Physical Tour

 

 

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Front
**Attention first falls on the 10x optical, all-glass Kodak Retinar zoom lens, placed slightly off-center, along the right side of the camera’s front face. Counter to the lens is a smooth, curved right hand grip, vertically creating the left side of the frame. There is an imbedded rubber strip on the front of the grip for added stability. Directly above the lens, extending slightly away from the camera body, is the flash casing. The identifying "Kodak" lettering, formed on a single piece of rigid plastic, has been applied to the front of the flash inset, peering out towards the subject. Slightly above and off to the left of the lens barrel are two small vertically aligned circles. The one above is the low-light assist/self-timer lamp to help framing and focusing in low light situations. The lower circle is a light sensor that meters the scene and reads the amount of available light. Above and to the right of the lens barrel are two small openings leading to the camera’s microphone.

 

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Back**

The primary focus of the back of the EasyShare Z740 is the 1.8" TFT indoor/outdoor LCD screen, consuming much of the left portion of the frame. Directly up from the LCD monitor is a 201,000 pixel viewfinder. Between the two, there are two small buttons: to the right is a small, circular EVF/LCD button that toggles between the two electronic views. Opposite the EVF/LCD control is an Information button, marked with a "I". When engaged, the user can view shooting information and feature icons pertaining to image quality, exposure compensation, and flash settings, or conceal that information for an uncompromised view of the frame.

 

The right half of the back of the Z740 is reserved for the majority of the camera’s shooting controls. A bit more than midway down the frame is a circular mode dial. A rotating ring within the mode dial is used to choose the desired mode, and the raised joystick in the center selects and scrolls through menu options. Below the mode dial, set in an obtuse triangule, are three circular shooting controls. They are, from left to right, Delete, Menu, and Review. Above and slightly to the left of the mode selection dial is the distinctive Share button that virtually inspired Kodak’s ascent through the ranks of digital photography. Above the Share control, near the top of the frame, sits the camera’s horizontal zoom control. Appearing as two disjunct buttons, the continuous, curved segment has two protrusions, altering the focal length towards either the "W" wide angle view or "T" telephoto perspective.

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**Left Side
**The left side of the EasyShare Z740 lacks controls, but contains an extending eyelet for attaching the camera’s strap. There is also a large "5.0 megapixel" advertisement spread across the left side of the camera.

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**Right Side
**Near the top of the Z740’s right side is the other strap eyelet. Below is a large port door that swings open to access the terminals. While not overly durable, the port door should handle minimal stress and appears to be pretty solid when closed; however, problems may arise if the hinged door is pressed back in the wrong direction. While this is a problem with most hinged mechanisms, the plastic Z740 port door surely will not survive the test. A portion of the right hand grip wraps around to the right side of the frame.

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**Top
**The top of the EasyShare Z740 is divided into two large segments, resembling a bat. The left section is the flash casing and is void of controls. When closed, the flash lays horizontally along the surface of the camera within a 1/2"-1" casing, popping up about 90-degrees when engaged. To the far left, beyond the flash, is a protruding switch that opens the flash manually. There is a short bridge, slightly off-center, leading toward the right side of the camera where the camera’s power switch resides. There are three options on the Z740’s power control: "On," indicated by the green camera icon (the universal sign for automatic still recording mode), "Off," and a "Favorites" setting, off to the far left, marked with a small black book with a cut-out heart in the center. The Favorites setting acts as a photo album, storing specific images at reduced size that users can access with a single control, in true Kodak fashion. Just below the power switch are nine holes aligned in three sets of three, leading to the camera’s speaker.

 

The right section of the top of the camera contains an oval segment, defined by the stark lines that separate it from the rest of the camera. This section acts as a control panel of sorts, where essential shooting controls are placed. There is an arched progression of four buttons within this segment; one large round control to accessing the shutter release and focus lock, and three smaller, circular buttons below. Directly beneath the shutter is the Self timer/Burst mode button. This engages the self-timer countdown or activates one of the camera’s two burst modes (first burst and last burst). Below is the macro or Close up/Landscape button, which singles out two commonly sought image presets and makes them more accessible to the point-and-shooter. While most cameras keep all of the offered presets together, Kodak maintains its quest for simplicity. With this control on the top-right panel of the camera, users can easily reach and switch between the close-up and distant preset shooting modes. The third button, near the bottom of the frame, is the flash button, indicated by the lightning bolt icon. Repeated depression of this control will cycle through the various flash modes and help the user quickly increase or reduce lighting without moving far from the shutter.

