Kodak Easyshare LS443 4 MP Digital Camera w/3x Optical Zoom (Includes Dock)
By: Kodak Average Rating: 3.0 Total Reviews: 108
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 On: 2008-06-29
I had/have 4-5 of different digital cameras and this one was/is the best! She gives you amazing pictures and it is very easy to use in any situation... Im in love with her for more than 3 1/2 years!
 On: 2007-01-04
Got E45 error after two years. Had to trash it since repairing would cost more than a new camera. Piece of junk.
On: 2006-11-11
I got this camera on Christmas of 2004, and it died May of 2006. I have not replaced it yet, but I get angry and frustrated every time I want to use it, or try to fix it. I think I am going to replace it today. I also got the dreaded E45 error. It costs more to fix the camera than to replace it. Is Kodak crazy??? I expect an expensive piece of equipment to last more than 2 to 3 years! I was happy with the features and ease of use of this camera...but I see that the E45 error is quite common. Buyer Beware!
On: 2006-08-01
Kodak should be ashamed of this E45 error.
I bought this camera in May 2004 for more than $300. Everything went O.K. until July 2006, when it finally hit this E45 thing.
Two years of service life is totally unacceptable. I have a Pentax 35mm film camera for 12 years, and it is still working without ever needing any repairs. I have a SONY 8mm Camcoder for 10 years without any problems.
This is definitely a disappointing experience.
On: 2006-07-31
Kodak should be ashamed of this E45 error.
I bought this camera in May 2004 for more than $300. Everything went O.K. until July 2006, when it finally hit this E45 thing.
Two years of service life is totally unacceptable. I have a Pentax 35mm film camera for 12 years, and it is still working without ever needing any repairs. I have a SONY 8mm Camcoder for 10 years without any problems.
This is definitely a disappointing experience.
On: 2006-07-02
Reading through these reviews, I think I may have set a new record for this camera. I bought one in December 2002 and it went wrong in June 2006. I make that 3.5 years before it died. Does this qualify me for a prize? Same thing as others -stuck open with blue screen displaying error #E45. My views are similar to those of the many others who werent so "lucky". Good easy camera to use with reasonable quality, but its reliability is very poor. Im going to replace it with one from a proper manufacturer.
 On: 2006-05-22
A previous post a few pages in, I think in 2004, suggested gently pushing up on the lens housing while you turn on the unit. I tried this, at first on the outer ring (didnt work), and then on the inner "cylinder", this time it worked. I have turned it on and off several times now and it is working fine.
This camera was given to me yesterday by a guy that had given up on it, he was cleaning out his cabinets. I will offer to give it back to him as it was an easy fix. But I will give this camera a 1 star rating due to the widespread problem that obviously mine has. Design flaws this bad should be taken care of by the company. (FREE SWAP/UPGRADE TO ANOTHER MODEL)
"""HELLO KODAK, FLAWED DESIGN - DO THE RIGHT THING"""
On: 2006-05-06
I have had this camera for 3 years and loved it until about 3 weeks ago when my husband came home with the camera lens stuck in the open position. After recharging the battery did not work, I emailed Kodak and got the same response as many of you did: they would replace the camera with a refurbished upgrade but was not repairing it anymore. They also suggested that I replace the battery. Finding a battery for this camera is near impossible and after finally searching the internet I located one that is compatible with the camera ($27.99), but after reading all of these negative reviews, I may just go out and purchase a new camera.
On: 2006-04-07
HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! HORRIBLE! I received this camera as gift a little over 2 years ago. It went belly up AGAIN - shows the Camera Error #E45 like the other guy said. It had done it once before where the lense got stuck and I couldnt take any more pictures nor could I shut the stupid thing down. So the junk went back to kodak and they stated that the issue was the on/off switch. They indicated that the on/off switch was causing the problems because it would turn on while it was in the bag (or purse) and thus, ruin the lense ??? ANYWAY ... the switch was replaced so you had to push a button in order to turn on the stupid thing. Well it broke AGAIN! Now this is only several months after they supposedly "fixed" it ... unless my purse figured out how to push the button .... hmmm .... VERY VERY VERY poor quality! I was more than happy to trash it. Not worth the time or the effort of getting it repaired.
On: 2005-12-13
Just like many of the other reviews...My Kodak cx7430 (not so)EasyShare camera gets stuck with the lens out. It used to work so-so if I kept tweaking the on/off switch for awhile. Today, it finally went kaput and shows the Camera Error #E45 like the other guy said. My picstues of my kids (which I only get to see a few times a year) are now gone forever. How is it that Americans invent things (like Kodak, Ford, Etc.) and then the products end up sucking? Whats becoming of our technology and work ethic?
On: 2005-11-14
I received this camera as a gift a couple years ago and have now gone through 3 of them during that time span. Luckily I was under the wire for the waranty each time.
These cameras are made to break and do not take good pictures. Kodak should be ashamed of themselves for putting out such an aweful piece of equipment, and then call it a camera.
Kodak should stick with film and let real manufacturers like Canon, Nikon and Olympus make good digital cameras.
On: 2005-09-26
I bought the LS443 at Frys for $300 about 2.5 years ago. It went dead last week in the middle of a shoot while vacationing in Mexico. The lens will not retract and the blue screen displays Error E45. Luckily I was able to download the pictures already taken but missed a bunch of photo opps towards the end of the trip. I consider the money spent on this camera the cost of learning, the lesson being "buy only from well establised manufacturers with a proven track record in designing electronic equipment and even then, check reviews first for the model you want" Will never buy a camera from Kodak again. My search for the next digital cam will start with Canon.
On: 2005-09-25
I also had a problem with this camera. The camera is only two years old, but it will not work. I received the error E45 like many other people. This happened once before when luckily my camera was under warranty, but now it has happened again. I have never dropped or mistreated this camera in any way, but this keeps on happening. This camera is poorly made.
On: 2005-08-09
Do your homework before you spend $$$ on this camera. It is easy to use, and takes great pictures while it works. Average life span for this camera is less than 2 years. The longest anyone has had one in good use is 2 1/2 years. Way to much to spend for a "disposable" camera, that cant be fixed by the manufacturer.
On: 2005-08-02
My LS443 camera worked fairly well for about 1 1/2 years and then all of a sudden it would not take any pictures. Everything in the video display window was black - if you snapped a photo - it was also black. I contacted tech support and learned that they would take the LS443 back and for a mere $100 exchange it for a DX7440. Why in the world would I chance another Kodak camera. NEVER AGAIN!! This was not a great camera to begin with but to have a camera simply die that was not overused nor abused is simply unacceptable. Does Kodak care? Not a bit - there will be others who buy their product based on the reputation of the company. Well I hope this review informs you that that reputation is not so well-deserved.
On: 2005-06-14
Half way through an auto show, my camera shut off on me and displayed the E45 error message. Ive had this camera for about 3 years now, and I think Im probably considered one of the luckier ones since many other customers had theirs go bad in a couple of months.
As many others have pointed out, try and avoid this camera. Both the quality of the images and the functionality is great, but it is very unreliable, not to mention Kodak wont do anything about it.
 On: 2005-06-08
I got this Camera for Christmas and used it on Vacation in March. I was very unhappy that it malfunctioned and I was not able to use it for part of my vacation. When I got home I called Kodak who advised me that there would be a $35 dollar fee to repair. I sent it in and they fixed it and upgraded some of the features to it. However I did have to buy a new battery which was a pain to find. I ended up ordering it over the internet! Anyway it works better than new now and I was very pleased that they upgraded it! Overall its a great camera and would reccommend Kodak to anyone!
On: 2005-05-31
We have enjoyed the use of our LS 443 for just over a year and now it wont work. And worse yet, Kodak will not repair this camera. They do offer an "upgrade" to a refurbished comparable camera for a discounted fee. The problem is that if I updgrade do I get the same customer care or lack thereof as I am getting now?
My advice: dont buy Kodak at all.
On: 2005-05-30
I was taking great pictures then it went this error.
I guess I will have to back to square one. I have discovered
that many others have this problem.
On: 2005-05-16
15th May, (while I was away on holidays), my camera stopped working. Error message came up on the screen #E45. Lense wouldnt open. Just a clicking sound
Kodak have terrible customer service, both phone and internet.
I have just looked at 8 different websites that had reviews for this camera and this is what I discovered:
#The LS443 had no negative reviews until about a year after
it was put on the market
#After sifting through 8 websites, I discovered that there
were 105 complaints about the camera. 73 of these complaints
were specific to the #E45 lense problem.
