Kodak P712

Reviewed September 2006

Characteristics

The P712 is fitted with a 1/2.5-inch CCD composed of 7.4 million pixels, of which 7.1 million pixels are effective to capture images at any one of the following sizes:

• 7.1 MP = 3072 x 2304 pixels, the maximum image size.
• 6.3 MP = 3072 x 2048 pixels, a 3:2 format best suited to printing as it avoids cropping the image.
• 5.0 MP = 2592 x 1944 pixels,
• 3.1 MP = 2048 x 1536 pixels.
• 1.2 MP = 1280 x 960 pixels.

Whatever the image size, these can be recorded at any one of three JPEG compression levels: Fine, the highest JPEG image quality; Standard, an average compression level, or Basic, a stronger compression level that allows storing more images, but with a lower image quality. In addition, when the camera is set to P, A, S, M modes, two extra image formats are available:

• TIFF: an uncompressed format that records a full size image of 20.3 MB.
• RAW: a proprietary format with a *.KDC extension that creates files of 11.7 MB. RAW files offer great flexibility as they are processed on a computer using the software supplied with the camera. During capture, the raw image data gathered by the CCD is saved without any in-camera processing, but all the camera settings for white balance, exposure compensation, contrast, brightness, etc., are saved along with the image. These settings can then be applied when the image is processed on the computer, or modified. Moreover, using the EasyShare software, the image can be modified or corrected and then be saved as JPEG or TIFF.

Just like the P850 that preceded it, the P712 is equipped with a 12X Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon optical zoom with a focal length of 6 to 72 mm, the equivalent of a 36 to 432 mm with the 35 mm format. Apertures start at f2.8 when the zoom is set to the wide angle end, and f3.7 at the telephoto end, closing down for both to f8.

A threaded ring on the lens barrel allows attaching an adapter to the barrel, and then attaching either 55 mm diameter filters, or optional lens converters: a wide angle converter (0.7X), or a telephoto converter (1.4X).

The CCD sensitivity of the P712 starts at 64 ISO. Set to Auto mode and the Scene modes, the camera establishes sensitivity and it can range from 64 to 800 ISO depending on the image size, the lighting conditions, the use of the flash, or the Scene mode in use. Using any of the P, A, S or M modes, sensitivity can be set to Auto or manually set to 64, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400 or 800 ISO. However, when sensitivity is set to 800 ISO the image size is limited to 1.2 MP (1280 x 960 pixels).

For most modes, the shutter speed covers from 1/1000 down to 1/2 second. Set to S or M modes, however, exposures can be as long as 16 seconds; while the Night Landscape and Fireworks modes offer a 2-second maximum exposure time.

When the P712 is set to Auto or one of the Scene modes and the menu is called up, the menu is composed of two sections, Capture and Setup — the latter is detailed in the Interface and Software section of the review, while the first contains four options:

• Picture Size: serves to select the recorded image size (see above).

• File Type allows selecting the JPEG image quality: Fine, Standard, Basic, TIFF or RAW, the choices presented varying according to the capture mode (see above).
• Colour Mode provides a means to control how colours are processed by the camera post-capture:
  • High Colour: increases colour saturation.
  • Natural Colour: the default saturation setting.
  • Low Colour: decreases colour saturation.
  • Black and White.
  • Sepia.

• Date Stamp: allows the permanent superimposing of the date on an image. The date format can also be selected: YYYY/MM/DD, MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY.

Set to the Video mode, the options of the first section are replaced by:

• Video Size, which serves to select the frame size: 640 x 480 pixels (VGA) or 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA).
• Video Length decides the length of the recording: Continuous, which is only limited by the capacity of the memory in use, or limited to 5, 15 or 30 seconds.
• AF Control, which allows choosing if the focus is continuous, or established and locked at the first frame.

When the P712 is used with the P, A, S or M modes, the menu offers an additional section called Capture +. It contains the more advanced settings of the P712:

• White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Open Shade, Sunset, Tungsten (artificial light), Fluorescent, Click WB, to set the white balance based on a white surface under ambient lighting, and Custom WB1, Custom WB2, Custom WB3 which have to have been pre-set.
• Custom White Balance offers two options:
  • Compensation: which allows adjusting the white balance by moving a cursor in a square that contains the primary colours.
  • Registration: which serves to set any of the 3 Custom white balance settings, once the white balance has been established using the Click WB option detailed above.

