Past its' prime (Kodak EZ 200)

Member Name: Debc

Product:	Kodak EZ 200
Date:	06/05/02 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Cheap, Easy to use & USB, Small

Disadvantages: Low resolution, No flash, Fixed memory

I bought the EZ200 in Sept 2000 when it was just released. It was an impulse buy as I was off to the US the next week and I wanted to send email postcards back to the UK. I won't cover all the features here as the many earlier review have already done so. What prompts me to right this review is my ~18 months experience of the camera.

Was it a good buy? Overall yes, but not for the reason I originally bought it. Then, I was ignorant of things such as resolution, memory capacity (ok, most things photographic actually) etc. I was attracted to its' size (it fits into a small bag or pocket easily) and the fact that it had USB, which was only then becoming the norm for digital cameras.

Experience has taught me that its' resolution (640x480) is just adequate for computer/email display but totally naff if you want to print out. My main use of it now is as something I can keep in the car or as a webcam, for which it is very adequate.

It does 'everything it says on the tin' and is VERY simple to use, although let down a bit by the bundled software. In the time I've had it I've only used two sets of AA batteries and most of the time it lives of the USB supply when being a webcam.

Would I buy/recommend one now?

No, unless you want a (by todays' standards) poor compromise. As a digital camera it lacks resolution, flash, memory and too many other features that are now commonplace. As a webcam it is too expensive compared to the competition.

It was good in its time (2000) but should now be put out to pasture.

PS. Checking the Kodak website it appears that the EZ200 has in fact moved on to a better place. It appears to have been replaced with the KODAK mc3, which is the camera plus MP3 functions at ~£130

Summary: