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. Kodak EasyShare Z981 14MP Digital Camera with Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon 26x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens and 3.0 Inch LCD
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. - Kodak - Superzoom - Super Zoom - Photography'
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