Kodak EasyShare Z712 IS 7.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

I've had this camera for over two years now, and I STILL love it. I was recently looking to replace it with a newer model(Z1012 or Z1485), but after playing with them in the store, I just can't let go of my Z712. I've always used Kodak, mainly because their software is so user friendly, and I upgraded to this camera from the C-class. I was wanting something more then a pocket camera, but not as fancy as an SLR...this is the PERFECT in-between!

The main reason I love this camera so much is the click-to-capture speed. When I hit the button, I expect the camera to take the picture that second, not 2 seconds later (the C-class did this, which was VERY annoying at Nascar races or football games). Also, the 12 zoom has been very convenient to have on family vacations. I have a young son, and this camera has been awesome at capturing his day-to-day activities. I use the Energizer CRV3 Lithium Photo batteries for it, and they last a LONG time, usually a few months per battery!

It's a nice size, but some may find it a bit cumbersome at first, especially if your used to little pocket size cameras. The first time we took this to Disney, I wasn't sure if I'd made the right choice in getting it due to it's bulkiness, but as soon as I saw my pictures, I was in love! I bough a generic camera case for it, and my husband wears it on his belt during trips, so we've adjusted!

Overall, I DEFINITELY recommend this camera. I'm always on the hunt for the latest and greatest, but it's gonna take A LOT for me to replace this one. If you're just an average, takes pictures of the family kinda person, then you'll LOVE this camera!

I am not a digital camera aficionado, so you may want to read some more reviews, but I based my purchase on several positive reviews here. I wish I had done some more personal testing of other cameras before my purchase. Yes, it takes a good picture, but there are several things not to like about this camera.

1. It uses AA batteries (may be a plus to some people) but if you take a lot of pictures, the batteries will constantly be dying. And if you buy rechargable batteries, the batteries start to die by the 3rd picture.

2. It takes several seconds to resume the ability to shoot after each picture, not good if you have kids sitting in poses.

3. It is gigantic - bigger is definitely not better in this instance. For a professional camera that might be acceptable, but when one half its size is just as good, there is no reason to buy such a monster of a camera.

4. Every time you change the batteries, you need to reprogram the date and time. Again, if you are trying to catch your kids doing something cute, this is sooooo annoying.

5. The "on/off" button malfunctioned after about 2 months and I had to send it in to be fixed. Not such a big deal, but it is worth mentioning.

I'm sure there are other things not to like about it, but I am pretty easy to please and I really really dislike this camera. Hope this helps.

I've owned this camera about a year now and have been very pleased. I like the zoom capabilities and the colors the camera produces. Some people complained about the battery life, but I bought two rechargeable batteries for it and haven't had any problems.

The camera was shipped out immediately and arrived in perfect condition very quickly. Everything was exactly as described and I wouldn't hesitate to buy a Kodak camera in the future or shop with this company.

I was tired of the 3x zoom on my Canon digital and found this camera for $189 and thought I'd give it a try. I'm glad I did. It has one of the best lenses I've seen on this type of camera. The response time is better than my other camera too-there isn't a long delay between photos.
I had some issues with powering off/on or the lens appearing to get stuck like others have mentioned, I switched from the Lithium AA's to Lithium CRV-3 and the problem ended. The CRV3's last longer anyway and like others have mentioned you can purchase them as rechargeables.
After 5 months of using the camera I found the little button to the left of the view finder to make the view finder functional and turn the screen off-this will save battery life. Silly me, I thought the view finder was for looks only!
I'm very pleased with the crisp color in the photos, the fact that it has sound on the videos and the many modes you can shoot in although I tend to just use Auto. To shoot video you hold down the button as long as you want to record and release when done. I'm not sure how long it records, it depends on the capacity of the SD card.
This is my first Kodak digital and I would purchase one again.