Kodak EASYSHARE C743 7.0 Megapixel

Pros:compact size, fast image storage after click, powered by alkaline batteries, value priced
Cons:poor low light performance; no image stabilization

I tried taking pictures in low light conditions with every variation of scene mode and aperture. Each and every time the picture blur indicator came on and the picture looked blurry. My point-and-shoot regular film camera took fine pictures in identical light conditions. I am planning on returning this camera and getting one with image stabilization - that might work better

KODAK'S EASY SHARE C743 7.O MEGAPIXEL CAMERA IS AN AVERAGE DIGITAL CAMERA. IF YOU ARE SIMPLY TAKING PHOTOS OF THE KIDS AT PLAY OR SOME BIRTHDAY PARTY THIS CAMERA PROBABLY WILL FIT THE BILL FOR YOU. HOWEVER, IF YOU NEED GOOD, CLEAR CLOSE-UP PHOTOS OF AN OBJECT FOR EITHER ON-LINE SALES OR SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU LIKE TO PHOTOGRAPH FLOWERS OR SMALL OBJECTS THIS CAMERA WILL FALL SHORT. THE FIXED FOCAL LENGTH IS ABOUT 3 FEET ON THIS CAMERA. THIS MEANS YOU CAN NOT GET ANY CLOSER TO THE OBJECT AND STILL GET IT TO PROPERLY FOCUS. FOR DETAILED WORK THE AUTO FOCUS IS A HINDRANCE AND EVEN IN THE ZOOM MODE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO LOCK DOWN ON YOUR SUBJECT WELL ENOUGH TO CREATE THE SHOT YOU MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR. THE FOCUS BLURS MAKING A GREEN LIGHT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE AND ONCE ACHIEVED THERE WILL STILL BE A WHOLE LOT OF WHITE SPACE IN THE SURROUNDING AREA OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPH.

CROPPING PROGRAMS OFTEN FAIL TO PROVIDE CLARITY NEEDED DESPITE THE 7.0 MEGAPIXELS THE CAMERA BOASTS. I FOUND THE ENERGY SAVING FEATURE - OR THE TIME YOU HAVE BEFORE THE CAMERA SHUTS DOWN ON ITS OWN TO SAVE POWER - TO BE INEFFICIENT. IN FACT, AFTER ABOUT 5 PHOTOGRAPHS IT SHUT DOWN ON ME CONSISTENTLY AND I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE OFF POSITION AND RESET THE POWER BUTTON THEN REST THE MODE I WAS USING, MAKING IT IMPRACTICAL. I FOUND THE FLASH TOO BRIGHT AND DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF. THE CAMERA CAN NOT TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OBJECT YOU ARE WANTING TO SHOOT FROM BACKGROUND ITEMS, TENDING TO FOCUS ON WHATEVER WAS THE CLOSEST TO IT.

THE CLOSE UP MODE, IDENTIFIED BY A FLOWER HELPS SOME IN THE DETAILED CLOSE-UPS YOU MIGHT WANT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART IS A WASTE OF TIME AND IS NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN AN AUTO FOCUS SETTING WITH ZOOM. LIKEWISE THE ACTION SETTING IS JUST ANOTHER EYE WASH ITEM THAT HAS NO REAL FUNCTION. THE NIGHT FOCUS WAS FOUND TO BE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER SETTING, AND IN GENERAL,I FOUND THE EXTRA SETTINGS TO BE A WASTE OF TIME. EVERYTHING WORKS ON THE SAME INTERNAL AUTO FOCUS FORMAT REGARDLESS OF SETTING. THERE IS NO MANUAL FOCUS ON THE CAMERA MAKING ALL THE OTHER BELLS AND WHISTLES POINTLESS OTHER THAN TO SAY THE CAMERA HAS LOTS OF EXTRA FEATURES!

ON THE MEGA-DOWNSIDE, AND I MEAN A MEGA-DOWNSIDE, THIS CAMERA REQUIRES A DOCKING STATION FOR RE-CHARGING. A NON-REPLACEABLE SB CORD IS SOMETIMES SUPPLIED FOR THIS, BUT THE RECHARGE TIME USING IT IS AMPLIFIED. MY DOCKING STATION HAD A LIFE OF ABOUT ONE YEAR. AFTER THIS TME IS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING WITHOUT WARNING. REPLACEMENT COST FOR A NEW CHARGER IS IN THE $100.00 RANGE. A NEW DOCK AND CAMERA IS BETWEEN $150.00 - $200.00. ON TOP OF THIS I ALSO DISCOVERED THE BATTERY IS INTERNAL AND NOT REPLACEABLE, WHICH LEAVES ME TO WONDER WHAT IS THE ACTUAL BATTERY LIFE IF THE CHARGER IS ONLY A YEAR? I DON'T KNOW. AFTER WEIGHING THE COSTS, I REPLACED IT WITH A FUJI FINEPIX S700 THAT USED ALKALINE BATTERIES FOR COSTS SIMILAR TO A TOTAL REPLACEMENT OF THE EASY SHARE. I WOULD SUGGEST THE INTERNAL BATTERY LIFE IS PROBABLY NOT MUCH LONGER THAN THE DOCKING STATION.

SERIOUS PHOTOGRAPHERS MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER AVOIDING POTENTIAL EASY SHARE PROBLEMS, BY TAKING THE SAME ROUTE I DID AFTER-THE-FACT AND SIMPLY START WITH AN ALKALINE BATTERY USE CAMERA IN THE FIRST PLACE. AT LEAST UNPLANNED OBSOLESCENCE FROM DOCKING STATION/INTERNAL BATTERY FAILURE WOULD BE AVOIDED. THE FAILURE OF EITHER COMPONENT MAKES THE EASY SHARE JUST ANOTHER HIGH DOLLAR THROW-AWAY! FOR SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAMERA, THE EASY SHARE IS LACKING!

I had the dreaded 'not turning on' problem after only a few hours use. New batteries and fully recharged high-capacity batteries did not resolve the problem. This has been reported by many users and seems to be a common fault with the Easyshare range.
Other problems are:
1) The batteries run down fairly quickly, even when the camera is turned off !
2) The shutter button has to be pressed down quite far inside the function dial making it difficult to take a picture without the camera shaking.
3) Low-light pictures are of poor quality.
Good point: The camera has many features which nevertheless are easy to use.
But hey, if it won't turn on its useless ! I have sent it back for a refund.

Everything about the purchase was absolutely as advertised! I have now bought 3 cameras from the same source.

I love this camera!!! It is easy to use and has many quality features, as well as many settings you can control while using this camera. I've owned a couple of different cameras and I'd have to say this is one of my favs for this price range. I was able to purchase a 'refurbished' one and I am very pleased!! I got it for an unbelievable price and it also came w/ 4 bonus items, a case, a tabletop tripod, cleaning supplies and a 1mb memory card. :) I would deffinately reccomend this camera to anyone who's looking for an easy to use, affordable consumer camera!!

Well I guess the cheap price says a lot about the quality, cheap. I have had nothing but problems with Kodak cameras! This one seems to randomly freeze and refuse to take photos or shut off. Recently I had taken a few photos, shut it off, then when I used it again it erased my previous photos! Extremely slow shutter speed and works horribly under low light conditions. I'd suggest spending a little extra on a different brand, it would be well worth it that's for sure.

I was informed Kodak takes the best pictures & I needed a camera for ebay, pictures are very important! I like it a lot! I just ned to learn how to shut off the flash, so I don't put flash into some of my pictures!Otherwise it does take good pictures!

I originally purchased the C643 with the printer. After a year of use, the camera fell down and broke. I bought the upgraded C743 because it fit the same printer. I like that it is so easy to use and understand-even when taking video. I love the way I can print out beautiful color pictures right away! It is a great value camera. I would recommend buying this new (not refurbished) and definitly getting the printer with it.

This camera was an excellent purchase. It was delivered as promised, performs to stated specs and I would purchase another product from this seller any time.

I bought this camera for my wife who has been haunting me for a Digital Camera for a while. When I recieved the camera it was as it was advertised a great camera. It is very easy to use. Why I say this is if my wife can manuever and take pictures with its a good camera. My wife did not find it intimidating as wwith other camera's. It was the perfect camera for her, small enough but with enough features and quality of pictures.

