Amazon.com Product Description

The C-730 Ultra Zoom is a powerful 10x optical zoom digital camera (30x total zoom when combined with the 3x digital zoom) that captures sharp, crisp images with details you didn't know existed. The C-730 is also one of the first digital cameras to offer compatibility with the new XD memory card--as well as SmartMedia cards.

Optics and Resolution
The 3.2-megapixel Olympus C-730 digital camera can capture images up to 2,048 x 1,360 in SHQ mode, which produces quality prints up to 11 by 14 inches. It boasts an outstanding 10x optical zoom lens with a 38-380mm focal length (compared to the 8x zoom lens of the previously released C-720). When combined with the 3x digital zoom, you get a total zoom of 30x.

The C-730 also features Olympus TruePic technology, which optimizes the image information captured on the CCD before the data is saved by using the brightness and color information of the neighboring pixels when processing the pixel data. This leads to digital pictures that set standards for picture sharpness, contrast, true colors, and gradation.

Storage and Transfer
With the C-730, you can store images on both the new XD memory card format as well as your old SmartMedia memory cards--a 16 MB XD card is included. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the C-730 captures continuous video and audio at 15 frames per second in two formats: 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 pixels. The QuickTime Motion JPEG format offers a limited resolution, which is great for capturing a short movie that can be e-mailed to friends and family, but is no replacement for a true camcorder.

More Features

• Fast shutter speed of 1/1,000th of a second--great for action photography
• Six scene program modes, including sports, portrait, and landscape
• Super-macro mode for photos as close as 1.2 inches
• Electronic viewfinder (EVF) shows you exactly what the camera will capture on the CCD

Power, Size, and Contents
The C-730 is powered by two CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or four AA-sized NiMH rechargeable batteries (optional). We recommend getting a set or two of rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and a charger.

The camera measures 4.2 by 3.0 by 3.1 inches and weighs 11.1 ounces without batteries. This package includes the C-730 digital camera, 16 MB XD card, two CR-V3 lithium battery packs (model LB-01), AV and USB cables, carrying strap, lens cap and strap, printed instruction manual, and Camedia master software and drivers for Windows and Mac on CD-ROM. ... Read more

Features

• 3.2-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14
• Autofocus lens with 10x optical zoom and 3x digital zoom (for 30x total zoom)
• Included 16 MB XD memory card holds 21 images at high quality setting (also compatible with Smartmedia cards)at high quality setting
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 2 CR-V3 lithium batteries (included) or 4 AA batteries

Reviews (15)

Fantastic for far-away targets!
I absolutely love this camera. It's the first digital camera I own and I was initially worried that the picture quality would be less than that of a normal camera with film. However, having printed more than 500 pictures, I can honestly say, the quality is fantastic. Besides this, it produces great photos for computer screens. It is also small and lightweight and not a "burden" to carry around for the casual photographer.

Most impressive is the zoom. The 10x optical zoom alone, already lets you reach those elusive targets - in my case, a lot of shy and faraway African wildlife. The 3x digital zoom lets you come even closer, and as long as you are able to hold the camera steady, you'll get a good shot.

It didn't take me long to figure out how to work the camera with the host of different settings; and for me, the automatic functions were easy to use and produced great pictures. On top of that, I also got some great movie shots of animals running - absolute top notch quality (although my own camera work is in need of some serious help!)

Two minor negative points are the digital zoom and the speed of the camera. The digital zoom quality is not as nice as the optical zoom, and you can see the difference upon print. I also found that the reaction time of the camera can be slow - I tried to take a bunch of shots of cheetahs running, often missing them completely since they'd run out of shot before my camera "hit" them. With a film camera, it would have gone when you pressed "go". I learned to move my camera with my object on the sports setting, which worked really well.

I sent lots of pictures via email, using the user-friendly Camedia software that came with the camera. I reduced picture sizes to post photos on the web with ease.

As far as the memory cards go - it was no problem buying additional memory even in Africa. And digital photos can be printed everywhere these days. The quality was as good in Africa as it was in Europe ...

Needless to say, this camera has been fantastic and has put the joy back into picture taking for me. I carry it with me everywhere!

Great Camera!
I've had this camera for about four weeks and love it! I can't believe the sharpness of the images througout the entire zoom range (38-380). Macro pictures also come out razor sharp. Its everything I wanted in a digital camera in one small and lightweight package. No need to lug around and change lenses. I had some problems trying to navigate through the menu system at first but got used to it. My wife couldn't believe the pictures I took came from this digital camera. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a long zoom range camera with advanced features.

