Kodak Easyshare CX7430 4MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
By: Kodak Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 59
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 On: 2008-04-02
Bought it was pleased with it - had it awhile and now it kills fresh batteries after only a handful of pictures. A friend had one and said she took it to best buy and the guy told her the camera had "died" and new batteries are not the fix - there was no fix - same thing happened to mine.
Please consider this possibility if you are buying this camera - would guess mine is a 2-3 yrs old and its dead. Suggest you buy a better name brand. Im not buying Kodak next time.
 On: 2008-02-09
Ive had this camera for about 3 yrs now, and its never given me a single problem. It takes very good pictures of scenery, but I dont think the night vision mode is particularly great (are any cameras that good @ taking shots in the dark though?). Ive never regretted purchasing this camera.
On: 2007-03-07
The CX7430 takes pictures with so many pixels that a picture wont fit on my computer monitor, I have to scroll from side to side. The video feature is great also, though you cant zoom while shooting. I use lower pixels, and 26 frames a second. It has a nice wrist strap that can be used. It uses up a pair of rechargeable AAs in the equivalent of a few hours of shots. I recommend having a second pair in case.
On: 2006-12-09
I love this camera! Ive had it for over a year and would recomend it to anyone. I bought this camera after taking a backpacking trip with my friend and seeing the great shots her Easy Share took. I absolutly love it. I often take video of my 9 month old son because I dont have time to whip out the big camera. The video isnt super but its fast and simple. I just use the Windows Camera Wizard to get all my photos off it so Ive never used their software, but Ive never had a problem. ::thumbs up::
On: 2006-11-15
I bought this camera in April of 2005, and have used it for MANY pictures since (plus some video). I did a lot of research before buying, but really when it came down to it, I bought a brand I knew and it was cheap. Well I ended up with a great camera. I have 6 kids and scrapbook, so photo quality is very important to me and this camera has it. I use rechargeable batteries and they last a LONG time before needing recharged. Take it from a Mom that memories mean a lot to...this is a terrific camera! All of the lengthy good reviews on here are telling the truth. I heard a lot of bad things from "camera professionals" about Kodak, but I havent seen any of what they said.
 On: 2006-11-15
Ive had no problems with the camera itself, but the necessary Kodak software is so horrible, that it makes me avoid the camera too. The software makes it difficult to download select photos versus the entire collection on the camera. It also has skimpy editing features. I have to jump around from the Kodak software to a microsoft one and then another from a different website in order to get all the different changes I want in a picture.
On: 2006-07-20
If I had to be stuck with one camera, this one would be it. Ive owned it for a year and its fantastic! What do you want for $150? This is a steal. It takes better pix than my friends and familys cameras that are 2-3x more expensive.
PROS:
1. Battery life is unbelievable -- with lithium batteries it takes about 550 shots. Plus it will use rechargable ones as well.
2. Pictures are excellent - vivid, colorful, crisp.
3. Extremely easy to use.
4. Fast at reloading.
5. Great price.
6. Video feature is great, sound is decent.
CONS:
1. Cannot zoom while video recording.
On: 2006-06-02
this camera may look pretty but i dont like it one bit. I got this camera last summer before i went on a trip to ohio. At first i thought it was great but now ive totally changed my mind. This camera has bad image quality and is not reliable. It also has an extremely bad zoom and its horribly slow. Its already breaking too. Ive had this camera less than a year and im ready to get a new one. So please- if you are looking to purchase a good quality camera- dont but this one.
On: 2006-05-26
I bought this camera from amazon.com two years ago and its been nothing but reliable. Its simple to use and packed with features - other favorable reviews are dead on - but my story is about its sturdiness. Today, I accidentally dropped it from a balcony 12 feet high onto concrete paving, and thought it was gone for sure. One of the prong hinges for the battery door broke, the door itself separated from the camera, and the casing came open on one side. I was able to pop the casing closed with a screwdriver, and reattach the battery door (half a hinge seems to be sufficient). The mechanisms and electronics still work *perfectly*. Optical zoom, automatic lens cover, flash, everything. Its incredible.
On: 2006-04-23
I love this camera, however, the best time to take pictures is during the day with light. The night pictures are pretty dark, but you can still see them. The camera also only takes 2 AA batteries, which makes the camera pretty light.
Overall this is a very good digital camera for the price.
On: 2006-03-07
WE bought this camera 2 years ago and were satisfied until recently. Of course the camera stops working properly when you most need it. It started giving really dark photos the day our son was born. Now we have all of these horrible, dark pictures of the birth of our son. We have tried to get it serviced but every shop we take it to says that we need to mail it to kodak and that it will cost at least $150 to fix it. I didnt realize I had bought a disposable camera. I am really diappointed.
On: 2006-02-14
Ive had this camera for about a year now, and I love it.
Its my first digital and Im amazed at all it can do. It has all the features I could ever want. I just take photos of family get-togethers.
After a few months I discovered how to take videos and they are a lark!
I paid around $170 for it a year ago and its a great camera for that price.
On: 2006-02-02
i used this camera on 4 european trips and came back with over 300 pics each time without ever needing to change batteries. Person after person marvels at the fantastic shots i took. several have been blown up to 8x10, 5x7 and framed. this is a fantastic unit that meets all my needs. i am not a professional user, but a damn good everyday photo taker. you wont be disapponted with this model. love the dock charger feature also.
On: 2005-12-11
This is a great little camera. It is SO EASY to use. The photos are great. I was totally stuck on my 35mm camera until I found this. 35 mm is great but I wanted to be able to preview my photos to make sure I REALLY got the shot. I also wanted to be able to delete the JUNK without paying to have it printed at the photo shop.