I had a kodak 5MP and i dont find much a difference in the 7.0MP too which i bought now. There is no question of how photos might appear its all blurred and of poor quality, and the most amazing thing is that when its dark you dont even have to think about using this stuff caz you wont get anything in the picture. Please stay away from this crap.

I am really loving my new digital camera. The pictures are so incredibly clear. The controls are very user friendly. I am more confident in taking photos of people and objects because I can immediately see the result and choose the best photo without "wasting film" or harddrive space since it can be deleted. I absolutely love the fact that it came with a 2G memory so that numerous pictures can be taken along with any videoing.
This is as close to a video camera as I'll probably have for a long time but it is enough for me because you can record up to 30 minutes worth of footage.
I also love the fact that it came with rechargable batteries and the charger which has proven to be extremely helpful as the camera does use up a LOT of 'battery juice'. The case has been useful as well.
I don't like the fact that one cannot tell if the batteries have finished charging with the charger provided so you assume it is done but have no idea how much of the batteries are or are not charged up for use. Because of this I always make sure that I have an extra set of AA batteries.
Overall this is a great product and an excellent buy. You will not be disappointed.

It was exactly what I wanted, and the price was perfect.
Am 110% pleased, and I do believe 3 friends of mine have purchase the same camera. Was easy to use and took excellent picture.
Thank You again.
Jeannette

great little camera, fast shipping, I bid on the 8.0 camera first but wasn't winning bidder won the 7.0 which is a great second choice. Sorry it took so long to give review, was in hospital for several weeks.

When I buy things I look long and hard before I take the jump and buy it. Been looking for a good camera and the one I got is just what I needed it it works great and takes great pic after you get use to it.

I loved the price, the quality of the camera and the clarity of the pictures is excellent. Not to forget that using this camera is very easy!

I bought this camera off of EBay, refirbished, a few months ago. The camera is great. The pictures are very clear and there are many options. If you want a fairly inexpensive camera, with a fair amount of megapixels, then get this camera!

The camera is great. The picture is awesome....so clear. I like that when I take a picture I can crop it on the camera. Many functions, real easy to understand everything in menu mode, etc. I bought it as a present for my boyfriend, and we both use it. Taken lots of pictures with the camera already. The camera is worth buying!!!!

The camera is small, light and there is a big LCD. Taking pictures are very clear. I realy like camera bag too. I think this is a great camera and not too expensive. I love it.

The only thing I was not fond of was the little tripod. It's just not useful. Other than that this is a fantastic camera.

I bought this camera because I wanted something with a high MegaPixel rating and it happened to come in a good package of other useful items. This camera takes crystal clear pictures--I'm amazed everytime I take a picture at how defining it is. It's extremely easy to operate, and has a large enough review screen that you can tell what you took a picture of.
Even on the move, this camera has great clearness. I once had to take a couple pictures while driving (terrible, I know), and I was surprised at the pictures I saw. It looked as if I was standing still--one of the pictures I took while on the move even won itself onto the front page of my town's newspaper!
My mother has a different Kodak digital camera that cost about $40 more and was only about 5 or so megapixels, and the Kodak C743 can definitely out perform that camera in all areas.
One thing I don't like about this camera, is that if you turn it on, but don't take pictures for a while(like just watching something without taking a picture) it goes into a kind of "sleep mode" and you have to push a button (doesn't matter which one) in order to bring it back to life--which could be bad if you wanted to take a really fast snap shot. Other than that, this camera is simply amazing.
So, if you're looking for a quailty camera that isn't out of the affordable range, the Kodak EasyShare C743 7.0 MP camera is perfect!

I love the camera, although posting stated nothing about the camera being refurbished. The battery that was furnished by Kodak in the box did not fit. You literally had to shove it in there and push the top over it forcefully to even get it to go in. The rechargeable batteries that were included fixed that probelm though.
I use the camera on almost a daily basis. It takes great photos and I like that I can choose which photos to keep and which ones to delete. I bought it because I have a small child and I take her pictures all the time. It was more logical to but a digital camera than to keep buying disposable cameras almost every week.
I do not regret my purchase in any way. I would reccommend a digital camera to anyone. They are great!

This is a great camera for the money.I have some problems with the software at times,but overall it is well worth the money.
The photos come out looking not digital(like the sometimes grainy 4.0 megapixel).
If you want a easy camera,that takes nice photos,this one is AWSOME!