Better than the 720?
In a word, yes. However, I would say after all this time that some other makes are somewhat better at rendering truly faithful colors and that the Olympus autofocus mechanism is slower than newer digicams and therefore will more often yield a slightly blurred image.
That notwithstanding, the 700 was my favorite digital camera for a long time, that is, until the 720 came along. Then along came the 730, which maintained the 3+ megapixel resolution of the 720, while reinserting the 10X (true optical) zoom (the 720 has an 8X).
In point of fact, zooming at 8X or at 10X without a tripod or image stabilization (not present on either the 700 or the 720) is extremely challenging. Anyway, this camera is beautifully made and ergonomically engineered. The aspherical all glass lens system is excellent and the resulting 3 megapixel images are crystal clear at 8" x 10" and quite acceptable at 11" x 14". The zoom of course remains the trump card on the 730, and the smoothness (just the right damping) with which it reaches its 10x limit is awesome. Another nice feature is its ability to take QuickTime movies, which really adds to its versatility.
The news with the 730 is that it is the first Olympus to utilize the new xD memory card format, the "xD-Picture Card". This is a new type of ultra-compact memory media developed jointly by Fuji and Olympus. The main features of the xD-Picture Card are its ultra-compact size (20.0 x 25.0 x 1.7mm), its lower power consumption (the xD Picture-Card users will benefit from the convenience and savings of longer battery life on a single charge) and its faster read/write speeds. Of course, a new card means a new card-reader will be needed, but these are inexpensive and aren't immediately needed, as the camera can be linked by the included USB cable to your PC without too much fuss. Overall, I think the 730 is a winner, especially as prices have fallen steadily over the past year.

Very nice camera!
We've had this camera for about two weeks and took it out for our first real trial this weekend. We went hiking in the mountains and had opportunities for photos in daylight, shade, distance, close-ups, and combinations of the above. In all aspects, the photos were spectacular. The optical zoom was very clear in focusing and resolution when the pictures were taken. We did not use a tripod and had no blurring, even on the highest zoom settings.

The camera has efficient battery use (we use Kodak rechargeables). We took over 200 photos and several movies over the last two weeks on one charge. The camera continued to focus and zoom well, even on low battery levels.

The LCD was difficult to see in full daylight, but the optical view finder shows most of the same information.

Takes a bit of getting used to
I must say, I was a bit disappointed when I first got this camera, I am used to the Olympus C range, having used a C 3020 extensively for work, so I thought this would be a breeze. Well, it takes some getting used to that killer zoom, and a lot of the first few pictures I took suffered from the shake associated with a longer lens, also on automatic settings, it tends to go for slower shutter speeds rather than pop up the flash (more hand shake issues). But, once you get used to it, and start to manually adjust settings (made really easy to save with the my mode settings), it takes great shots, and the zoom really is AMAZING.
Only thing I really hate is that horrid digital viewfinder thing, its grainy, and you have NO idea whats in focus or not, it's not too big an issue, because I almost always use the LCD when I'm taking my shots, but I have no idea why anyone whould do that to such a great camera (must waste a lot of battery too).
Some minor dislikes: it does't feel as solid as the C 3020, the dials seem less durable, a strap that only attaches to one side, so that the camera hangs like most point and shoots, and not like an SLR.
Bottom line, great camera, amazing zoom, sucky viewfinder, a bit of a learning curve. If your interested in the zoom, go for it, otherwise you might be better off with the C 4000 or something such. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The versatile SiPix StyleCam Groove is a digital camera, digital video camera, video conferencing camera, PC camera and audio recorder all in one. Ultracompact and slim, the StyleCam Groove delivers colorful, vivid pictures with its 1.3 megapixel resolution--perfect for e-mailing, uploading to the Web, or prints up to 4 x 6 inches.

Using the SiPix proprietary Picture ALIVE (Advanced Living Image Via Enhancement) Technology, the StyleCam Groove produces vibrant images with accurate color, brightness and contrast with advanced technology for zooming and sharpening.

Featuring MovieMode and a built-in microphone, the StyleCam Groove can capture up to 55 seconds of digital video with audio. With the included video software, making a home movie and sharing it with friends and family is easy. The StyleCam Groove has 16 MB built-in memory that stores up to 155 photos.

Using the StyleCam Groove and the included tilt-and-swivel base, you can have a live video conversation with friends over the Internet. The StyleCam Groove is compatible with popular instant messaging applications such as Yahoo! Messenger, Microsoft NetMeeting and Messenger.

The StyleCam Groove includes award-winning software package that makes photo- editing, enhancing and sharing fun. Take the images into ArcSoft PhotoImpression to retouch, add special effects, and create calendars and greeting cards and more. It's easy to produce and edit video clips with ArcSoft VideoImpression, which includes useful tools such as adding cool transitions and adding text to your video.

The camera measures 3.5 x 2.4 x 0.9 inches and weighs 2 ounces. It's powered by 2 AA batteries (alkalines included). This package includes the Stylecam Groove, tilt-and-swivel base, wrist strap, USB cable, and CD-ROM with imaging and video software and drivers for Windows-based PCs. ... Read more

Features

• Fixed focus camera with 1.3 megapixel CCD sensor captures images up to 1,280 x 960 pixels--perfect for e-mailing
• Movie mode with audio captures up to 55 seconds of 320 x240 video
• PC cam capability captures 640 x 480 video for video conferencing; also records up to 53 minutes of auio
• Built-in 16 MB memory; also features flash
• Powered by 2 AA batteries; connects to Windows PCs via USB 1.1

Reviews (9)

Maybe I'm lucky
This camera is defenitly not as bad as people make it out to be I got it today and have been using it with and with out flash and on all three quality settings just to get a feel for it and the batteries are fine and it hasn't shut off unespectantly

There are some problems with it first off is the flash is very bright and not good for close shots and without the flash (in my kinda dark house) you loose alot of detail but for the most part pictures are fine and with the software you can sharpen them and get better quality. Another problem is the lack of a zoom because zoom is always nice

The goods are many too such as the price (I got mine for 40 after shipping), the fact you can record video and audio, you get 16mb instead of 8mb like on most cams in this price range it is very easy to use and you can use it as a web cam too.

