Kodak Z1085 IS Review

The Kodak EasyShare Z1085 IS couples a ten megapixel CCD imager to a SCHNEIDER-KREUZNACH VARIOGON branded 5x optically stabilized zoom lens with a 35 - 175mm equivalent focal range. For framing images, there's a 2.5-inch 230K pixel LCD display, but no optical viewfinder - an increasingly rare feature these days. Images are stored on Secure Digital / MultiMediaCards including SDHC types, or in 32MB of available internal memory.

The Kodak Z1085 IS offers 16 scene modes to help beginners achieve the results they're looking for without the need to understand subtleties like shutter speeds, apertures and the like, but still provides program and full manual exposure modes for the more advanced shooter. The Z1085 IS determines exposures with a multi-pattern, center-weighted, or center spot TTL metering system, and offers 2.0EV of exposure compensation in 1/3EV increments. Five white balance settings are available on the Z1085 IS, including an auto mode, and ISO sensitivity is controlled automatically or manually from 80 to 3200, with ISO 6400 and 8000 available at 3MP and lower resolution in P/M modes. The EasyShare Z1085 IS also offers a HD movie mode, capturing 1280720 clips at 30 frames-per-second, as well as VGA (640x480) and QVGA (320x240) mode, recorded in QuickTime MPEG-4 format.

The Z1085 IS is capable of displaying stills and videos in High Definition, using the optional Kodak EasyShare HDTV dock. Images and movies captured on the Kodak Z1085 IS are transferred to your computer over a USB 2.0 High-Speed connection and power for the Z1085 comes from a two AA batteries; a CRV3 disposable battery is included in the product bundle.

The Kodak EasyShare Z1085 IS lists at US$249.95, and starts shipping from March 2008.