#On all 8 websites, it was rare to find a positive review on
the LS443 dated later than the mid/end of 2003.
After reading all the reviews, it seems very likely that this is a common problem with the LS443.
When I called Kodak about my camera they offered me an upgrade for AU$150 to the LS743, since they no longer repair LS443 cameras.
I told them about all the reviews that I have read. They refused to admit that there was a fault with the camera.
I bought my camera on 23 Dec 2002 for AU$930. (plus the memory card cost me AU$200)
A camera at this price SHOULD last a bit longer than 2 1/2 years!!!!!!!!! (And now I am expected to hand over another $150. Thats rich)
Any advice or assistance would be appreciated.
(...)
On: 2005-05-10
For those of you interested in buying a LS-443, keep it in mind that in about 2 years time this camera will break. NO MATTER WHAT.
I brought this camera from Amazon.com for $400.00 in 2003. Normally, I would expect a camera with this kind of price tag to last for.. oh, I dont know... at least 5 years! But silly me, I was wrong.
Kodak will not fix this camera for you if it breaks. Instead, they will tell you to buy a new one.
If you are looking to pay big for a camera with a life span of 2 years then, Kodak is for you.
On: 2005-04-09
A $400 camera should last longer than 2 yrs. Same complaint as all the others. Tried turning the stupid thing on, listened to a clicking sound, and the lens would no longer extend. Contacted Kodak after reading reviews and of course they deny that there is any problem with the LS443 model. They will repair it for $35 or I can get the upgrade for $125. I think they should repair it for free. All of these complaints are unfortunately falling upon deaf ears at the Kodak company. I will never buy another Kodak product.
On: 2005-04-08
I experience the infamous E-45 error today. Kind of ironic that other customers have reported this within a 2 month period. HUMMM.... It is probably cheaper to buy a new camera than to send it out for repair.
On: 2005-02-16
Picture quality is excellent. The cameras features are very intuitive and easy to handle. An excellent purchase for someone who is not a professional, but likes to take good pictures.
On: 2005-02-04
Yet another "E45" victim.. I gave this camera 2 stars, only because it did serve me well for about 2 years, then about a month ago, if the lighting was not as bright as the sun, I would end up with pictures of a black screen. Then after not using it for a couple of days, I turned it on, the lens made wouldnt extend and it made a strange clicking noise like it was trying to come out, then it would stop and show the dreaded "E45" error message. I couldnt find my users manual, so I typed E45 into a search field and to my amazement, came up with a lot of consumer review web pages & found out that apparently I am just one out of A LOT of people who have had the exact same problem! I dont understand why such a reputable company like Kodak would just ignore this problem & try to make us pay $150 or so, to fix a problem that is not the consumers fault. I am done with Kodak.
On: 2005-01-23
I too just received the E45 message on my camera and have been told to send in for expensive repair. This camera was treated very well. I believe that camera when inserted into carrying case causes switch to turn on causing the gear damage. I believe carrying case is too tight. Would highly recommend buying from organization that will stand behind its products.
On: 2005-01-13
These cameras start out life ok- good, actually- But then the dark side comes out, and that is the horrible lens drive system. The gears go bad, and repair is only temporary, even by Kodak. I repair these products for a major service company, and the design is just plain bad. Dont think you can get a cheap one on ebay, either, to fix yours- They all have the same problems. Toss it and buy something else.
On: 2005-01-05
Do not buy this camera, used or new!! Camera broke after 15 months of normal use - called Kodak, they offered either a free repair or I could pay $125 to be uprgaded to LS 743 (retails at $260, but can be purchased on sale for around $200). I paid about $330 for the LS 443 in July 2003! The whole deal sounded fishy since the camera was past its 12 month warranty, so I did a little digging and find out that there are many other camera owners having the same problem with the LS 443. I call back to Kodak and ask about the free repair and I come to find out that they will only provide a 30 day warranty - I also point out the cost difference between what I paid for the LS 443 and what you can buy the LS 743 at and ask why should I pay $125 to be "upgraded" to a lesser priced camera and I get an answer of "Well your camera is used"!! Bottom line is: Kodak will not stand behind there products - period! Both Kodak and their customer service should be ashamed how this situation regarding this defective camera was/is handled. Ill never buy another Kodak product - they could have offered the camera upgrade for free but they chose to take the low road. Also, would have rated the camera "0" stars but system would not allow it!
On: 2004-12-28
Similar to the other 50 people, my camera flashed the Error #E45 message after about 12 months of use. Being impatient, I tried turning the camera on and off a few times but nothing. I came back a few days later and gently pressed on the bottom of the extended lense as I turned the camera on, and somehow the camera started working again. Wouldnt recommend doing this if you still have the warranty, but if all hope is lost, give it a try.
On: 2004-12-16
It died within 18 months of purchase. The only repair option was to return it to KODAK at my expense with the return charge of $50. And a repair price of minimum of $150. It is pretty crummy that the camera did not last more than 18 months. There should be at least a 3 year warranty. And, the camera was not treated roughly.
 On: 2004-12-07
Now dont get me wrong - this camera takes very high quality pictures and I think Kodak did a good job making the funtions on this camera very intuitive. However, this camera broke 2 months after I bought it and I had to have the entire lens mechanism replaced - had to do without it on a BIG vacation because you have to mail it in for repairs (3 weeks). 14 months later guess what? SAME MALFUNCTION. Kodak admits there is a problem with this camera and is offering to repair it again for free (but I still have to do without it again - now for Christmas!) OR they will gladly let me pay them $125 and they will send me the LS743, which is a lesser quality camera!!! Bottom line - I have not been at all impressed with customer care or Kodaks motivation to make equitable amends for their craftsmanship on this camera. But if I had never had a mechanical problem with this camera I would be quite pleased with the picture quality and ease of use. Next time however, Im going to spend the extra money and get a Canon. Oh, and a friend of mine had a similar problem with his HP camera and they UPGRADED him to a new, better camera FOR FREE on the second repair. Food for thought, Kodak....
On: 2004-12-06
1 year later the screen has blanked out and no longer takes pictures. Of course customer service offered to replace it with a new LS743 for $125. But why would I end up spending close to $525 (close to $400 for the orginal and another $125 for a new replacement) for a 4 MP camera. Id stay away from kodak cameras and go with quality.
On: 2004-11-25
My LS443 appears to have lasted slightly longer than the others, but the other day while I was using it to document testing I was doing for a consulting account, the E45 error appeared. Im very disappointed. I also concur that the power switch comes on too easily, and the Fill Flash is just too strong for macro work.
Kodak is touting their JD Powers award for "Cameras ranked highest in customer satisfaction $200-399 and $400-599" on their web site. Nice joke, guys. The Interactive Troubleshooting and Repair web site does not work, although when I go through the hoops and input the serial number, it comes back saying I am entitled to FREE repair, or upgrade to the LS743 for $125.00, but then the SUBMIT action fails.
Customer Support (phone), however, was helpful, and after giving her the serial number she indicated that my LS443 is eligible for a "one time repair from Kodak." The followup email from Kodak with return instructions does not indicate I will be charged, nor have I been asked to supply a Credit Card at any time. I think Kodak is aware of the problem, and is trying to make it right. I will send the camera in for free repair, and not upgrade to another 12-month expectancy device for the $125.00
On: 2004-11-24
My LS443 appears to have lasted slightly longer than the others, but the other day while I was using it to document testing I was doing for a consulting account, the E45 error appeared. Im very disappointed. I also concur that the power switch comes on too easily, and the Fill Flash is just too strong for macro work.
Kodak is touting their JD Powers award for "Cameras ranked highest in customer satisfaction $200-399 and $400-599" on their web site. Nice joke, guys. The Interactive Troubleshooting and Repair web site does not work, although when I go through the hoops and input the serial number, it comes back saying I am entitled to FREE repair, or upgrade to the LS743 for $125.00, but then the SUBMIT action fails.
Customer Support (phone), however, was helpful, and after giving her the serial number she indicated that my LS443 is eligible for a "one time repair from Kodak." The followup email from Kodak with return instructions does not indicate I will be charged, nor have I been asked to supply a Credit Card at any time. I think Kodak is aware of the problem, and is trying to make it right. I will send the camera in for free repair, and not upgrade to another 12-month expectancy device for the $125.00
On: 2004-11-10
Great instructions. Easy to use. Small size. Everything works perfectly - Zoom, Timer, Flash, review and delete. Except all the pictures are soft - nothing I could do to capture a sharp image. Used tripod and timer (to avoid movement) for senics, close ups and macros - all soft. Changed ISO to 400 to reduce apeture and increase depth of field - soft. I give up. Will contact Kodak.
