Customer Reviews

Kodak Easyshare Z981 14 MP Digital Camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 26xWide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens and 3.0-Inch LCD Sreen

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(51)
3 star:		(26)
2 star:		(16)
1 star:		(31)

 

 

I have had my Z981 for two weeks and I have given it a thorough testing. My son is a professional photographer and he told me that I would be disappointed with this camera. I told him that I would give it a real-world test and, if I was disappointed, I would send it back.

First the cons: 1) The On/Off toggle switch is awkwardly placed. It is almost impossible to turn the camera on (or off) without moving (changing) the Mode dial. 2) The battery compartment is easy to open but very difficult to close and lock (I use my car key to slide it). Also, make sure the camera works once you have locked it. For some reason, this seems to be a problem. 3) A hotshoe and tilting view screen would have been nice but I knew from the specs that I would get neither. 4) The zoom on the back of the camera (rather than on the top) is awkward but I will get use to it. 5) I would have gladly paid an extra $50 to have the camera built out of heavy duty plastic.

Now the pros: 1) The photo quality is first rate. 2) The zoom is smooth but, keep in mind that in high power, you really need to steady the camera (I use a monopod). 3) The video automatically includes sound (not so with all cameras). 4) The video is very high quality (1280x720) and the optical zoom works in video mode. When playing this video, it fills my entire computer monitor - not just a little window in the middle of the monitor. 5) It uses SD cards. This doesn't sound like much but these are much cheaper than the proprietary cards that some cameras use. 6) It uses AA batteries. Since I travel a lot in the Amazon, built-in (or proprietary) rechargeable batteries are not an option for me. 7) I love having a separate button for all of the different functions. Most cameras have a Function button that you push and then get totally lost in the maze of options, sub-options and sub-sub-options. 8) The price is great. I have never paid less that $600 for a digital camera.

Bottom line: Great pictures, great high resolution video, 14mp and 26x zoom. It has some quirks but is a great camera at a great price.

I have only owned Kodak cameras, and the Z981 is an upgrade for me from the Z1485 and the Z712, both of which I loved. What sold me on the Z981 however, was the 26x zoom. My Z712 had a 12x zoom, which was great, and the Z1485 was only a 5x, but it's small and pocket sized...great for throwing in my purse. Now, be advised...I am NOT a professional photographer (or anywhere near one). I am a stay-at-home-mom who has a slight obsession with cameras, but just cannot bring herself to take the SLR plunge. I take daily photos of my son, and of course, family trips/vacations. That said, this camera may be a bit much for your everyday Joe just wanting to take pictures of the family, since this IS pretty large and quite bulky to to carry around once it's in a case...though I certainly don't mind.

In my trials with this camera, I have found only a couple things that I'm not completely happy with. That main one is the battery compartment. While easy to open (just slide the tab and it pops open), it's darn near IMPOSSIBLE to close. I have to use a small screwdriver to slide the tab over once the batteries are in place. Also, when taking video, if you zoom in, it takes a few seconds for the focus to right itself, which may not seem like a big deal, but 5 seconds can be a long time on a short video clip.

As for everything else...I'm thrilled. While the on/off switch may be in an awkward place for some people, it's located in the same spot on the Z712, so I was already used to that. All the dial settings are very easy to use, and when you switch to each one, there's a brief explanation on what conditions you would use that particular setting for. Of course, my favorite is the 'Children playing in sunlight' setting. I can take crisp, clear pics of my boy while he's running around, and not have to worry about them being blurry, or dark. Also, (and one of the most important things, at least for me), the click-to-capture speed is VERY fast. When I push that button, it takes the picture...and I can take multiple pictures, one right after the other, with no delay.