For the most part I think you get more than what you pay for when it comes to feature but when it comes to constant quality of your pitures it all depends on the lighting.

SiPix Style Cam Deluxe...Garbage
Pure garbage, pictures would not come out if you used the fash,
only day light pics worked good, one day the camera just died,
put in new batteries...nothing, to late to return they only gave me 60 days, thanks for nothing.

Sipix Style Cam Rubbish!!!
I took this out New Years Eve and every single picture was ruined! Everyone had no face as the flash was too bright. You can't even adjust the picture in a package as there is no detail in the faces. So take the pictures with the person standing 5 metres away! A bit of masking tape over the flash solves that but when I took some pictures of my baby neice who I see once a year I went to download them and the camera locked up. I lost all the pictures. Few weeks later I went out for someones birthday and took loads of pics. Next day the software crashes after downloading the 3rd picture (which takes between 5 - 15 mins) so I lost all those priceless pics too!! This camera is a joke! Other than those problems it could of been a decent camera, as the one or two pictures I actually managed to download didn't look too bad (outside shots only). If you risk losing the pictures you take whats the point in having a camera! I,m in the process of getting my money back. I,m going to put a bit more dosh in and get something that actually takes pictures.

Very erratic performance
I picked up the SiPix on impulse due to its low price, figuring it would be a fun intro to digital photography and a great way of recording nights out / events at school. The camera is small and lightweight and therefore very good for that. However, it has several severe drawbacks:

- By default, the flash is turned off; therefore, photographs are often taken without flash and are unusable
- The camera's connection to the computer is erratic - for example, the camera has refused to connect for the past day and required a hard reset (losing all photos!) before it would connect again
- Picture quality is often poor, due to lack of focusing mechanism

Poor Battery Design
This camera requires two AA bateries and due to the power requirements they have a very short life. The camera is designed for a maximum of 155 shots and the batteries may give up to 20, before they are drained. When the gauge begins to show loss of power it is impossible to transfer images to the computer. If you attempt to insert new batteries all images in the camera are lost. The best that can be hoped for is to take few images, immediately transfer to the computer. Keep an eye on the guage and replace batteries often. Can't be taken on vacation. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Good but no cake.
The camera is descent for being so small and such. but it really lacks when it comes to quality. Only get this camera if you want to snap small shots that don't need the detail and unlike some other reviews that say it doesn't it really does work with xp. I have used it on 4 diffrent computers that have XP.

this camera just rocks
this camera is the coolest thing ever, itz small and has a lcd disply and for 70 bucks ant time

No drivers for XP
This camera is NOT compatible with Windows XP. Called Concord tech support and they do not plan to have drivers available. It is being returned.

it's not a good camera, in my eyes.
i got my eye Q go camera as a gift and 2days later had to take it back because it got to hot and i didn't know what was wrong with it and the store i got it from gave me a nother one, so i have been trying to take pictures inside and they just don't come out. if you by one of these cameras it is for out side use only, it's also not a camera to use if you want to print the pictures out. they come out not good... if i had to bye a camera it wouldn't be this one, beleive me.... ... Read more

Features

• 3.3 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x digital zoom autofocus lens
• Includes 16 MB of built-in memory--also expandable via CompactFlash memory cards
• Connects with PCs via USB port
• Powered by 2 AA batteries (included); rechargeables recommended

Reviews (40)

Best camera in this price catagory! Couldn't be Happier!
It's a great little camera with all kinds of functions. And the pictures it takes are clear and crisp, never blurry or fuzzy. It's 3.3 megapixels will not disappoint! It's easy to use, a very simple interface.

Pros: PRICE, picture quality, style of the camera itself, large LCD screen, red eye reduction flash works great, holds 96 pictures at once, expandable with flash cards

Cons: Loves to eat batteries (must have a charger), time and date reset each time batteries are changed, preferences also reset to factory default each time batteries are changed.

Forget the brand.
SIPIX?, I never ever listen about that brand, and I confess, that was my unique "but" before buy the camera. I must to say that it's and excellent camera (in resume). The pictures that it take have an amazing resolution (you have 2048 x 1536 in fine mode, when probably your screen is 800 x 600). Also I bought a 256 MB Compact Flash memory card (SIPIX say that they didn't try a CF more than 128 MB, but it tried it and it's really works very well!). Now I can take more than 1500 pictures and make a 45 min. video with all my memory.

Why 4 stars and not 5?. Ok, well, it's true that the big problem (like in all the digital cameras) are the batteries. The alkaline AA's are just candies for the SIPIX 3300 and works for 2 hours. But, I buy a NiMH rechargeable batteries an woalá!, batteries for a week. Also you must to buy a battery charger ($30 in Amazon). Believe me; the energy problem was completely solved.

I'm really happy with this camera. Just forget the brand, It doesn't matter really. Good camera, excellent price ($119 for a 3.3 megapixels, come on!), excellent pictures, hi quality video recording. You don't need more, or are you expecting to win a Pulitzer?. That camera is one of the best businesses I did.

Great Value for the Money
You can get this camera with a rebate for under $100. At that price, it's a steal. Of course, if you want to get any more than limited use out of it, you have to buy rechargeable batteries and memory. Yes, it eats batteries. Invest in a 4-pack of AA NiMH batteries and a charger and you'll be able to keep 2 batteries in the camera and 2 in your pocket. The 16mb on-board memory will only allow you to take 9 photos on the "super fine" setting. Invest in a 128mb compact flash card and suddenly you're up to 79 pictures.