I previously owned a first generation digital camera. The photos were mediocre because of the low megapixels (a big reason why I would not give up the 35mm). I am extremely happy with the quality of photos from this camera.
I also bought the printer dock which recharges the battery.
This set works out really great for scrapbooking. I can easily print off another picture if I need one to fill out a page. I have even taken the camera and printer to a friends house to scrapbook. I print as I go.
I agree others reviews. I do not care for the software that comes with the camera. I prefer to use the Windows XP software.
I highly recommend this camera. It is easy to use and the pictures are great. What can I say, I dont think I have used my 35mm since I bought this. There is no reason to.
 On: 2005-11-27
I have this camera. Its very useful to take short movies and the picture clarity is very good. The USB option make its very easy for transefering the photos on to your PC and delete the pics that you dont like. The only thing i dislike is that batteries wont last for long. They would go out say in couple of hours. Overall the performance is good.
On: 2005-11-10
This is my first digital camera EVER!!! And I LOVE it! Ive never had a problem with it, ever, it was EXTREMELY SIMPLE and straightforward to learn, I didnt even need the instructions!
I love this little camera! I wish I could afford to buy these for my whole family!
On: 2005-10-30
Several people in my family have this digital camera, and they have worked for many years. Weve taken this camera to the beach, camping, on road trips, to relatives houses; you name it. It has many fine points about it. If you are taking pictures at night, you can flip the stitch on the camera to night; ect. This camera seems durable enough and has a video screen built into it so you can film as well.. (although it only works for a few minutes). Though this camera has several good points, there are bad things about it too, that i should mention. There isnt alot of storage space on it, which means you have to transfer the pictures onto a computer or lap top, which is hard to do if you are on the road or camping or anything like that. Also, the battery runs out easily, and if it is on when you are using it, the front of the camera will stay open, and there is no way to close it until you get another battery. The camera is really nice, and overall, i beleive it deserves four stars. One of our cameras came with a black & red camera case.
On: 2005-10-27
I love this camera!! I really like the clear detailed pictures it takes.I always use auto,and its perfect for me.I take tons of family photos.I have taken thounsands of photos with this camera and love them!!Iv never had better pictures.It also has great video too,I have a video camera,but find myself useing this more for video than my video camer.Because its just so hadny.And I can transfer my videos to cd to watch on tv.I take pictures of my kids sleeping at night,and the room is totaly dark,and when you see the photo youd never know it was takin at night.Because it looks like it was taken during the day,thats how great it lights up the room when you take a photo at night.
On: 2005-10-12
after having an ancient 1.3 mega pixel camera since 2000 last october (2004) i decided to buy a newer updated digital. after a bit of searching i settled on the CX7430. at the time it was about $200 which was a great price i love the camera. it has B&W and sepia settings, even though the screen is a bit small the quality is great. also updloading on the computer is simple. great quality fun camera i recommend.
On: 2005-10-05
The camera is great no issues with it what so ever, only thing is the internal storage is definitely not sufficient and its highly recommended that you get a 1 gig or better memory card to go with it.
On: 2005-09-26
I love my camera. It has many functions, video, and it is a very nice size. Not too small or too big. Its very great and you can share your pics with others. The picture is so clear its unreal. I am sure there are better digital cameras out there, but for a person who has never had one and is just getting into picture taking and wants clarity, picture share and even printing from home...this is the one!
On: 2005-09-16
Ive owned about 10 cameras in my life. My needs are pretty simple. I just want a camera that will make it easy to take a good photo. The CX7430 does just that.
The digital camera I was replacing, a Powershot 200, I threw in the garbage, literally. It ate batteries, it seemed to operate randomly, and there was a long, annoying delay before it took the picture so I often "missed the moment." It also was a bit of a pain to figure out how to operate.
Ive had my CX7430 for about a month, and I love it. The best thing about this camera is that it is very intuitive. Ive been able to figure out how to do just about everything by just looking at the camera and using common sense. So far, I havent had to replace the batteries. It takes the photo promptly. The optical zoom is nice. The quality of the photos looks good.
If you are a very serious photographer, youll probably want a more expensive camera. If you want a simple, inexpensive, intuitive camera that will take nice photos when you want it to, this should be a good choice.
 On: 2005-09-06
I bought this camera while on vacation to replace my 3.2 megapixel Canon PowerShot A70. Since then Ive taken a few hundred pictures and just dont like the picture quality as much as the camera it replaced. The pixel count is higher but the overall image quality seems worse. The auto focus almost always tends to blur just a little, even when the camera is balanced on a stable surface. I just finished editing pictures I took in Paris and became more and more disappointed at the quality the more I examined the photos for focus and contrast.
The one pro Ive identified is that the Kodak does take pictures quickly and doesnt have the annoying lag that plagued my Canon.
If you are buying this to replace a Canon make sure youre satisfied with the image quality differences before purchasing.
On: 2005-08-26
I needed an easy to use camera that would take great pictures, and I didnt want to spend a lot of money. This camera meets all of those requirements. The pictures look great, it is easy to use, and the software that comes with this camera makes it very easy to transfer pictures between the camera and my computer. The included software also makes it very easy to create online photo albums to share your pictures with friends and family. I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for an affordable camera that takes great pictures.
On: 2005-08-14
Good out of the bad. After so much reading I got my CX7430. The second time I went to use it, it turned on and never work again. The lense extended and did nothing else after that. The good part of the story is that I took it back to the Kodak dealer here in Panama City, Panama and within two days a I got not just a replacement but the step up model DX7440 for no extra money. Not much to say about the CX7430, but a big round of applause for the dealership here in Panama
On: 2005-08-06
The Easy Share line is a great gift, and it eliminates the confusing uploading/downloading/cable-hooks-up-where? for those PC & digital photo newbies. I have purchased 4 of the EasyShare line for gifts for family, friends and myself.