The Share feature is also very neat. I'll admit, I'm still getting comfortable with using the App, but it's coming a little easier to me now. You'll have to download the Share App to your computer if you wish to use this feature. It'll take about 10 minutes to set it up. I think the main reason I love Kodak so much is their user friendly approach to picture taking...it's why they're the only brand of camera I've ever used. The Kodak EasyShare program is SIMPLE to use, and a great place to store or alter your pictures. Their cameras (even one as advanced as this particular model) are very easy to get the hang of after a bit of practice. If you're at all interested in this camera, I say go for it. I'm VERY pleased with mine, however, as I said, it may be a little much for the casual picture taker.

I have used the Kodak Z740 for several years. It is a great camera and it was going to take a lot for me to upgrade. The Z981 has exactly the added features I wanted. It has anti-shake technology, a higher zoom than the Z 740 and still runs on AA batteries. It also takes panoramic pictures, which I really like.

It is a little bigger and heaver than my old camera, but ONLY a little. So, even with the zoom lens fully extended, I have no trouble holding it steadily. It is comfortable in my hands and I like the ergonomics. The buttons are easy to press, while I am looking through the viewfinder. Through its entire range, from wide angle, to 26x zoom, its pictures are crisp.

Some reviewers have said that the battery door is hard to close. It is a bit difficult, but I am a middle-aged woman and can close it with just my hands. So I do not consider this a problem.

It is not hard to start taking good pictures with this camera. But it does quite a lot, so I do recommend reading the extended user manual on line. I took some shots of water drops coming from a garden hose, to test the burst mode. They came out crystal clear.

I am very happy with this purchase. I can't wait to get out and do some nature photography.

I've been shopping around trying to decide between the Nikon P100 and another Olympus. I was even considering going DSLR but frankly I don't need another expensive hobby. Let me just say that the Z981 is AWESOME and performs better than I expected. I like to think that I'm very hard on electronics and I won't keep something if I have any issues with it. In fact I'm on my 3rd 2010 TV right now because of various issues I've had with them. Anyway, we're talking about the camera here: The pictures have beautiful color. The zoom is unbelievable and the image stabilization is outstanding. I have an extremely shaky hand and it corrects this for me without a problem. Video quality is fabulous as well but this would be my only complaint... The auto focus motor and zoom motor can be heard fairly well if you're in a normal setting. I'm not docking the camera any points for this because it's not a video camera. It's a mega zoom camera and it does that part quite well. I've heard complaints about the battery compartment but I really don't have any issues with it at all. It's definitely a tight fit but it's not a frustrating fit at all. The camera can be a tad slow at processing between shots but if you get a faster SDHC card the time is greatly reduced and a joy to work with. The price can't be touched for what you're getting here and I would have gladly paid the full $329 after using this camera for a week. Kodak uses .KDC file format for raw and unfortunately I can't find a good windows plugin so I'm forced to use the Easyshare software for RAW images. That's not a big deal for me because the JPG in full detail is simply amazing. 14mp pictures come in around 7.5mb compared to 25mb for the raw. I just don't see how anyone can argue with the quality of the pictures this camera takes and the incredible Zoom functionality. Even at full zoom you can crop a picture without losing (visible) detail. I can't say it enough, this camera is incredibly perfect for someone who wants to take amazing pictures without going with a $800 DSLR. I'd be very curious to see side by side comparison shots with any entry to mid level DSLR vs. this camera because I just can't see it getting much better. I will be posting user pics later. One of a golf ball up close, a falcon on the light post outside and some flowers. I almost forgot... The macro and super macro modes are phenomenal. If you're on the fence, go for it! You won't be disappointed.

First Impressions
When the camera arrived, I opened it immediately. My general test for items of this ilk is this: can I mostly operate it, i.e., use the basic features, without looking at the manual. The Kodak Z981 is very intuitive and I was snapping, viewing and deleting pictures in a matter of minutes. For me, the camera layout is very logical.

I'm a real estate appraiser and I appraise a lot of rural properties, so the high zoom feature is an important consideration. To test this feature, I stepped outside, went to full zoom on a tree 50 yards away, and snapped a picture. The stabilization feature worked great, and in the LCD display I could see the alligator bark features of the ponderosa.