Components

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Viewfinder
**Any fan of the traditional viewfinder has to have a soft spot for Kodak’s DX and now, Z-lines of digital cameras somewhere within them, as Kodak and Fuji are virtually the only major manufacturers to continue to include functional viewfinder windows in some compact point-and-shoot cameras. While an increasing amount of camera designs have omitted viewfinder windows altogether, opting for the slight, more ergonomic design, the viewfinder window has already become a lost novelty. Of great assistance to many photographers, the added window can be a fortunate supplement to the larger LCD screen below or a necessity in profuse lighting. The Z740 includes as high-resolution, electronic viewfinder with 201,000 pixels of resolution. The unfortunate drawback to an electronic viewfinder is that the LCD screen and viewfinder can not be activated simultaneously, forcing the user to manually toggle between the two; however, unlike optical viewfinders, the small electronic screen will generally contain a full 100% frame coverage.

 

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LCD Screen
**Kodak’s new Z-line, while similar in shape to the DX models, contains a significantly smaller LCD display. This helps to reduce the overall body size and minimize the camera’s proportions. The Z740 contains a 1.8-inch. high-resolution indoor/outdoor color LCD screen, composed of 134,000 pixels of resolution. While this has been reduced from the 2.2-inch 154,000 pixel screen included on the DX7590, it maintains adequate resolution and strong performance in exterior conditions; a common flaw of many LCD screens on point-and-shoot cameras.

 

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Flash
**The fixed flash on the Kodak EasyShare Z740 contains four selectable settings as well as a flash exposure compensation feature. Flash modes include Auto, Off, Red-Eye Reduction, and Fill settings. Illumination extends in Wide angle mode from 2-16.1ft. (0.6-4.9m) using a fixed ISO rating of 168 and from 6.6-12.1ft. (2.0-3.7m) in Telephoto mode, also utilizing the 168 ISO rating. The exposure compensation feature ranges from +/-1 in 1/2 EV increments. While the set of flash settings offered on the Z740 is fairly standard, the inclusion of a flash exposure compensation feature is rare for the point-and-shoot audience and offers a significant advantage for controlling the light output.

 

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Zoom Lens**

The major marketing focus of the Z-series is clearly the camera’s extended zoom lens, designed by Kodak to provide point-and-shoot and beginner users with greater telephoto capabilities. The 10x optical, aspheric Kodak Retinar center piece should have no trouble exposing details from a far. The zoom range on the Z740’s all-glass lens is equivalent to 38-380mm in 35mm format and should provide greater shooting flexibility by minimizing depth-of-field. A compatible 0.7x wide angle accessory lens offered by Kodak is available when extended wide angle perspective is also sought.

Design / Layout

Model Design / Appearance

With a flashy veneer of polished silver, the EasyShare Z740’s condensed frame is rectangular with smooth, even curves. The compact SLR styling of the Z740 is reminiscent of Kodak’s DX7590 and DX6490 models. The design is spare in its use of lines, creating a general fluidity in its form, particularly in the camera’s front. There is a large right-hand grip protruding below the shutter release, covered by a muted black rubber strip for added control. The extending zoom lens moves out in two concentric circles, aesthetically balancing the weight of the projecting grip when viewed straight-on. The design opts for a sleek, continuous feel to the compact SLR shape.

 

Size / Portability

While the Z740 is designed to match Kodak’s DX frame structure, the Z740 is smaller and slightly lighter then the DX7590, offering greater portability than its stylistic predecessor. The Z740 measures 3.8" x 3.1" x 2.9" (34.16-inch³) and weighs 10.1 oz without memory card and batteries. This is a significant reduction from the DX7590’s 3.9" x 3.2" x 3.2" (39.94-inch³) and 12.3oz. body. Although the EasyShare Z740 is slightly larger and far more substantial then most point-and-shoot designs, it remains ideal for handling and is easily transportable. While the Z740 may not be quite as pocket-friendly as other compact point-and-shoot designs, the reduced EasyShare frame can be carried around without burden when stowed in a camera bag.