As to the quality of the pictures, they are superb outdoors. Incredible detail and dazzling color. I avoid taking photos indoors with a flash because it turns the subject into a deer in the headlights and obliterates the background. This is true, though, of most point and shoot cameras. With proper lighting and using the camera's tripod mount, you might be able to achieve good indoor shots without the flash. Otherwise, the indoor shots are just okay.

I don't love the bundled software and recommend after you download the photos to your computer -- saving in a non-degrading TIFF format -- that you use DCEnhancer, a fantastic piece of freeware from www.mediachance.com, to bring out the colors and texture of your photos. It even rescues some of the over- and under-exposed indoor shots.

Some have complained about the camera's lack of analog zoom or the crummy quality of the digital zoom. Even on my old film SLR, I never use a zoom lens. The best zoom is your feet! Get closer or farther away to frame your subject properly.

Others have complained that the camera is a little bulky. True, it's not a micro-mini camera, but it's smaller and much lighter than my old 35mm p&s, so I could hardly be happier. It lives in my briefcase so I can take a photo whenever the mood strikes. Sure, it's also little flimsy and there's a lot of plastic around, but I didn't pay a Leica-type price either. Frankly, this allows me to take more risks with the camera -- using it at the beach or near ground level because I'm not too worried if it gets a little dusty or beat up.

This is my first digital camera and having paid so little for a 3.3 megapixel camera, I'm very happy with it. In a year or so when digital SLR's come within my price range, I will upgrade, but I have a feeling the SiPix will happily spend the next few years living in my backpack or coat pocket so it's at the ready.

Excellent, Inexpensive, and Easy to use!
...

GREAT camera if you're jumping into digital. New or used, you can't get a better feel for what 3.2MP resolution with many of the features many high-end cameras carry for the price (white balance, exposure compensation, movie mode, B&W and sepia, rapid shots, and photo editing software).

The high points are the 3.3 MP, large LCD, auto-focus, rapid shot mode (4 pics in a row), movie mode, ArcSoft PhotoImpression. The low points are no optical zoom and heavy battery consumption. I don't use zoom since camera shake always ruins my pics. Also, since I have a 3.2MP image, I can crop using PhotoImpression and still get a great 4x6 or 5x7. I found that using the flash when the light is behind the subject does an excellent job as fill flash. And rechargables are a necessity with ANY electonics!

I compared it to a Fuji finepix 2.0 MP camera and found the images to be comparable. Fuji did have better color and light compensation when you look at the original jpeg but the Sipix SW made up for the correction (modify contract & lightness, increase saturation). Beside, I never met a digital image I didn't want to manipulate!

BTW, I'm using a 256MB flash card which works with this camera!

Note:
1 - set to macro mode if you're less than 3 ft away
2 - time/date resets when you replace batteries
3 - there is no sound recorded with movie mode although you CAN record 45 minutes on 128MB CF
4 - low compression = 1.6MB (9 pics w/ 16MB), high compress = 600 KB (24 pics w/ 16MB);

Very nice pics, OK as your first digital camera
I think this is a very good camera at a very good price. You have to get a little used with setting the flash, exposure value and white balance manually so you can get really excellent pctures.

Some of the pros of the camera are: 3.3 megapixel resolution, manual controls like exposure and flash... and some of the cons: when you have it in your hands, it doesn't feel very solid it's like if you toss it, it will tear into pieces instead of just scratching, also the macro mode is pretty much useless because you can't get very close, you can't read the LCD outdoors when it's sunny (but it's OK, use the viewfinder), very low battery life (buy rechargables and you will notice a BIG difference).

Well, there are more cons than pros, bur anyways if you take care of it and learn how to squeeze the juice out of it you can have it for about a year or two and then buy a more professional camera ... Read more

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor captures 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• Autofocus lens with 4x digital zoom
• Included 8 MB Secure Digital card holds 12 images at default settings
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Uses 1 CR-V3 (included) or 2 AA Lithium or NiMH rechargeable batteries

Reviews (11)

Nice carry-it-with-you
Don't have a whole bunch to add to what's been said. Great size so you can carry it everywhere and decent shots, except in low light or very quick movement (but you could say that about almost any digital camera).

It does eat batteries. What I recommend is getting an SD drive and using it instead of the cable that comes with the camera. Not only can you get the pictures off more quickly (especially if you've upgraded to a higher Meg SD card, but also you don't use the camera's batteries at all for picture transfer.

In addition, invest in some rechargable batteries and you can use it all you want!

bottom line: until the 2MP cameraphones that are just now hitting Japan come to the USA, I'll be carrying this with me everywhere. It's just that convenient!

Great Little Camera
Okay the person who wrote the 1st review does not know what he is talking about. This camera DOES take the Nimh rechargable batteries... and they last MUCH longer then the lithium ones. You CAN purchase a A/C adapter for it also. I guess he didn't even do any reading of the manual or research before leaving the review. The One and Only thing I have had trouble getting use to is the delay between the time you press the button and the time it takes the actual photo... but the quality of the pictures is worth it. The touch screen is very nice and the interchangable face plates is the final push that got my husband to purchase this for my birthday... he knows how much being able to personalize my stuff makes me happy! I am sure there are better cameras out there - but this one is just right for me and it could be for you...