Since I was on my way out to drive a few comparables, I decided I would give the camera a field test. Installing the camera strap was not as straightforward, so I tucked my tail between my legs and looked at the manual. After several aborted attempts, (spatial relationships are not my forte) I had the strap and lens cap installed. The manual provides one drawing and virtually no narrative, so for me it was a trial and error process.

Out in the field, i.e., the neighborhood, I started photographing homes. At one home the camera would not turn on. However, I'd read a number of reviews and was aware of the battery compartment lock issue. I opened, closed, and relocked the battery door and the camera worked again, and I never had a reoccurrence of this problem.

After taking my final photo, the eighth picture, I receive a message that the camera was out of memory. I was aware that the camera has 64 MB of internal memory and uses an SD card for most of the storage. Still, I'd determined that at maximum resolution the internal memory could store about eight pictures. My SD card was shipped separately and did not arrive until the next day.

At the office, I downloaded the pictures, inserted them into the report, and compared them with photos from my old Olympus ultra zoom. The appraisal software that I use has an algorithm that pares down the picture's file size for use in the report; otherwise, the file size of the report would be unmanageable. And here's the thing, the Kodak pictures were significantly better, even in the pared down state.

For the most part, the only pictures I take are job related, which probably total 7,500 photos a year. While I do a lot of shooting, I'm not a shutterbug. That is, I know nothing about things like picture noise, saturation, and the other arcane words I've read in camera reviews. I only know what I think looks good in my reports, and the Kodak photos look great.

What Others Said
A number of reviews have been critical of the camera's plastic construction, layout, the use of AA batteries rather than a more powerful proprietary battery, and the locking feature. Here are my views on these issues:

1. Plastic Construction - To me the camera is solid and with its zoom feature is rather weighty. I would hate to have more weight around my neck just to have metal construction.

2. Layout - The layout is different than my old camera, still I did not find any feature untenable. In a short period of time, I'm sure anyone can adjust to the layout.

3. AA Batteries - I would never own a camera with proprietary batteries. If I forget to recharge my batteries, and midway through an inspection my camera goes dark, I can be up and running again in less than five minutes with off-the-shelf AA backup batteries. One thing I liked a lot is the big LCD display. It helps me frame a so-called "keeper" without any subsequent editing. The one thing I noticed is that the big display uses battery power at a much greater rate. There are low-power display options that mitigate this issue somewhat.

4. Locking Feature - This complaint is real. In the first hour of use, some minor camera jostling loosened the connection of one or more of the batteries, which caused the camera to turn off. I opened and closed the battery lid and the camera worked again. Many of the electronic miracles that grace our everyday lives have their own special idiosyncrasies. The real question is the frequency of abnormality. If it happens once a month or less, I'd probably put up with it; however, once a week would be completely unacceptable.

The difficulty with locking the battery door is also real. It requires some degree of adroitness and strength. I'm very purposeful in determining the way something works best, and I never discovered a technique that would work consistently. This could be a real pain, if one uses a card reader rather then connecting the camera to the computer. This is because the SD card is in the battery compartment.

The Deal Killer
Ultimately, I had to return the camera. I was almost willing to compromise on a number of issues until I discovered Kodak's protocol for numbering the files. The camera starts numbering the files on the SD card from 000_001.jpeg to presumably 999_999.jpeg. Even if the SD card is reformatted, the number continues from the last picture taken. However, after formatting the SD card and/or the internal memory, the picture number displayed on the LCD screen restarts with "1."

In short, there is absolutely no correlation between the number displayed on the LCD screen and the number recorded on the SD card, and this absolutely, positively does not work for me; there is no room for compromise here. If I'm out in the desert of Eastern Oregon appraising 160 acres of vacant land, I need a number method of documenting each picture, since one stretch of sagebrush looks about the same as the next.