On: 2004-11-09
This camera takes great pictures!...... until it breaks. The on/off switch is a poor design and it is easily turned on which causes the lense to try to extend. This causes the cheap plastic gears to strip and suddenly your camera is $300.00 junk!KODAK IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT REFUSES TO MAKE IT RIGHT! Dont waste your money. I am looking for a class action law suit to join onto. If you have info, please e-mail me. ... clayjars4@integrity.com.
On: 2004-10-13
ENOUGH SAID HERE "E45" HOW ABOUT KOCRAP AND BUY A FUJI FINE PIX...QUALITY IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE !!!!
On: 2004-10-12
ENOUGH SAID HERE "E45" HOW ABOUT KOCRAP AND BUY A FUJI FINE PIX...QUALITY IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE !!!!
On: 2004-09-11
Ive been very happy with the shots taken outdoors, but anytime I use the flash the subjects are extremely washed out, to the point that I dont even bother saving the picture.
The shutter lag is way too long - Im constantly missing shots by a couple seconds
A couple days ago the lens stopped retracting and I get the dreaded E45 error message. I called Kodak and got an auth to repair it for $35, which is better than the $150 others have reported, but Im debating if I should send it in or not even for $35.
Im thinking of getting the Canon A95, as Im very happy with my Canon A65 I keep in my car all the time.
On: 2004-09-10
Ive been very happy with the shots taken outdoors, but anytime I use the flash the subjects are extremely washed out, to the point that I dont even bother saving the picture.
The shutter lag is way too long - Im constantly missing shots by a couple seconds
A couple days ago the lens stopped retracting and I get the dreaded E45 error message. I called Kodak and got an auth to repair it for $35, which is better than the $150 others have reported, but Im debating if I should send it in or not even for $35.
Im thinking of getting the Canon A95, as Im very happy with my Canon A65 I keep in my car all the time.
On: 2004-08-28
It worked fine for the first two years, then i got the fatal Error E45 and now itll take way too much money to send it off and get it fixed. the erro message just appeared, didnt drop it or anything. Camera worked fine till then. the processing time is slower and is a pain though.
On: 2004-08-23
I really enjoyed this camera for the year and a half that it worked. One day it just started taking black pictures. I called Kodak and have had very poor support from their Customer Service. It took three calls to customer service, the first of which directed me to a web link which didnt work, the second of which I was transfered to a line that rang endlessly and the third to a support person who gave me the following options: 1) have the camerar repaired for $150+ tax + shipping (The camera has been discontinued so I am leary to do this) and 2) Trade it in for a refurbished camera (not a new camera) with less megapixels for $199 + tax + shipping. Any reasonable person who does the math can figure out I can buy a new camera for the prices I am being quoted. If I were you, I would seriously consider another vendor.
On: 2004-08-21
Good camera with two big problems.
1: Its too easy for the On button to get accidentally clicked on while in a bag or purse. The lens tries to come out but if its in a bag it cant and this may cause problems.
2: My camera worked great for 15 months but now the shutter stopped working. Kodak wants $150 plus shipping to fix - not worth it.
Many comments on websites about lens problems but no response from company.
Brian
On: 2004-08-16
I would have given the LS443 a 5 star rating for the year and a half it worked perfectly. I returned from a recent trip and successfully uploaded the pictures and recharged the camera with the camera dock. The next time I turned it on I got the error message "Camera Error #E45." I tried to get a repair authorization on Kodaks web site, but it finally indicated this camera is no longer supported. A $400+ camera not supported after 1 1/2 years? I also tried to telephone Kodak, but got a recorded message run around back to the web page.
This seemed like a great camera, but became a lemon in less than two years. If it was an automobile, there would be a recall.
Ill google check real carefully for reviews before I buy another Kodak camera.
On: 2004-08-15
I would have given the LS443 a 5 star rating for the year and a half it worked perfectly. I returned from a recent trip and successfully uploaded the pictures and recharged the camera with the camera dock. The next time I turned it on I got the error message "Camera Error #E45." I tried to get a repair authorization on Kodaks web site, but it finally indicated this camera is no longer supported. A $400+ camera not supported after 1 1/2 years? I also tried to telephone Kodak, but got a recorded message run around back to the web page.
This seemed like a great camera, but became a lemon in less than two years. If it was an automobile, there would be a recall.
Ill google check real carefully for reviews before I buy another Kodak camera.
On: 2004-08-05
I loved this camera and found it very easy to use and took great pictures. However, I was very disappointed when it totally quit working one year and one month after I bought it. I elected not to spend the $150 to fix it.
On: 2004-08-04
I loved this camera and found it very easy to use and took great pictures. However, I was very disappointed when it totally quit working one year and one month after I bought it. I elected not to spend the $150 to fix it.
On: 2004-07-20
ive just spent the last 30 min. reading other peoples reviews and am astonished that i am not the only one who has been experiencing problems with my kodak ls443 soon after its 1 year anniversary of purchase. i was taking pictures easily one minute- and NO the camera was NOT DROPPED OR MISTREATED- and the next minute the screen goes completely blank. i can still see the menu startup so i am thinking it is a software issue. tried to download the latest firmware and still the camera refuses to cooperate. kodak customer service is just intolerable. any advice on others who found a way around this- please contact me missvalones@hotmail.com
On: 2004-07-16
My husband gave me my camera in March 2003. In that time Ive taken some wonderful pictures, including spectacular close-ups of flowers and insects with the close-up feature. Ive got two extra memory cards and can hold more pictures that my battery can handle. I stopped using the Easy Share software when all my computers started running XP and I can connect the camera directly to it. And in low-light situations, it does a pretty decent job. For long-distance (high zoom) photos, I recommend a tri-pod and the delay-snap feature.Like others, I had the problem with the lense not coming out and sounding like stripped gears, but as it was still in warranty, Kodak fixed it without question and I had it back within a couple of weeks of shipping it to them. One major issue that I have is that Im on the second battery. While they last for many shots and recharge nicely, they sometimes stop recharging after a few months. The first battery lasted a whole year. The second lasted only three months. Not good to have happen on a trip to the mountains! I dont know if its because of connecting the battery directly to the wall instead of through the docking station, or just a failing battery. Moral: have a second battery on hand. Amazon sells them cheap. Overall, it has been a good buy for us, though, and I rarely go anywhere without it.
On: 2004-07-03
With this camera you can: -Print so good images, depending of your printer, paper and printer settings. -Take excellent closeUps without search for professional results. -Capture video to get fun. Also you dont care about the battery with the camera dock. The one-press/one-click function its easy to save the pictures in the computer. If you dont want to pay too much money, this is the choice.
On: 2004-06-18
I bough this camera about 18 months ago, and like many people had the problem where the lens wouldnt come out and it displayed Error #45. It was 3 months outside warrantee, but I contacted Kodak via their web site, and now I have a new camera (without any trouble). I believe the problem is caused by the selector getting knocked and the lens being forced out in an enclosed space. This seems to have been improved on the one I have now.
Generally I am happy with the camera and the pictures a fine.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-10
Ive owned this camera for 2 years now and love it. The battery lasts a long time. It is very easy to use. Mine came with the docking/charging station. The cables that you plug into the docking station, will plug directly into the camera for uploading and for charging, for more portability. I leave the docking station on my table and travel with just the cords. The Kodak software I think makes it especially easy for a beginner. The nice thing about the docking station is the fast charge and one touch feature, but the camera can be operated without it.I have had some issues with the lighting and such, but I think that is more my error, as I tend to leave it on auto all the time. I had taken a photo from a balcony that had a roof, that looked out over the ocean. All the items on the balcony turned out dark (almost black)...but when I re-took it with fill flash it turned out great....so I just had to experiment. I have had no problems with my print quality either....I leave it on the mid-quality. I have never tried the full 4.0 MP...or the low. I have developed one 8 x 10 and it wasnt grainy at all.
On: 2004-05-05
Ok, here it goes... I bought the camera about a 1 year and 3 month ago. This was my first digital camera so I could not really compare the quality of the pictures taken with it, but as I compared my pictures to my friends canon pictures, I really felt embarassed. I have read reviews on the other sites complaining about picture quality, but never thought that it could be that bad. It takes pictures worse than 2 megapixel cameras, but with the price tag of $400. Despite this, I was going to live with that quality, but one day the camera stopped responding. My girlfriend turned it on, the camera lens came out and stopped responding, showing message "Camera error # E45" on the LCD screen. After some research I found out that it is VERY common problem for Kodak LS443 model. Just for fun, look at ebay, do some search and you will find a lot of Kodak LS443 cameras for sale with non-responding lens. I guess to fix it (if your warranty had expired) would cost the same amount of money as to buy a new one, but, PLEASE, if you buy a digital camera, do yourself a huge favor and DO NOT buy this one. Buy Canon or something.