Highly Recommended!!!
I bought this camera a few months ago, and wanted to wait before I wrote a review.
This camera is great!!! First of all - the look. It is tiny and very lightweight, and doesn't have any buttons besides the one on top, which makes it very different from the other cameras. If you're a guy you can slip it into your pocket, if you're a girl, you can easily carry it in even your tiniest purse. The touch-screen feature really makes this camera stand out from the rest. When people see you using it, they will come up and ask what you're doing. They're in absolute awe when I show them the touch-screen...different is cool!
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because it does eat up batteries pretty fast. But that can be solved with rechargeable batteries. It drains faster than other cameras because it doesn't have a window for view find, you have to actually see the picture on the screen. It's a small price to pay for the sleekness of the camera and the use of the touchscreen.
The quality of pictures is great, I took it to a club and the flash made the pictures bright.
I highly recommend this camera, if you're looking for something fun and stylish at the same time, this is the camera for you. If you are aspiring to be a professional photographer, then you may want to look for something with a zoom.

Good camera for me
I've had the camera for about 2 months now. And I use it all the time. Granted, I'm a 20yr old college student who only uses the camera to take pictures of his friends being idiots. But, for this purpose, the camera is great. I read tons of reviews before buying the camera, and after owning it I can definatly say that some of those people must have written their reviews after using the camera for a week end, and with out reading the manual. Learn how to use it and you will have hours of fun looking at pictures of you and your jackass friends. I do find that Adobe Photoshop is a MUST! It's amazing what can be done for darkness, redeye, whatever else.

Lakc of Research and Development
I bought the camera for it's size and web quality pictures. So, at first, it seemed be what I wanted, until the enclosed battery went dead. I was only getting 10 pictures for each set of batteries. The time delay in turning the camera on and the delay of picture taking just added to the lack of development this camera had. I missed too many shots. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Kodak's LS420 represents something new in the world of digital cameras--it's the first quality ultracompact aimed directly at the point-and-shoot crowd. Its size and shape are appealing, and the simplicity of its controls makes it a great choice for those who like to take pictures but don't want to deal with the more technical aspects of digital photography.

Optics and Resolution
The LS420 features a 2-megapixel sensor that captures enough detail for crisp 8-by-10-inch prints. For the typical family photographer, 2 megapixels is a great balance between price and performance. If you want a camera with even more resolution, you'll need to step up to 3 or 4 megapixels--Kodak's 3-megapixel DX3900 and 4-megapixel DX4900 are designed to be as easy to use as the LS420, though they aren't as sleek or compact.

The Kodak all-glass aspheric focus-free lens has a focal length equivalent to 38mm in film cameras and an aperture of f3.9. To get closer to the action, there's a 3x digital telephoto zoom, but remember that digital zoom tends to reduce the sharpness and detail of your image, so it's best used sparingly.

To compose your images, either use the traditional camera viewfinder or the 1.6-inch LCD display (which is also used to review the shots you've taken). Having both types of viewfinders offers the best of both worlds: if you're used to using a film camera or want to conserve battery life, use the viewfinder. If you want to see exactly the picture you'll be capturing, use the LCD display.

Operation and Design
At a mere 4.3 by 1.8 by 1.1 inches, the camera feels similar in dimensions to a cell phone or remote control--it's long and slim, and it slips easily into a purse or pocket. Despite its light weight, the camera still feels solid and reasonably rugged in the hands. A sliding power switch on top of the unit simultaneously retracts the integrated lens cover and turns the camera on. After a few moments of "warming up," the camera is ready for use. Most functions are menu-driven and are selected by a joystick-style controller on the back of the camera.

Features
The LS420 is clearly designed for point-and-shooters. Adjustments are limited to setting features like resolution, flash mode, and the self-timer.

Power
Power is provided by the same slim rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack that has been showing up in more and more ultracompact consumer electronics, including the Minolta DiMAGE X, Pentax Optio 330 and 430, Panasonic's SV-AV10 mini camcorder, and the Sharp Zaurus handheld. It's a great little battery, holding the same amount of power as substantially larger packs found in some other digital cameras. Battery life varies greatly, depending mostly upon how much time you leave the LCD display on between shots and how much you use the flash. Even with the LCD on and frequent flash pictures, a typical user should be able to take 50 photos without any problems.

Because the battery charges automatically whenever the camera is docked, the typical owner will never have to think about it after it's inserted in the LS420 the first time. Just leave the camera in the dock, and you'll always have a full charge when you're ready to shoot. The dock also provides power when you're transferring pictures to your computer.

If you're going on an extended vacation or take more than 50 pictures at a time, you'll want to pick up a spare battery and, for more convenient charging, a separate battery charger.

Movie Mode
In movie mode, the camera captures video clips with sound. Most cameras can only shoot for a limited amount of time (often 30 seconds) before filling the buffer, but the LS420 lets you keep shooting as long as you have memory available. Movies are shot at 320 x 240 pixels (approximately VHS quality) with a frame rate of around 19 frames per second. Camcorders offer both higher resolution and faster frame rates, but this feature is perfect for when you just want to capture a quick movie and e-mail it to a friend or relative.