 

Handling Ability

The Kodak Z740 is designed to retain the simple functionality and intuitive user interface that EasyShare cameras have become known for. With brief descriptions available within the camera’s menu, beginners can learn as they go. Since their digital inception, Kodak has long relied on a "one-touch" system, ascribing a specific button to each of the camera’s essential controls and features. While this concept is embodied in the camera’s "share" button, general controls and handling on the Z740 are equally accommodating to less engaged users. Shooting and handling is helped significantly by the camera’s large grip, providing added stability and control for the right hand. The grip is situated opposite the large barrel lens, creating a balanced support when shooting with both hands. With the extending lens and the lack of a manual focus ring, the frontal design does seem a bit forced, but certainly helps to handle the camera.

 

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Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size
**The layout of controls on the Kodak Z740 places essential shooting features on the top right portion of the frame, near the right index finger, as well as on the back of the camera to the right of the LCD. With a large frame and reduced 1.8" LCD screen, there is more then ample spacing along the right side of the Z740’s back for proper arrangement of buttons to avoid accidental engagement. The buttons themselves are large and slightly raised off the camera’s surface to grant easy access. The zoom toggle controls and oversized finger grip are properly balanced around the shutter release and enable the user to comfortably capture images without sacrificing control. The only possible hang-up I foresee lies in the camera’s Mode dial. Placed near the bottom right segment of the back of the frame, users are encouraged to access the Mode dial with their thumb, rather than the index finger. This is typical of most camera designs, which place the dial near the shutter. Within the center of the mode dial is a joystick that scrolls through menus. Problems may arise if the stick is not pressed straight into the camera, as selections may not be registered. This will take a bit of getting used to if a first-time EasyShare user, but will function adequately after a brief adjustment period. Again, most pertinent controls are given their own button. With the surface area of the Z740’s frame, accessing them should be a breeze.

 

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Menu

All menus on the EasyShare Z740 are designed for simplicity and ease of use. The large menu button on the back activates the menu and provides instant access to shooting controls. Within the menu, users can alter presets and settings to personalize the camera and accommodate their shooting needs. Basic controls include image size and quality settings, exposure compensation, auto focus, color modes, and storage options.

**Ease of Use
**Ease of use has certainly become the Kodak’s digital hallmark, designing intuitive cameras that require minimal photographic knowledge, yet provide room for growth and expansion. While Kodak does produce some professional SLRs, their mastery remains grounded in simplicity. With its user-friendly interface, the Z740 is designed to apply to beginner users as well as the more advanced shooter. The Z-line is intended to bring further ease to the expanding "ultra zoom" forum and provide users greater shooting opportunity without the need to upgrade their camera.

Modes

 

**Auto Mode
**Since the Z line will fall a step behind the DX line in terms of manual control and options, automatic users of the Z740 can rely on the camera’s auto mode to set the exposure, sensitivity and white balance parameters for the shot.

Movie Mode

The included movie mode on the EasyShare Z740 captures QuickTime video with audio in MOV or MPEG-4 (compressed) format for up to 80 minutes or until the card is full. Users can also elect to record short video clips of 5, 15, 30 seconds in duration. The Z740 will record VGA video at 640 x 480 resolution at 13 frames per second or QVGA video at 320 x 240 resolution at 20 frames per second. This is not a spectacular video recorder by any stretch of the imagination and users of the Z740, likely drawn to the camera for its telephoto capacity may feel short changed when they realize not only is the zoom inactive in movie mode, but recording fluid motion at 13 or 20 frames per second is a steep challenge unto itself.

 

 

Drive / Burst Mode

The Kodak EasyShare Z740 will record up to four subsequent images at two frames-per-second in two burst modes. There is a "first burst" setting that will capture four consecutive images in two seconds (total), saving them all. There is also a "last burst’ mode included on the Z740 that continuously records images at 2 frames per second, but only saves the last four.

 

**Playback Mode
**In the Z740’s playback mode, users have a host of options to select from. They can choose: Album, Slideshow, Multi-up, Copy, Protect, as well as utilize the Internal Storage feature and save images to the camera’s 32MB of internal memory, and Print or Email images from the camera with the trademark Share button. There is also an Auto-Rotate function included to properly orient the image automatically to the recorded vertical or horizontal alignment. Like many previous Kodak EasyShare models, the Z line shines in playback mode, offering a bit beyond the general competition. With the inclusion of internal memory and a Direct Share button, the Z740 contains an elaborate set of options within its intuitive playback mode. This feature in particular should appease the Z740’s targeted user base of beginners looking for more.

