Kodak EasyShare C713 7MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

I purchased the C713 refurbished as a gift for my father who is classically unfamiliar with electronic gadgets, but a lifelong though intermittent photographer. The on-screen descriptions of each mode make it easy for a digital camera novice to explore the functions and features available. It functions reliably and takes great pictures, though it is a bit slow to recover after taking a flash shot. During the lag, the most recent picture taken is displayed. This isn't a problem for someone learning the device, but could be aggravating for a more experienced user. The price was good, the camera's good; overall, we're very pleased with our purchase.

As with all gift purchases I had to take this baby for a test drive before I wrapped it up. Amazingly the photos are crystal clear. Resolution is perfect. The built in stabilizer helped compensate for the windy day. One photo from the series of shots that I had taken was enlarged to 11" x 14" format. All I can say is, pixel perfect. One sweet feature that surprised me was the digital zoom. It enhanced each and every photo without sacrificing pixels. Unless the user requires photo enlargements over 11" x 14" on a regular basis, 7 mega-pixels is more then enough for the average camera enthusiast.

When it comes to powering up electronics, I strongly recommend that only top of the line rechargeable batteries be used. Never operate gear with "no name" batteries. That includes the generic, Kodak labeled alkaline batteries that are packaged with this camera. Continued use of junk batteries will result in power shutdowns and eventual corrosion. When stowing your camera always remove the batteries.

I advise buyers not to get too caught up with the accompanied Kodak EasyShare software disk. It is a needless after market sales gimmick at best and should not take up space on your computer. One of the best photo fix softwares is already available on your computer under Pictures. Just bring up the desired photo and click "Fix." The rest is totally up to you the photographer.

No matter what size camera one owns I suggest purchasing a tripod (Not the toy tabletop variety). It will make the difference especially in photos that matter the most. As a professional photographer I remain impressed with the Kodak C713 Camera. I would recommend this product as a great starting point to everyone that wants to jump in on the digital experience. The C713 covers all the basics and more without spending the big bucks on a high ticket digital system.

I bought this camera to replace the Canon SD100 that I lost. I wish I could tell you what kind of pictures it takes, but I can't even get the thing to turn out, straight out of the box. Both the batteries that came with it, and my AA in the house, do not work.

The battery cover is extremely tricky to get in place as well, and I was afraid I was going to break it just in my trying to replace the batteries several times.

Kodak is the only brand that I buy cameras from. They take great quality pictures, and I myself have even taken some of the best pictures I've ever seen on this very camera! It's very clear and simple to use, extremely easy to sync with the computer. Also very durable, as I don't have a case for it and I take it everywhere. Basically the best camera ever!

... make sure you use the right setting. I took pictures indoors with the normal setting, and everything came out darker than I remember the room actually being. If you're indoors in average/fairly bright lighting, I suggest using the low-light setting.

Other than that, I'm quite pleased. The product performed as advertised. Easy to use, good pictures, 7mp (good for printing) ... I like it, and the price was right.

Just be more alert than I was.