 1932 maximum resolution, 30mm to 380mm focal range (35mm equivalent), f2.6 to f8.0 maximum aperture range, shutter speeds from 8 seconds to 1/1000 second, electronic and LCD viewfinders, USB connection, 32MB internal memory and SD Card slot, rechargeable lithium ion battery, 10.1 ounces with battery, Kodak EasyShare software. One-year parts and labor warranty, 11-hour weekday toll-free support.
$380
800/235-6325
www.kodak.com
Eric Butterfield
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PCWorld Lab Results
- Rating Breakdown
-
78
-
84
-
60
- See Complete Lab Results »
78
93Performance
| Battery Life (minutes) | 161 |
| Battery Life Score | Very Good |
| Image Quality Score | Good |
| Image Quality, Color | 64.5 |
| Image Quality, Distortion | 59 |
| Image Quality, Exposure | 62.7 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Flash | 55 |
| Image Quality, Exposure--Normal | 66 |
| Image Quality, Overall | 61 |
| Image Quality, Sharpness | 28.9 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 |
| Number of Shots | 294 |
User Reviews
Average User Reviews for Kodak EasyShare Z740 Digital Camera (5.0MP, 2576x1932, 10x Opt, 32MB Internal Memory)
4 Reviews Add your own »
- Latest User Reviews 4 reviews
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Reviewed by: SWBUILDING4U
Duration of ownership: 3 Years
Strengths: Easy to use, easy to download, nice link with Kodak to share photos. Link through Easyshare to print at home.
Weaknesses: Trouble focusing when zooming out all the way.
Overall: I am a custom home builder and most of our clients live out of town. We take photos weekly of their job sites to keep them up to date. The homeowners use the link with Kodak to forward pictures to friends and family members and to order prints. I didn't research this model, I found it at Wal-Mart during their Black Friday sale a few years ago. I haven't had any problems with it and would recommend it.
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Reviewed by: Rafferdy
Duration of ownership: 18 Months
Strengths: Easy zoom , several modes for photos, video w/sound pickup that rocks thats better quality than some video cams I've used.
Weaknesses: Impossible to take a long distance zoomed shot without a stand.
Overall: We had a Fuji Fine pix before we got this model and had nothing but headaches with it,paid twice as much and the piece of junk broke a mnth after the warranty ran out, so ,unless you rather spend hundreds more and I've checked prices,this is by far the best one for the average user and the quality of photos is superb. One feature is battery life is exeptional and use only two aa size. rechargable or not your never stuck with a dead cam because the battery died.
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Reviewed by: trvlace
Duration of ownership: 9 Months
Strengths: Ease of use, Zoom, Review, Popular Preset Setups, Auto Works Great, Nice Software
Weaknesses: No anti vibration
Overall: I have the Z730, which I think is actually better than this model. It has all the same features, but less zoom. But for point and shoot users is all they really need. It comes with rechargable batteries and they last a good bit. I bought extra SD RAM cards (2x512) and can take about 400 pictures and a couple short films at one time. I also got the higher capacity battery and use the included one as a backup. I love the software, all you have to do is plug in your camera and turn it on and it downloads automatically, not like the reviewer says. You have to turn this feature on..... I also love the free online picture sharing and my friends like it also. I don't think one would go wrong with either camera. I just got back from Yosemite and I have picuters from Tunnel View that rock, as well as pictures from the Valley Floor and Glacier Point that have all my buddies wanting to go with me next time. I read a ton of reviews and went with Kodak, for the longer battery life and ease of use.
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Reviewed by: charmchick71
Duration of ownership: 6 Months
Strengths: Good zoom range, I was able to pick up and catch my daughter at play without her knowing. Easy to change between night shot, active shot, and regular use. Has a movie option , I love this, took it on vacation, and was able to take up to one hour of short films of my daughter in action w/ sound.
Weaknesses: Zoom out too far and the auto focus goes a little haywire. Useing the reveiw feature uses up the battery quickly, suggest getting a rechargable battery with portable recharge unit.
Overall: I bought this camera two weeks before I went on vacation, so I could get use to it. The first night I had it I took 300+ pictures, I just couldn't put it down. On vacation to Disney World, I took pictures with my digital camera, and also had pictures taken by the professional photographers there. When I got home, I looked up the pro pictures online, mine looked as good if not better. I like this camera so much that when it got stolen, I ended up buying the same camera again.
Review Now! Already own it? Tell us What You Think
User Reviews From Around the Web
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Reviewed by: yamamaha
Strengths: Easy to Use. Control your own image creation. Lightweight & Compact. Fast, when used with high memory card. Easy to download images.
Weaknesses: Self focus. Cant remove lens & EXPAND.
Overall: Excellent Camera! Control how your image is captured. Fast shutter speed. Lightweight & Compact!KODAK Q U A L I T Y.... I highly recommend the EasyShare Z740 & other Kodak products.
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Reviewed by: sewtoday123
Strengths: Can start using this camera without a manual, and my kids have a cheaper priced Kodak for their 1st camera. I would recommend this camera for anyone.
Weaknesses: The distance part is difficult, but then so are many other cameras I have had that are not digital.
Overall: I like the fact I can bring in this camera, turn off the automatic light, and take pictures in say a museum. I did that, but I did learn that you have to hold down the shutter to be able to receive the full light when taking a picture. I have had to use other software to copy pictures onto a CD, but I have the current version and have not used it yet to copy any CDs. I have used the software to send pictures, very easy to use! Love this camera! This is my 2nd one I have purchased. Would buy this one again!!!!
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Reviewed by: nickrogers
Strengths: Outstanding image quality, great interface
Weaknesses: That bleeping green light, occasional blurry images, computer software is bloated
Overall: Wonderful pictures from this camera...worth every penny. I don't like that bright green light...people look at you when you're trying to take candids. The software it comes with is bloated as well...use a card reader.
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Reviewed by: meeshalutz
Strengths: Optical Zoom
Weaknesses: Macro zooming
Overall: This is a fantastic camera! My husband wants one now! So on the first, we are going to get one for him. Imagine - his & hers digitals...now that's America! We love this camera sooooo much. I had to have it before Christmas because it has 1 hour of video on top of all of the photos it takes with the memory card. You definitely need a good video card. But, this camera is fantastic! Not too bulky, fits the hand nicely. It looks big, but it really isn't. Great deal for the money. Buy it!
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Reviewed by: Justkayla
Strengths: Camera is ready for next picture very fast; Its so easy to use the different scene modes and they really make a difference.
Weaknesses: I wish it would stay on standby longer
Overall: I love this camera; the quality of the pictures are great. It such a easy to use camera. And, if zoom is important, this one has it. I can't say enough on how happy I am.
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