Kodak EasyShare Z885 8.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom Reviews

Average Customer Rating - 3.9 out of 5 stars

51 customer reviews

This camera is Great, September 13, 2007
If you choose this camera go ahead and shell out the bucks for an SD card and the dock.
I've never been crazy in the region of the easy share software but it works best to get the pictures from the camera to the computer.
In the fully automatic mode taking great pictures is a no brainer, as for the more advanced stuff , it will do a time exposure of up to 8 second which makes it usable for some astronomy photos. I photographed the last lunar eclipse and only for kicks, the Orion constellation.

as for the video mode, at 640x480 you can get some pretty upright stills from your videos.

I would prefer videos that be in Windows media format, but the part is great.

This is the best digital camera before you move up to the next price catalogue

This Camera Packs a Lot of Digital Punch!, September 25, 2007
Over the years I've owned many digital cameras; at last count I've owned just about 8 cameras in a little over 7 years. With digital camera technology varying so much I've always liked to hold up with the new features, but enjoy always been uncertain about spending a lot of money on a camera because I know that in a few months the technology would change again, or (worse yet) I'd finale up breaking it and have to buy a new one!

I picked up the Kodak Z885 after my prior digital camera bit the dust after spending a moment or two too long in a hot car. I initially picked up the camera because I have previous Kodak cameras that were high part and because it was the only affordable digital camera surrounded by the 8.1MP range that offered the features I was looking for. I'm jovial to say, 4 months later, I made a great choice surrounded by chosing this camera.

How many megapixels is enough? When it comes to detail, the more megapixels the better. That's why the 8.1MP of the Z885 caught my eye. When taking photos with the high ability mode you can expect to get images that are completely crisp and bring out a lot of the smaller details of the subject you are focusing on. And speaking of focus, a feature of this camera that I hold put to use a lot is the ability to pre-focus the lens on your subject and enjoy the camera actually show you what it is focusing on. By using the LCD and pushing halfway down on the trigger button the camera will focus within on area (or areas) and bring up green rectangles to show you what it is focusing in on -- I've found this invaluable for close-up shots next to busy backgrounds when I wanted to formulate sure the camera was focusing in on the foreground and not the framework.

Another impressive feature of this camera is how ably it takes pictures in low-light. The camera does enjoy a built-in flash, but I have found that it takes exceptionally virtuous pictures without using the flash well until dusk. Most cameras cannot toy with low-light well, but the Z885 certainly excels contained by that area.

If you are looking into this Kodak camera, or any Kodak camera, I highly recommend that you also invest within the Kodak EasyShare Camera Dock Kit. For one, it makes recharging this camera a snap when using rechargeable battery, but even more importantly it provides one-touch easy access to the internal and memory cards for pulling the pictures off to your PC in need having to worry roughly speaking attaching cables. Trust me, even if you only clutch a moderate amount of pictures, the dock will pay for itself in no time flat.

Overall, the Z885 pack a lot of punch for a relatively low price. It's a great camera not only for everyday use, but is also sound for those close-up shots you might want to grab. With its 5X optical zoom, it also delivers polite, crisp results for objects in the distance. The only drawback to this camera is the shortage of a viewfinder, but after you use the auto-focus features on the LCD you'll be left wondering how you ever got by beside a viewfinder on your previous cameras!

Good Camera, Bad Battery, February 5, 2008
Well, I loved the camera itself, but the battery was not dutiful. It always said low battery. I tried evrey battery-operated, even the ones recomended online and in the instructions. When I tested my batterys in my freestyle charger, the charger said they were ok, and my second one said that, too.

It had right pictures, and all the features were adjectives.

Pros: Good quality pictures, lots of camera modes, videos. Lots of MPs and alot of optical zoom.

Cons: Bad freestyle rating, hard to hold the camera, doesn't come in lots of colors, have more noise when using the image stabilization.