On: 2005-07-07
I am new at digital photography, and I was looking for something easy to use, yet a camera that took great pictures. This absolutely fits the bill! The way the camera works is similar to any Kodak film-type camera - just point and shoot. It has the same features my film camera does, in that you frame your subject, depress the shutter button halfway to focus, then shoot. It has an auto setting that is useful for most picture taking, fill-in flash, zoom. Its extremely easy to review any pictures taken, and delete them immediately or save for later.
Not only does it take clear, sharp pictures, but it also has a video feature that was amazing for an inexpensive camera.
The instructions contained in the booklet were precise and easy to follow. Great for beginners.
The printer dock is also easy to operate, and is certainly nice to have if you want to print a few pictures here and there at home. The cost factor is a little high, at approximately $.64 per print, so it would be more cost-effective to have them printed at a drug store, etc.
Ive loaded the software onto my computer in order to upload the pictures to view and/or print. I had no problem with the software after loading, and it is very easy to use.
I would not hesitate to recommend this model to anyone just learning to use a digital camera, or someone looking to upgrade, for that matter.
My next purchase will be a bigger memory card for the video feature I plan on using!
by: chip1978 On: 2005-06-29
When I got this camera out of the box, I was taking pictures in minutes without even reading the instructions. Dont get me wrong, Ill have to review the manual to do rapid series shots, night shots, or other shots that might be difficult. So far, its been incredibly easy to use and very intuitive.
Ill echo the concern of at least one other reviewer - I strongly recommend against installing the Kodak software. You should have no problem simply connecting the camera to a USB port and transferring images and video. After installing Kodaks software, my computer crashed.
On: 2005-06-01
I just brought this camera a few weeks ago. I took it on a trip this Memorial weekend and the pictures came out beautiful. I love the close-up mode and the sports mode the best. The night mode is also very good (which surprised me). I also like the fact that this camera allows you to review the pictures and zoom in and out when doing so. I did not like the auto mode at all. The landscape mode took pretty good pictures. When I viewed them I thought they werent good, but when I reviwed them online they were beautiful like postcards.
I also like the video capability. When I first got the camera, I did a little home video walking around the house and talking and when I uploaded it on the computer it was sharp and very clear. It also played back well on the camera. This camera is worth the price. Like the other reviewers I recommend any buyer to purchase rechargeable batteries.
On: 2005-05-23
Just got this camera a couple of days ago.
photo quality is very good though i would let the camera take a few days time as all the electronics has to break in well and running smoothly,ex-audio systems TVs etc etc,so also cameras.
the main thing is the ease of Use and it is so simple to use i just had to refer to the manual twice for a few clarifications,the close mode is good and the kodak lens is as good as any other camera in the market infact slightly better ,as it is showing details which i never saw before in pictures.
and amazon customer service is top notch ,got a good new camera at a good price.Be sure to check yur firmware version in the about section it should read 1.01 mine was 1.00 and kodak had the firmware on their site in the CX 7430 support section ,just log in with a email ID and download the firmware and upgrade all instructions are in perfect clarity.
overall kodak is very good and would only buy kodak from now mainly for the color quality
On: 2005-05-08
As cameras go, this one is easy to use and takes great pictures. It has some really nice features too. But digital cameras are more than just stand-alone devices; you have to connect them to something else to get the pictures off. Thats where I ran into trouble. It seems the "Easyshare" software on the CD with the camera is incompatible with Windows 2000 or XP if they are fully updated. They suggest that you download new software from their website instead, but to do that you must register, and their website refused to let me do that. So to share pictures on a camera with "EasyShare" in its NAME, I had to eventually go to Microsofts support site to learn how to uninstall the Windows update that was interfering with Kodaks software. Now I have to worry about Windows re-installing that update next time I run Windows Update. Does this seem "Easy" to you?
In short, do not buy this camera unless you have good computer skills and time to spend. Shame on Kodak for so blatantly dropping the ball.
On: 2005-05-05
I just received my EasyShare camera a couple of weeks ago. Not only does it zoom, it has moving making capability! This surprised me. You can take 33 seconds of video with your EasyShare. The picture quality is great and the camera is easy to use. Further, the user documentation is simple to understand!
Highly recommended for those of you in the market for a digital camera.
On: 2005-04-15
Nothing much to say, after all the good reviews. Ive had this camera for 5 months, and took hundreds of pictures and many short video clips. It became my main still camera.
I love it.
On: 2005-03-17
I cant say enough good things about this camera. I upgraded to this after owning a very low-end model that took abismal pictures, so I have something to compare it to.
The battery life on the 7430 is fantastic, I bought this around Christmas and after a lot of use just changed the batteries for the first time. The pictures are crystal clear, very high quality. The flash is very adequate and my indoor nighttime pics look great.
The delay of the shutter is very short, which is important to me with a toddler running around. This was a big problem with my old camera and the 7430 is really fast.
The video feature is also great. It isnt digital camcorder quality of course, but with my 256 card I got some great footage.
This camera is also very easy to use and I highly recommend it to anyone.
On: 2005-02-28
I was given this camera as a going away gift when I moved to brazil one year ago. The camera was fine for about 6 months. It has not been exposed to any harsh elements or dropped. I did not use anything but Kodak recommended american bought batteries. But in the summer the camera just died...I replaced the batteries with brand new ones a few times (even batteries Kodak recommended) but the camera will not turn on. Now I have a camera that DOES NOT HAVE POWER and no longer works. I even still have pictures in the camera! I contacted the company and the best Kodak can offer me is service which costs more than to buy a camera of the same quality. Overall I am quite disappointed, with the camera and Kodak company.