Custom Image Presets

Largely intended for the point-and-shoot crowd, the Z740 includes an impressive array of 15 shooting presets. Among these are the following options: Children, Party, Beach, Flower, Fireworks, Snow, backlight, Close-Up, Night Portrait, Landscape, Night Landscape, Museum/Manor, Text, Self-Portrait, as well as a Portrait and Spot setting. This is a substantial set of options and should provide enough flexibility for most automatic or preset users.

Control Options

**Manual Control Options
**While the EasyShare Z-line does not target manual users, a substantial amount of control is available for the photographically inclined. Exposures can be manually altered in full Manual mode as well as both Aperture and Shutter-Priority settings. The user can manually adjust the ISO rating, white balance settings (although no custom option is available), as well as color parameters. This is an expansive array of options for an otherwise point-and-shoot camera.

 

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Focus
Auto
The Z740 has two primary modes of automatic focusing: multi-zone and center-zone. The user may also choose to leave the focus on continuously in continuous AF, or use the single-AF method and conserve some of the battery power. In Normal Wide, the Z740 will focus as close as two feet from the front of the lens, while in Normal Telephoto view, the camera can focus on images as close as 6.6 feet away. There are also Close-up Wide and Close-up Telephoto modes that reduce the space needed to focus to 4.7 inches (Wide) and 3.9 feet (Tele). The Z740 also includes an auto-assist illuminator to help focusing in low light.

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Manual

There is no manual focus on the EasyShare Z740. Although the camera contains some manual modes and controls, it is directed toward automatic users.

 

**Metering
**The Kodak Z740 features automatic Through-The-Lens AE metering as well as three selectable metering settings when manual adjustments are warranted. These include multi-pattern, center-weighted, and center spot metering modes.

 

**Exposure
**The EasyShare Z740 offers exposure compensation in the typical +/-2 range; however, it moves in 1/2-stop increments rather than the standard 1/3-stop steps.

 

**White Balance
**The Kodak EasyShare Z740 includes an automatic white balance mode and four preset options. Among these are Daylight, Open Shade, Tungsten, and Fluorescent settings. This is a limited set of white balance options and, combined with the lack of a manual or custom setting, will likely force users into reliance on the automatic setting.

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ISO

The Kodak Z740 offers both manual and automatic ISO selection. In manual mode, the available sensitivity range runs from ISO 80-800, while the available range in automatic mode is far more restrictive, only offering an 80-160 ISO range. While the Z740’s manual mode offers an expansive ISO range, the majority of the camera’s users will opt for the automatic setting. The 80-160 automatic range is significantly more restrictive than most point-and-shoot cameras, which typically offer an 80 or 100-400 ISO range. This puts the Z740’s automatic users at an extreme disadvantage, as the camera will only be able to render visible images under profuse lighting.

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**Shutter Speed
**Shutter speed controls on the Z740 are manually alterable in both full Manual and Shutter Priority modes, ranging from eight seconds to 1/1000 of a second. In automatic mode, the camera will determine and set the appropriate shutter speed for the shot within a 1/8 - 1/1700 of a second shutter range.

**Aperture
**Like shutter speed, aperture settings are manually controllable on the Z740 in full Manual and Aperture Priority settings. The available aperture range runs from f/2.8-f/8 (Wide) and f/3.7-f/8 (Tele). The f/3.7 opening offered in full telephoto is extremely large, considering the extended focal length. This is beneficial to the telephoto enthusiast, who can open the aperture and record telephoto images with faster shutter speeds, reducing the chance of visible motion and blur in the image. This is invaluable considering the camera does not include an image stabilization function.

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Image Parameters

**Resolution / Sharpness
**Equipped with a 1/2.5-inch, 5.36-megapixel CCD Sensor, the Z740 will record images up to 2576 x 1932. Extracting from tests we conducted on Kodak’s DX7590, which also packs a 1/2.5-inch 5MP CCD, image quality and sharpness on the Z740 should be quite strong. The DX7590 recorded images at 75% of its intended resolution; if it utilizes the same or a similar image sensor, the Z740 should follow suit. (Kodak refused to confirm one way or the other.)

 

Picture Quality**/ Size Options**

The EasyShare Z740 records still images at five different resolution and quality settings using JPEG/EXIF 2.21 format. The largest available resolution setting on the Z740 is 5.0 megapixels, spread across a 2576 x 1932 frame. Kodak expresses the image size and quality settings in megapixels/Good, Better, Best. Other options include a 5.0 MP - Best setting which, according to Kodak, is applicable for prints up to 20 x 30. I would not print over 16 x 20 with 5.0 megapixels. There is also a 4.4 MP — Best setting, calibrated for a 3:2 aspect ratio and optimized for quality 4 x 6 prints. A 4.0 MP — Better setting is included for prints up to 11 x 14, as well as a 1.8 MP — Good setting that is primarily for compressed emails and smaller web uploads where quality is not crucial.

