Kodak EasyShare Z612

Kodak, as a camera brand, is generally associated with consumer level point and shoot models, that promise to give decent results even if the operator doesn't know jack about digital photography. Their most common trait is the vivid colors you get from even the natural color settings in their camera models, which may be a little too inaccurate for a prosumer, but pleases the masses nonetheless.

On the other hand, superzoom as a category relates to the higher end users; the guys who have moved on from point and shoots and would like more features from their cameras and better control over their results.

So, when Kodak comes out with a superzoom camera model, it's a bit confusing trying to figure out what market category is it really trying to cater too. But I guess we'll find out by looking deeper into the camera model itself.

Build
Like most superzoom cameras out there, this one too looks like a miniature SLR camera, only in this case, the camera body really is quite tiny at 104 x 74 x 69 mm, and somewhat light as well, at 330 grams. The camera body is completely made of plastic, except for the protruding lens area that's made of metal.

The button configuration is pretty easy to figure out for anyone who's used a digital camera before. There's a user friendly jog dial on the top right, with all the shooting modes listed, along with a scene mode that lets you select from a range of shooting presets.

You can preview your shot in the camera's 2.5 inch LCD screen or the Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), but as in most lower level superzooms, there's no optical viewfinder here.

Overall the camera may seem cute in its (relatively) small form, but it does get a bit tough to get a good grip for single-handed usage. The small body is not the most convenient for adult hands, especially because of the placement of the shutter release button. The grip of the Z612 should have had a rubber layer on it to make it easier to hold than the plastic that it currently has.

Besides that the Z612's buttons are very easy to operate and use.