On: 2004-05-01
When I first bought this camera I thought it was great. It takes decent pictures, is lightweight, and easy to use. However, problems began soon after using it. The control/on switch is located on the back side of the camera,supposedly for ease of use. The newer Kodak cameras I have seen have the control on top, and for good reason. It is almost impossible to carry this camera without it turning itself on. When my wife put it in her purse we would find the battery discharged by the time we took it out. We used 3 different camera cases but still, any jostling would turn the button on.
Not only would this cause battery discharge but since the lens could not extend correctly, the camera would malfunction. We sent the camera in once to Kodak for repair without problem but after the second break from the same problem, we gave up on the thing.
Remember too that if you travel and want to charge it or download pics to your laptop, you need to take the docking cradle with you. We tried every store in town but the cable to connect to the computer without the cradle is not available anywhere.You must special order from Kodak.
On: 2004-04-07
Ive had this camera for about a year and havent had any technical problems with it so far (*keeping my fingers crossed, after reading all these reviews about the camera breaking*). Its simple to use and takes great closeups.Complaints:
It doesnt do well in dim lighting. With a 35mm, if you take a pic indoors with the flash, your picture will most likely be clear. Not necessarily so with this camera. It also doesnt do well in bright sun. The pictures get blown-out looking ... the whites too white and the details lost. Though that may be something I could fix if I actually read the instruction manual ... I use the camera for taking photos for my Web site, so the compression thing others mentioned hasnt been a problem for me. I have also printed out a few photos (none bigger than 4 x 6), and they turned out great.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-04-05
One month after warranty expired (1 year), the lens no longer opens. Just a clicking noise when you turn the camera on, like gears slipping.Took pretty good photos while it lasted, but $400 for one years photos is a bad deal.
On: 2004-03-19
I bought this camera about a year ago and have used it many times. It does take a high resolution photo but it has kind of a grainy look to it. It also takes very terrible night pictures, even at like twilight or in a shadow you can barely see a thing. It also takes a little adjustment for close up photos, and takes like 3 seconds to take a picture so throw away those in-the-heat-of-the-moment photo opportunities. Also, the connection software it comes with does not work well with my computer; the only way I can view photos on my computer is to drag and drop the files from the camera drive to the destination folder. Then the connection just failed so I couldnt view my photos on my computer at all. And another thing, when you zoom in on the picture your viewing on the camera, it takes a significant amount of time, which can be frustrating. Also, Ive heard many customers complain that it breaks a lot. Overall, I wouldnt recommend this camera. I heard the Nikon Coolpixs were very good though.
On: 2004-03-14
For good reviews just look at all the owners who are happy with their equipment. I also have taken over 4000 pictures since I purchased this camera in NOV 2002. I am pleased with the product and software. The camera is a great size for me. The docking station is great because of all the functions it can do while plugged in. I use it extensively, for astronomy photos utilizing a 43MM threaded screw adapter to connect to the telescope. I am satisfied.
Last night while taking pictures in the house of some friends my camera displayed Error 45 on the screen. After an hour of web re-search I found it to be common and those WITHOUT the extended warranty obviously paid a pretty penny to repair it. I did pay for an extended warranty and will post my updates as they occur. From several postings, I find that the only common scenario I can find is the camera attempting to open up while in the camera case. I could see the mechanism trying to force the issue, even though it then knows to shutdown. My recommedation is for ALL owners to find a way to secure that the spinwheel selector [not sure of name for the piece] does not have the opportunity to spin to a selection when inserting camera into camera bag. If you have any ideas other than the bubble wrap suggestion please post it here. If you know of any site where a chat forum on this product exist, plz advise. I keep you posted on developments.
Peace*
On: 2004-03-06
One should think that Kodak made a bad batch of cameras - I saw other complaints about cameras that stopped functioning in Feb 04 - mine stopped working 1 year and 2 weeks after purchase. Beaware - the warranty clocks starts the day you place the order - NOT the day you received it - grrrr. We have never dropped it or malhandled it in any way. Even tried to change the battery. Please join me in complaining to Kodak use the following address: daitech@cyber.kodak.com Boy the lemon law ought to apply for this item!! The serial no. of my camera is KCDCE25003293 I am never buying Kodak again!!! poor customer service!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2004-02-27
We bought this camera for my friends wedding overseas. We bought a memory card with it. After taking close to 200 photos on the memory card it just stopped working and said the camera didnt support the card. After coming back home we called Kodak and they pretty much said it wasnt their problem. How can a camera take pictures and movies on a card and then decide not to support it? At my engagement party we took pictures with this camera and they all came out so dark that unfortunately I have very few pictures of such a special day. And then to top it all off it broke a month later. The LCD screen just stopped working and the pictures would come out completely black. I dont understand how such an expensive camera can have so many problems. Save your money and buy something else, this is nothing but headaches.
On: 2004-02-23
I first got this camera for my wife for X-mas about 1yr 2mos ago. We were happy with MOST of the pictures this camera took. It served as our basic point and shoot camera on our trips. However about 3 weeks ago during a graduation attendance the camera lens would not extend, and displayed Error #E45 message on LCD screen. I checked with camera shops around my area (since it was out of KODAK warranty)It was going to cost me about as much as buying a new one to have the lens assembly replaced, due to KODAK parts being very expensive. I recommend to stay away from this model, or at least get extended warranty.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-02-23
DO NOT BUY THIS OR ANY OTHER KODAK CAMERA !!!!!!!!!!!THE LS443 TOOK GOOD PICTURES, WAS EASY TO USE, AND I ENJOYED OWNING IT. THEN AFTER MY "14 TH " MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, THE LCD SCREEN QUIT WORKING AND THE CAMERA WOULD NOT TAKE ANY MORE PICTURES. NOT GOOD. KODAK ONLY AGREED TO FIX IT FOR $150 PLUS TAX AND SHIPPING. THERE WASNT AN OPTION JUST TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED. STAY AWAY FROM THIS AND ALL KODAK CAMERAS UNLESS YOU TAKE OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.
On: 2004-01-25
I have purchased the LS443 like it alot, when it works. Am having alot of trouble getting the lense to open everytime i want to use it. No it wasnt dropped ever. no it hasnt been left out in the cold and No it didnt have water spilled on it. I havent had the pleasure of getting a return call from kodak, The store i bought it at is giving me a hard time. I paid a pretty penny for this camera and really do expect it to work.I REALLY REALLY hate to throw away my money!!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-22
I know nothing about cameras, so bought this because it is meant to be so easy to use. I sell real estate so wanted it to photograph houses etc. nothing fancy. However, the colours are really awful... nothing like the real life ones my friends get with other cameras. The blue skys usually comes out looking like a thunderstorm is on the way. I live in Portugal where its very bright sun. I was told I can adjust exposure and stuff, but I bought it because it is so heavily promoted as being so easy to use. Recently my camera (in a soft case) fell off the dashboard of my car, onto the car floor..Ok, I know its my fault.. but such a short fall onto a car carpet, broke the small multifuncion button. The camera still works ok, but the loose button keeps putting on the maginifying mode when Im reviewing pictures.. Didnt think it would be such a fragile little thing. If you need a camera for work, I dont think this is the one.