• AF Control decides how the auto focus operates:
  • Continuous AF: lets the camera adjust the auto focus constantly.
  • Single AF: only adjusts the auto focus when the shutter release is pressed halfway.
• AF Zone allows selecting the auto focus zone:
  • Multi zone: uses the 25 AF points of the P712 (5 x5) to find the focus point.
  • Centre Zone: only uses the centre AF point.
  • Selectable Zone: allows selecting any of the 25 AF points using the joystick.

• Sharpness controls the in-camera sharpening applied to the image (High, Normal, or Low).
• Contrast adjusts the contrasts over three levels: High, Normal (default) or Low.
• Slow Flash makes it possible to select the point at which the flash fires during an exposure:
  • Front Sync (default) fires the flash at the beginning of the exposure.
  • Front Synch Red-eye: Fires the flash at the beginning of the exposure, but with a pre-flash to attenuate the red-eye effect.
  • Rear Sync: fires the flash immediately before the end of the exposure, preserving the feeling of movement.
• Copy to Custom serves to save a set of shooting parameters to any one of three Custom memories, which can then be recalled by setting the mode dial to C1, C2 or C3.
• Custom Exposure Mode: Replaces the option above when the Mode Dial is set to any of the three C settings, making it possible to select the P, A, S or M mode while using C1, C2 or C3.

With the camera set to the Playback mode, the menu also offers an access to the Setup menu, but retains the look of the other menus:

• View: To review all the images, or only those that have been previously tagged as Favourites.
• Album: requires the prior use of the software included with the camera, EasyShare, which allows creating up to 32 albums in the internal memory while the P712 is connected to a computer via USB. Once albums created, this option makes it possible to organize photos into the albums and transfer them to the computer in an orderly way.

• Protect: serves to "lock" an image so it cannot be accidentally erased.
• Edit (only shown when a JPEG image or a video are on screen): serves to crop or resize an image. Or, when a video clip is on screen, the options are to extract a photo at a 640 x 480 pixel resolution, or cut off a section of the video at the beginning or the end, or cut the video into two segments, or slice two segments together.
• Red-eye Reduction (only available with JPEG images): automatically corrects the red-eye effect, and allows the corrected image to be saved as a new image.

• Slide Show: presents the images in memory in sequence, the on-screen time of images being selectable between 3 and 60 seconds, and the slide set to loop or not.
• Copy: serves to copy images or videos between the internal memory and a memory card, or vice versa.
• RAW File Development (only available when a RAW image is under review): allows creating a TIFF or JPEG copy of a RAW image. The copy image size, exposure, colour mode, sharpness, contrast, and white balance can be adjusted prior to saving it.
• Video Date Display (only shown when a video is on-screen and the menu is called up): displays the capture date of the video while it is playing.
• Multi-up: presents the images in memory as an index, with 9 thumbnails per screen.

The P712 is equipped with a 32 MB internal memory, which is too restrictive for a camera with a 7.1 megapixel resolution, and TIFF and RAW formats. The P712 is also equipped with a memory card slot for use with SD (Secure Digital) or MMC (MultiMedia) cards, but is not retailed in North America with a memory card.

The card slot is located on the right side of the camera, and is covered by a solid plastic door. A memory card is ejected by pressing on its edge.

The chart below shows approximate image and video capacities using both the 32 MB internal memory and an optional 1 GB SD memory card:

The P712 has two external connections, both of which are covered by a flexible plastic door on its left side. Towards the front of the camera is a DC-IN jack that can be used to connect the optional AC adapter (5 volts AC) so that the P712 can be powered for a prolonged period of time using household current.

Towards the back is the USB port (compatible 2.0 High-speed), which doubles as an A/V Out (Audio/Video), depending on the cable used. The A/V Out signal can be set to NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu.

As with other Kodak cameras, the P712 is equipped with a connector that serves to connect it to a docking station, or to the EasyShare Plus Printer Dock.