On: 2005-02-17
I bought this for myself for Christmas and after 3 months of playing with it, have decided its a keeper! It takes great quality pictures, the software is easy to use, and the editing works great. The red eye removal function works very good - much better than a camera I tried out last Christmas (and returned) Since we dont have a camcorder, we love the movies with sound.
I do not use the share function, since I usually crop or enhance or something to make the pic "perfect". I also do not print at home - way too expensive compared to printing at York, Sams, or even Eckerds!
One small complaint - the default in the Kodak software is to save pictures at a lower res after editing. This makes no sense to me. If you liked a picture well enough to edit it, why would you want to save it at a lower quality??? This is easy to change, but anytime you upgrade the software, defaults to this again, and you have to remember to change it.
Second Con is the date imprint. I chose this camera because I specifically wanted date imprint (without having to use software to add the date). The date imprint is HUGE and yellow - very unsightly.
I havent had anything bigger than 4x6 printed, so I definitely want to try that soon to see the quality.
On: 2005-01-19
I just got this camera and it is great!!!
the pictures come out with so much detail and color!!!
And the pictures upload to the computer so fast!!!
The only things are is that it only has a little bit of memory, and you cant take more then 30 pics,
so you should get a memory card,
and also battery life isnt so long, but otherwise its great!!!
I highly recomend it.
On: 2005-01-09
I got this camera as a replacement after losing a 3.2 Kodak...
I am very happy with this camera, which I received as a gift. I have own two digital cameras in the past and this is the best by far.
The only minus is that the zoom is difficult to use and you must hold the camera very steady.
Pluses...
Battery seems to last longer than most
Picture quality is fantastic. I have blown many up and they look great
You get nice short video with audio and you can hear the playback well
Works well indoors and outdoors
Very easy to use
Easy to download pictures
Great for enlargements
Who ever designed this camera did an excellent job. It is so easy to use and the pictures are of excellent quality.
On: 2005-01-04
Ive photographed weddings and like to play with special features on my cameras. This unit has enough gadgets to impress me. I am also impressed by its workmanship.
My wife likes to just point and shoot. She is a teacher and likes to keep the docking printer in her classroom. The camera is simple enough for her needs, yet has a better quality picture than some of the other cheaper models we looked at.
I looked a long time for a low cost easy to use camera with more advanced features than normal. Im not sorry I chose this one.
On: 2005-01-04
Kodak CX7430 Purchased: June 2004, used frequently
MOST NOTABLE FEATURE: 640x480 VIDEO+AUDIO CAPABILITY (NO TIME LIMIT)
1) Using ordinary 1800mah NiMH rechargeable AA batteries, I have been able to take video with audio at the highest quality setting for over 55 minutes (until my memory card ran out) with the LCD screen TURNED ON the entire time, and the low battery indicator didnt even appear!
2) 1GB SD cards have fallen swiftly in price and are a great addition to this camera. My 1GB Lexar SD card can record over 55 minutes of video with audio at high quality (640 by 480 pixels, 13 frames per second), and 80 minutes at medium quality (320 by 240 pixels, 20 frames per second; max time limit is 80 minutes for this setting). A 512MB SD card can record for just over 28 minutes straight (highest setting), and a 256MB SD card for slightly over 13 minutes.
3) Most digital cameras offer video capability, but limit your filming time to 30 seconds or 3 minutes per video in most cases. Those that dont limit filming time usually provide resolution nowhere as good as the CX7430s high-quality video. (Update: Canons SD-series cameras are a major exception. Note that you will pay much more [except for the SD110] and that you will only get about 15-25 minutes of 640x480 15fps video/audio out of a 1GB SD card. The SD300s [4MP] picture quality is about the same as the Kodak CX7430s.)
4) The camera is highly competitively priced even when compared to dedicated digital video camcorders that use memory cards rather than tapes or DVDs. Both resolution and frame rate are comparable to or even better than the "digital tapeless" camcorders I have looked at on amazon (as of October 2004), and given its still photo capability the CX7430 is bargain-priced. Anyone considering buying a digital tapeless camcorder should definitely consider this camera when deciding on their purchase.
- NOTE: Videos are recorded in QUICKTIME format.
PROs:
1) Great video capability as described above. The cameras microphone is excellent--Ive recorded videos in both quiet environments and an extremely loud dance club and the camera adapted perfectly to both situations--no static or undesirable anomalies (though it did not pick up much of the bass in the club, if that matters). Ive even used the camera several times to record audio from my grad classes (camera simply pointed at the ceiling, medium quality video setting; I extract the audio from the file for listening).
2) Takes excellent close-up photos.
3) Photos overall are very satisfactory.
4) Compact enough to fit in an ordinary front pocket. Pretty typical size and weight for its class.
5) The LCD screen is very bright and fine for use in all but very strong direct sunlight, where the LCD image gets slightly harder to see.
6) Interface is excellent. Buttons are responsive and the mode dial is very very convenient.
7) Good start-up time, about 3 seconds and you are ready to shoot.
8) 3X zoom. Perfectly satisfactory; once you start going over 4X zoom you need a tripod to take decent photos.
9) Small speaker to hear the audio when you play back your videos.
10) Extraordinary Battery Life (see above).
11) Sturdy design. Another reviewer complained about the casing being easily scratched; I have used my camera for about 7 months now and it doesnt look a whole lot different from when I bought it. The casing/finish seems pretty normal for this type of camera.
12) Decent variety of manual options, but not enough for amatuer photography (there is no true "manual" setting).
13) Good file compression! I have seen cameras produce pictures of about the same quality (or even worse) as the CX7430 and wind up with file sizes of 1MB or more per photo. Average file size for the CX7430 ranges from 300KB to 750KB depending on the quality setting and content.
