In addition, the Z915 also has a "Smart Capture" feature, which "which analyzes scenes and adjusts camera settings to automatically deliver beautiful pictures" (ummm...auto mode?), and a 2.5-inch screen, for reviewing the fruits of your labor. The camera will be available in April for $200 and will come in Red, Grey, Blue and Black color options.

New Digital Camera from Kodak delivers high-zoom, high-resolution performance in a compact design

Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature delivers beautiful pictures automatically

Rochester, NY, March 3, 2009 - Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK) today introduced a new addition to its versatile line of digital cameras: the KODAK EASYSHARE Z915, featuring a powerful image stabilized 10X optical zoom lens and Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature that consistently delivers high quality images.

The new camera debuted at Kodak's booth at the 2009 PMA International Convention and Trade Show in Las Vegas (booth F200, South Hall).

The KODAK EASYSHARE Z915 Digital Camera enables avid picture takers to easily capture crisp long-distance shots with a 10X image-stabilized optical zoom lens. The Z915 also offers fast click-to-capture performance and Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature, which automatically detects the scene being shot and adjusts camera settings to capture the best image possible. Smart Capture also automatically applies KODAK PERFECT TOUCH processing to enhance highlight and shadow areas.

Lightweight and compact, the Z915 is available in a variety of colors: red, blue, black and gray.

"The new Z915 is a versatile camera that's ideal for families on the go, making it ideal for consumers who want more zoom but don't want a bulky camera," said John Blake, General Manager Digital Capture and Devices, Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. "With its combination of Smart Capture and high zoom with optical image stabilization, the Z915 stands out in a fast-growing product category, and delivers great performance to consumers who are looking for new ways to advance their digital photography experience."
The new KODAK EASYSHARE Z915 Digital Camera offers:

* 10X image stabilized optical zoom lens;
* Kodak's innovative Smart Capture feature, which analyzes scenes and adjusts camera settings to automatically deliver beautiful pictures;
* HD picture capture;
* 10 MP for prints up to 30"x40";
* Versatile AA battery solution in a compact and stylish body;
* Bright and detail-rich 2.5-inch indoor/outdoor color display;

* Compatible with KODAK SDHC/SD Memory Cards;

* Color options include red, blue, black and gray;
* Available at US$199.95 MSRP from April, 2009.

Accessories

A range of accessories will be available for the new KODAK EASYSHARE Z915 Digital Camera, including KODAK Ni-MH AA Rechargeable Digital Camera Batteries and battery charger kits; KODAK SD and SDHC High Performance Memory Cards; KODAK Camera Bags and cases, and much more.

Kodak EasyShare M853 ($150 , 8.2MP) - The Best UI
The Good: The UI is clean and straightforward. On-screen menus explain the different options very clearly. The color in outdoor, well-lit settings was very accurate. Macro shots were clear.
The Bad: For such a great UI, I was surprised at the mediocrity of certain features. The most problematic issue I found was the M853 wouldn't mount to my Mac. Neither iPhoto nor Image Capture recognized it as a USB mass-storage device. The display is too small to get a decent field of vision. There are few options for taking manual shots, and the buttons used for these limited options aren't labeled. The M853 had the worst battery life of any camera I tried. Low light/no flash situations yielded poor pictures.
The Verdict: A beginner will be taking pictures right away, but it's not worth the frustration that comes later.

Nikon CoolPix L18 ($140 , 8MP) - The Easiest to Use
The Good: The CoolPix is so simple that it pretty much has two modes: Auto and Easy Auto. No pure manual mode exists, but there are some scene options available if you need something more specific. Outdoor pictures as well as close up macro shots looked good. Most of all, I really loved the 3" LCD display—larger than any other I tested.
The Bad: It may be too simple for people who like to tinker with their shots. You can adjust exposure and ISO, but the options don't help very much and you may not have as much control over your pictures as you'd like. Low light shots came out very blurry. I am not fans of AA batteries in cameras, and this one takes two.
The Verdict: This camera is a no-brainer for those with no-brains. It's pretty much the digital equivalent of a disposable camera—decent pictures for a decent price.