On: 2003-12-20
I have taken all kinds of pictures with this Kodak and all have been spectacular. This camera has so many features and such high resolution, it is well worth the price. It also has that high-tech look to impress everyone else and make them wish they had your camera. You wont regret this purchase.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-05
My husband overall paid $377 for the 1st LS443 in Jan-2003 as my B-day gift. We like it so much so recommended to his friends and paid mid-$300 for a 2nd one in April that went to China. In August he bought the 3rd one that went to Taiwan. The price eventually at low-$300 was excellent because a dock is included plus we got free 128MB Memory SD-card. Kodak discontinued this otherwise we would have purchased at least a 4th one! In mid-Nov 2003 his friend brought back the 2nd one from China because the lense wont open. This same problem was commented by several other owners. Cant tell if it was dropped. We got RMA without any problem from Kodak Customer Service and returned it to NYC for repair. Kodak received it on Nov-24, send email to us on Nov-25 informing their receipt, repaired it in Thanksgiving weekend and shipped via Airborne 3-day on Dec-1. We got it on Dec-3 and it works so far! I feel this experience is pretty good if not excellent. Guess Kodak was forced to improve due to complaints. We had NO problem with the EasyShare software on our Win-XP but do NOT use it anyway. Today is Dec-4, 2003. It will be interesting to see what happen to the trio as time goes by. I will update if necessary. Good luck to all the other LS443 owners!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-12-04
Bought one of these for my daughter (poor college student). The first one quit after two weeks - Lens wouldnt extend when you turned it on. And no, for the thousandth time, it wasnt dropped!Replaced by the place of purchase. Second one lasted about four months. Same problem. And no for the thousandth and one time, it wasnt dropped and no it didnt drink any water. Kodak support is absolutely horrible. "Did you drop it?"...No..."Are you sure?"... Yes. "Well if you send it in and WE think you dropped it well either charge you a zillion dollars to fix it or send it back broken for $35". Current status is "Arrived - awaiting availability of a technician to evaluate/repair". Next time its a Nikon 5700 or equivalent. It WAS dropped off a motorcycle at 60 MPH. Works fine and takes better pictures than the Kodak ever did. You get what you pay for unless its a Kodak....
On: 2003-11-26
I agree with all of the good things that have been said about this camera. It is a great device for taking pictures and transferring them to the computer.
My LS443 is in the shop, however, for the second time this year. The lens travel mechanism has failed (again). Why?Kodak made the remarkably bad decision to have the mode ring switch also turn on the camera. No separate on/off button. The mode ring switch is very easy to turn accidentally, and even has a tab that sticks out beyond the back plane of the camera. Switching modes in use is an inconvenience, but no big deal, right? Problem is, the tab will catch when the camera is in a case, a pack, a pocket, and turn the camera on. The lens tries to come out, but is foiled. After a second of trying, the camera stops and shuts down. After a certain number of times, the lens travel mechanism gets stripped, and stops working. I dont mistreat this camera, but Im not going to carry it around in bubble wrap, as the folks at Kodak kindly suggested. If I had know about this problem, I certainly would have bought the extended warrantee.
Unless this problem were fixed, I would not buy this camera again.
On: 2003-11-26
um. well i just bought this camera, and it was a damn sweet deal.
it came pretty quick and it was exactly the camera i set out to get. uh i dont really know what else to right.....so yeah...use amazon to buy stuff. peace and carrots
by: Anonymous On: 2003-09-15
I bought this camera for school and it is so easy to use I took it on vacation to get used to its features. It has produced some truly beautiful shots and I am now considering another for use at home. It replaced my 35mm Minolta,which I gave to my daughter when I decided even I could go digital with the help of this camera. Wonderful entry into the world of digital photography. Quick and easy to learn.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-08-03
I was robbed of my first - immediately went back to Amazon for another. I love the camera - prints are awesome, screen shots are awesome. I love the macro capabilities - I photographed a rare insect in amazing and clear detail. I must also add that I priced cameras for a long period of time before deciding on this one, and Amazon has excellent prices. I could not find a 4.0 MP camera under $400 anyplace (though these things change quickly - might be a cheap antique next month, haha).
On: 2003-08-02
This camera is easy to use and produces fabulous results. It is our first digital camera. The software is a little funky to use and could use some changes, but the camera itself is a piece of cake. The kids love that they can see themselves right away on the built-in screen, and the ability to have the pictures the same day you take them is very cool. Actually the camera I bought was just stolen out of my car, so I am buying another one.
On: 2003-07-29
This camera is the best! I would recommend it for anyone interested in getting a digital camera that is simple to use and ready to go right out of the box. All of the pictures that I have taken are wonderful. The quality is spectacular! It is so easy to use. Since it comes with its own docking station with one touch transfer, there is no guess work in it. I would recommend that you download the more updated easyshare software from the kodak website. The newer software has some extra features that dont come with the disk in the camera. If you get the 128mb card you can take up to 103 pictures at the best quality rating. I have several friends who have bought this camera after seeing mine. I cant say enough! Thanks Kodak!!!
On: 2003-07-19
For all the things that this little camera can do the cost was really good. I would recommend it to EVERYONE I know. It charges fast and if you get a 256 MB card for it you can take about 700 pictures on it. Thats amazing! If you are looking for a nice little camera that can do lots of things, this one is for you. The software is really easy to use also.
On: 2003-07-15
I was a little worried about getting a digital camera I must admit!! But I am SOOOOOOOOO glad that I did. This camera is GREAT!! The pictures turn out great and so clear. It is VERY easy to use, even for someone like me not a teckie by any means. The docking station is great push of the button and the pictures are on the screen and ready to print or email. As far as the action shots are concerned, with the other reviews, I have been able to get some great action shots it just takes a little time in between the shots for the picture to appear. So I love it even for that because you can see right away if the picture is what you thought you took.. The only cons is the screen is really hard to see in direct sunlight. I would also recommend purchasing an extra memory card the 16mb that comes with the camera only lets you take up to 15 pictures in the best choice setting. I am going to get the 128mb one so that when on vacation I will not have to worry about how many pictures I can take. I would buy this camera again. It is great. The software is also very easy to use....
by: Anonymous On: 2003-07-12
The key to taking good photographs with this camera is to master the half press and hold. This lets the camera set up for the picture. If you do not half press and hold long enough, the photo will be blurry.I am a technology driven person at work, but at home, I dont want to troubleshoot computers/software etc. Lucky for me, I didnt have to do a thing to get the software working perfectly. If you are a real photography nut, this camera is probably not for you (of course you should already know that based on the price). I love the good quality rather than best. For the average Joe, this camera is well worth the money and is a wonderful replacement for a 35mm. Buy a good sized memory stick (128 MB SD card holds over 300 pictures on low quality)
On: 2003-06-14
Just purchased this camera.Very impressed with the quality, colour, and clarity of the photos.
Love the movie mode feature-makes mini videos with good sound and clear picture.(Length of movie depends on megabytes of memory card used).
The dock, where I store my camera when not in use,is a great feature, as the camera battery is always charged,ready to go.The dock makes it simple to load pictures to the computer with the press of a button.E-mailing pictures with the provided software is simple and quick.
Camera and software are very easy to use.
You will be happy with this camera!
If going on vacation, I recommend a 256 megabyte memory card if you want to take a lot of pictures in the "best picture quality" setting.(Especially if you plan to take some video shots,which require more memory).
I am going to buy myself a 256 mb sd memory card and a rechargeable lithium 3.7 V battery, and a battery charger.When I was on vacation recently,I used up two 64 megabyte cards and the battery as I filmed my last shot, a video of my daughter and friends.The video was cut short,because of running out of memory and battery.I use the "best" quality setting for all my picture taking.You can store more photos using a lower quality setting, but I want the better quality.
On: 2003-06-07
Very easy to use camera !! The ultimate first digital camera ! As clear as my Minolta Maxxum SLR. Not a huge zoom. You can blow your pictures up to 20 x 30 and its still really clear. The only thing is, dont try to use this for action shots. Will not caputure much motion. I am very happy with is purchase !
