REVIEW: Kodak EasyShare Z950

If there is anything I am passionate about, it’s photography. While I thoroughly enjoy the convenience of a compact point and shoot, I have to say I’m definitely partial to one that can do a little more in providing me with quick, quality shots which may be taken at quite a distance from me. My personal camera takes excellent shots and I’ve never had a complaint about it, but the 3x zoom isn’t much to speak of and any real action is going to result in blurry photos.

When I was given the opportunity to review the Kodak EasyShare Z950, I was ecstatic. I must say that I did try to talk them out of one of the featurriffic Z981s but they didn’t bite - now THAT is what I call a camera… lol But I am just as satisfied with the Z950. It delivers everything I expected and then some. My first impression of the camera was surprise. I actually expected it to be larger than what it is. It’s not as compact as my existing camera, but it’s relatively small compared to most cameras of its kind.

The Z950 is a 12MP digital camera with a 10x optical zoom, a Schneider KREUZNACH VARIOGON image stabilized lens, and shoots up to 1280 x 720 HD video. The dial at the top of the camera allows you to immediately switch between shooting modes so you don’t have to play around with the camera settings to go from taking photos to shooting videos. Unlike most cameras of this caliber, you have the option to have full control over the shutter speed, aperture, focus, and ISO as well as being able to decide how sharp you want your photos and whether you like your shots in natural, high, or low color or even black and white.

You can tag your photos right in the camera for easier organization once you transfer them to your PC and the camera also has an orientation sensor which rotates your photos when you take a shot in portrait rather than landscape. As if that weren’t enough, the Z950 allows you to select photos for printing or emailing so that when it is connected to your computer, those tasks take place without effort from you. There is also the option to protect photos so you don’t accidentally delete important captures. After all, you can’t replace memories. Using the Perfect Touch Tech inside the camera you can actually enhance your photos before you ever download them and if you’ve ever wished you could get an entire view in one photo, now you can – the Kodak Z950 takes beautifully seamless panoramic pictures! Not only can you crop your shots directly from the viewing screen, but you can actually add sound tags to them as well!

How many times have you began using a device without reading the manual only to find out that you should have read it only now you can’t find it? Hopefully I’m not the only one, but that won’t be a problem with the Z950. There is a help button which can be pressed at any point in any screen and will give you useful information about the function you’re currently performing. The self timer and the flash buttons are placed conveniently on the top of the camera next to the shutter/zoom. The mode wheel allows you to quickly change between manual, shutter priority, aperture priority, program/general, video, smart capture, action/sport, panoramic, and scene selection modes. Scene selection has a high ISO option for intensely low lighting conditions in addition to having provisions for landscapes, macro shots, day or night portraits, fireworks, self-portrait, candle or sun light, beach or snow, text, and even a setting optimized for taking photos inside a museum that doesn’t allow a flash (that would have come in handy when I was in the Vatican or viewing the Mona Lisa in the Louvre several years ago).

The only complaints I have about the Kodak Z950 are that some of the photos turn out a bit noisier than I prefer and at times, when you are taking repetitive shots, a screen will come up that says PROCESSING and remain for a few seconds, rendering you unable to continue to take shots. I’ve missed a few great captures because of that darn screen. Aside from those minor details, the majority of the photos I’ve taken with the Z950 have come out bright, clear, and perfectly focused.

All the fancy stuff aside, the subjects I take most of my pictures of are my children and we all know how active they can be. Without further ado I will allow the photos to speak for themselves. Here are several photos I’ve taken over the last two weeks with the Kodak Z950:

Taken around 9pm
“Night Portrait” scene selection illuminates the subject & background!

{It is best to have a tripod or at least a steady hand when using this mode or the background
becomes blurry; however, the subject is still in perfect focus! When these pics were taken,
THE SKY WAS PITCH BLACK… yet the camera distinguished between it and the trees!}

On my blog, I do a moderate amount of recipe posts wherein the detail
of the dish photography must be clear and sharp.

What good is summer without fun in the sun??

This photo was taken through our trampoline’s safety enclosure netting.

So there you have it right before your eyes… the excellent photo quality, crisp clarity of the captures, and the amazing feeling of know you’re preserving memories for generations to come! You can get your own Kodak EasyShare Z950 by purchasing it from Kodak.com – it retails at $249.95. What would be a better gift for Dad this Father’s Day?!

DISCLOSURE:

Kodak provided me with one EasyShare Z950 free of charge in exchange for my honest review of their product. The opinions and views expressed herein are my own and are 100% uninfluenced by anything other than personal experience.