Kodak V570

Reviewed June 2006

Characteristics

The Kodak V570 is equipped with 2 CCDs, each one measuring 1/2.5 inch diagonally and having 5.36 million pixels of which 5 million are effective to capture a maximum image size of 2576 x 1932 pixels.

In all modes with the exception of the Auto and Custom modes, CCD sensitivity is controlled by the camera and can range from 64 to 160 ISO without flash. While with the Auto and Custom shooting modes sensitivity can be set 64, 100, 200, or 400 ISO; and with the image resolution set to 1.8 MP (see further below) a sensitivity setting of 800 ISO is available.

Two Schneider-Kreuznach C-Variogon lenses distinguish the V570 from other cameras. The top lens is a single focal length lens, 3.8 mm which is equivalent to a 23 mm. The lower lens is 3X zoom with a focal length of 6.4 to 19.2 mm, equivalent to a 39 to 117 mm. Taken together, the two lenses cover most of a 5X zoom range — 117 mm/23 mm = 5.1 — if the 16 mm gap between the 23 mm focal length and the 39 mm start of the 3X zoom is ignored.

The wide angle lens has a constant aperture of f2.8. The 3X zoom, on the other hand, has an aperture range of f3.9 to f7 at the wide angle end, and f4.4 to f8 at the telephoto end.

A 4X digital zoom is also available. The digital zoom interpolates the central portion of the image up to the selected image size when used up to a 2.4X magnification, and then reduces the image to 1 megapixel (1024 x 768 pixels), when used to produce a magnification effect from 2.4X to 4X. The digital zoom setting is one of the few settings that are retained after the camera has been powered off.

The shutter speed range of the V570 changes with the zoom position, but generally covers from 8 seconds when the LT (Long Time exposure) mode is selected in the menu, to 1/1600 second at the fastest. While without using Long Time exposure, the slowest shutter speed varies from 1/8 second with most modes to 2 seconds for Night Scenery or Fireworks modes.

Any one of five sizes are available to record the photos captured with the V570:

• 5.0 MP: 2576 x 1932 pixels,
• 4.4 MP (3:2): 2576 x 1716 pixels, a format proportional to 4 x 6 and 5 x 7 prints.
• 4.0 MP: 2304 x 1728 pixels,
• 3.1 MP: 2048 x 1536 pixels,
• 1.8 MP: 1152 x 1164 pixels.

All sizes are recorded in JPEG format, and there is no option for the user to adjust the compression applied to the image.

The selection of the image size, along with a number of other shooting parameters are chosen in the menu. The menu provides the most settings when the camera is set to the Auto or Custom shooting modes:

• Self-timer: starts the 10 second Self-timer which can be used to capture a single photo or to start capturing a video. Worth noting, even when using the Custom mode, the self timer has to be reinitialized for every consecutive shot.
• Burst: serves to capture up to 4 high resolution (5MP) images at 2.3 frames per second.
• Picture Size: serves to select the picture size (see above).
• Video Size (shown instead of the previous option when the camera is set to capture video) serves to set the video clip frame size:
• 640 x 480 pixels, 640 x 480 Long (more compression), or 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA).

• White Balance: Auto, Daylight, Tungsten (incandescent), Fluorescent or Open Shade.
• ISO Speed: Auto (64-160) or 64, 100, 200, 400. 800 ISO is only available with the 1.8MP image size.
• Colour Mode allows selecting a alternative colour mode:
  • High Colour increases saturation.
  • Natural Colour default setting.
  • Low Colour decreases saturation.
  • Black and White.
  • Sepia.

• Sharpness: this option makes it possible to increase or decrease the image sharpness (High, Normal or Low).
• Exposure Metering: selects the metering mode Multi-Zone, Centre-Weighted or Spot.
• AF Control, available both for the still image modes and the video mode, provides two options for the way the auto focus operates:
  • Continuous AF: adjusts the focus constantly, shortening the time it takes for the camera to be ready to capture a photo, but discharging the battery more rapidly.
  • Single AF: the default, only auto focuses when the shutter release is pressed halfway.
• Focus Zone serves to select the zone the auto focus system takes into account when operating:
  • Multi-zone finds the focus point using 3 horizontal AF points.
  • Centre-zone only focuses on the subject at the centre of the frame.
• Long Time Exposure: exclusively available when the camera is set to the Auto mode, allows specifying the long exposure time (0.5, 0.7, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 or 8 seconds).
• Set Album: Off (default) or On. This option allows creating an album into which albums or videos will be stored.
• Image Storage controls where images are stored:
  • Auto (default): the camera uses the memory card if one is in the camera. If not, the camera uses internal memory.
  • Internal Memory: the camera always uses internal memory, even if a card is installed.
• Video Length (only shown when the camera is set to the Video mode): allows limiting the video length to 5, 15 or 30 seconds or let it continue until the memory is full.
• Reset to Default: this option only appears when the camera is set to the Custom mode and serves to reset all camera settlings to their default values.
• Image Stabilizer (only shown when the camera is set to the Video mode): controls the electronic image stabilizer available when capturing videos.
• Setup Menu: provides access to the Setup menu the options for which are detailed in the Interface and Software section of the review.