14) Fairly quick autofocus--just under one second from the time you press the picture button while the camera is pointed at an unfocused subject until the shutter closes and the picture is taken. If the subject is already in focus the picture is taken almost instantaneously.
CONs:
1) Pictures are easily blurred in some environments. See Taking Photos section below.
2) Several of the provided 7 photo settings on the dial are not worth using.
3) No case provided.
4) Videos taken in the cameras high-quality setting suffer from a very low frame rate (13fps), and the image blurs badly when you move the camera around quickly in softly-lit indoor environments. That said, the video capability is still remarkable for a camera of this type (and at this price).
5) The door covering the SD card slot and the data port is sturdy but doesnt latch very strongly.
6) Zoom cannot be adjusted while taking video. You need to adjust zoom first, then start filming. Focus also does not adjust during filming, but its not a factor unless you begin filming a landscape and then try to take close-up video without starting a new video file.
Taking Photos:
Overall, I think the CX7430 takes pictures pretty typical of a 4MP camera (they look about the same as pictures taken by a friends Casio Elixim(?) 4MP camera), in terms of both its ability to focus properly and the quality of the photos produced.
- Close up photos are a strong point of this camera. I use it to make photo "scans" of important documents.
- Ignore the landscape, night (unless you have a tripod), and portrait settings. I havent been to any sports events or anything similar so I havent used the sport setting. Given the slightly blurred pictures Ive gotten at football games from cameras set on Auto, this setting might be useful.
- The best pictures this camera takes are: close-ups; outdoor, well-lit environments; and photos (indoor or outdoor) where the flash has been used effectively, i.e., slightly dim environments with the subject no more than say 20 feet away depending on the lighting.
- I have not found any major problems with exposure or color-balance in the CX7430s pictures. If you want to take a picture of a sunset, however, focus the camera somewhere else first, then take the picture, otherwise the camera automatically adjusts to dilute the color of the sky (i.e., deep orange-pink becomes very light pink).
- Pictures taken indoors in low to medium lighting *without flash* bear a strong chance of blurring unless taken by very very steady hands. Pictures taken indoors outside the range of the flash (say, distance of 25 feet or more) are pretty much guaranteed to be blurred to a significant degree unless the environment is extremely well lit.
- Picture quality decreases significantly in darker environments, but this is typical of most cameras.
- Two-star quality photos are fine for almost all situations. Photo dimensions increase at the three-star setting but quality is not a whole lot better.
Other recommendations:
- Buy rechargeable batteries, they are a must for any digital camera. I suggest 1800mah (milli-amp hours) NiMH (Nickel-Metal-Hydride) rechargeables. The batteries will pay for themselves very very quickly.
- Some reviewers have liked the software included with the camera, but I usually avoid proprietary software--my understanding is that Kodak software especially is loaded with spyware/adware--and I personally have never used the software that came with the CX7430. To transfer photos, the "Microsoft Scanner and Camera Wizard" included with Windows XP has been more than adequate. (It should appear automatically when you connect the camera to your computer. If not, go to My Computer, look for the camera icon, and right click on it, then choose "Get pictures." It can also be accessed if you are using a card reader: go to My Computer, right click on the removeable drive, and choose "Autoplay," then find the wizard in the list.) The wizard lets you pick a name for the folder it will create for your photos under My Pictures, and names all of the photos and videos after the folder. I am surprised by the number of my friends who still do not use this simple, clean utility. Windows Picture and Fax Viewer works fine for viewing photos. Editing, of course, is another matter.
- Buy a large memory card to take advantage of the cameras video features. I have gotten hours of priceless video of my friends and I studying in China. There are definitely times when still pictures just wont cut it, and even if you dont get a large memory card you will appreciate the ability to take a short clip every now and then. Memory prices have plummeted over the past year and a large card is definitely a worthy investment.
Bottom Line:
I highly recommend the Kodak CX7430. Its not a top-of-the-line model, but for those with modest photo and video needs, this is a superb value for the price.
On: 2005-01-03
I can not say enough good things about this camera. Period. There are not enough good descriptive words to even begin to express how fabulous it really is. I bought this after dropping and breaking my Sony Cybershot (which I hated anyway, the macro function was a joke).
I will guard this camera with my life. The pictures are PERFECT. The features, of which there are many, are so simple to operate that a llama could figure it out. I am a picture taking fanatic and I am heavy into scrapbooking... this camera captures perfect shots of my son AND our outings/vacations. I have not been disappointed with a single picture yet (unless my poor framing was to blame).
The thing that impressed me the most is the almost non-existent delay when using the flash. I had missed MANY a spontaneous shot with my Sony because of the ridiculous flash delay, but never again! Rapid speed picture taking is almost flawless, and the Sports function captures subjects in motion beautifully.
The macro function is outstanding and EASY. My close-up photos are breathtaking, and I am in awe that this camera performs so easily and wonderfully.
UPDATE 01/05 - I had posted a website in this review which DOES NOT SELL ANYTHING - they simply give unbiased reviews of any digital camera you can imagine. I recommend reading their review of this camera, as it was my deciding factor after months of research. Amazon, however, removed the link I provided, because they are weird. The website is w w w DOT steves-digicams DOT c o m.
I am in no way affiliated with the website, but I have used it extensively while camera hunting these past few months. I bought my Kodak based on this review, and I am so glad I did. You wont be disappointed!
I do recommend checking out a charging or printer dock. I have written a review of the printer dock, please check it out for my thoughts on its performance. :)
On: 2004-12-30
I got this camera for christmas and couldnt be happier. Its so easy!!!!! and the picture quality is great. I would recommend this camera over and over.
~Stacey
by: Anonymous On: 2004-12-28
I nioted a couple of people commenting on the poor flash and then a a person upbraiding those persons for expecting too much.
