Kodak CX7430 Review

Kodak CX7430 Review

The Kodak CX7430 with 4 megapixel is certainly among the top performer in the “beginner” category. At around $150.00 this digital camera is an excellent choice if you are looking for a first digital camera and not sure what to get and don’t want spend too much time looking around.

To complement the 4 megapixel, Kodak has given the CX7430 a 3x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. I like the design that makes shooting and changing settings fast and easy.

Kodak CX7430 Review - Specs

Resolution: 4 Megapixel

Optical Zoom: 3x

Digital Zoom: 4x

Memory: SD/MMC memory card

LCD: 1.6 in

PictBridge Compliant: No

Kodak CX7430 Review - Pros

• Great resolution for the price
• Quick-trigger response, about 3 seconds and you are ready to shoot!
• Easy to use
• Very good image quality for the price

Kodak CX7430 Review - Cons

• No manual exposure or focus controls
• Zoom cannot be adjusted while taking video
• Not PictBridge compliant
• No memory card included in the box

Kodak CX7430 Review – Final Word

If you are on a tight budget and looking for a digital camera easy to use but also planning to print large pictures, the Kodak CX7430 is an excellent choice. Don’t forget to budget for a memory card (at least 256MB) and for a case to protect your new purchase.

If you set yourself a $200 limit (including memory card), you will have difficulty finding a digital camera that offers as much as this one.

Kodak CX7430 Review – Memory

Most digital cameras come with very low capacity memory cards and the Kodak CX7430 is no exception. A 32 SD/MMC memory card is included in the box when you purchase the CX7430.

There is no fixed rule for the number of photos you can put on one card because different image file types, different amounts of compression, and image content all affect the size of each file.

As a general rule, I'd recommend at least 256 megabytes or two 128 megabyte cards if you're buying a 3-5 megapixel compact digital camera. But 512 megabytes would be a good size for 6 megapixel digital camera such as the Kodak CX7430.

If you want to shoot lots of high resolution TIFF or RAW files, then you'll probably want to look at 512 megabyte and 1 gigabyte cards. It's also a good idea to not save all of your photos on one card.

Click here for more information on memory cards.

With the 32 MB memory card included with the CX7430, you will take approximately 25 pictures before having to empty the memory card! Budgeting for a memory card is a must.

Another good reason to get several memory cards is there's always the possibility that cards can get corrupted, lost, or stolen. Using more than one and switching during a shoot protects your valuable photographic data.

The type of memory card for Kodak DX7630 is Secure Digital (SD) or MMC.

Kodak CX7430 Review - Specifications

Model name: EasyShare CX7430

Released date: 2004-02-02

Average retail price: $200 Click here for the current Best Price Online.

Official site: Kodak EasyShare CX7430 Home Page

Image resolution: 4.0 megapixel (2304x1728 pixels)

Lens: 3X optical zoom, 5.6-16.8 mm ; (35 mm equivalent: 34-102 mm); 4X advanced digital zoom; 12X total zoom:

Auto focus: TTL-AF with selectable modes: multi-zone, center-spot

Focus range: 60 cm (23.6 in.) to infinity (normal mode); 10 m (32.8 ft.) to infinity (landscape mode)

Viewfinder: Real image optical viewfinder

Aperture: f/2.7-5.2 (wide), f/4.6-8.7 (tele)

Shutter speed: 1/2-1/1400 sec.

Long time exposure: 0.7-4 sec.

ISO equivalent: automatic (80-160); manual (80, 100, 200, 400)

White balance: auto, daylight, tungsten, fluorescent

Built-in flash: auto, red-eye, fill, off

Flash range: wide: 0.6-3.6 m (2-11.8 ft.); tele: 0.6-2.1 m (2-6.9 ft.)

Self-timer: 10 seconds

Scene modes: auto, portrait, landscape, night, close-up, sport, movie

Photo settings: color, black and white, sepia

Close-up mode: wide: 13-70 cm (5.1-27.6 in.); tele: 22-70 cm (8.7-27.6 in.)

Burst mode: 3 fps, up to 6 pictures

Exposure control: programmed AE

Click to capture: 0.6 sec.

Shot to shot: 1.6 sec.

Video mode: continuous MPEG-4 video with audio capture, audio playback on camera

Video resolution: VGA (640x480 pixels) at 13 fps; QVGA (320x240 pixels) at 20 fps

Video length: up to 80 min. limited by capacity of external memory card

Video out: NTSC, PAL (user-selectable)

Software: Kodak EasyShare software

Dock compatibility: Kodak EasyShare camera dock 6000, Kodak EasyShare printer dock 6000

Storage: 16MB internal memory, SD/MMC card expansion slot

Power options: optional Kodak EasyShare docks with Ni-MHrechargeable battery pack (in-camera charging); 2 AA Kodak Max digital camera batteries; 2 AA lithium or Ni-MH batteries or 1 CRV3 lithium battery; 3 volt adapter

Image recording format: Still: JPEG/EXIF v2.2, Video: Quicktime MOV (MPEG-4 compression)

Interface: USB compliant, Kodak EasyShare 6000 series docks, audio/video connectors

Weight: without batteries: 178 g (6.3 oz.)

Dimensions: WxHxD: 102.5x65x38 mm (4.0x2.6x1.5 in.)

Warranty: one year

Package Contents: Kodak EasyShare CX7430 zoom digital camera, Kodak Max digital camera batteries AA or equiv., Video out cable, USB cable, Wrist strap, Kodak EasyShare software, Getting Started kit, Custom camera insert for optional Kodak EasyShare, 6000 series camera and printer docks

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