Kodak EASYSHARE Z1275 12.0 Megapixel

Had a previous 5MP Kodak that made excellent 8.5X11 inch prints for art gallery display. The Z1275 is much sharper, so you will want to take a tripod to get the fullest sharpness. Second to that, use high shutter speeds. The supposed image stabilization is NOT optical, but a lesser form of software stabilization. You must take as much care with keeping your pictures sharp as if you had no stabilization. My camera has one set of corner pixels with less sharpness than other corner pixels.

The z1275 is slow shot to shot & macro closeness is wanting.

The 5X optical lens, at maximum zoom, has a 67% bigger image of distant objects than ubiquitous 3X zooms, an excellent plus. Of course, longer reaching zooms are available, but say good bye to 12MP, compactness, & low price. The 5X zoom doesn't help for wider angle pix since 5X & 3X zooms start at 35MM. The 5X zoom coupled to the 12MP file as seen on your magnified computer screen will show you much more detail than you'll see while viewing your scene live. With the extreme detail, you should find many high quality vertical & horizontal pictures, as well as extreme cropping opportunities, within the basic picture you take. If you like details, you will work with your magnified files more than previously as you search thru all that surprising detail!

The manual is terrible. You'll have to work with your camera to get familiar with it. The Kodak website explains Z1275 usage in better detail.

Cameras capture memories. This camera will capture memories you didn't think you had, unless you check your pix closely.

P.S. 1...The video image is 1MP HD quality & very good...excellent people video, even indoors with no extra lighting! But you will lose focus briefly while zooming. Also, without optical image stabilization the video is readily shaky (especially at high zoom). Use a tripod. Or be seated, tuck elbows to your sides & use the lower zoom range.

The panoramic setting CAN BE superb, tho more difficult to use! Three pictures can be taken while carefully hand holding & electronically 'stitched' together in 10+ seconds (in-camera) in a format roughly 6550+ pixels by 1850+ pixels for a totally seamless picture! I thought the panoramic was limited to 12MP. Other readings indicate that as much as 14.4MPs can be involved in pictures. Should make a good 28 inch by 8 inch print! The panoramic can be used for vertical formats! It can be used at the highest zoom, but good care MUST be used for seamless matching. Anything moving, like clouds, may cause strange or dramatic stitching effects. The LCD screen is difficult to use in bright sunlight at certain angles, & is even harder to use in the panoramic mode as you try to match edges.

I have a 4 GB card that will store 1000+ pix or 1 hour of video in 2 files. You can lose all your pix if the card fails. So truly cherished pictures should be transferred to your computer soon.

The focal length zoom settings are limited in number & not infinitely selectable.

P.S. 2....Bad news. Something pressed on my shirt pocket that contained my Z1275 camera, soft enough that I don't remember it. But when I tried to use the camera later, the LCD screen was badly cracked & the camera would not function. So the Z1275 may be fairly fragile. Good news! Got another Z1275 at a ridiculously low price, so my broken Kodak didn't cost as badly as it should have. Dropped this second Z1275 a few inches onto hard surfaces & it is still functioning.

I bought this camera because of the 12 megapixels...and I'm happy I did. That was 8 months ago and after having this camera for only 5 months, it was stolen! So, what does that tell you? I bought another and I think it's a super camera. The pictures are sharp, clear and after taking a while to "learn" the settings,(the book tells you nothing), I am getting great pictures that I never had before with any other point and shoot. My sister has a more expensive Kodak and she likes mine better.

The bad stuff..... the screen is hard to see outside in the sunlight, lithium batteries are a must, and the strap that comes with it is wimpy, so prepare to buy a stronger, longer strap. Also,the on/off button, as well as those on the back of the camera could be larger.

I bought two of these camers because they're worth it.

I didn't purchase the item in time and it was sold to someone else but i do hope to bid and win on other items in the future.

I love the camera. I had a 3.2 meg olympus before and this camera does so much more. video and sound pick up is great.

I Love this camera it takes great pictures and is easy to use. I needed it to do E-Bay, and I received a great deal on this camera.

Not only does the camera take perfect photographs - but it comes with an outstanding Koday software program that enables even the newest of computer user(s) to understand, organize and manipulate photos. I would recommend this camera to anyone that needs a reliable instrument to use either personally or professionally. With 12 Megapixel resolution you can not go wrong. Two thumbs up.

THIS CAMERA IS TERRIBLE!!! IT IS NOT THE QUALITY THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO GET FROM A KODAK PRODUCT. BY ALL APPEARANCES IT IS GREAT, BUT THIS IS AS FAR AS IT GOES. WHEN LOOKING AT THE DISPLAY ON THE CAMERA, IT IS QUITE BLURRY, VERY "GRAINY" LOOKING, AND OUT OF FOCUS. WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO TAKE A PICTURE, YOU GET SOMETHING LIKE A DELAYED REACTION AND IT IS HARD TO GET THE SUBJECT IN FOCUS BECAUSE OF THIS..AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, DON'T TRY TO TAKE A PICTURE OUTSIDE!!! YOU CAN NOT SEE THE DISPLAY SCREEN AT ALL UNLESS YOU "CUP" YOUR HAND AROUND THE CAMERA TO SHADE THE LIGHT. OVERALL, OUT OF A 10, I WOULD GIVE THIS CAMERA NOT EVEN A 1!!!!!! I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WITH A KODAK BEFORE...AND HOPE TO NEVER AGAIN!!! ....IF I COULD TURN BACK THE HANDS OF TIME, AND KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW, IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED!

It would be great if digital cameras came with a eye viewer. Bright sunlight makes it almost impossible to sight any digital from the LCD viewer. I have purchased many Kodak cameras in the past and have never run into any product problems.

Apparently this camera has all the features of the Z1285, but was an earlier model needing a firmware upgrade. The refurbished model I bought already had the latest firmware. I bought this as a replacement for a damaged Z885, it has very similar features but better resolution. Features I like include panorama format, orientation detection, and high-res (including HD) video mode. Only feature I miss, that some other Kodak models have, is date stamp on videos. A possible negative is that the plastic parts on the outside (dials, buttons, lens cover) seem a bit flimsy, but I only just got this camera, so I will have to see how it lasts.

Couldn't decide which camera I wanted to bid on. The Kodak EASYSHARE Z1275 is one generation back from the new Z1285. It is a 12.0 Megapixel Camera with a 5x optical zoom lens. The Kodak EASYSHARE Z712 is a 7 megapixel camera with a 12x optical zoom. I found that typically on ebay, a comparable (physical condition) Z712 is the more expensive of the two, but you can find some great prices for both on ebay. I wanted to do some very detailed, large prints (and because it was cheaper), I chose the Z1275 with the higher pixel count after reading everything on the internet I could get my fingers on.

I've had the Z1275 for about a week now, and it's a fine little camera. Not so small as the new slim cameras out, but it's easy enough to carry and very light. Small, but unless you have really large hands, operation is easy. The camera uses AA batteries, but will really eat them up while shooting. I have found that rechargable batteries work best and can, naturally, be recharged.

The camera I won was an open-box model. Nice, but had a problem loading memory cards. It wouldn't format the cards and would corrupt the data on a good card. From the Kodak support site, downloading and installing updated firmware was easy with clear instructions. That fixed the card problem. (Warning: If you are at all uncomfortable with trying something like this, check with a repair source first, because if not done correctly, this can permanently damage the camera.)

There is no viewfinder, the 2.5 inch viewing screen is used. Wasn't very keen on that at first, but the screen is large and I've had no issues with the ambient light being too bright to see the screen. Actually holding the camera away from the face or placing on a tripod, this is sort of nifty.

PROS:
The camera takes wonderful, colorful shots. Sharp and crisp, the pictures taken in bright daylight are amazing! I've been extremely happy with my pictures. I'm now bidding on some additional memory cards to use. While the pictures are great, the video capability of this camera is just awesome! Check this out in a camera shop if interested.