When I discovered the numbering issue, I seriously dug into the manual, since I was sure there was something that I had missed. Next, I contacted technical support somewhere in the Middle East, and after some discussion in making sure the tech person understood the issue, I was put on hold while he kibitzed with his supervisor. When he came back on the line, he assured me that this is how the camera works, and there is no way to change it.

As an explanation, he said it was designed this way so that it is impossible to write over a previously downloaded picture. It was in a tone like he was almost warning me of this peril. Since there were the typical language problems of understanding each other, I decided to not discuss separate file folders and subdirectories.

I noticed that Kodak has designed a lot of features that assist one with file sharing, tagging, transferring, etc. for the cyber-challenged. I work with a lot of seniors on computer issues, and I think their major weakness is file management. So for this type of user, the camera file system is a good feature. It's just too bad that Kodak didn't provide other options. I'm now considering the Olympus SP-590UZ. Since the act of looking for a camera, computer, cell phone, etc. is the fun part, let the games begin.

My wife and I finally decided to upgrade from our point and shoot camera. We wanted to get a camera that would take great pictures of our 10 month old son. We consulted my wife's sister who owns a Nikon D700. Of course she suggested that we purchase a Nikon D5000, or at least the the D3000. I am so glad that we purchased this camera which is far less complicated and in my opinion took just as incredible pictures as the more expensive DSLR cameras.

We've had the camera for about a week now and have had a chance to load the pictures we took from our trip to Vegas onto our computer. Boy are the pics STUNNING. We were able to take over 900 pictures on a 8 GB HC memory card(which also includes more than a few videos). The pics on the computer come out in 420 dpi and the clarity is jut amazing. Portrait pics of my son (especially the ones taken in black & white) come out looking like they were taken by a professional photographer (something we could not get from our point and shoot). The batteries lasted us the whole weekend, and when they finally did need to be recharged, it only took about an hour to get a full charge.

We absolutely love the high-speed burst feature. We used the feature while taken pics of the Fountains at the Bellagio. It's fun to hold down the left or right button while viewing taken pics on the 3 inch lcd, it almost looked like we were watching a slow motion video of the fountains. Even though it was night time, the pictures still came out incredible (again something you can't get on a point and shoot)

There are a lot more options I have to play with to familiarize myself more with the camera. Like any guy, I have not read the manual at all yet. This speaks volumes for this camera. Its easy to take amazing pictures without having to take classes or read an outrages manual. I recommend this camera to anyone who is wanting to take better pictures without having to spend an entire paycheck to do so.

I am not a photography person...but after buying this camera, I might become one!

My photography-taking ability has always been limited to taking pictures of my cats or myself for facebook. I am not an authority on cameras at all.

However, I am a beginner and if you look at the pictures I uploaded here you will see just what a complete novice can do with this camera!

The specs sounded very good to me and camera-people I know seemed impressed so I was willing to spend (for me) a hefty amount for this beauty. I tested it out at night (as soon as I got it) and was genuinely amazed at the quality of the pictures.

So lets start with the negatives:

- Kodak does not seem to be very interested in teaching their customers how to actually use their products! The little book that comes with it basically identifies all the little buttons but in no way tells you how to use them, how to combine them or what picture quality will come from said combinations or uses. It focuses mostly on the Sharing ability (which for me is useless...I will not blindly upload my entire inventory of photos onto facebook. I prefer to view, study and select them myself thank you)
- The extended guide online is mostly more of the same. I was hoping for a "if you do this you will get this picture" etc. Unfortunately the guide merely describes some technical specs about each feature but unless you know what those specs mean - its not very helpful. There is even an interactive guide...that repeats the same info but does not tell you what to do with that information.
- The link given in the book also takes you to Kodak's general search forum and you then have to search for your camera's stuff which is not very clear.
- When you plug the camera into your computer it obsessively wants you to sign up for the share option. It doesn't give you the option to opt out. You have to manually close it out each time which annoys me. I like that you are so excited about your addons...but I should be able to choose it myself.

