The Kodak EasyShare Z8612 IS has trimmed off every gram of fat, but the 12x zoom lens overbalances the camera. It oozes understated élan and even has some clever features, but the performance isn't quite there.
The EasyShare Z1275 is the flagship model in Kodak's Z-series, boasting 12-megapixels, 5x optical zoom, digital image stabilisation and 64Mb of internal storage as well as the ability to record high definition video.
Kodak just announced a slew of new digital imaging products at CES, including several cameras and an all-in-one photo printer scheduled to ship in the first half of this year.
This has to be the most frequently asked question in my inbox -- well admittedly, "Is brand x better than brand y?" comes a close second -- and frankly, it's often the hardest to answer.
The digital era has given camera buyers abundant new choices. But changes that came with higher-end models called digital SLRs have also imposed new lens complexities and compatibility issues buyers hadn't bargained for.
Cameras might be staying small, but their photos are getting bigger than ever. While once only digital SLRs could hit such high resolutions, now even inch-thick point-and-shoot cameras can reach or surpass 12 megapixels.
A large range of focal lengths to zoom through can dramatically increase your framing options, as well as simply make it possible to get recognisable people shots when you're trapped in the crowd, high in the bleacher seats, or at the back of the auditorium. See how these stabilised 12X zoomers stack up.
Some call it a cradle, some call it a dock, some call it a station -- whatever appellation you prefer, it's the thingy with all the ports on the back that you stick the camera in.