Canon PowerShot A580 ($150 , 8MP) - The No-Frills Camera
The Good: This camera takes pictures and it takes them well. Outdoor pictures came out bright and colorful, and turned out best when we were able to get a clear shot of the subject without background distractions. Manual options are comprehensive and show changes live, allowing you to see your alterations. The A580 took the clearest pictures of any of the cameras in dim light/flash free situations.
The Bad: It's bulky and unattractive. Pictures taken from a distance were out of focus and came out bad. The UI is cumbersome. Indoor, well-lit, no flash macro shots did not come out well (though maybe that's asking too much). It too runs on AAs, which I have avoided buying since 2002.
The Verdict: If you want the best pictures you can get in this price range, the A580 is a good choice. If you want to win the $150-and-under point-and-shoot beauty contest, you better keep shopping.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S750 ($150 , 7.2MP) - The Fiddler's Delight
The Good: Pictures on the S750 turned out bright and crisp. Outdoor shots looked good, and so did indoor macro shots. Plenty of manual options put you in control of the pictures you take.
The Bad: It helps to have some experience with digital cameras if you want to get the most out of the Cyber-shot. The auto mode is fine, but the manual options are the stars of the show. The scene modes are few and located on the camera dial itself, not a menu, adding some awkwardness. Low light shots were blurry. It uses Sony's proprietary Memory Stick, and not SD, a big no-no in my book.
The Verdict: The Cyber-shot is a very complete camera, it takes good pictures in different situations, has many options as well as a solid UI. I think it's worth learning all of the features on the camera; after all, this will be an investment, and it could improve my photo-taking skills.

GE A735 ($100, 7MP) - The Cheapest
The Good: The A735 is seriously cheap—$40 to $50 less than the rest—and holds its own when it comes to features. Manual mode is full of options. Bright light pictures had rich, deep colors.
The Bad: Most pictures didn't come out well and were very dark. Indoor and low-light situations were blurry and unfocused. The UI is a mess, way too many options and not easy to figure out. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't want no stinking AA batteries!
The Verdict: If you're super-broke, wait until you save up some more and get something nicer than this. It will take pictures, but you won't be happy with most of them.

The Final Word: Point-and-shoots in this price range will never be masterful at taking great pictures. However, if you don't have the money or desire to make the DSLR investment, or even spring for the next step up, you don't have to be stuck with junky pictures or a junky camera. There are different things I liked about each one I tested, especially the screen on the Nikon and the picture quality of the Canon. But for the best all around package, I'd spend my hard-earned $150 on the Cyber-shot DSC-S750.

There's a slideshow function, you can edit images, transfer your pics to a USB drive, print pics out via a connected printer and charge your camera battery. Not all at the same time, though. Available in October, the dock will cost $99. [Kodak]

The Z812 IS Megazoom
12 x optical zoom
Schneider Dreuznach Variogon lens
Optical Image Stabilization
0.23-second click-to-capture delay
8 Megapixels

The V1233 Easyzoom
12 Megapixels
4,000 x 3,000 pixels
720p resolution video
2.5-inch LCD color display
Schneider-Kreuznach lens
5 x optical zoom
Face detection technology
Automatic focus and metering

The V1253 Easyzoom
12 Megapixel
720p resolution video
3.1-inch widescreen color LCD display
Kodak Color Science Chip
Schneider-Kreuznach lens
5 x digital zoom
Face detection technology
automatic focus and metering

No prices yet, but expect to see them at IFA. [Let's Go Digital via i4U]

No, don't ask me why this new Kodak makes me think of Krusty's footwear, but I think it has something to do with its oversimplified roundness. The 12x zoom has got quite a reach on it as well. A quick list of features include: Shutter lag of 0.26 secs; 7.1 Megapixels; High ISO; Image Stabilization. What it is missing: a buttonhole that squirts water at your friends, but what do you expect for $299? There's another pic after the jump.

– Ad Dugdale

Kodak announce Z712 IS, Z885, C613 and C763 compacts [Photography Press]

That's the 5500 above, the king of the road. It prints, scans, copies. It has PictBridge, memory card slots and a 2.4 inch LCD for editing on the spot, a fax, document feeder and duplexer. Cadillac style, man.

Then there's the 5100 and 5300.