Storage and Transfer
The camera stores images in its 8 MB of internal memory. Memory capacity of 8 MB is enough for 12 high-resolution pictures, 49 low-resolution pictures, around 35 seconds of high-quality video, or some combination of each. Since most people will use the included dock to transfer photos to the computer, internal memory works as well as a removable card. If you plan to use a dedicated card reader (for example, a USB reader to let you put pictures on your laptop while on the go), or plan to take more photos than the internal memory can hold, an expansion slot lets you add an MMC or SD memory card. A 64 MB card holds around 100 high-quality images, four minutes of highest-quality video, or a combination of the two.

Size
The LS420 is just 4.3 by 1.8 by 1.1 inches and 5.6 ounces, making it one of the smallest and lightest digital cameras on the market.

Contents and Recommended Accessories
The package includes the camera with 8 MB internal memory, EasyShare docking station, AC adapter/charger (for use with dock), battery, carrying case, cables, neck strap, and software on CD.

Everything you need to get started is included in the box, but we recommend a higher-capacity card to make the most of your camera. If you're planning to be away from the dock for extended periods, a spare battery is also a good choice. Compatible accessories for this camera are listed near the top of this page. --Shane Burnett

Pros:

• Tiny, lightweight, and easy to use
• Focus-free lens means fast startups and quick operation between shots
• Docking station makes image transfers and battery charging a snap
• Movie mode is better than on many cameras--includes sound and unlimited recording time

Cons:

• Lack of manual features could frustrate advanced photographers
• Internal memory is more limiting than removable cards, though the camera does include a slot for removable MMC or SD cards.

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,752 x 1,168 images for sharp prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• All-glass fixed-focus lens with 3x digital zoom
• 8 MB internal memory holds approximately 12 images at default resolution; Secure Digital (SD) card slot for additional capacity
• Included dock connects to Macs and PCs via USB port
• Included lithium-ion battery automatically recharges in dock

Reviews (8)

Love it!!
I have had this camera for almost 3 years and I love it. The camera is so easy to use and all you have to do is push a button on the dock and your pictures are loaded into your computer. I have had so many compliments on it too, because it's so small and convenient. The only thing bad is when using the zoom option, the pictures come out a little blurred. Overall, it was a great purchase!

Excellent value for money
This has been an excellent purchase. While expensive at the time (euro 500), it has paid off multiple times due to its quality, flexible portability tx to size and pouch and ability to shoot video. Ideally, there would be no need to rely on finding a socket for the dock to download pictures onto computer and there would be no need to send it in for servicing twice ( and now, a third time) due to malfunctioning screen and slot of the extra-memory card. So long as I find no replacement ( why are cameras getting BIGGER these days?), I am happy to stick with it.

Bought this ...Camera! Kodak LS 420
I bought this camera 4 months ago. It is great. The pictures are crisp and the mpeg movie mode is pretty good too. The thing I love about this camera is that is small and you can put it in your pocket and not feel your lugging a camera around. I use it for family and work. No complaints at all..

A Great little camera
I bought this camera as a Fathers Day present with the intention of taking photos at a family reunion.

It is so compact ...takes great photos and best of all so easy to use. We are still learning some of the other qualities like the video option.

My 80 year old Dad had the included Kodak software downloaded into his PC and was processing the pictures...including editing in a matter of minutes.

One piece of advice...buy a media card to increase photo capacity and the ability to shoot at the best setting for the highest quality exposures.

Oh, by the way...everyone loved their copies of the reunion pictures sent to them on the internet.

Think of the limitations.
This camera has considerable appeal for several reasons. It is compact, simple to use (both for taking pictures and for loading them onto your PC), appears well made and has the familiar Kodak name on it. However....it has some real limitations that you must be comfortable with before you buy it. Primarily, it is a *fixed focus* lens (not autofocus) with no optical (meaning real) zoom feature. It is then the modern day equivalent of the old Brownie Box Camera. Now granted, a lot of great pictures were taken with those cameras, but they, like the LS420, were extremely limited in what you could do with them. The appeal of this camera is its simplicity, but learning to slide a memory card out of any digicam and into an inexpensive card reader (that will almost install itself on your PC, especially if the PC is running Windows XP and the card reader is USB enabled) is not too difficult. In exchange for that, a digicam like the Canon Elph S200 can be had for roughly the same money and yet offer lots more features and therefore better utility. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The sleek, sophisticated Pentax Optio 450 digital camera offers high-level performance and is convenient enough to make you want to carry it everywhere. The Optio 450 features a 4-megapixel resolution, 5x optical zoom lens, automatic operation as well as a wide range of manual control, and compatibility with Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard memory cards.

Optics and Resolution
Featuring a 4-megapixel CCD sensor, the Optio 450 delivers image detail up to 2,288 x 1,712 pixels for print enlargements beyond 11 by 14 inches. The exceptionally compact lens offers a high level of performance with a 5x optical zoom. Zooming power can be augmented through combination with a digital 4x zoom for a total of 20x zoom performance.

Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on either Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory cards. Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means the camera can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.

Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the Optio 450 is capable of recording up to 10 minutes of video at 15 frames per second, with 320 x 240 recorded pixels. The Optio 450 can also be used as an audio recorder, with up to 30 seconds of sound added to images.