On: 2003-06-03
I bought the Kodak EasyShare LS443 to take on my honeymoon. For those of you considering buying, I am an educational technology specialist, so while I am tech-savvy, I wasnýt concerned about getting SUPER professional results. Iým an amateur photographer and I was looking for a camera with enough oomph to create quality 8x10ý prints. This camera claims to be able to generate photos well beyond that size (as any 4MP camera would), so I thought Iýd be fine.Wrong. The camera compresses the images to the point where you see SIGNIFICANT ýartifactsý (blurry areas around objects where the camera has ýaveragedý some of the data to conserve storage space). The unfortunate fact is that you need to make the image measurements smaller on your computer to mask the effects of the file compression. RESULT: Youýre not really getting the full power of the 4MP that youýre paying for. We could only hope for decent 4x6ý prints from this camera, and even then the compression artifacts are visible. While the camera does have an ýimage qualityý feature, it really only changes the physical size (i.e. measurements) of the image; that is, you can force this camera to take photos at a lower resolution (e.g. 2 megapixels), but you canýt do anything to make the camera use a higher-quality FILE to STORE the image in. The point here is that it wouldnýt matter if this were a 6MP camera, the file storage reduces the quality of the photo to make the FILE SIZE smaller. Thereýs no option to increase to a higher-quality JPEG, let alone something genuinely useful like a TIFF. By the way, thereýs no need to lower the image quality setting on this camera: The pictures it takes at ý4MPý are already small enough that you wonýt run out of space on your memory card. The camera itself is pretty easy to use. Point and shoot. On-screen directions are great to let you know what mode youýre in and what you should use that mode for. On-screen menus are a little awkward at first, but are otherwise obvious. For anyone used to a standard 35MM camera with any features to speak of, you wonýt need to read the instruction manual for the LS443. A note about zooming: The 3x optical zoom on this camera is good for normal family point-and-shoot. Digital zooming is a bad idea on ANY camera, especially if you want to print those photos. The LS443, for example, claims to have over 10x ýtotalý zoom, which is true in one sense: The combined optical (like a normal film camera would use) and digital do make 10x. However, what the cameraýs really doing is taking the picture as it appears at 3x zoom (the maximum optical zoom) and guessing to create a ýzoomedý image. The result is a very blurry picture, even at minimal digital zoom. Suggestion: Turn off the digital zoom on any camera you buy, or at least use it sparingly. The 3x optical zoom on the Kodak wasnýt enough for us, and weýre nowhere near professionals. The auto-focus isnýt altogether that great in slightly-less-than-optimal conditions. The shutter speed issue is only a problem if youýre interested in taking REALLY high-speed photosýlike at a sporting eventýin which case Iýd suggest a plain vanilla 35MM camera (the digital cameras that can do this are prohibitively expensive for most of us normal folk). Even the ýsportý mode on the LS443 yields some blurry pictures. One of the reasons I bought this camera was the dock and rechargeable battery. Battery life was great for us. I put it on the charger at night, and it went all day without any problems, even with LCD use. I liked the convenience of the dock because I didnýt have to deal with any cablesýI just left them plugged into the computer. This is a feature that I didnýt find with any other camera that I was looking for (it is an ADD-ON for other Kodak cameras). Iým going to miss the ease of recharging this camera. The software to transfer the images to the computer (on PC) stinksýdonýt load it. Itýs unnecessary and, by default, FURTHER reduces the quality of your images when it transfers them to the computer. No thanks. My suggestion: Load the drivers for the camera and use Windowsý built-in functionality. The My Pictures function of Windows (including a cool slide show and preview function) beats Kodakýs software any day of the week and twice on Sunday. At the end of the day, the quality is good enough for day-to-day point-and-shoot, ESPECIALLY if you donýt plan on printing. The fact that the images are already quite small (in file size) means that theyýre readily posted to a website or sent via e-mail. I ended up with an Olympus 3.2MP. Yes, fewer megapixelsýbut it uses higher-quality JPEG files. The results are across-the-board better than the Kodak: no more compression artifacts, and my 8x10ýs look great. Professionals will undoubtedly want a camera that can create TIFF files. This is a good camera to keep in the car or to have handy to take pictures of your kids being cute. If youýre a first-timer and youýre looking for something very quick, very easy, and very convenient, you should consider this camera. Itýs also a good camera to send with your kid to college. The media is also pretty cheap (and relatively fast), and the camera has some built-in memory (16MB, I believe), so you donýt even *really* need a memory card to get started. If you do buy, you probably wonýt need anything more than a 128MB memory card because the camera compresses the image files so much. For anything more, including pictures that youýd like to eventually print, get another camera. Weýre just a step above amateurs, and the Kodak LS443 didnýt make the cut. Youýre not getting the 4 megapixel quality youýre paying for.
On: 2003-05-24
In the ever changing world of digital photography I have been afraid to buy fearing that tomorrow there will be something better for less. But, after using 3 different digital cameras at work I finally decided on this Kodak. For those of you who think more pixels is not meaningful, believe me when I say 4 is far superior to 3.anything in final picture quality. You cannot tell the difference between a photo printed on photo paper with this camera and a 35mm from the store. I would suggest a good printer. I bought an HP 7550 with the camera. They are both so easy to use. Even those a bit fearful of techno gadget stuff can use this camera right out of the box. Reading the manual is not a chore for those so inclined. All the controls are easy to manipulate even for the kids. Dont try to look at the LCD screen in the sun with your polarized sunglasses on it doesnt work. All the normal drawbacks of todays digital photography exist. Things like when you release the shutter there is a brief delay. But you will learn to live with it. If you need high quality action shots of sporting events you have to use a 35mm. Digital [unless you are ready to spend for high end equipment] is not ready for this yet. Transfer of photos to the computer is the best feature. It is one button and anyone [even my techno negative wife] can do this with no problem.
On: 2003-05-12
I have gone through two of these in one month. Basically, the camera just stopped working. The other problem I had was that the compression was very noticable at full resolution. What is the point of a 4MP camera when you need to resample it to a lower resolution to mask the compression artifacts? When it was working, the results were generally usable. I liked the picture quality of the Nikon Coolpix 3100 3MP so much more - the lure of 4MP for just a little more is just not worth getting this one.
On: 2003-05-10
All and all I must say this is a great camera. I had my doubts after reading other reviews on this product but when I received it in the mail I was very pleased with it. The camera works great, as does the software. I seen where some people had problems with the Kodak Easyshare software with Windows XP; Im running XP on a Dell system and the software works perfect. I gave this product 5 stars because I feel it is a great camera at a good price. The only problem I found with the camera is when viewing pictures or video on a large scale (like a TV) the compression the camera uses degrades the quality of the pics and video bad. As far as viewing them on my 17" monitor they look great. Other than that the camera and software works great and I am very pleased with it.
On: 2003-05-04
I purchased this camera in April of 2003. I upgraded from a Kodak DC240 camera and what an amazing difference. The LS443 is very lightweight, and it comes with a docking station. The docking station will transfer photos, charge the battery, and save pictures (with one touch of a button). The docking station is really only going to provide a benefit if you have it consistently plugged in to your computer or other electronic equipment. Bringing it out of the box every time when you want to use it defeats the purpose. The camera is very compact and light (can fit into a shirt pocket). It gives you the ability to alter your image from a 4MP shot to a lower quality shot. Why is this important? Because if you are going to transfer a lot of files via the internet. The slightly lower quality shot will reduce the download time. It has a joystick type button that you use to guide through the menu. It makes it much easier than pushing buttons all the time. One thing a really love is that it has a delete button right on the camera. Many of the digitals, including the older Kodaks, make you go through the menu to delete pictures. This button allows you to rid yourself of pictures instantly. Drawbacks - sure every product has them. This is what I notice on the LS443. I recommend purchasing additional memory (I purchased a 72MB chip). The reason is if you are going on vacation and are going to take a lot of photos, you could run out of space. This is just an added expense some may not be anticipating. I find that the battery it uses is hard to find at stores (Lithium Ion). The battery itself has a good life before recharging, but we wanted a second one as a back-up and Best Buy didnt even offer this kind of battery. I read some other reviews where it was indicated that there were software problems: First, the whole point of the docking station is that you dont even need the computer if you dont want to use it - this is one of primary features of this camera. The purpose of the software is really to do a bunch of editing to the picture. If you are an average camera user, the software works just fine. If you are a pro - expect to be disappointed because nothing will compare to the perfection that the pros expect. Second, As far as software not working, I have Microsoft XP and I have no problems. Many times it is a case of not having the supported hardware for the software. If you are going to heavily use the software, I would recommend that your computer system is less than 2 years old. If you dont plan on performing any editing but want to save your pictures to the computer, just use Microsofts camera wizard that is standard on most computers. It is very easy and guides you to save all your pictures from the camera to the "My Pictures" folder. With the LS443 on the docking station, all you have to do is hit the button on the docking station and it brings up the menu for the wizard. Bottom line: The docking station makes digital photography much easier - for both picture transferring and battery charging. The camera is lightweight and in my opinion, user friendly....I give it my highest recommendation.
On: 2003-04-22
I looked at about twenty digital cameras and chose the Kodaks LS443. I have been using it for about a week and a half and that is not to say I havent had any problems. I bought a 256MB photo stick from Best Buy along with the camera which I found to be bad. This camera takes great pictures and farely well video and audio for a digital camera. I Have Windows XP running on a Dell Inspiron 8100 and didnt have any problems with the software
On: 2003-04-17
I have a different model Kodak camera, however they all use the same EasyShare software. Running Windows XP, I could not get the software to work properly. After several hours on the phone with Kodak tech support, they couldnt get it working either.
They said they are aware of the problem on some computers running Windows XP. It is now several months later and they still dont have a fix. They dont really seem to care either.It might not be a bad idea to consider other brands, instead of Kodak. Since, if the software wont work properly, then what good is the camera?