I DO NOT recomend it, your going to find yourself buying A LOT of batterys if you buy it.

great adjectives around camera, October 2, 2007
I bought this camera along with the Kodak Z612 b/c I also wanted a smaller one to fit contained by my purse or diaperbag. This camera is great, there is only one cynical, that it does not have a viewfinder. However that ONLY affects me when I am in super super bright sunlight that is to say reflecting on the screen which is not that often. It is great contained by auto mode, movie mode, sports, etc. The 5x zoom is more powerful than I thought it would be. For the money you can't go wrong with this one at adjectives, it is quick and super easy to operate, you don't even necessitate to read the manual to operate it. The functions and icons are self explanatory. Once you buy this kodak and register you hold access to Kodaks website and galleries where they hold tons of hints and the extended user manual if you ever needed to look anything up. The camera is sharp looking too. Has great Fireworks mode. I took it to an outdoor baseball game, it took great pics within ALL light even at dusk. I was truly amazed. The stabilization is pretty biddable too for this camera. It also has vivid/high color mode and makes the colors bounce past its sell-by date of the page. Try it you will love it. Beats all the other cameras out there within this option range, the canon elph, panasonic, sony, and hp etc. can not compare near the feature's and ease of use of this one. I have two kids and I have need of to turn it on asap and operate it, that is one feature that will other be the best with Kodak.
I only choice that this came with a lithium ion freestyle instead of AA's, however, you can add rechargable's, I strongly advise them.

Not Kodak's best work, August 21, 2007
Two years ago I get the Kodak Z760. A few months ago it was stolen, so I bought the Z885 to replace it. According to Kodak's specs, the Z885 was better than the ripened Z760 in every way: it offered more built-in settings, more video option, higher megapixels, and more zoom.

Unfortunately, this camera has be a MAJOR disappointment. Kodak's built-in settings (SCN options) are a great way to get the right flash, shutter speed, focus, etc. for your subject by scrolling through the different option very quickly. On the Z760, these worked great (i.e. you'd choose "action" setting for feat shots, "close up" setting for close up, etc.) On the Z885, these could not possibly be worse. The action shots are always blurry, the close up shots are out of focus, the portrait setting give everyone redeye, arrrgh!! The flash on this camera is too bright (I eventually figured out how to lower the brightness of the flash in the instruction book settings), and pictures taken without the flash are, of course, blurry. Sometimes the pictures even look granular, a problem I have never seen on a digital camera.

Everything I've photographed indoors usually have to be photographed 3 or 4 times (each time changing the settings) to get the right conditions, and for the most division, I'm trying to photograph my baby; I don't get 3 or 4 likelihood at those quick smiles! Also, this camera has a adjournment that you wouldn't believe, I know what Kodak says it is supposed to be, but it feels similar to a full second before it takes the picture (again, photographing babies is especially difficult next to this problem.)

The lack of viewfinder makes photographing surrounded by bright outdoor conditions very difficult, sometimes impossible. I tried to photograph someone waterskiing, but several times ended up next to pictures of just waves because I couldn't see that the being wasn't even in the frame!

Based on the specs of this camera, you think it'd be pretty sweet, especially for the price. But who care if you have 8.1MP and 5x Zoom if you can't get a clothed picture in the first place?!

The only drive I give this 2 stars instead of 1 is the panoramic stitch feature, something Kodak lately added to most of its cameras. It works great and is really awesome for taking panoramic shots. I give the panoramic stitch 5 stars, but I'm disappointed in everything else. I can't amount out why Kodak's new product isn't as good as the one they made 2 years ago.

my easiest camera, August 25, 2007
I love this little camera........fits surrounded by my pocket and works very well for the pictures i hold.....i like the software.............and i ordered some blow ups,they came out great...........

Solid Camera immensely well suited to first time users., July 3, 2007
Spent a lot of time looking for reviews on this camera lacking luck -- so I thought I would post one.

Bought this for my parents who have never used a digital camera so ease of use be of primary concern. From that perspective it's a home run. It is much more intuitive than the other digital cameras I have owned/used. Low-light usage is (predictably) not as good as my D-SLR (forget the 8000 ISO from a practical standpoint, but at 800 it perform well). Shutter lag is on par or better than other Point-and-shoots I've used (hardly noticeable). Supports about 15 or so language.