CONS:
One: A noticable problem is in low light. Flash works well enough for snapshots, but to take really low-light, non-flash pictures you need to use a higher "ISO" setting. This avoids blurry pictures taken of moving objects or by camera shake, because the shutter is open for less time. My understanding is that the effect of higher ISOs is faster shutter speed in same light. On the Z1275 the default setting is ISO 100, 200 for flash, and there are settings for up to 1600. The probem is in using 400 and higher ISOs. The pictures become very grainy (called "noise"). There may be some software fixes for this, but I'm not familiar with that--yet. I do know the camera can't correct noise without more light (for lower ISO) or using the flash. On higher end "more expensive" cameras, this is not supposed to be such a problem. Two: Shutter lag is noticable. So are card writing times when the buffer is full. Start up takes several seconds too, but these are not horrible, just noticable. Three: ON/OFF button on top could be bigger. It can be a little hard to hit.

However, as I said, it's a fine little camera. Maybe it's not a "perfect" little camera, but I'm taking some wonderful shots of my grandkids. It's small, easy to use, and is just right for me with the zoom lens and video. Just be very careful using the camera in low-light!

I bought this camera refurbished with a Kodak warranty. I had problems with it the first time I used it. The camera shuts off after being used for an extended amount of time in warm humid weather. It is not a battery issue because I changed batteries. After a few hours it will work again. I sent it in to be repaired and Kodak sent it back stating they could find nothing wrong with it.
I like the camera, the features, and the price I paid. The camera is not dependable and for this reason I rated it below average.

It's great, the picture quality is fantastic and video is good too! The camera is easy to work with. I was shooting right out of the box, and with a little reading I was making even better shots. The only complaint which wasn't that bad is you get a large camera bag with this tiny camera. Anyway, I'm enjoying filling up my 2gb sd card. It's an Excellent Buy!

I must say I am impressed with this Kodak Camera.
Very easy to use and the quality of pictures is just amazing.

I love this camera. I have always owned a kodak. My last one was a Z740 and it was great also. But my newest one is so much better. I love it!!

This camera is absolutely amazing. The 12 MP quality can't be beat, hands down, video is great, records in HD. Many many many settings to play around with. doesn't dramatically kill batteries. just awesome...

Excellent camera the only problem that I found is that the camera need to use, all the time, rechargeable batteries because if you use the other batterie after few second the batteries died

This is the best point and shoot and camera on the market. I love this camera. I have two other digitals but neither has the color or ease of use like the Kodak EasyShare.

This camera was purchased by my 15 yr old son. Outstanding value - purchased on ebay for 1/2 of retail, and came with extras that don't come with the store bought cameras. Great photos. Color and detail are sharp - even in stop action mode. Zoom detail is fantastic! Smooth video capabilities. Compact size! Only problem I see with this camera is that it is my son's, not mine!!

For a pocket sized point and shoot, this is an outstanding camera. Feature packed, quick, with good pictures and video.

The ONLY drawback I have with this camera is that there is no viewfinder. Its not a deal breaker for me.

This is the second one of these I own.

Love this camera it is very easy to use. The image is very clear and visible to take a picture. And when you are viewing the pictures, the picture and video is very clear as well.

I'm far from an experienced photographer, mainly shooting pics for e-Bay listings and occasional e-mailing friends and family cross-country. My old camera was a Polaroid 3.2 megapixel and it was a great little camera. I paid about $20 for it 2yrs ago buying a bulk lot of 12. But when I tried up-close photos showing printed specs on tags of small items, it couldn't get them clear-even from a tripod. This little Kodak rocks! I paid $109 with 2nd Day Air delivery, table-top tripod, 2GB memory card, lens cleaning kit, nice Digital Concepts case, 2 "Oxy" AA batteries, and USB cable & software. I've just started learning how to use it, it's loaded with features that compensate for just about everything a novice like me would ever encounter. I have two tripods, a 4ft and a tabletop. I used both of them and the pictures come out very sharp even from a 15ft distance. It has a close-up feature - 28in. or less for reading those specs. They're crystal clear! I haven't taken enough pics or video to rate the power consumption but overall it is WELL worth my 100 bucks. 2 days after I bought it, I noticed it for $79 plus $5 shipping on a Yahoo shopping store called "Woot" or something like that. I bought two more for family members! It's a great camera, coming from a novice, BUY ONE!, you won't be disappointed.