On: 2003-04-16
First off, Ill say I love this camera!!!After my original Hewlett-Packard died (less than 2 years old too), I researched and researched for a good quality yet affordable camera. This camera was at the top of my list and I must say Im impressed with it. After reading all the cons about the software I decided to give it a gander as I usually dont use the included software if I dont like it. Following the instructions *exactly*, I installed the drivers and software and STILL had problems with it. But after a quick call to Kodaks customer support (free and 1-800 number) we managed to fix the problem within 3-5 minutes. Now the camera and computer are in sync and we are snapping away!!!
On: 2003-04-05
Gday,
Im an Australian and here the LS433 goes for about AU$999 retail, and this is quite cheap considering what it has to offer! I bought mine for about AU$840 and also a Kodak 64MB card for extra storage. I had been looking for a while and nowhere could I find a Digital Camera that stood up to the LS443 in either price nor quality! The features built into the camera are fantastic ... 7 different settings for different conditions, video with audio (3 minutes) ... and for those who complain about the video saving to a .MOV file ... how hard is it to download Quicktime if you dont already have it? hmm?
Picture quality is wonderful! Zoom is great, still quite clear when at 10x zoom! But the 3x optical it generally enough. If you want anything extra as far as zoom goes you can actually buy new bigger attachable lenses to attach to your camera (for your information) as you would a normal camera.
The software on the camera unblievably easy to use (of course you can use what ever software you want to edit, the kodak software is very good by its self though).
You have options such as selecting picture resolution, storage location, tagging a picture to be later printed or emailed etc., flash types and red eye reduction, exposure compensation, colour modes, exposure length (time), delayed exposure (so you can run in front :P), date stamp,, AND MORE! And all in aa easy to use Menu!
As for reading the card on the camera via your computer?... by simply finding the device in My Computer you can either download or upload files to your storage card at any time you wish simply by dragging and dropping as you would to any other storage device; either through the docking station or directly into the camera (via USB).
All in all, I dont have a bad word to say about it. Taking price, quality and functionality into consideration, it out performs all 4.0MP cameras on the market at this point.
Have fun!
On: 2003-03-24
I just replaced an old Sony 2 Megapixel camera with this Kodak. So easy to use! And with the 128MB card I get about 100 pictures in the highest grade photo. It connects to your PC for easy downloading, printing, automatic emailing. Fun camera. And this is a great sale price!!
On: 2003-03-22
I purchased this camera after reading its reviews on various web sites. It was our first digital camera and I have to say that its the best decision we ever made!!!Within ten minutes of opening the box, I was taking pictures and downloading to my PC and/or laptop. I have Windows XP and had NO problems with the software. I would highly recommend taking a bunch of shots indoors and outdoors with the different settings before taking actual pictures you want to keep. This will get you familiar with each of the camera settings and allow you to do some basic editing on pictures you dont really care about. All in all, a GREAT purchase for our family.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-20
A former professional photographer, this is my first foray into digital. What a disappointment. Bought the camera at Christmas and have had continuous software and hardware problems. Tomorrow, it goes back to Kodak (at my own trouble and expense) so they can try to determine why it spontaneously died in my purse on the way to my Moms 75th birthday party (needless to say no pictures of a once in a lifetime event). We have the software on two computers: our laptop works fine, but desktop computer crashes every time we try to transfer pictures. In addition, both viewfinder and LCD are so dark you cannot see what youre shooting outside at night, shutter speed lag causes you to miss most pictures that arent still life (forget taking photos of small children), and the fully charged battery died after 9 pictures on a school field trip (and only way to recharge is through the cradle). An unbelievable waste of ... [money], wish I had returned it for another brand during first 30 days. Kodak should stick to manufacturing film.
On: 2003-03-18
I just got this camera a day ago, and I already know how to work everything in it. In a matter of five minutes, I was already taking pictures and emailing them to my friends. I tried two cameras out, the Kodak LS443 and the Hewlett Packard 812. The Kodak was surely the camera for me. The Hewlett Packard is more vertical than horizontal and it was hard to reach the zoom button. The screen was a little smaller and didnt come with a port you plug into your computer. The Kodak was clearly the better camera of the two.
On: 2003-03-11
The Kodak Easy Share LS443 digital camera is just what I was looking for. Four megapixels give it a quality rivaling the best slr cameras and its point and shoot size make it a camera easy to carry and use anywhere. There is a movie mode, and you can take pictures in burst of three useful in sporting events etc. Ive had the camera about two weeks now and I am really enjoying it. I take it with me all the time. It has oodles of features. The only drawback is the joystick/OK button. Its a little small for my big fingers but I am working with it well.
On: 2003-03-04
The Kodak camera is really great,beacuse for four hundred dollars (approx) its a low price for a 4 megapixel camera.You can take photos in different modes(7).The software on it is not relly good beacuse the photos go directly to a folder called "LS 443 CAMERA" so the dock is not good.i suggest you buy a SD Card Reader or you can just pop your card to your printer and just transfer your pictures from the card to the computer.The quality on the camera is really good,and it has an auto turn off feature that is great,beacuse sometimes i leave the camera on and it turns off by itself.The 4x zoom is great,but the rest (6x) are digital and it ruins the quality of the pictures.each photo is 2 mb,which takes a little space.The kodak review says that you can view pictures in the outdoors,but the brightness on the LCD is not to good in the sun.
On: 2003-02-07
I found it very easy to operate. The dail settings on the back for general, closeup,sports event and landscape are easy to use. The menu funciton is easy to read and review quickly. The focus function and zoom function are easy to use. The pictures are very high quality.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-31
Kodak must be one of those companies that listen to customer feedback because Ive experience none of the problems mentioned in earlier reviews.
For starters, installation of the Kodak software couldnt have been easier. Just pop the disk in and forget about it. The software is fairly basic but it handles the job of downloading and sorting your photos very well. Photos transfer is a quick one button operation from the docking station which also serves as the battery charger.
The lens cap, (which apparently popped off) is now gone, replaced by an external iris which closed to protect the lens when the camera is turned off. This is a much better design in my opinion, no cap to lose or forget to take off.
Operation of the camera is very intuitive thanks to the mini joystick and icons on the camera back. The small size makes it easy to carry and use. All of the bells and whistles that you would expect from a camera in this price range are there, (although most people will rarely use some of them). The photo quality is quite good and the battery lasts much longer than expected. Ive only been using this camera for a couple weeks now and will update this review after I give it its trial by fire on an upcoming Florida vacation.
12/12/05
I retract my earlier positive review of this product (see: "A small but capable well-designed camera"). The LS443 did work well, for about a year, at which point it stopped taking pictures. The camera would appear to take a photo but all of the images on the memory card would be blank. Since the camera was still under warranty, I returned it to Kodak and they repaired it at no change, (the lenses assembly had to be replaced). The camera once again worked well, but this time only for about 8 months, it failed for the second time while on a trip to Italy, (the dreaded E45 error). Kodak refused to repair the camera this time claiming that parts were no longer available for the LS443, instead offering to "upgrade" me to a REFURBISHED LS743 at $136, (a whopping $4 off the street price for a NEW LS743).
Adding to my dissatisfaction with Kodak products is the fact that we had also purchased a Kodak CX6330 for my daughter, it too failed while we were in Italy and of course, her camera was about two months out of warranty. This is strike 3 for Kodak; I will never buy one of their products again
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-30
I loved this camera until I decided to buy a memory card and card reader. When I loaded the software for the card reader on two separate computers, one running ME and the other 98, I ran into big problems. The computer with ME refused to update the drivers and the software completely trashed the system with 98. I later learned from technical support, I didnt even need to load the software but could just download the drivers but by then it was too late. Now Im stuck with one computer that barely functions.I didnt like the EasyShare software anyway. Paintshop Pro is much better for editing photos. And the camera records movies in .mov mode which means that if you want to make them accessible to everyone you have to run a conversion utility which degrades the quality. Since most people have older versions of Windows Media Player or Realplayer that do not recognize the QuickTime extension, this becomes a necessity to allow them to access the files. I also learned that Kodak now uses a proprietary media card instead of Smartmedia or Compactflash cards which also was an issue since I wanted to use a Flash Path adapter. Then to top it off, the camera itself stopped working after two weeks. I sent it back and am trying a different brand. I gave this three stars instead of one because the camera itself took great pictures while it worked and had a lot of adjustable settings which were easy to use. And the price is right but I guess you get what you pay for. Kokak needs to recognize that the real world is Microsoft dominated and there are very few Apple users and they need to address their software issues.