 

Picture Effects Mode

With a long history in film processing and printing, Kodak has always been one of the companies photographers rely on for specific color preferences. Utilizing their exclusive Kodak Color Science Chip, the Z740 looks to apply this tradition digitally by including five selectable color settings. Among these are High Color, Low Color, and Natural Color, as well as Sepia-tone and Black-and-White. This is a solid set of color control options, enabling the Z740 user to impose some control over the primarily automatic image.

 

 

Connectivity / Extras

 

Connectivity
Software

The EasyShare Z740 will ship with Kodak EasyShare software, allowing users to export images and alter them within their computer or send them to the printer dock.

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Jacks, ports, plugs*

The EasyShare Z740 contains a DV input for external power and AV output for exporting still and video images to external analogue sources, such as a VCR or television. There is also an essential USB terminal on the bottom of the camera, near the tripod attachment, linking the EasyShare Z740 to both corresponding camera and printer docks.

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Direct Print Options*

The EasyShare Z740 functions with PictBridge compatible printers as well as the Kodak printer dock series 3; the first ImageLink compliant model put out by any of the contributing manufacturers. This printer dock will function with recent and future releases by the conglomeration of manufacturers, distributing 4 x 6" prints in roughly 90 seconds. **

 

Memory
The Kodak Z740 contains a hefty 32MB of internal storage, enabling users to save still, video, and "favorite" images within the camera. This is a fortunate inclusion and will come in handy when a quick shot is needed and the memory card is no where to be found. When more images or longer video sequences are recorded, the EasyShare Z740 will also write to SD/MMC memory cards, up to 512MB.**
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Other features
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Schneider-Kreuznach Xenar 0.7x Wide-Angle Lens — *This 4-element all-glass wide-angle accessory lens magnifies the field-of-view by a 0.7x conversion factor. The fixed wide angle perspective is roughly equivalent to a 26.6mm view in 35mm format. Although not a zoom lens, with the additional wide angle component, users of the Z740 will have a vast 26.6–380mm focal range available, providing substantial flexibility on both the telephone and wide angle ends of the spectrum.

 

*One Year Manufacturer’s Warranty — *To help reassure potential customers, Kodak has included a LIMITED one-year warranty to ensure the camera is void of defects and manufacturing flaws. This warranty is valid for up to one year from the date of purchase and will be honored by Kodak directly, repairing or replacing the damaged product at not cost to the user.

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Self-Timer — *The Z740 contains a self timer mode with both 10 and 2 second settings. ***

 

Overall Impressions

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Value

While the initial $499 price tag on the EasyShare Z740 is a bit steep, users will get a lot for their money if they have it to spare. With 5 megapixels of resolution, a 10x optical zoom, all-glass lens, intuitive functionality and additional accessory options, engaged point-and-shooters seeking strong image quality and an extended telephoto view should get their money’s worth. The Z-line seems tailored to a specific demographic of digital camera users, while other $499 point-and-shoot cameras look to turn heads with a flashy frame and rapid video recording rate, the Z740 targets those perpetually overlooked users who seek something with larger zoom and more flexibility. Those users will likely feel content with their purchase, even at the $499 price range; however, with a bit of luck and stroke of patience, the price is sure to fall.

Conclusion

 

Conclusion

The initial headline of Kodak’s Z-line, the EasyShare Z740 targets point-and-shoot users seeking more out of their camera without sacrificing simplistic functionality. Catering to the alternative point-and-shoot crowd, the Z740 emphasizes extended zoom, accessory functions, ease of use and manual options rather then the traditional diminutive measurements, large LCD and rapid video recording rate. Designed for accessibility, the Z740 provides a 10x optical 38-380 (equivalent) all-glass Kodak Retinar zoom lens, 1/2.5-inch., 5.36 megapixel CCD, and Kodak Color Science chip to ensure the highest quality with minimal effort. While the Z740 is currently slated to retail for $499 (USD), the camera is compatible with Kodak’s first ImageLink compliant, Series 3 printer dock. With a one year warranty, the Z740 offers a reliable automatic camera with manual control options and accessory functions that will encourage growth and enable users to utilize the camera while they develop.

Specs

Specs Table
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