I have been working with cameras for about 30 years and digitals for 12 years since we had one of the early models at our our newspaper.
I have used quite anumbe rof the $150 to $250 range small digitals like the 7340 and bought a 7340 for my daughter over christmas. I have to say for the price range this camera has a very poor flash. It is not just a bit underpowered but markedly so compared to this size and price range digital. when I noted how bad the flash was we compared identical indoor shot with four cameras, the 7430, a canon, an olympus and a sony all in the under $200 range of this camera.
we are keeping the camera, the optics and several other elements make it a decent camera, but there is NO question this camera has a very underpowered flash.
the software is also pretty cumbersome compared to other software in the class as well.
On: 2004-12-18
This camera gives images great color depth BUT images are of poor quality with respect to noise, artifacting, and being grainy. Also, the camera has a VERY slow shutter! Dont count on ever getting a childs smile with this one. In addition, the camera uses up a set of batteries within ~40 shots! (even with the LCD viewer turned off!)
On: 2004-12-09
This camera is great for my needs. I needed a camera which makes good 8 X 10s and this one does. I wanted to take some sound movies and this one takes 20 FPS videos. I tried the Kodak 5 mp camera, but its movies would only work at 15 FPS, and it was a big noticable difference, so I took it back. Yes, it does have a tendency to overexpose, but its no big deal for me to tweak the exposure. For the price, under 200, its a real deal. The software is good too, and you dont need Kodaks overpriced dock..just the USB and their Easy Share CD.
On: 2004-11-29
I have recently become interested in digital photography. This camera is great for people who are starting out a photography hobby, or want a simple camera to use. The camera has a lot of features, but is still easy to use. By setting it on "auto" the camera does all the work for you. But you still have a lot of options. You can change the flash setting, white balance, ISO speed, etc all in an easy to navigate menu. The pictures look great. While there might be digital cameras out there that take better pictures, none are as cheap and have as many features. The Easyshare software that comes with the camera is the only thing that is lacking. It makes it easy to e-mail your pictures (which is what it is designed for, I suppose) and simple editing techniques are also available. But there is no option for more advanced editing, even resizing a picture is not available. It is also difficult to organize the pictures in their respective folders, you are forced to do it within the program if you want to continue to access them in the easyshare program. Despite this downfall, I think this camera is a great buy, and would recommend it to anyone.
On: 2004-11-28
I have recently become interested in digital photography. This camera is great for people who are starting out a photography hobby, or want a simple camera to use. The camera has a lot of features, but is still easy to use. By setting it on "auto" the camera does all the work for you. But you still have a lot of options. You can change the flash setting, white balance, ISO speed, etc all in an easy to navigate menu. The pictures look great. While there might be digital cameras out there that take better pictures, none are as cheap and have as many features. The Easyshare software that comes with the camera is the only thing that is lacking. It makes it easy to e-mail your pictures (which is what it is designed for, I suppose) and simple editing techniques are also available. But there is no option for more advanced editing, even resizing a picture is not available. It is also difficult to organize the pictures in their respective folders, you are forced to do it within the program if you want to continue to access them in the easyshare program. Despite this downfall, I think this camera is a great buy, and would recommend it to anyone.
On: 2004-11-15
This is the first digital camera I have ever purchased. I cannot overstate how easy it is to use this camera and all of the features it offers.
Its does not run through batteries, it takes crisp pictures and easily fits in your pocket if you need to carry it on you.
I have found that the menus on the camera make it easy for you to see what you are doing and is not confusing, each mode that you chose gives you a brief description of how you would use each picture mode and makes this camera simple to use.
The only interesting thing I have learned from using this camera is with night pictures and by the way it does an excellent job. You have to hold the camera very very still otherwise the night images turn out blurry. I believe the shutter stays open a bit longer during night pictures which would make sense.
If you are unsure of what camera to own stop here and buy this one now belive me you will have no regrets.
On: 2004-09-05
I liked a lot of things about this camera--it was easy to figure out--a real plus for a relative novice--, it had good response time on the shutter, quality of pictures was good, and I was able to adjust it for a variety of conditions. However, it did have a tendency to overexpose shots, especially in full sun outdoors, or when using the flash indoors. Now, this can be adjusted for--you can go into the "exposure" option on the menu and take down the exposure a bit, and that worked well. I even found that if I underexposed pictures a bit, and then brightened them up when I got them on my computer, I often got better color and detail than the default exposure settings. So I almost kept it. But the fatal flaw for me was that, having taken the trouble to get all the menu settings where I wanted them--if I changed the dial setting, or shut the camera off, they were gone. The settings all reverted automatically to the default, so Id have to do it all over again ten minutes later to get the next shot. It was a near thing--but I returned the camera.
However, for anyone who isnt quite the control freak I am, this is a good camera at a good price. I was worried about battery life, but I took well over 100 shots before the digital AA batteries that came with it wore out. I tossed in a pair of rechargeable AAs, and took maybe 150 more, and they hadnt run down when I decided to return it. Of course, I dont use the LCD as my viewfinder, which helps extend battery life a lot. On the other hand, I did spend quite a lot of time reviewing pictures on the LCD, and even took some videos just for fun, so considering how Consumer Reports rated Kodak cameras on battery relative to other digital cameras, I was quite pleased.
On: 2004-09-04
I liked a lot of things about this camera--it was easy to figure out--a real plus for a relative novice--, it had good response time on the shutter, quality of pictures was good, and I was able to adjust it for a variety of conditions. However, it did have a tendency to overexpose shots, especially in full sun outdoors, or when using the flash indoors. Now, this can be adjusted for--you can go into the "exposure" option on the menu and take down the exposure a bit, and that worked well. I even found that if I underexposed pictures a bit, and then brightened them up when I got them on my computer, I often got better color and detail than the default exposure settings. So I almost kept it. But the fatal flaw for me was that, having taken the trouble to get all the menu settings where I wanted them--if I changed the dial setting, or shut the camera off, they were gone. The settings all reverted automatically to the default, so Id have to do it all over again ten minutes later to get the next shot. It was a near thing--but I returned the camera.