On: 2003-01-30
This is a very nice camera but I have to agree about the software. It messed up two computers, one running 98 and one running ME. The drivers wouldnt load in ME and the cardreader software trashed the computer with 98. I found out later after talking to the techs at Kodak, who I found very knowledgeable and helpful, that you dont even need the software and can just download the drivers but by then it was too late. Also the camera uses a proprietary card not SmartMedia so you cant buy a FlashPath adapter which are nice. The pictures I did manage to take before crashing the computer with the media card software turned out very nice and the camera has a lot of features for adjusting settings.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-18
Great camera. Lots of features yet easy to use. Great image quality. I love being able to easily take video clips with sound! Buy one, youll love it!
On: 2003-01-13
I have a different model Kodak camera, however they all use the same EasyShare software. Running Windows XP, I could not get the software to work properly. After several hours on the phone with Kodak tech support, they couldnt get it working either. They said they are aware of the problem. It is now several weeks later and they still dont have a fix. They dont really seem to care either.It might not be a bad idea to consider other brands, instead of Kodak. Since, if the software wont work properly, then what good is the camera?
On: 2003-01-01
My husband gave me this as a gift for Christmas, so Ive only had a few days to get to know the camera. I spent the first day with the Quick Start Guide which got me using the camera in a very short time.The next day was spent getting to know just how feature rich this camera is. Im a "hands on" learning type of person, so it took me a great deal of time to read through the very thorough and easy to understand Users Guide and practice with the camera. Later that evening, I was surprised to learn that it was so easy to load the software program and retrieve the pictures I had taken using Windows 98. The camera is everything that I hoped that it would be. It takes very clear pictures on still figures. Ive tried to take some of my cat, but he moves and the pictures come out blurry in the "Auto" mode. I recommend using the "burst" feature or the "sport" mode for moving objects instead of the "Auto" mode. I found that I did have to purchase a 128MB memory card becasue 16MB of internal memory didnt allow for many best quality pictures. Ive had the opportunity to use the video feature as well. I took a 13 sec. video to send to my father-in-law for his birthday. The only problem that I had was that the Easyshare software e-mailing program didnt support sending the video. It was 3.67MB and the program didnt permit transmittal of more than 2MB. I sent the video through my regular e-mail program and sent it as an attachment. My father-in-law was very impressed and said that I had a very good digital camera (a great compliment from a computer guru). I consider myself to be a novice with digital cameras. This is an incerdibly easy camera to manuver your way around. The menu is easy to understand, the delete and review features are clear, and retrieving your pictures is incredibly easy. I highly recommend this camera!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-31
Maybe the people who complain about the Kodak software not working with Windows XP should ditch Windows XP ... or learn how to use it. The software works fine on both Mac OSX and Mac OS 9 ... but most things just work better on Macs anyway.As to the camera, it is easy to use, flexible, and takes pictures with very nice color. There realy isnt much negative to say about the camera, except perhaps that the LCD screen could be of a bit higher resolution, and I could always use a stronger optical zoom (maybe 6x)!
On: 2002-12-30
This is my second digital camera. This is a very easy camera to use. I am running XP pro, I loaded the software in a bout five minutes and have had no problems. Color is great. I would recomend this camera and Kodak software.
On: 2002-12-30
I have had no problems with this camera even though I have Windows XP. The software loaded in 3 minutes and as soon as the batteries were charged I was off taking pictures.Printed excellent quality on 8 X 10 Kodak premium photo paper. I did have to read the manual set-up but everything went according to the book. Im receiving a free battery and charger with case with promo deal.Excellent purchase for my first didgital experience.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-28
Kodak continues to surpass the competition and the new LS443 is no exception. The LS443 has outstanding quality, value, features, and durability. In addition, it works flawlessly with Windows XP.
On: 2002-12-28
This is the easiest camera to use. The camera practically does everything except push the shutter button. The picture quality is second to none. The docking station and Kodak software included makes downloading your pictures incredibly fast and easy.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-27
I didnt want to have all of the problems my father and sister have with downloading their photos. It can take them 1-10 minutes to download, and then verify that it worked correctly. Our Kodak came with the dock, and it is so quick and easy to download! I do not like to read instructions for very long, so I did the scan through the extensive directions (unlike my husband who read every word), and was capable of taking BEAUTIFUL pictures immediately. Problems: Without a larger memory card, we can only take 10-15 pictures if we dont shoot video. We are going to buy a 128 MB card.It has a night selection that is difficult to use without a steady hand/tripod. We tried it with a tripod, and it captured our parents Christmas lights perfectly with the house, and moon in the background. It sucks when its on auto if you are in a unlit room or in the dark. You also cant see squat if the room is dark using the LCD panel to view-find. The video doesnt have flash, and you cannot zoom while in video mode.
What I like: I do love the clarity of the pictures weve taken thus far. The length of time to download is seconds. I can run multiple programs without interruption while downloading (unlike my family.) Its an easy to use camera. The battery lasts forever. Downloading is pushing 1 button. Videos are crisp, and the sound is much better than expected. Its durable (2 1/2 year old has dropped it twice, and banged it on the table with no problems).
This was a fun and wonderful gift, and in 1 week, have taken 100s of pictures in and outdoors. Enjoy!
On: 2002-12-27
This was a surprise gift from the wife and kids, so Ive only had one day to play with it. But relative to the reviewer who had trouble with the EasyShare software and Win XP, I will offer a different (very positive) experience. Kodak indicates that you must install the software before connecting the docking base to your computer or EasyShare will not install properly. They even put a paper cover on the end of the USB connector with this warning on it. (Bravo!)I was able to take my first pictures after spending about 2 minutes with the Quick Start manual (and charging the battery a bit.) It only took another 5 minutes to get the software installed. A+ for clear, simple instructions and ease of use for the novice. And the same thing for transferring pictures to my computer. Plug the base into a USB port, put the camera in the base, push the button on the base, and the software launches. Then you click on the transfer button, and in a few seconds your pictures are on your computer. I cant compare optical quality or other attributes with other digital cameras, but I will say that my pictures came out great, even some I took outdoors in fairly low light early this morning. Havent tried the video capability yet. The one thing I would recommend is getting a memory upgrade. It comes with 16MB internal, which is enough for 11 pictures at the highest resolution--more at lower resolutions. But then you dont buy a 4 megapixel camera to take pictures at lower resolutions... (16MB is also about 1 minute of video according to the manual.) The 128MB memory card should provide enough memory for over 100 hi-res pictures or 10 minutes of video (again, according to the manual.)
On: 2002-12-24
After spending many hours trying to get the software loaded using Windows XP with no luck I finally brought it back, for the second time. Dont waste your precious time messing with this SNAFU!!!
On: 2002-12-24
The LS443, Kodaks newest venture into the digital camera market is a joy to use. The controls are simple and well designed, the docking station (included) is the easiest way to upload pictures to your PC or email friends or receive prints from Kodak. The 4 mega pixel photo quality is excellent and rivals the regular Kodak film for color. I like everything about the camera and the way it handles. I would highly recommend the camera, and I have quite frequently to friends and family. Kodak is definetly on the right track converting from film technology over to digital and the LS443 is a fine example of a quality Kodak product. I previously owned a Kodak DX3600 and enjoyed the camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-20
I have a different model Kodak camera, however they all use the same EasyShare software. Running Windows XP, I could not get the software to work properly. After several hours on the phone with Kodak tech support, they couldnt get it working either. They said they are aware of the problem. It is now several weeks later and they still dont have a fix. They dont really seem to care either.It might not be a bad idea to consider other brands, instead of Kodak. Since, if the software wont work properly, then what good is the camera?
by: Anonymous On: 2002-11-14
This is a good camera for professional or amateur photographers. It provide good photo due to the great lens it has.
On: 2002-11-11
I use to take pictures with two other Kodak digital cameras, an early 2.2 MP model (very heavy), and the 4.0 MP DX4900. One of the most impressive features of both of these cameras is the great picture quality. I developed my prints from the Kodak ofoto website with superb quality. They are all very easy to set up and use. However,comparing with other similar cameras, I was a bit dispointed about a couple of things for DX4900: 1, it only has a 2x optical zoom instead of 3x., 2, the LCD is too small and can not see clearly at all in sunlight and 3, it did not have the feature to make short video. I was very excited when I saw the new Kodak LS443 and found that this model has all the features I wanted. Plus, it has a very sleek design and is light-weighted. So I purchased it, used it and developed prints from Ofoto. Overall, it is a great point and shoot pocket camera.
One thing I noticed with this camera is that it needs a few seconds to record image onto the memory card after each shot so it is difficult to take quick shots in succession. Also, I wished this camera uses the same compact flash memory card like other Kodak digital cameras. This one uses the smaller SD card to save space, I suppose.
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