trthomp's Full Review: Kodak EasyShare CX7300 Digital Camera
***Updated 1/22/2009. I STILL use this camera. I was informed about a month ago that it is a "huge" camera, and by someone else that it is a "dinosaur". I have tried 2 newer verison of the Kodak Easy Share cameras, only have them break before I could evne figure out if I liked them! I will stick with my Huge dinosaur unitl I find the right replacement.***
I have had my Kodak Easy Share CX7300 for quite a long time now, maybe close to 2 years give or take. I originally bought it to be my quick shot carry anywhere camera. I had 2 Sony Mavicas when I purchased this camera, but I thought they were too big and bulky to tote around all the time. I bought the Kodak Easy Share CX7300 for the price, the pixel size, and the fact it used the SD cards I used in my Tungsten E PDA. I love having the ability to take a picture with the camera and immediately pop the card in my PDA and view it!
When I decided to buy a new Kodak Easy Share, I scanned the ads, then Epinions, and scurried off to buy my new toy. I bought it and could hardly wait to get it home. Setting up the camera was a snap, but then again MOST digital cameras are very simple to figure out their basic functions. I loaded the Kodak software into my computer while my husband was loading batteries into the camera. The Kodak Easy Share CX7300 uses 2 AA batteries. I have read in other reviewers complain about the short battery life, but I have not really experienced this problem. I use rechargeable AA batteries, and I always have at least 1 extra set with me, so maybe it is something I haven’t noticed because I just didn’t care. I don’t think so though, maybe the other reviewers were operating solely by the battery indicator. The indicator appears on the view screen, and shows ½ full even with a new battery. Regardless, you can solve the problem of battery life by carrying spare batteries.
The camera itself is almost 4” wide across the front, 2.5” top to bottom, and 1.5” front to back. The camera loaded with 2 AA batteries and a SD card and wrist strap attached weighs in at 6.95 ounces or a mere 196 grams. The view screen on the rear side of the camera measures 1.24” across and 1”top to bottom, with a 1.75” diagonal. It isn’t the largest view screen out there, but it is big enough to easily frame the photograph and view the results. There is also a teeny tiny viewfinder that you can use to frame the picture. I have taken literally 1000’s of pictures with this camera, and I think I have used the viewfinder MAYBE 3 times. I find it feels more natural to just use the screen. My husband on the other hand uses the viewfinder frequently, and claims it is easier and more natural to use. I guess it is really a personal preference.
To the left of the view screen, there are 5 buttons, 4 smaller buttons around a slightly larger center button. The button in the center is the OK button, and acts like the “enter” key on a keyboard. The OK button also turns the view screen on and off. You would turn it off if you opt to use the viewfinder, and to prolong the battery life. The 4 buttons surrounding it are up, down, left and right. They move the image in these four directions when you have the camera in review mode. The left/right buttons are also used to scroll through the pictures you have taken. These same buttons also allow you to zoom in or out for just the picture you are looking for! Just up and to the right of these 5 buttons is the delete button. This button does exactly what you would think it does, and directly below this button is the share button. The share button allows you to quickly email a picture or make it a favorite in your online Kodak gallery. Using the share buttons requires use of the included USB wire or a compatible Kodak Easy Share Printer Dock, not included.
Above the view screen is the button that operates the flash modes. The regular flash is the default mode, and it will flash every time the shutter button is depressed. Press the button twice (the first time it just opens the menu) and it turns the flash off completely. You can use this for outside pictures. Press this button 3 times and it activates the fill flash. Theoretically, this will light up the area BEHIND the subject, but I don’t find it works very well with this camera. Pressed 4 times, this button activates the red eye reduction mode. This flash is supposed to eliminate the red eyes you often see, especially in blue eyed people. This flash works, but not if the subject is particularly prone to red eyes.
On the right side of the view screen are 2 more buttons, the menu button and the review button. The menu button gives you options for timer, color, image size, and camera set up. The timer allows you to take a picture with yourself included. I can not comment on this, as it is a feature I have never used. Color allows you to take a true color picture, a black and white picture, or sepia toned picture. Image sizes on this camera are listed as “good, better, best (3:2), and best”. It is a 3.2 mega pixel camera, so even the best image is only so good. If you are looking to make posters, this camera is not able to take the quality of image required.
There are 2 buttons on the top of the camera, on the right side. These buttons are the on/off/mode button, and the shutter button. The on/off/mode button is more of a dial, with a video mode, and 2 picture modes. I usually only use the auto mode for picture taking, but there is also a nighttime feature. Again this isn’t a feature I have really used, so I don’t know how well it actually works. The video mode allows you to take soundless videos. The video quality leaves A LOT to be desired. There is no sound, but that is something you can just learn to adjust to. There is also no zoom for the videos, so if you are trying to record a subject from afar, well good luck! My biggest gripe about the video mode is that there is no way to light the subject. Inside videos are dark and grainy at best, and often unviewable.
If you are looking at the rear of the camera, the left side is slightly rounded. I found myself resting my index finger of my left hand around the curve to stabilize the camera, so maybe this is actually an ergonomic feature. The right side of the camera is where the wrist strap attaches. There is also a door on the right side, which opens up to reveal the SD card slot and the port for the included USB wire. I have used Sandisk 256MB, 512MB, and 1GB SD cards in this camera with no problems.
The bottom of the camera has the battery door, where you load your 2 AA batteries. I don’t recall if any were included, but I am guessing there were probably 2. There is a tripod mount that will allow you to use almost any camera tripod. There is also a port that allows you to mount the camera on a compatible printer dock, but you have to purchase the printer separately.
The front of the camera looks pretty much like any other camera on the market. There is the lens, a Kodak lens 37mm(equivalent), the front side of the viewfinder, and the flash. The lens is fairly close to the left side of the camera, and it took a long while to get used to it. A lot of my early pictures had my fingers in the first shot! Good thing it is digital, and I could just delete them and try again! I would have been really upset with that and a 35mm-film camera, and having paid for someone to develop those pictures!
This camera was not purchased to replace my beloved Mavica cameras, but it did. This camera is small, light weight, and easy to use. The picture quality and camera features are sufficient for MOST people’s needs. I love this camera so much, I just upgraded to another Easy Share…I will write that review after I use it for awhile.
I guess I should include how durable this camera is! It has been dropped more times than I care to say, yet it remains faithful. It has been used in harsh ocean air, as well as the hot sandy desserts of Arizona. The on/off button sometimes doesn't turn off right away, but I hardly call that a problem with durability!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99.99 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Flexible Enough for Enthusiasts
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