However, for anyone who isnt quite the control freak I am, this is a good camera at a good price. I was worried about battery life, but I took well over 100 shots before the digital AA batteries that came with it wore out. I tossed in a pair of rechargeable AAs, and took maybe 150 more, and they hadnt run down when I decided to return it. Of course, I dont use the LCD as my viewfinder, which helps extend battery life a lot. On the other hand, I did spend quite a lot of time reviewing pictures on the LCD, and even took some videos just for fun, so considering how Consumer Reports rated Kodak cameras on battery relative to other digital cameras, I was quite pleased.
On: 2004-08-31
Ive had my CX7430 for over 2 years now and have enjoyed this camera thoroughly. The camera has great zoom capabilities and can get you close to the subject you want to photograph. The battery life is very decent, even when the LCD display is being used. The pictures themselves (when left on Auto mode) are super - the colors and clarity are excellent. Ive received very positive feedback about the clarity of the pictures. The memory cards are inexpensive too, especially if you dont buy the Kodak brand of SD cards. The camera is preloaded for only 10 pictures and comes with a nonrechargable battery set, so investing in memory and batteries is a must. My favorite feature is the video capabilities; with my 1GB card (and the camera will accept up to a 2GB card) I can get close to 70 minutes of video, with wonderful audio. The video is recorded in .mov files and are quite impressive. The downsides? Sure, there are a few.. the camera is quite bulky in comparison to almost all other digi cams currently available - its quite `fat in size, and the casing is very easily scratched, even with gentle use and care; and night shots taken outside (like fireworks or holiday lights) are pretty terrible - blurry and unusable. Overall I am very impressed with the quality and features of this camera and wont be replacing it for quite some time. The 4MP are more than enough for quality photos, the video is a wonderful bonus and the ease of use is wonderful. Highly recommended.
On: 2004-08-10
I got this camera from my companys anniversary draw. I have been using this for only one week.
I actually purchased the Kodak DX7440, which is more expensive and has many more features than this CX7430. I have compared photos taken from this CX7430 and DX7440, I do not see any difference for most of the photos taken. Looking at the computer screen, the colors are vivid and true, they are not satuated. There are lots of details enlarge the photos to their true sizes with photo editor software.
However, if you dont know how to do this, dont worry; the Kodak CX7430 comes with a CD which lets you see the photos. Here are the easy steps:
Insert the CD to your computer, install the software.
Turn of your camera; connect the USB cable that comes with the camera to both the camera and your computer; then turn on your camera. The Kodak software automatically detects the photos needed to be transfer and asks if you like to transfer them now; then, you just click "transfer all photos". That easy!!
The fast-speed USB cable makes fast transfer of photos and movies taken with your CX7430. You can view your photos and moview with the Kodak software with sound if it is movie.
The movie feature is a very nice touch since there are times when you really want to capture some great moments in motion. This camera has TV-quality movie features and captures very good movies in detail and with good sound quality. I use 256 MP secure digital card to store up to 12 minutes of movies in the highest resolution.
Taking pictures is in you control. If you like to take close shots, be sure to switch it to close capture mode otherwise it wont focus well enough. You can review the pictures in the viewfinder and enlarge it in the viewfinder and see if it is a good one taken. If not, you can delete it with the delete button. It is very easy! Taking night shots is pretty good too. The flash is enough to light up a room. I dont have trouble taking night shots with good results.
Now, if you want to email pictuere to friends and relatives, the software lets you do it in this simple manner: type in "from" email address, type in "to" destination email address, select the pictures to be send from the right and click, email them now. Be sure that you do this while you are online.
It also let you email pictures in low resolution for faster transfer (which is only good for viewing), or transfer in original resolution (for if the receiver may want to print the photos as well).
I upload photos to Ofoto.com and print 4"x6" or 8"x10" photos. I also have a printer dock from Kodak and it laminates the prints so that the photos are free from moisture attack and finger prints. I love these features very much as it makes the pictures truely longer lasting.
The only drawbacks (as with all other digital camera) are that the battery does not last long if you use the viewfinder LCD screen very ofter and the movie length is limited by the memory size of your memory card. Thats why I bought the new 256 MB secure digital card.
In conclusion, this is a very good camera at an attractive price from Amazon. I am just lucky that I got it free from my company. If anyone like to take great photos and like to film movies once in a while, this is it! It is lighter than a camcorder and smaller so you can carry it around easier, besides it takes much better pictures than many cameras out there including a comparable SONY. I recommend this great Kodak CX7430.
On: 2004-08-05
Pros:
- Great price for an outstanding 4MP resolution
- Small and light
- Easy-to-use menus; lots of dedicated function buttons
- Video with sound thats worth keeping!
- Portraits generally look outstanding
Cons:
- Cant remember your flash setting after turning off camera
- Images generally overexposed
- Trouble taking pictures when zoomed in
This is a great camera for the price, yet images can turn out anywhere from outstanding to poor. Portraits usually look great, with soft, smooth skin tones. But most images, taken with or without the flash, are highly overexposed. And when zoomed in (using the optical zoom, not digital), all the pictures turn out blurry. This happens even in well-lit conditions and when I am holding the camera still.
If you are not terribly concerned about the quality of your pictures, this is an excellent camera. But since Ive found that my old 2MP Fuji camera takes better (if grainier) pictures, Im not likely to shop at Kodak again.
