Digital Journal — Kodak has long been associated with photographic film and easy-to-use cameras. Its film business may have been torpedoed by digital photography (film sales dropped by more than 30 per cent in the US), but with its line of EasyShare digital products, Kodak still seems swimming ahead of the pack in the Easy to Use department.
Case in point: the EasyShare V550 kit that includes a slim 5-megapixel camera and a dock for transferring and displaying photos.
Product Overview
The Kodak EasyShare V550 camera is slightly longer than a credit card and weighs just 5 ounces (143 grams). In a black metal finish with silver edges (an all-silver model is also listed by Kodak), the camera looks sleek yet feels relatively rugged and sturdy. Some might find the camera feels small and difficult to hold properly, but Kodak made sure to provide a non-slip grip which compensates.
After you get over the first impressions, the next wow feature is the camera’s 2.5” LCD display that offers excellent viewing even in outdoor light. And in low-light situations, the camera amplifies light coming through the lens so that the LCD lets you see in the dark better than with the naked eye. An optical viewfinder is also parked inconspicuously to the left of the screen.
The V550’s auto focus lens (equivalent to a 36-108 mm lens on a 35mm camera) features a 3X optical zoom, and 4X digital zoom. Users won’t likely find anything to complain about with respect to the optics, as the camera produces sharp, properly exposed photos.
Like all digi cams these days, you can also choose the size in which to shoot your photos. The camera comes with 32MB of internal memory, but also provides a slot for SD or MMC cards. Shoot at the 5-megapixel setting and you can get photos suitable for printing at 20 x 30 inches. And using just the internal memory, I was able to take up to 32 pictures at maximum resolution.
The V550 is clearly designed for a shallow learning curve. To take a picture, press the power button atop the camera, the lens pops out, and you’re ready to shoot in about two seconds. The camera defaults to Automatic mode which guarantees a decent photo under most conditions. A nice feature is the camera’s auto red-eye correction which fixes red-eye even if the pre-flash is off.
One drawback of switching between modes, however, is the fact that the camera uses depressible flaps etched right into the metal rather than a button. The design is undoubtedly cool, but not very functional; if you don’t press hard enough you won’t get the mode you want and heavy-handed shooters could cut a finger on the edges of the etched flaps.
In addition to photo tools, the V550 also has a video camera that can shoot TV-quality video (640 x 480 at 30 frames per second). With a built-in image stabilizer function similar to that in video cameras, the V550 does a pretty good job offsetting unsteady camera work. And unlike most digital cameras, the V550 lets you use optical zoom while shooting video. But beware: The lens is noisy when zooming so your video clips will pick up the sound.
With all its pros, the full potential of the V550 isn’t fully tapped until you interface it with your computer using the EasyShare software that is included with the package. The software integrates really well with the functions built into the V550, and allows you to store, organize and share your.
One particularly nice feature is the ability to transfer email addresses to the camera, allowing you to mark photos for emailing to friends or family on the camera itself. When you get back to your computer, EasyShare takes care of uploading the marked photos to the Kodak EasyShare Gallery Web site, then e-mailing your friends with a link to the photos. You can also program the camera to sort out all images into folders, so when downloaded to the computer, everything is designated to a specific spot.
Product Downfalls
Despite all its pros, the V550 does have some cons worthy of noting. Most obvious is the time between photos: If you want to rapid-fire shots to capture a sequence, the camera can get bogged down by storing information which will lag the speed between shots.
Another limitation to keep in mind: the V550’s proprietary rechargeable lithium-ion battery is rated to last for 120 shots per charge. For Moms and Dads who like shooting tons of vacation photos, this might become a serious limitation. Without a second battery on-hand, you’ll need to interrupt your pool-side pina colada to go find an electrical outlet to charge the camera. Then you’ll have to wait three hours for the batteries to recharge. That is, if you remembered to bring along the AC charger that’s bundled with the camera in the first place. A camera that uses AA batteries is much easier to travel with.
A few other aspects that Kodak should consider before designing the next model:
- The directional control next to the LCD (used to scroll through menu options) also serves as the control for exposure compensation when in picture-taking mode. It’s too accessible, and users may find themselves accidentally triggering an underexposure or overexposure without realizing it.
- There needs to be a way to disable the digital zoom.
- When you set the self-timer, the setting only lasts for one shot. If you plan to take a whole series of family group photos (each of them with you in it), you will have to set the self-timer before every single shot.
With a suggested retail price of $399, the Kodak EasyShare V550 is an impressive camera for the price tag. With many features crammed into such a small size, it’s nice to see that Kodak can offer its customers ease of use, even in the digital age.