As noted earlier, many settings made in the menu detailed above are not retained when the mode is changed, or the camera is turned off. Nevertheless, some settings are recalled: Picture Size, Sharpness, AF Control, Focus Zone, Set Album, Image Storage, Video Size, Video Length.

In the Playback mode the menu is considerably shorter, and is shown on a black but semi-transparent background superimposed on the image currently on the screen:

• View By: serves to choose the review method:
  • All images,
  • Date, which groups images by shooting date,
  • Album, groups images by albums.
• Album: using the EasyShare software included with the camera, it is possible to create up to 32 album names and save them to the camera's internal memory. This makes it possible to associate images or videos to any of the albums, which will cause them to be transferred to the appropriate album when images are downloaded to the computer.
• Edit Video serves to edit or extract still images from a video:
  • Make Picture (only available with 640 x 480 videos): allows selecting a frame from a video clip, and saving it a 640 x 480 photo.
  • Split: serves to split a video into 2 sections, leaving the original intact.
  • Action Print: serves to make an index print of a section of a video, using 4, 9 or 16 frames.
• Crop (still images only): makes it possible save a new image or a portion of an image that has been magnified on the monitor, without affecting the original image.

• Slide Show: presents one image after the other automatically. The interval between images can be preset to be between 3 and 60 seconds in 1 second increments, and the slide show can be preset to loop back to the beginning at the end or not. Moreover, transition effects, as one photo replaces another on screen, are available (Off, Block, Vertical Blinds, Centre to L/R, Left to Right, Right to Left, Centre to Top and Bottom, Top to Bottom, Bottom to top).

• Multi-up: presents the saved images as thumbnails, 9 per screen. The same function can be called up by pressing the down arrow of the 4-direction controller while the camera is in Review mode.
• Copy: is to copy one or all images from the internal memory to a memory card, or vice versa.
• Protect: allows tagging images as "protected" so they cannot be accidentally deleted. Nevertheless, protected images can be erased when the memory, card or internal, is formatted.
• Image Storage: decides which images are going to be used for review, those stored in the internal memory or those stored on the memory card.
• Setup Menu: provides access to the Setup menu (see the Interface and Software section of the review for more information about the Setup menu).

The share button also presents a short menu while automatically placing the camera in the Review mode. It cannot however, be used to turn on the camera. The Share menu offers options for:

• Print: serves to select photos the will be printed, as well as the number of copies to make of each. The V570 is PictBridge compatible and can therefore be connected directly via USB to a similarly compatible printer (see further).
• Email: serves to tag images that will be sent to any of 32 email addresses that can be recorded in the camera using the EasyShare software, which is included with the camera.
• Favorite: marks images as Favorites so that when the camera is connected to the computer, they will be automatically transferred and a small copy of the image uploaded back to the camera to minimize the memory space required to store them.

• Print All: selects all images for printing, and allows selecting the number of copies to be printed of each.
• Cancel Print: cancels all printing orders.

When connected to a PictBridge enabled printer, the V570 displays yet another menu, one that serves to select which photos will be printed, and how:

• Current Picture: prints the image currently on screen. The number of prints of the image can be selected.
• Tagged Picture: Prints image that were previously tagged for printing, and allows choosing a print size.
• Index Print: (if supported by the printer) allows creating an index print of all the photos.
• All pictures: prints all images, either in memory or contained in a memory card, or those located in the Favorites folder. The number of copies to make of all images can be selected.
• Image Storage: serves to access the internal memory, the memory card, or the Favorites folder.

Equipped with a 32MB internal memory of which 28MB are available for photo storage, in North America the Kodak V570 is not usually retailed with a memory card. Still it is equipped with an SD (Secure Digital)/MMC (MultiMedia) compatible memory card slot that is located on the right side of the body and covered with a flush fitting chrome-finished door that has to be opened up with a fingernail.

The chart below provides an estimate of how many photos can be stored in the camera's internal memory, and as a guide the number of photos that can be stored using an optional 1 GB SD memory card:

Power for the V570 comes from a thin Lithium-ion battery (KLIC-7001) that is housed underneath the camera, and is held in place by a spring-loaded clip.

The battery is recharged in the camera, and when the V570 is purchased with the Kodak EasyShare photo frame dock 2, the battery is recharged while the camera sits on the dock. Charging progress is indicated by LEDs on the charger, and by the three buttons on top of the camera that have LEDs (Favorites, Video, and Auto/SCN).

The EasyShare Photo Frame Dock 2 also provides connections for USB (2.0 Full Speed) and AV (NTSC or PAL as selected in the Setup menu — see the Interface and Software section of the review), depending on the cable used.

The only other external connection on the V570 — aside from the multi-connector underneath the camera that is used for the dock and for an EasyShare Printer Dock series 3 — is for an optional 5-volt AC adapter, and is located directly below the memory card compartment.