Kodak EasyShare Z1285 12.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom
- 12-megapixel resolution for stunning prints up to 30 x 40 inches
- 5x Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical image-stabilized zoom lens; HD still capture and HD video
- 2.5-inch indoor/outdoor color LCD; advanced settings include program and full manual mode (P/M)
- Digital image stabilization reduces blur; High ISO (up to 3200) capture details in low-light conditions and fast-action situations
- Compatible with SD/SDHC memory cards (not included)
Rating: 5 of 5
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12 mp which can be adjusted from a lower MP such as 6 & up. Takes great pictures,the memory card that i bought was 8gigs great buy. I am very pleased with the results. I only by the best 4 the price & this was it.
Rating: 1 of 5
TERRIBLE, POOR DESIGN, UNACCEPTABLE PERFORMANCE-DO NOT BUY
I am sorry 2 have taken so long 2 write this review. I have had the Kodak Z1285 camera 4 about 6 months now. This camera has angered me so much, that I finally had 2 sit down & warn others of its absolutely terrible performance.
Sure, it looks like a great deal: 12 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, HD video, etc. However, the performance is UNACCEPTABLE. The first thing is a constant blue screen of death. After literally each picture, when you are ready 2 snap the second precious pic of any loved one or special moment, this camera blanks out 2 a "blue screen of death" with the word "Processing" displayed. This blue screen lasts anywhere from 3 seconds 2 30 seconds & disables your ability 2 snap a picture. Bye Bye precious moment. This one feature alone makes this camera unsatisfactory 4 anyone's use. It is a definite deal killer.
I called Kodak about this & wrote emails. They do not seem 2 be aware of this problem & gave me the standard "we apologize 4 blah blah blah." They suggested that either the batteries needed replacement or the memory card was defective. Neither was the problem. I use lithium AA batteries (great batteries by the way - forget alkalines 4 your camera.) I also used different memory cards all from the most reputable supplier "SanDisk." The Blue Screen of Processing Death is in the camera. You will be EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED due 2 this design defect. Kodak did not offer 2 refund my money.
The next deal killer is the video. Forget taking HD video with this camera. My Razr cell phone takes better video - literally. The video on this camera is CHOPPY, STAGGERS, MISSES ACTION, & is TOTALLY UNWATCHABLE. You could take successive photos, place them in a stack & flip through them quickly & get better animation movement. The video at ANY setting (of quality resolution) is UNACCEPTABLE. It's like the camera has 2 stop taping & REFOCUS every 1/2 second 2 2 seconds. Much action is truly missed & the movie is more like flipping pages through a story book & "skipping through time."
The next deal killer is the optical zoom. The camera zooms but it is too shaky 2 take a picture with. And 4 some reason all the pictures taken at high zoom are GRAINY. Color rendition is also EXTREMELY POOR. In essence, the zoom is USELESS.
In addition, the "Image Stabilization" option is a knob setting & not a selection that can be used 4 every mode of picture taking. So if you want 2 use a night shot or the "Beach" or "Firecracker" or "Museum" or ANY mode setting, you CANNOT USE the image stabilization at the same time since it is not setting. In fact, when you select the Image Stabilization, there is no way 2 tell what mode the camera is in or how it is adjusting the speed or ISO settings. The "Image Stabilization" setting is thus USELESS. When on high zoom, you definitely need image stabilization because the camera is so shaky & sensitive 2 movement your photo will be BLURRY & SMEARED & UNACCEPTABLE. So if you wanted to, 4 example, take a night time shot of a city scene with all the city lights, from far away, & you zoom up on it, you CANNOT engage the stabilization feature & your picture will, without FAIL, come out BLURRED.
I should note that the camera has a good feel 2 it & does not feel like a cheap plastic camera. That is its one nice feature. However, it cannot take a decent picture even when all lighting & subject conditions are optimal. Note also that there is no viewfinder so you must always use the LCD screen (a battery life waster).
In conclusion, this camera is SLOW, POORLY DESIGNED, & takes LOUSY, POOR-COLOR RENDITION pictures. The video is COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. I had owned a Kodak 3 megapixel camera 4 several years before I got this one. The old Kodak camera took wonderful pictures. This Z1285 model however, has set digital photography back many years. All in all, buy AT YOUR OWN RISK. I wish I had taken this camera back when I first got it. I just couldn't believe it was as bad as it truly is. My fellow citizens - consider yourselves FOREWARNED. Best of luck 2 all.
