Kodak Reviews

The Kodak CX4310 camera is not bad for still-life or posed snapshots, but for action shots or spur-of-the-moment candids the results can be disappointing.

The 3.3 megapixel output is very good for printed pictures (and more than enough for posting images online), but the camera interface is awkward when making on-the-fly adjustments. Burying things like white balance and close-up options in the menu system makes it difficult to keep settings optimized. Additionally, the power switch is position specific, so the camera can't shut itself off after a period of idleness; if you forget to turn it off, say good-bye to your batteries. The switch itself also feels fragile (it hasn't broken, but it doesn't feel very sturdy). I've had problems opening the data port and battery doors unintentionally, but as of yet they haven't broken either, nor have I lost the batteries. Furthermore, the way the viewfinder and LCD screen are positioned make it nearly impossible not to smudge the screen with your nose while taking pictures.

But don't let me leave you with the impression that camera is entirely craptastic: It isn't. If you're someone who's been using disposable cameras (me) and are looking for a low-cost digital alternative (also me), this isn't a bad camera to cut your teeth on. Don't expect every photo to be a winner, but they never were with the disposables, either. At least with this camera you can delete the losers as you go. The camera also comes with Kodak's EasyShare software and allows you to tag pictures for printing and e-mailing before uploading them to your computer. The transfer/indexing software is nice. I haven't used the tagging feature; it doesn't seem too useful to me, but maybe it'll meet some need for you.

While I can't offer this camera a ringing endorsement, I would be overstating it if I said you're not getting good value for your money. I definitely don't have any buyer's remorse after getting this camera. In a world where - on a good day - you get what you pay for, you actually manage to break even or come out ahead with this camera. It's nothing spectacular, but for a budget model like this it does take good pictures. While I have some complaints about the design, taking good photos is of more interest to me, and this camera does that nicely.

This camera is great for first time digital camera owners. It is very user friendly. It is also a great camera for the price. It does eat up batteries but what digital cameras dont. Since I have owned this camera I havent had to take my pictures to get developed. I print them out myself! If you want a digital camera but you dont wanna shell out mega bucks. Give this one a try.

Cut-off corners should NEVER be a problem with a lens accessory marketed by Kodak for its own cameras. Auxiliary lenses are available from other makers including Sunpak. Perhaps they will show less vignetting or none at all. In any case, blocking part of the viewfinder is inevitable, as is some image softening with any accessory lens - even the superb Schneider-Kreuznach optics once made for the classic little Kodak Retina IIIC of the 1950s.

I just received my lens, and I read the instructions. You have to use your zoom button and zoom all the way out in order to get a full picture. This is the first thing noted in the instructions. If you don't, you will, as the other review said, get a picture that only fills the center of the view--the rest will be black. It definitely pays to read the instructions. This is actually a good tool--I took a few pictures of the same shot with and without, and the extra zoom is significant.

I just got this lens and used it with my Kodak DX4530. It took very good photos on the Auto setting. Got a few nice wildlife pictures. It's important to follow the instructions in the manual: (1) to use the optical zoom so that the picture fills the entire view and (2) to use the LCD screen. The blocking of the view finder with the accessory lenses is not unique to Kodak. It happens with other point-and-shoot cameras because of their design. If you want to do more with your point-and-shoot camera, this is a good way to go.