More Features
With the 3-D image mode, the Optio 450 adds a totally new dimension to digital photography. Just take two shots following a simple set of guidelines to achieve shots that have a genuine sense of depth and perspective when seen through the special viewer provided

Other features include:

• 1.5-inch TFT LCD display
• Optical viewfinder displays actual image zoom, which helps to conserve battery power by switching off LCD display
• Digital filter mode provides effects similar to conventional filters, from sepia to color tones (red, pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
• Built-in flash can be automatically set to fire; also includes red-eye reduction, flash-on, and flash-off modes
• A range of shooting modes to choose from, including metered manual and shutter-priority AE
• Interval shooting mode lets you set the time to start shooting, the duration of the interval between shots, and the number of frames

Power and Size
The camera is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included). It measures 3.9 by 2.3 by 1.6 inches and weighs 7.2 ounces. ... Read more

Features

• 4.0 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality prints up to 11 x 14 and medium-quality poster-size prints
• 5x optical zoom plus 4x digital zoom (for 20x total)
• Optical viewfinder shows actual image zoom, innovative stereoscopic shooting
• Compatible with Secure Digital (SD) and MultiMedia (MMC) cards
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery(included); connects with Macs and PCs via USB port

Amazon.com Product Description

The Kyocera S3X packs a load of features into a digital camera that slips comfortably into your shirt pocket--it's barely over 3 inches wide and weighs less than 6 ounces. The 3.34-megapixel sensor captures sharp and vibrant images with a resolution of up to 2,048 by 1,536 pixels. The lens has a 3x optical zoom sufficient for most purposes, but the 2x digital zoom yields a total zoom of 6x and opens up more photographic possibilities.

Functions such as flash, exposure, focus, and white balance are fully automatic, but you can easily switch to manual for greater control. The Kyocera also captures full motion movies in AVI format at a resolution of 320 by 240 pixels. The included 16MB Secure Digital memory card can hold as much as 64 photos and about two 15-second movies. You can keep track of all your camera and memory settings using the large 1.5-inch LCD monitor. Quickly and easily transfer all of your work into any computer with a USB connection. ... Read more

Features

• 3-megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create prints up to 11 x 14; software interpolation increases resolution to 6 megapixels
• 3x optical plus 2x digital (6x total) autofocus zoom lens
• Included 16 MB MMC card holds approximately 15 photos at default settings
• Includes USB card reader for transferring images to Macs or PCs
• Uses rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included)

Reviews (2)

Kyocera is a good camera
This camera looks great and if you read the instructions correctly you can take great photographs too. It's at its best shooting nature and sunny days. Great detail and fine texture.

Skip it!
The camera looks nice, but that is all it has - good looks! The software that comes with it leaves a lot to be desired. It is very complicated and does not even work with Windows XP very well. The pictures come out terrible! For a 3MP camera it sure does take terrible pictures. If it is portability your looking for I suggest you look elsewhere. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Digimax 201 allows you to capture memorable moments with high quality images anywhere, anytime. Its 2.1-megapixel resolution enables you to print enlargements up to 8 x 10 inches. Other features include a 2x digital zoom, 10-second delay timer, and built-in flash.

The Digimax 201 automatically adjusts exposure according to various shooting conditions, and exposure can also be adjusted using a separate programmable exposure compensation. Short video clips can also be recorded on the Digimax 201 (in AVI format) as well.The camera also comes with features such as quick view (on the 1.6-inch LCD screen), slide show, and the ability to view on one screen or up to 9 split screens.

A mode dial lets you switch from still image mode, movie clip mode, play mode, and set mode with a simple twist.

You can store images on the standard 8 MB internal memory, or on optional Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMedia (MMC) memory cards. Transfering images, as well as other files, between PC and Camera are a breeze using the USB interface. There is no need to open a specific program. Just drag the images from the camera and drop them in the desired folder in your PC. The Digimax 201 is powered by two AA batteries and is compatible with CR-V3 batteries. ... Read more

Features

• 2.1-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints at sizes up to 8 x 10 inches
• 2x digital zoom
• 8 MB internal memory; expandable via Secure Digital cards
• 1.6-inch LCD, movie mode
• Powered by 2 AA batteries; connects to PCs and Macs via USB

Reviews (12)

Wonderful camera, especially for the price.
I got this camera after I graduated middle school. [For the price] I was expecting it to take pretty low-quality pictures. Fortunatly it takes excellent, very sharp pictures. It's easy to learn how to operate it, especially if you have experience with electronics. It does tend to eat up batteries, although I believe it shuts itself down if you leave it on without doing anything with it. The size is also pretty remarkable. It's small and compact and easy to take anywhere. My only complaint is it automatically puts the date (in big yellow print) on the pictures you take. This can easily be fixed, however, by changing your settings.

Good camera for the price
I got this camera for about $110 a month ago, and it's been a pretty good camera (probably one of the best for its price). It's a standard 2.0 megapixel good for taking everyday photos and such. It's also a pretty small camera so you can take it wherever. There are three focus modes: one for up-close pictures (so they won't be blurry), one for portrait pictures, and one for landscape. I've been using rechargeable batteries and the camera doesn't eat them up as fast as I would expect. The LCD screen is about 1.6" across, and it's sharp and clear. The only complaints I have is that there is no lens cover, and you have to hold the camera in place for a second or so after taking the picture or else it will come out blurry. Overall, the Samsung Digimax 201 is a simple, easy-to-use camera.

