Pros: Very intuitive controls, Good picture quality, Various preset exposure settings, on-camera cropping feature
Cons: Average video mode, poor battery life, relatively small LCD, shutter lag
The Bottom Line: The C330 is a feature-rich camera that's remarkably easy-to-use and shines in the imaging department, despite a few hiccups on the way.
camlover's Full Review: Kodak EasyShare C330 Digital Camera
I got this camera as a gift some months ago. Although I'm not much of a fan when it comes to point and shoot cameras, the C330 sure made me one with it's feature set and imaging capabilities.
Specs At A Glance
The EasyShare C330 is quite compact and looks pretty rugged for a digital camera. Features comprise 4 MP resolution max i.e. 2304x1728 pixels image resolution, 3x optical zoom, 5x digital zoom, auto focus, video capture (with sound), a plethora of scene modes, a 1.5 inch indoor/outdoor LCD display and a lot more. It also has 16 MB of internal memory and an expansion slot for an external SD/MMC card.
Physical Aspects
The C330 is an attractive looking camera that's easy to operate single-handedly, though a rubberized grip would surely have been better. However, there is a ribbed strip
running along the side that provides a bit of traction for your left hand. It weighs around 160 grams (without batteries)...for a rough idea, that's just about 30% heavier than my Nokia cellphone. The controls and buttons are just about average, not too pretty but will last for a while.
I did like the fact that this camera utilizes both SD and MMC cards. That, i feel, is an added advantage for those of us who already own SD or MMC cards. For instance, i had a spare one lying around that i used for my cellphone...so i didn't have to look any further.
Despite it's rugged appearance, i did have a few issues with the battery cover. It's quite flimsy actually and has a spring underneath that aids in movement. Although it's still intact thankfully, one must definitely exercise caution while inserting/removing batteries.
Features & Controls
The camera is very user-friendly, even for first time users. The onscreen menus are clear and extremely easy to navigate. The only issue i have is with the size of the LCD. A bigger one would definitely have been better. Also, this camera does not have many manual settings thus making it ideal for point-and-shoot enthusiasts.
The outer controls are well labeled making them easy to read. Four buttons along the outer edge of the LCD allow quick access for deleting photos, toggling the display,
accessing the menus and photos. The top-mounted dial, while not being too comfortable owing to it's jagged edges, allows the use of 6 different modes to shoot pictures.
Keep in mind that there are no manual adjustments beyond ISO settings, focus zone, and exposure compensation in the C330. On the other hand, it also has an array of presets such as an Auto mode, SCN mode (comprising an assortment of scenes such as Snow, Fireworks, Beaches etc), a Portrait mode, a Sports mode, a Landscape mode, a Closeup mode as well as a Video mode. I won't go into any detail with the flash and timer settings (2 or 10 second timer available) as they are self-explanatory.
There is also a burst mode that can snap 3 full-resolution shots at 1.5 fps. But, the camera takes another 5 seconds to reset after this. Images can be categorized into favourites or selected for printing or e-mailing using the EasyShare button at the back of the camera.
Software & Workarounds
I've been familiar with Kodak's EasyShare software for quite some time now. And believe it or not, it can easily gobble upto 30MB of precious memory while staying in the
system tray after install. I even resorted to updating the software with the latest version. However, it seems as if the memory-gobbling-issue remains unnoticed by Kodak.
Not that the software is bad or anything. I did like the fact that whenever you plug in the camera and turn it on, it automatically downloads pictures onto the PC, which is a nifty feature. But this program was definitely not for me for it can bring even the mightiest of systems to a crawl owing to the numerous processes running in the background. So, i discovered a simple fix.
The easiest way to bypass the memory hog that the EasyShare program is to do the following:
1. Run the setup and choose a "Custom" install.
2. When installing, ensure that you only select "Camera connection software". LEAVE the rest behind.
3. Once installed, restart your PC and connect the camera
The biggest advantage to this method is that NO processes are loaded at startup. What this does is that it simply installs drivers that recognize the camera as a separate drive in explorer once it's plugged in. So users can easily browse the camera contents, just like a hard drive in Windows. Very convenient indeed!
Before i forget, a bundled USB 2.0 cable aids in connecting the camera to the PC. The EasyShare option on the camera allows the user to print the pictures directly from the camera without computers provided you have the Easy Dock which is not a part of the standard package.
Performance
Images: Contrary to what people say about the C330, the C330 really has a remarkable still picture quality, distortion-free too, i might add. Pictures are vivid and visually intense. It stays the same even if you opt for a lower resolution. The multiple flash with automatic red-eye reduction works well too. The 3X Retinar lens is rated at f/2.7 to f/4.6, which is relatively fast, considering the C330's price. Also, the nifty on-camera cropping feature allows you to discard any unwanted parts from snaps. Perhaps the biggest issue with this camera is the pronounced shutter lag. Although the C330 was considerably faster with the flash off, a shutter lag of about 0.60 seconds in bright light is anything but great.
Videos: The video mode is fixed at 320x240 pixels and 20 fps. Quality is just about average. Moving the camera about introduces jerkiness and tearing. However, the inclusion of audio is a big plus. Another downside is the fact that recorded movies are HUGE in size, obviously there's poorer compression. On a 128MB card, one can store only about 6 or 7 minutes of video with sound which really is pathetic. Movies are saved in the QuickTime format. Though i wish it were avi. You also have to set the focus (zoom) before recording the video as the camera doesn't allow you to zoom in or out in the middle of a recording. Also, bear in mind that while playing a video on the camera, there isn't any audio available, which is quite strange. In essence, the video mode is nothing to brag about.
Battery Life
Perhaps one of the biggest issues with the C330 is the battery life. The included proprietary oxy-alkaline batteries in the sales package are absolutely pathetic. So, i opted for a couple of rechargeable Sony NiMH 1.2V batteries rated at 2300mAh. They can easily last about 150 shots on a single charge , which isn't much, but still bearable. I've heard people have had terrible experiences with the EasyShare series when it comes to battery life. And i agree to an extent. Alkaline batteries should really not be used for digital cameras. That's the mistake quite a few of us make. Rechargeable batteries or better yet, Lithium batteries like the CRV3 are excellent choices.
Conclusion
Despite falling short in a few areas, the overall performance of this camera was quite good and it'll appeal to first-time users who want an easy-to-use, feature-rich digital camera that is actually good at taking still-pictures.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 190 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Easy Enough for Anyone to Use
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