Kodak EasyShare Max Z990 Review

The 12 megapixel camera features Kodak's first use of a back-illuminated CMOS sensor, designed to provide better low light image quality and increased speed of operation. The increase in speed made possible by the new sensor enables the camera to have very fast continuous shooting speed, a "sweep" panorama mode with which you can create an ultra-wide panorama image by slowly sweeping the camera, and an HDR mode, which takes three shots and combines them into one image with less dramatic contrast. Here's the view from the wide and telephoto ends of that big zoom range:

Wide angle

Telephoto

The camera includes full 1080p HD (1920 x 1080) movies with stereo sound and the use of optical zoom and continuous focus while in movie mode. The camera also includes full manual exposure controls, RAW shooting ability and other interesting features. Priced at $299.95 at the Kodak website, the EasyShare Max Z990 is substantially less expensive than similar cameras produced by Canon, Nikon and Sony.

In my "First Look" I noted that I was favorably impressed with the many features of the EasyShare Max Z990, its overall appearance, smoothly operating long lens and good image quality. I did have concerns about the camera's apparently slow shot-to-shot speed. After another week and a half with the camera I've had a chance to further explore these issues. Let's find out how the camera did.