Kodak EasyShare 5100
-$149
-prints, scans, and copies
-PictBridge-enabled
-32ppm in black and 22 ppm in color

Kodak EasyShare 5300
-$199
-same features as the 5100, but adds memory card slots and a 3-inch LCD for editing your photos

They'll be available in March. And I can't believe we have printer lust.–Brian Lam

Kodak's new printers [Kodak]

We're not crazy about its paltry 2-inch viewscreen, but at that low price for all that lens glass, who's complaining? Besides, we're finding its rather odd appearance strangely attractive. Look for it to ship in the US around the first of November. – Charlie White

Kodak Easyshare Z710 [DP Review]

The EasyShare C875 has an 8-megapixel image sensor and 5x optical sensor and was touted by Kodak execs as being very easy to use. It has a neat feature that recognizes facial features and then attempts to track the subject's face. This seemed to work well enough when it was demonstrated and is sure to be a hit among the drunken youth of America who are often too hammered to properly take photos. There's also a smart scene mode that automatically chooses the best settings depending on the shooting location.

Both cameras share a few features between them, including Kodak Perfect Touch, which, surprisingly, is supposed to lead to better looking pictures. Jump for a picture of the dual lens V750.

The Kodak EasyShare V705 should be available this September while the C875 should be at the end of this month. The V705 will carry a price tag of $349.95 and the C875 will hover around $299.95 . – Nicholas Deleon

Kodak Home Page [Kodak]

The C875 is the highest of Kodak's C point-and-shoot series in terms of megapixels. Its 5x zoom is fairly decent as well for a compact-body camera. No official announcement from Kodak yet, but it's 249.99 ($464) from Argos.

Product Page [Argos via Digicam Review]

Kodak EasyShare C875 [Fotocentraal]

Kodak's line of EasyShare cameras also allow you to transfer photos without the aid of a computer. Looks like making it easy for non-technical people to show off their shots to their friends is the way to go. Watch for more companies to hop on this idea.

Nokia supports Flickr directly [Phoneyworld]

The scanning will probably take place at Kodak kiosks using repurposed check-scanning machines which can test paper types and various other factors as they suck in your old pictures.

In addition, they also plan to add GPS functionality to their EasyShare V610 with Bluetooth.

Kodak Focuses on Sifting Pix
[Wired.com]

Rounding out the list of the new intros are the V603, which is more compact than its Z612 sibling but also has a 6.1-megapixel chip on board. Its Schneider-Kreuznach lens can zoom in 3x, and it has a 2.5 inch LCD viewfinder. It will be $299 and is also shipping in April.

The 5-megapixel C-533 is a lower-priced($199) camera that will be available in June, and the $249 C643 fits in between the low and midrange markets with 6.1 megapixels and a 3x optical zoom, along with a 2.4-inch LCD display. It will be available in April.

New Kodak Easyshare V603, Z612, C643 and C533 [14U News]

The EasyShare V603 is also a 6.1-megapixel camera with a slightly larger 2.5-inch LCD viewfinder. It adds 640x480 MPEG-4 video capability at 30 frames per second and will sell for $299 in April. The fourth model to be introduced today is the EasyShare Z612, whose claim to fame is a 12x optical zoom lens by Schneider-Kreuznach. Also priced at $299, it s a 6-megapixel camera with a 2.5 inch viewfinder and 640x480 video capability.

Kodak: Four new digicams [Imaging Resource via Engadget]

After Kodak's first big push into WiFi-enabled cameras with the EasyShare One, the company has decided to add another product to the line, this time even less expensive at $168. With 5 megapixels, 36mm fixed focal lens, digital zoom, 16MB of internal storage and an SD/MMC card slot for added storage, the C530 is easy to use and a great entry point for those who want to use Kodak's wireless thingy. Also captures MPEG-4 video.

Kodak EasyShare C530 [Bios Magazine]

Specs and pricing for Kodak EasyShare products [Amazon]

Customers will receive a complimentary trial service with Hotspot provider T-Mobile which has more than 12,000 hotspots world-wide.

So this is like two Stegosaurii mating! It's beautiful. Nature finds a way. Anyway, standard specs: 4-megapixels, 3X optical zoom, and a $599 price point. Will it save Kodak? Ehh. Is it a step in the right direction? Yeah.

Kodak Ships First WiFi Digital Camera [DesignTechnica]