Sure, it looks like a great deal: 12 megapixels, 5x optical zoom, HD video, etc. However, the performance is UNACCEPTABLE. The first thing is a constant blue screen of death. After literally each picture, when you are ready 2 snap the second precious pic of any loved one or special moment, this camera blanks out 2 a "blue screen of death" with the word "Processing" displayed. This blue screen lasts anywhere from 3 seconds 2 30 seconds & disables your ability 2 snap a picture. Bye Bye precious moment. This one feature alone makes this camera unsatisfactory 4 anyone's use. It is a definite deal killer.
I called Kodak about this & wrote emails. They do not seem 2 be aware of this problem & gave me the standard "we apologize 4 blah blah blah." They suggested that either the batteries needed replacement or the memory card was defective. Neither was the problem. I use lithium AA batteries (great batteries by the way - forget alkalines 4 your camera.) I also used different memory cards all from the most reputable supplier "SanDisk." The Blue Screen of Processing Death is in the camera. You will be EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED due 2 this design defect. Kodak did not offer 2 refund my money.
The next deal killer is the video. Forget taking HD video with this camera. My Razr cell phone takes better video - literally. The video on this camera is CHOPPY, STAGGERS, MISSES ACTION, & is TOTALLY UNWATCHABLE. You could take successive photos, place them in a stack & flip through them quickly & get better animation movement. The video at ANY setting (of quality resolution) is UNACCEPTABLE. It's like the camera has 2 stop taping & REFOCUS every 1/2 second 2 2 seconds. Much action is truly missed & the movie is more like flipping pages through a story book & "skipping through time."
The next deal killer is the optical zoom. The camera zooms but it is too shaky 2 take a picture with. And 4 some reason all the pictures taken at high zoom are GRAINY. Color rendition is also EXTREMELY POOR. In essence, the zoom is USELESS.
In addition, the "Image Stabilization" option is a knob setting & not a selection that can be used 4 every mode of picture taking. So if you want 2 use a night shot or the "Beach" or "Firecracker" or "Museum" or ANY mode setting, you CANNOT USE the image stabilization at the same time since it is not setting. In fact, when you select the Image Stabilization, there is no way 2 tell what mode the camera is in or how it is adjusting the speed or ISO settings. The "Image Stabilization" setting is thus USELESS. When on high zoom, you definitely need image stabilization because the camera is so shaky & sensitive 2 movement your photo will be BLURRY & SMEARED & UNACCEPTABLE. So if you wanted to, 4 example, take a night time shot of a city scene with all the city lights, from far away, & you zoom up on it, you CANNOT engage the stabilization feature & your picture will, without FAIL, come out BLURRED.
I should note that the camera has a good feel 2 it & does not feel like a cheap plastic camera. That is its one nice feature. However, it cannot take a decent picture even when all lighting & subject conditions are optimal. Note also that there is no viewfinder so you must always use the LCD screen (a battery life waster).
In conclusion, this camera is SLOW, POORLY DESIGNED, & takes LOUSY, POOR-COLOR RENDITION pictures. The video is COMPLETELY UNUSABLE. I had owned a Kodak 3 megapixel camera 4 several years before I got this one. The old Kodak camera took wonderful pictures. This Z1285 model however, has set digital photography back many years. All in all, buy AT YOUR OWN RISK. I wish I had taken this camera back when I first got it. I just couldn't believe it was as bad as it truly is. My fellow citizens - consider yourselves FOREWARNED. Best of luck 2 all.
Rating: 3 of 5
Camera good 4 the money, but display cracked
I bought this camera 4 the brand (always like Kodak), 4 the fact that it uses an SD card, AA batteries (rechargeables always!), & also 4 the megapixels it offered. I like the picture quality, especially 4 landscape, sport & sunset. Indoors with flash is not the greatest, & taking concert pictures does not give me great results. Video is good, sound quality is so-so. Advice 2 anyone purchasing this camera: use a padded case. I had this camera in the back of our motorcycle & we hit a deep hole (the camera was in my purse in a small case). The back display is broken (not in pieces but looks like a fireworks display when you turn the camera on). You can't see 2 take a picture, or review the images after you take a picture. But, if I take a picture, & put my SD card into a different camera, I can see the picture. I really liked this camera, but only used it 4 about 2 months. Take care of those digital cameras with large displays!
