Announced at CES in January 2006, the EasyShare Z650 replaces the Z740 at the top of the Kodak's affordable super zoom range, and offers a lower cost, lower specified alternative to the 'professional' P850. The changes over the previous model are fairly modest; the pixel count increases from 5 to 6MP and the lens is now a Schneider Variogon (as opposed to the Z740's Kodak Retinar) - though it looks suspiciously similar. The new model also gets a bigger (though lower resolution) LCD screen, a few new scene modes and a live histogram. It may have a budget price, but the Z650 boasts a comprehensive set of shooting options and Kodak's famous ease of use, though it is one of the few models in this class not to offer any form of image stabilization.
- Schneider Kreuznach Variogon (38-380mm equiv.) 10x optical zoom lens
- 6.0 million effective pixels
- Exclusive Kodak Color Science Image Processing Chip
- 2.0" indoor/outdoor display
- High resolution Electronic viewfinder
- Manual and semi-automatic controls
- High-speed, low-light auto focus
- 17 scene modes
- One-touch simple sharing
- MPEG movie recording
Kodak EasyShare Z650 vs Z740 (main differences)
Aside from the obligatory resolution and screen size increase the changes are minor - though some are very welcome (finer AE compensation steps, live histogram). Externally the two cameras are very very similar (save for the bigger screen and the different badge on the lens).
 EasyShare Z650 |
 EasyShare Z740 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Lens | • 10x (38-380mm equiv) • Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon |
• 10x (38-380mm equiv) • Kodak Retinar |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" CCD • 6.1 million pixels total |
• 1/2.5" CCD • 5.4 million pixels total |
| LCD Screen Size | • 2.0-inch • 110,000 pixels |
• 1.8-inch • 134,000 pixels |
| Scene modes | 17 | 14 |
| Live Histogram | Yes | No |
| AE Compensation | + / - 2.0 EV in 0.3 EV steps | + / - 2.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps |
| Autofocus | • Multi-zone • Center-Zone |
• Multi-zone • Center-Zone • Selectable-Zone |
| Burst Mode | first burst: 2.5 fps, up to 4 pictures; last burst: 2 fps, saves last 3 pictures | first burst: 2 fps, up to 4 pictures; last burst: 2 fps up to 4 pictures |
Kodak EasyShare Z650 key specifications
| Street price | • US: $310 • UK: £190 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/2.5" CCD • 6.1 million pixels total • 6.0 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 2832 x 2128 |
| Movie clips | • 640 x 480 (11 fps) • 320 x 240 (20 fps) • up to 120 mins depending on the size of the memory card |
| Lens | • 38-380mm equiv.(10x zoom) |
| Focus | • TTL-AF: auto, multi zone and center spot |
| Shooting mode | • Auto |
| Sensitivity | • Auto ISO 80- 160 • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 (only available in 1.7MP picture quality) |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Tungsten • Fluorescent (available only in PASM) • Open Shade |
| Metering | • TTL-AE • Multi-pattern • Center-weighted (PASM modes only) • Center-spot |
| Image parameters | • Color: High, natural, low (saturation) |
| Continuous | • First: 2.5 fps up to 4 images (AE, AF, AWB executed) • Last: 2.5 fps up to 3 frames |
| Flash | • Built-in pop-up • Modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction, On/Off • Range: (wide) 0.6 - 4.9 m, (tele) 2 - 3.7 m • +/- 2.0 EV in 0.5 EV steps |
| Storage | • SD/MMC card • 32MB internal memory |
| Viewfinder | • EVF • 201,000 pixels |
| LCD monitor | • 2.0" TFT LCD • 110,000 pixels |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 • NTSC/PAL • EasyShare camera dock or printer dock |
| Power | • CRV3, Kodak NiMH battery KAA2HR or 2x AA NiMH |
| In the box* | • Kodak EasyShare Z650 camera |
| Other features | • PictBridge |
| Weight (inc batt) | 287 g (10.1 oz) |
| Dimensions | 97.8 x 77.5 x 72.6 mm (3.9 x 3.1 x 2.9 in) |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area.
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