I had some trouble with my method of payment. They very graciously helped to resolve the issue. I love the camera and its accessories. I have better resolution with an amped up 12.1 MP. Thank you

I have owned five digital cameras, three of which have been Kodak Easyshares. I have an Olympus and a Panasonic and they do not match up. The Easyshare is easy to use and perfect for those who just want to take pictures on the go and take very good pictures. This camera has a whopping 12 Megapixels which is virtually unheard of at this price. I bought mine refurbished for 100 dollars and couldn't be more happy with it. It has HD video which the quality is amazing! This camera has a panoramic capability which is flawless and puts pictures together seamlessly. I couldn't be more pleased with this sleek camera that is versatile and can fit comfortably into your pocket. Most cameras of this type only have a 3x optical zoom, but the z1275 has a 5x. Digital zooming is poor on other cameras because of their lower megapixel capability, but this camera will allow you to digitally zoom and not even notice the quality deteriorating. The only flaw I can find with this camera is that when taking videos they can become a little too shaky for my liking if you are zoomed in all of the way. The problem is less noticable when recording from a distance though. If you can find this camera for 150 or less I would certainly recommend buying it!

I'll try to keep this short and sweet, and maybe I am partial to Kodak and the whole Easyshare line, but I do think Kodak produces great cameras. And some of them are better than this one. Don't expect this camera to be SLR-equivalent, and then complain when it doesn't hold up to those standards. This camera isn't meant to be compared to cameras that cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. And don't buy this camera just because it touts 12 megapixels. Megapixels aren't everything. This camera has way more to offer than just a high megapixel count. That being said, however, for the price of the Z1275, especially if you can find a good deal on one on Ebay, you sure do get a whole lot of great features. You may have to put up with some little quirks, but if you get to know this camera and learn all of it's features and controls, you will find that it is a great little camera for a great little price. Here's a list of my favorite things about this camera:

1) Size. In a little, compact box you get 12 megapixels and 5x optical zoom. Now, I don't buy into the whole more megapixels is better, but 12 megapixels does come in handy sometimes, such as the panoramic scene mode. You can get some amazing-quality pictures. And, if you don't want to use up a whole lot of space on your memory card, you can turn the megapixels down lower, and still get great-quality photos.

2) 5x optical zoom. Normally, you get 3x optical zoom in a camera this size, with more being reserved for bigger lenses that are bulkier and take up more room. 5x is perfect.

3) HD video recording capabilities. Never again will I need to tote around my bulky video camera everywhere I go. Now, I don't expect this to be equivalent to my Hi-8 tapes, but it gives a good run for the money. The only thing is you can't record really long videos unless you have the memory-capacity, and the maybe the view gets a little shaky with zoom, but you are recording video with a regular camera. And I like little snippets of video better than boring hour-long home movies anyways.

Like I said, you may have to put up with some quirks, but here's my 2-cents on some of the most common I've heard. As far as shutter-lag speed, I think that is something you are just going to have to deal with. It doesn't happen all the time, and it happens way less if you learn the controls and settings, and use them appropriatley, taking some of the job away from the camera. If the viewfinder doesn't have to adjust so much and find the right auto-setting, you can snap a picture much quicker. Blurry pictures can be reduced with the right setting, a tripod, or just steadying yourself, especcially in low-light situations. As far as grainy, high noise pictures, do some research on ISO, and turn it down if you need to. This goes for the megapixels, also. If you know you aren't going to be blowing a photo up to enormous sizes, go down some megapixels. I promise that if you set this camera to 6.0 megapixels, you will have great quality 4x6's, 5x7's and even 8x10's. And you'll use less space on your memory card.

The bottom line is that you can't expect this camera to be perfect in every way. You aren't paying enough money for that. However, the money you do pay is well-spent in this little investment. Like I said, you get a whole lot of features in a little tiny camera.

this thing takes awesome pics.....but it eats batteries like crazy....I've had it for a couple of weeks and had to replace the batteries about 6 times.....about every 15-20 pics it needs new batteries....so make sure you invest in some good rechargables and carry plenty of spares