Good for the price...
I needed a camera with higher resolution that wasn't too expensive. I searched a lot. Chose this because it was the best price for the resolution. I certainly wasn't disappointed. True, the zoom is only 2x. However everything else was great. Took some nice wedding pics. The short..if your pocket is deep, get something with more zoom and better resolution. If not, then this is a good buy for the price and features.

This camera is good quality for a low price
I got this camera for christmas and i would definatly recommend it,its a 2 mega pixel camera,which is the standard for digital cameras,the picture quality is excellent.very clear and vivid.This is a must have camera.overall its a good camera for a low price,you should buy it

Great Camera
I just received this camera for an early Christmas present, and love it. It takes wonderful pictures, and is very easy to use. I would recommend this camera to anyone starting out with digital cameras. It is also very easy to download them to your computer, that is a big plus for a lot of people. Being a smaller camera is helpful to, and I love the fact it is so easy to review your pictures or mini clips on the camera itself before downloading it to your pc. ... Read more

Features

• NOTE -This Camera Is FACTORY RECONDITIONED
• 1.8 LCD Display
• 3x Optical Zoom
• 2x Digital Zoom
• 8MB SmartMedia Card

Features

• Factory-Reconditioned to "like-new" condition
• 3.2 megapixel sensor captures enough detail for prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom, 4x digital zoom (12x total)
• One-touch upload to PC; 14 scene modes
• Includes 16 MB Starter CompactFlash card; Connects with Macs and PCs via USB port

Amazon.com Product Description

The Kyocera Finecam S3L can fulfill all your digital needs with its 3.2-megapixel capability. This digital camera can record video, shoot crisp pictures, voice record, and has expanded memory with the available SD-MMC slot.

Images are clear and colors vibrant because of the Finecam’s 2,048 x 1,536 pixels, and switching from fine to normal mode allows more images to be shot. With its 3x optical and 2x digital zoom, you can capture shots from afar. Video in AVI format and voice memos in WAV format can be recorded up to 30 seconds at a time, and both photo and video formats can be quickly reviewed on the 1.6-inch TFT color LCD.

Other features include color modes, focus modes, and a pop-up flash with five different settings. USB and video outputs for quick hook-up to a computer or television also come standard. ... Read more

Features

• 3.0 megapixel sensor captures enough detail to create photo-quality 8 x 10 prints and medium-quality prints up to 11 x 14
• 3x optical zoom and 2x digital zoom for 6x total
• Includes 16 MB Secure Digital card
• Connects with PCs and Macs via USB port
• Powered by rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included)

Reviews (1)

Best digital camera for the money
I can't say enough about how easy this camera is to use, the quality of photos or the small size. Before I bought my Kyocera Finecam, I shopped for weeks, looking in all the electronic stores for the best camera, at the best price. Either the camera was too large, or the LCD screen was too small. I was reading one of my computer magazines and they were advertising the Kyocera. I had never heard of it before and decided to look at their web site. After reading about it, I was sold. After using it for over one year, my pleasure has increased ten fold. I especially like the large 2.5 inch LCD screen on the rear of the camera. It is even clearer on a bright sunny day than my friends' cameras. After showing it to three of my friends, they bought one and are happy with it. I don't see how anyone could not be happy with the camera. ... Read more

Features

• Factory-Reconditioned to "like-new" condition
• 3x optical zoom Nikkor lens (35mm equiv of 35mm - 105mm); 3.2-megapixel resolution for photo-quality 11 x 14 sized prints
• 1.5-inch color LCD screen; voice recording of up to 5 hours; One-Touch Red-Eye Fix feature
• Stores images on Secure Digital (SD) memory card (16 MB SD card included)
• Powered by a EN-EL5 rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included with AC adapter that charges the battery in-camera)

Features

• 2-megapixel sensor creates 1,600 x 1,200 images for prints up to 8 x 10 inches
• 3x optical plus 2x digital (6x total) zoom lens with autofocus
• 1.6-inch LCD, auto white balance; built-in flash
• Internal 8 MB memory; compatible with Secure Digital memory cards
• Powered by 2 AA batteries (alkalines included, rechargeables recommended); connects to PCs and Macs via USB 1.1

Features

• 2272 x 1704, 1600 x 1200, 1280 x 960, 640 x 480 still picture resolution modes
• 3x Optical + 2.5x Digital zoom modes
• Stores images on removable SD/MMC memory cards
• Can connect to PC or Macintosh computer for image transfer using USB interface (cable included)
• Uses 2 AA batteries (rechargeable MIMH batteries are recommended) and 1 CRV3 battery

Reviews (1)

Good camera, but I've seen better.
We bought this camera for work. It takes very nice pictures - it's got great optics. It does eat batteries much faster other cameras though. Now I know what you may be thinking, "every digital camera review says they have a small battery life", but in this case it is extreme IMO. We have a couple other cameras that don't eat batteries like this one. Here's where we made mistakes and I hope you learn from us: we saw that it takes AA batteries and figured we'd use Alkaline batteries to start ->Mistake 1)It uses up Alkaline batteries in a matter of minutes (literally about 7 minutes); Mistake 2)Lithium Ion AA's don't last much longer; you NEED to buy Ni-MH AA batteries. That'd be OK if someone had told us that before hand. Lastly, the rechargable NiMH batteries still don't last as long as other camera-specific Lithion Ions. Summary: Hassles not worth the price. ... Read more