pinkskittle's Full Review: Kodak EasyShare C360 Digital Camera
I originally had an LS443 (see my review for it here: http://www.epinions.com/content_88406593156). After 2 years and 7 months, it died, so I got this one for free (exchange for extended warranty).
I am by no means a camera geek. I don't know a thing about cameras or fancy camera settings. The Kodak C360 is part of the "Point and Shoot" line, which is perfect for the average home user.
Packaged with this camera
- 2 Ni-MH non-rechargeable batteries: most digital cameras do not come with rechargeable batteries. Kodak does offer a "docking system" that recharges the camera if you use rechargeable batteries and transfers pictures to your computer.
-3V a/c adapter: plug it into your EasyShare dock (not included) to recharge batteries, or plug it into your camera to use the camera without using batteries.
-video out cable: so you can see your pictures on TV!
-usb cable: to connect your camera to your computer.
-wrist strap: so your camera doesn't go flying if you have butter fingers like me.
-software: so you can edit and share pictures.
-documentation and user's guides: the users guide is one of the best I've seen. It's so clear and easy to follow.
-insert for EasyShare dock: Apparently when you buy the EasyDock 3, you need this insert for it to work with this camera.
Picture quality
-this camera shoots up to 5.0 megapixels.
-you can choose your picture quality, so say you just wanted to use the pictures for email or internet, you'd put it on the lowest quality, which is 1.8 megapixels.
-other quality settings include: 3.1MP, 4.0MP, 4.4MP
The Zoom
-3X optical zoom, which is 34mm-102mm.
-5X digital zoom, which you can use once you need more zoom after the 3X optical zoom, but I don't recommend it because it makes the pictures all blurry. Not available for video recordings.
The Flash
-auto
-fill (use when subject is backlit, in shadow).
-red-eye (flash fires a few times so your subject is used to the flash, then takes the picture and corrects any red-eye in the picture).
-off
Modes
I can't believe how many different modes digital cameras use these days! The modes adjust your flash and shutter speed according to what kind of picture you are taking. I usually just use the "auto" one, but I'm looking forward to takings lots of snow scene pictures of my baby coming in December!
-Auto: for general picture taking.
-Portrait: Allows subject to be sharp and the background is indistinct.
-Sport: For motion shots. Fast shutter speed.
-Landscape: Far-away scenes. Uses infinity auto-focus.
-Close-up.
-Video.
-Scene: Another set of sub-modes: Children (action pictures of children in bright light), Party (people indoors, reduces red-eye), Beach (bright beach scenes), Snow (bright snow scenes), Fireworks, Flower (close-up in bright light), Self-Portrait, Backlight, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Manner/Museum (flash and sound disabled), Text (for taking pictures of documents if you're some undercover spy or something!).
Other settings
-Exposure Bracketing
-Exposure Compensation
-Exposure Metering
(by the way, I have no idea what those last 3 do, even after reading the manual, best not to fuss with them if you don't know what they are either!)
-White Balance: choose your type of lighting for the best picture. (auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent, open shade)
-Picture Size: go from 5.0 MP (for printing 20"x30"), 4.4 (Ideal for printing at 4"x6" without cropping), 4.0, 3.1, and 1.8MP (emailing, internet, screen display)
-ISO Speed (like film for a 35mm camera): Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800.
-Focus Zone: large or concentrated area of focus.
-AF Zone: If you push the button to take a picture halfway down, it will autofocus for you and create a beam of light on your subject. Or else you can set it to always be focusing.
-Color: High color, Natural color, Low color, Black and white, Sepia.
-Sharpness: High, Normal, Low.
-Long-time exposure: How long the shutter stays open (ranges from 0.5-8 seconds).
-Set Album: Tag your pictures with album names (for organization).
-Image Storage: Internal or memory card.
-Camera Sounds: choose sound effects for each function.
-Displays slide shows of your pictures (which can be viewed on your TV).
-Display pictures and videos on your TV.
-Burst Mode: Take up to 5 pictures @ 2.4 fps.
Let's make a movie!
-smaller and larger (640x480, 320x240) video sizes.
-video and audio capture and playback on camera.
Memory
-the amount of memory on any given camera is what tells you how many pictures you can take at any given quality.
-this comes with an internal 32MB chip, which is enough for the average user. It takes 46 pictures at the lowest setting (1.8mb, which is good for emailing and websites). If you plan on taking a trip or going somewhere where you might take lots of pictures, maybe get an external memory card.
The Batteries
As I've mentioned, The C360 comes with Ni-MH battery pack. They last about 200-300 picture shots.
Using 2 AA lithium batteries, the camera lasts 250-350 shots.
Kodak doesn't recommend the use of alkaline batteries (the regular kind).
System Requirements
Windows:
WINDOWS 98, 98SE, 2000, ME, or XP.
233 MHz processor or greater
64MB RAM (128MB RAM for Windows XP)
200MB hard drive disk space available
CD-ROM drive
Available USB port
Macintosh:
Power Macintosh G3, G4, G5, or G4 Cube; iMac; Powerbook G3 or G4; or iBook computer
Macintosh operation system X 10.2.8 or later
128 MB RAM
200 MB available hard disk space (more hard disk space may be required depending on the size of your collection)
Available USB port
CD-ROM drive
What I liked
-The quality. It's fantastic. Even on the lowest setting, pictures come out great.
-It's so small! W × H × D: 3.3 × 2.5 × 1.4 in. (and 5.3 oz without batteries).
-The quickview LCD screen is still large (2").
-Auto-Power off. Turns off the camera if not in use for a specified amount of time.
-Blur warning. An icon pops up if the picture will turn out blurry.
-With 32MB of internal memory, it does
~43 at the lowest quality (which is still amazing quality)
~19-27 at the medium qualities (3.1-4.4 Megapixels)
~17 at the best quality (5.0 Megapixels).
~These numbers are increased with the purchase of external memory cards.
-With 32MB of internal memory, it does:
~3 minutes, 23 seconds of low-size video (can get to 31 minutes with a 512MB video card)
~1 minute, 47 seconds of high-size video (can get to 1 hr if you add a 512MB video card).
-you can use different qualities for different pictures.
-you can choose not to use the LCD to save batteries.
-the ease of use. The camera menus aren't scattered and the manual makes it easy to find anything you need.
what I didn't like
-The whole "EasyShare" thing. I've never used it. Not even on my other Kodak. You can hit a button to tag for printing or emailing. Then when you transfer your pictures, the print or email boxes come up and you print and email them straight away. I've never used this just because even at the lowest setting of 1.8 MP, the file and the picture is way too big, so I size them down using photo editing software and do any necessary cropping.
-Did not come with an EasyShare Dock.(You plug the dock into your computer and into a power outlet. Sit the camera on top, hit the button and it is now in "transfer mode" (as opposed to recharging), after you tell the kodak software to transfer, all your pictures are on your computer in seconds (or minutes depending on how many pictures you have). The camera recharges in the loading dock when you aren't transferring pictures. It also allows you to connect the camera to your TV.)
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 295 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Fool-Proof for Absolute Beginners
5-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 13-by-17-inch prints Kodak Retinar aspheric all glass lens with 3x optical zoom 17 e...More at Amazon Marketplace
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