Pros:
- Very easy to use. Intuitive Menus and features.
- Decent low-light performance.
- Good color and auto adjustment.
- Nice in-camera feature set: Automatic digital red-eye removal, photo stitch, crop, etc (these work well satisfactory for novices, but you'll probably want to use a computer based program if you are going to set it up)
- Relatively comprehensive and economically laid out manual control mode (white balance adjustment are missing, but does have things like independent exposure controls and adjustable exposure bracketing).
- Relatively compact but not so small that it feel fidgety
- Built-in orientation sensor

Cons:
- Screen have a relatively low resolution (would give it 4.51 because of that)
- The High-ISO mode (selectable) was any too grainy or smoothed out for my liking within my test shots.

Final thoughts:
- Be sure to buy some decent rechargeable battery with the camera. Alkaline AA's won't last long.
- The included Kodak software is OK, but for a time clumsy. Picasa (free) is simpler/more efficient to use and has a fundamentally good feature set.

mobile drainer, February 11, 2008
I like this camera better than our old Kodak DX. It's smaller and faster. I similar to that the on/off is a separate button. With the DX, I have to go from auto mode to rotten to video mode. What I don't like about the Z885 is that it eat up batteries like crazy. I similar to taking pictures and videos of my kids. Many times, I miss the precious moments because the battery-operated had drained.

I love this camera!, February 11, 2008
I went subsidise and forth on three different Kodak cameras and this one by far was the best choice. The other two were the Z710 and the Z1285(12 MP). This camera is compact - which is what I be looking for - and it has all the features of the other two. The clarity of the pictures is incredible, and the menus are extraordinarily easy to follow. The only drawback I find next to the camera is that I seem to go through battery fairly quickly, although not as quickly as the 12MP model. Overall, I would highly recommend this camera.

Great camera for the money, January 12, 2008
I purchased this camera after comparing brands and models in the $100 - $200, 6MP+, point and shoot scope.

This camera offers a lot for the relatively low price. There are a ton of features for adjust your image. From MP selection to full P/M mode to multiple preset scene settings. Multiple Auto-focus settings. Menus option vary based on selector position. It is noticeably versatile.

The image stabilization and ISO settings produce exceptionally vociferous shots. In good or standard lighting you will generally return with great shots. In low lighting, no flash or full zoom you tend to get a slight blur unless you've got a super steady foot. Still, there are enough ways to adjust your photo when needed.

Pros for me. Uses AA's and SD card. The camera and controls have a nice solid feel to them and operate smoothly. That includes the freestyle and memory doors. Fast on. The camera defaults to about a 3 second picture review after respectively shot but you can interrupt that by taking your next shot. Shot to shot time is very accurate. Even switching between modes allowed for fairly speedy shots. The on screen information is adjectives very useful. In P/M mode you can display a definite time histogram. They also display in review mode. You can choose to display a framing grid and have multi-zone auto focus. Or you can turn those features stale. I've have this for two days and I'm still working through all the option.

Some downsides, in no particular demand. The lens remains extended while in review mode. No view-finder. The previously mentioned photo noise issues. The battery-operated level indicator doesn't come on until it's getting low. Can't disable picture review or on screen abet (it displays a short description of the camera mode when you switch to it). If you zoom in movie mode the zoom noise is pretty loud on replay.

Another consideration is that this is an Easy Share product and so the camera is just another cog in the Easy Share contraption. The camera incorporates Easy Share features like creating galleries, favorites, keeping address books within camera and using USB or the optional dock to do one touch transfer and synchronization. Then you hold the option to use the Easy Share software to share prints on line or writ photos or merchandise. (For photo review/correction the software does an ok job). If none of these interest you then they are just useless features. However the Easy Share experience is not intrusive or insistent
and you can any use or not use the features and I like that Kodak has taken this approach.

This is a right solid middle-of-the-road camera that should perform well surrounded by a variety of situations.

Edit: I find that I'm deleting more pictures than I'm keeping, which is disappointing. I hold to drop this rating from a 4 to a 3 (although I can't change the official rating). Unless your using a tripod or other steady surface near is no way to take a clear shot surrounded by low light or full zoom. I'm really torn because I love the form/features of this camera but the pictures, unless you're shooting with a flash or substantial restrained source, just don't measure up.

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