Kodak P712

Reviewed September 2006

Interface & Software

Interface

The interface of the P712 is by and large clear and well-organized. The information presented on the monitor, or the EVF, is arranged on the borders of the image and does not obstruct the view of the subject. With the camera set to P, S, A or M modes, using the Command Dial and the Set button to make setting changes directly on the monitor or the EVF takes a bit of practice, but once mastered the system is quite efficient.

With the P712, the menu system is identical to other models from the EasyShare line. Options are presented clearly on a uniform colour background which is very legible; and the Setup menu is accessed as the last tab of the menu. The Setup contains a number of settings, mostly related to the basic operation of the camera:

• LCD Brightness: allows adjusting the brightness of the LCD screen over 5 increments, setting 3 being the default.
• Capture Frame Grid: serves to superimpose a grid on the monitor/EVF as an aid to composition.
• Image Storage: decides whether images are stored on a memory card if it is present, or in the internal memory.
• Set Album: serves to select an album name into which photos will go. The albums must be first created using the EasyShare software supplied with the camera.

• Image Stabilizer allows selecting the way the optical stabilizer operates:
  • Continuous:stabilizes the image at all times, including when it is being framed and when it is captured.
  • Single: stabilizes the image only at the precise moment it is captured. Generally considered to be the most effective mode.
  • Off: the setting that should be used when the camera is mounted on a tripod.
• AE/AF Button Set serves to set the way the button operates: AE-Lock (default), AF-Lock or AE/AF-lock.

• Set Program Button Capture serves to assign a function to the Prog button when the camera is set to a capture mode: Flash mode, AF Mode, Image Size, File Type, Colour Mode, Date Stamp, White Balance, AF zone, Sharpness, Contrast, Slow Sync, Custom White Balance, or Custom Exposure mode.
• Set Program Button Review allows assigning a function to the Prog. button when the camera is in Review (Playback) mode: View, Album, Protect, Edit, Red-eye Reduction, Slide Show, Copy, Video Date Display, or Multi-up.
• Orientation Sensor has three settings: On (default) orients pictures the right way up on playback; On Transfer orients pictures when they are transferred; and Off.
• Quickview: displays a just-captured image. On is the default.
• Advanced Digital Zoom: activates the 5X digital zoom. Continuous allows the digital zoom to take over seamlessly from the optical zoom. Pause adds a pause between the optical zoom and the digital zoom. None (the default) turns off the digital zoom.
• Camera Sounds: allows the user to choose an overall sound theme, or set each camera sound by itself (shutter, self-timer, error).
• Sound Volume: controls the sound volume (Off, Low, Medium (default) or High).
• Mode Description: serves to decide whether or not the camera displays a short description of the selected mode (P, A, S, M only) when it is selected. (Descriptions for the Scene modes are always active.)
• Accessory Lens: serves to let the camera know that an accessory lens is attached to the lens.
• Date & Time: sets the date and time on the P712.
• Video Out selects the video out signal: NTSC or PAL.
• External Flash serves to decide whether an external flash works by itself when connected to the hot shoe, or whether it works in conjunction with the built-in flash.
• EVF/LCD Stand By: allows setting the power Off for the EVF or monitor so as to conserve power: 15 or 30 seconds, 1 minute (default) or 2 minutes.
• Auto Power Off: to select the length of time the camera is inactive before it shuts down: 3 minutes (default) or 5, 10, 15 or 30 minutes.
• Language: selects the interface language (English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean or Japanese).
• Reset Camera: returns all critical settings to their factory defaults.
• Format: formats the memory card, or the internal memory.
• Calibrate Imager: automatically tests the CCD to ensure that the ISO sensitivity of each pixel is as it should be.
• About: displays the firmware version.

The P712 is delivered with a manual printed on recycled paper in English, French and Spanish. The manual is basic, and only covers basic camera functions without getting into details. A regrettable fact in view of the capabilities of the camera.

Software

The P712, just like other current Kodak cameras, is supplied with a single CD-ROM called EasyShare Software (version 5.2.1). The disk contains the software, and drivers for some Kodak memory card readers and for EasyShare Printer Docks.

Immediately after installation, the program encourages the user to download the newest version 6.0 of the software (45 MB), which features a new interface.

EasyShare is primarily an image browser into which images must be imported from the computer's hard disk, or the camera so that they can be organized.

An assortment of tools are aligned at the top of the program's window, which serve to add images to the program's database, create albums, open a selected image in an editing window, burn images or albums onto CD or DVD, see photos as a slide show, and upload them to the Internet.

On the left of the program's window, tabs serve to print images at home or using an online service, send images via e-mail, or access Kodak's Online EasyShare Centre.

As noted above, images can be edited in a separate window, once they have been selected. The editing window allows cropping or trimming, rotating, and automatically reducing red-eye. In addition, tools are provided to adjust sharpness, remove noise, adjust white balance and exposure, bring out details in either high or low light areas, reduce flare if there is any, or even apply filters so as to create special effects.

The same editing window also serves to "develop" RAW images, using the same tools.

Once processed, images can be saved as Kodak RAW, or Windows bitmap (BMP), or JPEG or even as TIFF.

The new interface for EasyShare is more pleasant aesthetically, but the tools it provides remain the same as those that had been available with the previous version of the software. While the fact that a "before and after" view is available is a positive, it remains regrettable that the tools' effects are globally applied to the image, and that there are no lasso or brush tools available, tools which would offer more control over the editing.