Kodak Announces the World's Smallest Ultra-Wide-Angle Zoom Digital Camera

"Kodak has announced today a handful of new EasyShare cameras. The 7.0
megapixel EasyShare V705 Dual Lens and the 8 megapixel EasyShare C875
both feature a 5x all glass Schneider-Kreuznach optical zoom lens and a
2.5-inch LCD and the V705 also sports an additional ultra wide 23mm
lens. Kodak has also announced two entry level cameras; the C743 and
C433."

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06080803kodakv705c875.asp#press

Cheers!
http://newcamz.blogspot.com

 

These cameras lack one essential (for me) feature. NO viewfinder, no
buy. It's that simple.
While they have great statistics, the lack of this basic feature removes
them from consideration.

 

The smallest cameras don't have viewfinders, takes up too much space.

 

View finders only have one small advantage they are easy to use in bright
light. Beyond that they add nothing but size and weight to a camera. The
Kodak V610 is a wonderful camera considering its size, zoom range and image
stabilization.

R

 

That's like saying a window takes up too much space on an automobile.
Some things are just WORTH the space.

 

As I said, the features/specs are great, but without a viewfinder,
preferably optical, I am NOT a potential customer. Some things are just
essential.
I wouldn't buy a car without a windshield either...

 

Any camera without an optical viewfinder is only really suitable for
snapshot type photography. Not to mention that the LCD is the biggest drain
on the battery, so having to rely on it all the time for framing and taking
pictures is going to have a major hit on battery life.

 

I fixed it for you.

 

Compared with earlier P&S cameras I've had, I've not found that to be
so for my FX01.

 

The wide-angle model is interesting, but it lacks an optical view-finder
which is a no-compromise feature on all but the lowest end cameras.

 

Not really. If you want to use the analogy of a car windshield, that
would be equivalent to not having a viewfinder *nor* LCD screen. Not
having a viewfinder is more like a compact car not having a full size
trunk.

I understand if you absolutely must have a viewfinder. But the reality
is that all the ultracompacts (the slim designs) these days are
ditching the viewfinder. So if you require a viewfinder, you have to
get a compact size or larger.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0608/06080801casioexs770.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0605/06053001fujiz3.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0605/06052201ricohr40.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0602/06021503pentaxw10.asp
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelDetailAct&fcategoryid=145&modelid=12956

 

That is your opinion and I don't think your in the majority. Things change
either go with the flow or get left behind.

R

 

A review site (imaging resource?) tests the V610 at 135 shots on a
charge. This probably due to the constant usage of the LCD for picture
framing. Another reason to have a viewfinder (optical).

 

When they ditch the viewfinder, they ditch any chance I will buy their
camera. I don't care what the tradeoffs are, or how sophisticated the
camera, I will NOT look like an amateur dork with my camera held at the
end of my extended arms. I am much too old and unsteady to get usable
pictures that way.

 

When they stop putting viewfinders on DSLRs, then I will listen. This
is a sop to the unsophisticated people who think the LCD is the way to
frame a shot. For those here who complain that the quality of pictures
taken with digital cameras is deteriorating, this is music to their
ears, because it makes them RIGHT.

 

That's OK.
When auto manufacturers make a compact car, they ditch any chance I
will buy it.

Having a physical limitation is one thing; being afraid of how others
might see you is another thing entirely.

 

I guess fortunately for the manufacturers, the biggest market for the
low-end point and shoot cameras is unsophisticated people (at least
unsophisticated in terms of photography).

Yep.

 

Not true. The Canon Digital Elph series has optical viewfinders on most
of the models.

SD430, SD550, SD600, SD700 IS: Yes
SD630: No

 

Hi.

It does NOT have image stabilisation. It has this new feature which is
called "Blur Reduction". Which only switches the camera to a higher Shutter
Speed.

WOW, who would ever have thought of doing that for a moving subject.

The manufacturers are promoting this like it actually is I.S.and the Mugs
out there will believe them. Just the same way the Mugs believed that APS
Cameras could take 3 different sizes of pictures, or that any form of close
up is Macro.

It is a piece of crap designed for those who don't know any better.

Roy G

 

I'd change that to "It may crappy compared to IS, but it can be
very useful crap for those who don't know any better". Believe it
or not, but there are many snapshooters that know little to nothing
about apertures and shutter speeds. Unfortunately, they'd have to
know at least a tiny bit about this to know when it might be
advantageous to actually *use* "Blur Reduction" mode. If they
don't, there's a slim possibility that after seeing blurry prints
they *might* remember seeing something about a "Blur Reduction" mode
and try it out. That would help reduce the blur somewhat, but also
add some noise to the shots. Then they might check the camera or
manual to see if there's also a "Speckle Reduction" mode. And once
the manual is opened, the sky's the limit. See? In the long run
this crappy design may actually be able to teach the "camera
illiterate" something about photography!