The Camera itself:
- The negative things so far seem to be the sophistication of the camera itself. It is easy to get lost in the features. I stumbled upon the pictures I took while flipping through options until I got it right. It is very learn-as-you-go.
- I wish it would be more clear how fast the shutter speed/flash is with different options. Sometimes the shutter speed is wicked fast and sometimes it takes a moment while the camera focuses. It just depends on what function you take the picture in.
- When it comes out of the box it has a stupid little noise for every action. You can turn them all off.
- If you are not used to this level of detail you may get a rude awakening the first time you do a self-pic. Oy. I had no idea. Remember...this camera picks up EVERY DETAIL...the fuzziness of older/cheaper cameras may have been a blessing in disguise for some of us. Just sayin.

Negative things other reviewers have said:
- "Its too hard to close the battery case." Its a tad tough...not difficult. I honestly don't know what all the kvetching is about. It closes tight - which is a positive.
- "The picture review takes too long in between pictures." The camera has several fast-picture options if you are trying to capture several things at once - otherwise the time lag isn't noticeable. If you touch any button on the camera it immediately returns to the picture-taking mode so if you push the shutter down slightly it will set up instantly for the next picture.
- "Its too noisy when it focuses." I didn't notice that at all.
- "The on-off button is too close to the select button." This is just silly. I have big hands and you just have to be paying attention. If you do happen to move the circle - just put it back.


Positives:
- Amazingly clear and sharp pictures. When it focuses the pictures come out with details I never noticed on the item itself. I blows my mind everytime I get a good a picture just how fantastic it is. It almost cheapens all the picture art I see because now I can reproduce all of it!
- While it takes some figuring out, once you get the button pattern down it is amazing how quickly you can go from taking a sky shot to capturing the tip of a small flower.
- The flash at night makes it look like mid-day. Everything shows up with no color distortion.
- The design allows you to securely feel the camera while aiming at things. It doesn't feel like its about to slip from your hands.
- The shutter speed is so helpful. While reading reviews I kept scanning for this detail. Every other camera I have ever had took like 30 seconds to take a picture and my cats would always move by the time I got it to take. This camera really snaps quickly. Even when it lags due to focusing in some of the modes it is still very fast. Also if you click the shutter several times it will queue it up and take them immediately after.
- It really feels like there are a million things to do with this camera and I love exploring the options. It really is not limited at all.


Tip
- Turn it to macro (the little flower button) while in the M mode (on the wheel) and pour some water on a small plant and get in close...its breathtaking.


I am a big fan of detailed pictures of small things. I love shadows and angles and I always hated that my other cameras limited this. I really feel like this camera opens up doors to what I can now do.

The price is unbeatable. Period.

I got this as an upgrade to my z612. I haven't used it much yet, but so far I love it! The zoom is fantastic and so is the flash.

I zoomed into a table in a room that was 20 feet away and dark. The flash lit the entire image and worked great!FROM 20 FEET AWAY!

Image stabilization is great and so is image quality. I am very happy with the speed of the camera. Much faster than the z612 and I really like to burst feature (1 per second or 8 per second (might be 9 there)).

No problems with the battery compartment opening. It is tight, but do you want it too loose?

They seemed to have dumbed down settings on this camera also. Only those that effect the mode for shooting you are in are available to change. So in automatic mode very limited settings for the camera are accessible, but in other modes you can access quality and more.

Two things I don't like: 1. I had to print the "real" manual from a download. I want a small manual from kodak to keep with me in case I have to look something up. They have an onboard help system, but I want a manual.

Also, the on/off switch is very close to the mode dial. It is usable, but my z612 had some more space and was easier to access.

Overall, I am very pleased.

I pre-ordered the Z981 and received it promptly upon release. I am very happy with this camera. As with any change from one brand and model to another, I had to acclimate to the location of controls, experiment with exposure options, etc. Well worth it.