Rating: 5 of 5
We lovethe Kodak Z1285
We purchased a Kodak Z1275 in August, 2007 & were instantly amazed. When we accidentally broke the screen, we immediately sent it in 4 repairs, & bought a Z1285 2 cover in its absence (in July, 2008). We have taken ~4,400 pictures on the Z1275 & 500+ on the Z1285.
The Z1275 & Z1285 are largely the same. The only changes I have seen (beyond body color) is that the 1275 has bracketing settings & that the 1285 has a much quieter motor, which greatly helps when taking movies.
The image quality, coupled with the small size (but not too small, like so many unusable `tiny' cameras), is what has one of them in my pocket virtually all weekend, & in my briefcase while on business travel during the week, & one at home 4 the family 2 use.
While on a trip 2 Southern California last April, I took similar photos with the Z1275 & with professional Kodak Portra film, & I was stunned at how much better the Z1275 images came out - the colors were brighter & more vibrant, & the details amazing. We could also see some incredibly small details on the bugs on the flowers, & those pictures were from a foot or two away.
The short list of the best features are:
- Ease of use... Kodak really thought through the buttons & the menus 2 make it all quite easy 2 quickly jump through
- The strength of the video quality - I do recommend a tripod 4 less shaking from natural body movements
- Action prints makes pictures of the videos.
- The P/M setting lets me get amazing night photos, including shots of stars; while I prefer ISO 64 wherever possible, some of the darkest settings come better in the still-sharp 400 & 800 speed settings.
- Great close-up pictures of the flowers (if only I could get the wind 2 stop blowing better)
- Panoramic images (stitched in-camera) that capture scenes so well (I hope they upgrade 2 full 12-megapixels 4 these; they currently step-down 2 4mp)
- Perfect Touch technology is simply amazing, taking good pictures & making them truly great!
- Out kids love taking pictures & quickly learned how 2 use it themselves
For batteries, I recommend Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH AA rechargeables & their compact charger.
Kodak continues 2 be the premier photographic/imaging company in the world.
The Z1275 & Z1285 are largely the same. The only changes I have seen (beyond body color) is that the 1275 has bracketing settings & that the 1285 has a much quieter motor, which greatly helps when taking movies.
The image quality, coupled with the small size (but not too small, like so many unusable `tiny' cameras), is what has one of them in my pocket virtually all weekend, & in my briefcase while on business travel during the week, & one at home 4 the family 2 use.
While on a trip 2 Southern California last April, I took similar photos with the Z1275 & with professional Kodak Portra film, & I was stunned at how much better the Z1275 images came out - the colors were brighter & more vibrant, & the details amazing. We could also see some incredibly small details on the bugs on the flowers, & those pictures were from a foot or two away.
The short list of the best features are:
- Ease of use... Kodak really thought through the buttons & the menus 2 make it all quite easy 2 quickly jump through
- The strength of the video quality - I do recommend a tripod 4 less shaking from natural body movements
- Action prints makes pictures of the videos.
- The P/M setting lets me get amazing night photos, including shots of stars; while I prefer ISO 64 wherever possible, some of the darkest settings come better in the still-sharp 400 & 800 speed settings.
- Great close-up pictures of the flowers (if only I could get the wind 2 stop blowing better)
- Panoramic images (stitched in-camera) that capture scenes so well (I hope they upgrade 2 full 12-megapixels 4 these; they currently step-down 2 4mp)
- Perfect Touch technology is simply amazing, taking good pictures & making them truly great!
- Out kids love taking pictures & quickly learned how 2 use it themselves
For batteries, I recommend Energizer 2500 mAh NiMH AA rechargeables & their compact charger.
Kodak continues 2 be the premier photographic/imaging company in the world.
Rating: 5 of 5
Great performance from an inexpensive camera
As stated before, the advantages of this camera are hard 2 find in this price range. 12 Mp, HD stills & video, decent zoom 4 stills/video & image stabilization, in a pocket size camera... well, I am happy with the purchase & would recommend it no problem!
Great moments deserve great pictures. The Kodak EasyShare Z1285 zoom digital camera lets you relive your favorite memories in brilliant HD quality. Take crisp pictures & videos & share them with your friends & family. And best of all, it is affordable, making picture-taking easier than ever on you, & your wallet.
($119.99)
Buy Kodak EasyShare Z1285 12.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom Now!