Kodak has placed the functions you use most often in actually taking photographs right under your fingertip with a toggle button. NO NEED TO HUNT THROUGH MENUS TRYING TO REMEMBER WHERE THEY HID THE THING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR.

I have put the extra grip on the camera and I highly recommend using it since it INCREASES STABILITY and makes it easier to avoid moving the camera when you push the shutter button.

It might be nice to have a screen that you can tilt - However, it's one less thing to break when I am photographing while dog walking, and the price of the camera is so good that I'll put up with missing a couple of luxuries.

I am not a kid and have some odd vision problems - I was concerned about the lack of a diopter adjustment on the viewfinder. I can take my glasses off and use the viewfinder with no problem at all. Don't ask me why or how. I don't know, but I think you don't need the diopter adjustment on this camera. My last camera had a diopter adjustment which had to be adjusted properly for me to see.

No way to attach filters - you can hold a polarizer if you need it. The color intensity is good without it. Sometimes I want to penetrate water surfaces for images. I thought this would bother me a lot more than it is.

The viewfinder is good, and I have found it helps holding the camera steady to use the viewfinder for wildlife shots - not always my choice, but sometimes.

I am learning to love this camera - The design of the dials, toggle switch, and menus is enabling me to enjoy photography as I did when I was using 35 mm and had a camera with controls under your fingertips. For the first time since I have switched to digital photography, I can concentrate on the photography instead of concentrating on manipulating menus looking for settings.

No need to carry the manual with you to find stuff. Shutter priority, aperture priority, and manual are all easy to use - especially easy due to the toggle switch. You might want to read a couple of photo books if you are a novice to gain information to enable you to use these areas effectively. I don't mean the camera operation. I mean the knowledge of photography principles to enable you to use the many capabilities this camera offers.

Kodak has left off a hot shoe - However the camera's flash is reasonably powerful for most stuff, and while a hot shoe would be nice, you can put a flash on a bracket which you can adapt to trigger when your flash fires. I actually have another camera with the dedicated larger flash, and I found that I rarely use it - a change from 35 mm when I used the larger dedicated flash a lot. It's often easier to adjust the camera to use available light.

Things are well placed, the camera is working well - the convenience of the controls is exceptional. The price is excellent. The good zoom with no extra lenses and attachments is a major convenience.

A little practice to become accustomed to a different camera than I was using, a lot of fun, some very good pictures (I do a lot of wildlife and nature stuff) - the manual focus works well when you need it. You need to check your photo style to pick your metering preference - A change in metering preference can affect your results. I only use the continuous auto-focus rarely - mostly that is a battery hog and a distraction.

There is minimal lag time between photo capture and shutter release, which is a great benefit in getting the shot you thought you saw -

If you are a raw novice, there is a "simple" button. The camera will evaluate the scene and set itself. You can start right off with that setting without knowing much and learn as you go how to use the other capabilities available.

I love this camera and highly recommend it to anyone considering it, beginner or advanced. While it may not have every base covered for filters and flash add-ons, the price of this very versatile camera is pretty attractive, too. It has amazing flexibility for the price, and since I am retired and on a fixed income, price is important - especially in this economy. A very good choice for convenience, varied capabilities, good price.

i purchased this camera specifically to take on a cruise to alaska because of the 26x zoom, it is a wonderful camera, easy to use in the auto mode. and if you read the manual and practice the other modes are just as easy, i used the scn setting on it coupled with the 26x zoom and got hundreds of beautiful pictures of wildlife that was very very far away and was amazed at the outcome, i used the stabilizing feature and this worked great when i was zoomed out fully to 26x and with the digital zoom maxed out. the stitching feature is very impressive you can do lots of differant things with it, my son has a nikon digital slr and this z981 does just as good a job as it does, the price of this camera with the 8g card was an incredible deal.