On: 2004-08-04
Pros:
- Great price for an outstanding 4MP resolution
- Small and light
- Easy-to-use menus; lots of dedicated function buttons
- Video with sound thats worth keeping!
- Portraits generally look outstanding
Cons:
- Cant remember your flash setting after turning off camera
- Images generally overexposed
- Trouble taking pictures when zoomed in
This is a great camera for the price, yet images can turn out anywhere from outstanding to poor. Portraits usually look great, with soft, smooth skin tones. But most images, taken with or without the flash, are highly overexposed. And when zoomed in (using the optical zoom, not digital), all the pictures turn out blurry. This happens even in well-lit conditions and when I am holding the camera still.
If you are not terribly concerned about the quality of your pictures, this is an excellent camera. But since Ive found that my old 2MP Fuji camera takes better (if grainier) pictures, Im not likely to shop at Kodak again.
On: 2004-07-12
I love my kodak easy share camera. It is a good camera for the price. However, just a warning, if you have a problem with your camera, kodak has very poor customer service and is unwilling to help you fix your problem. You will have to take care of it on your own at a local dealership.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-07-11
Pros - Light weight, small, handy, good pic quality and lot of flexibility while shooting. User friendly software.
Cons - Rechargable battery and charger should come with the package.
On: 2004-07-07
I am absolutely delighted with the Kodak CX7430 and wholeheartedly recommend it. Kodak has cornered the market in offering tremendous features for extremely reasonable prices. I upgraded to the CX7430 from the CX7000 because I was so happy with the Kodak line. The CX7430 offers great features, such as both optical and digital zoom, and video capacity with sound, along with an outstanding 4 MPs. The operating system is the simplest and easiest to learn and use of any brand of digital camera. The entire Kodak Easy Share system makes downloading, editing, printing, and e-mailing pictures a breeze. This is THE 4 MP camera to buy!
On: 2004-07-07
I am absolutely delighted with the Kodak CX7430 and wholeheartedly recommend it. Kodak has cornered the market in offering tremendous features for extremely reasonable prices. I upgraded to the CX7430 from the CX7000 because I was so happy with the Kodak line. The CX7430 offers great features, such as both optical and digital zoom, and video capacity with sound, along with an outstanding 4 MPs. The operating system is the simplest and easiest to learn and use of any brand of digital camera. The entire Kodak Easy Share system makes downloading, editing, printing, and e-mailing pictures a breeze. This is THE 4 MP camera to buy!
On: 2004-06-28
Although it lacks a German lens, this unit provided crisp clear close-ups. Very easy to use for the most part. Display is bright and menu commands are logically arranged.
On: 2004-06-15
We just got this camera. It is a very practical and easy to use camera. It is not bulky and is very light. And the best thing is the software that comes with it is easy to use too. Overall a great deal for the price. If you are looking for quality, ease, and dont want to pay a lot this is definitly your best bet.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-11
I bought this camera and I love it! I checked out just about every camera in the 3 and 4 MP range and this one has the best quality picture and it is one of the easiest to use in the $200-$300 price range. I would recommend any Kodak for its ease of use, but I bought the 4MP (cx7430) so I could crop and enlarge my pictures without loosing photo quality. The 3MP (cx6330) was the other camera that I looked at in depth, but I found that the 8 x 10 pictures were blurry even without cropping.
I would also recommend purchasing a 128MB card to store pictures. The internal memory only holds about 9 pictures on the best quality. I purchased the 256MB card, which holds about 190 pictures...way too many pictures, but it was cheaper than the 128MB card when I bought it.
Six monthes later...
I still love this camera! I have taken photos in every type of lighting imaginable. They all look great. The only thing I need to adjust with the Kodak EasyShare software is the red eye. There is a flash option to get rid of red eye, but I choose not to use it. (It takes longer in between when you press the button and when it actually takes the picture.)
My pictures turn out better than my friends pictures, who oddly enough have 5MP cameras. The simple features on the CX7430 camera are great, you cant mess up. By the time one would adjust everything on those more high tech cameras, the moment is over. From the time you turn the CX7430 on, which only takes a couple seconds, you can take pictures that turn out great! The Kodak also takes pictures much faster than a lot of the more expensive cameras. This is something to look into when buying a camera.
Another thing is the battery life. The battery life is very, very good for a digital camera. I have rechargeables and they last me a good 150-200 pictures with the screen on.
Overall, great camera! Im glad I bought it!
On: 2004-06-08
You cannot give a camera a bad rating, because the flash fails to illuminate a subject over 10-20 feet away. Camera flashes arent powerful enough to do that. Get a clue.As for this camera itself, I have tried it out at Best Buy, as we are getting ready to buy a new camera, and it is down to this one, and the Kodak LS743 4MP. Basically they are both the same camera, but the LS743 has a slicker design, and is more compact. But other than that, they are both great cameras. If you are going to review technology, *please* have some idea about it before you write anything. Otherwise, you will just end up making yourself look foolish.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-08
Ive had this camera for few months and have been extremely satisfied with it. I took one of the best pictures Ive ever taken using this camera.It appears that the maximum flash range is less than 12 feet, so you need to keep that in mind when using the flash.
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-04
At least one of the problems described by the commentator above may be due to user error. I am regularly amazed by people who try to use a flash to capture people on stage 50 feet away (or even use flash to attempt to take a picture of a projected film on a screen). The tiny flashes on ALL portable cameras only work up to about 15 feet away (and if they are close enough to a film screen theyll just wipe it out with white light).So, we shouldnt be surprised that your flash pictures of your cousin turned out dark -- the flash didnt reach him. And, we shouldnt be surrpised that it was blurry -- when zoomed in, in low light, any autofocus will have trouble tracking and the CCD will barely get enough light to register anything. (I dont have this particular camera so just gave it a middling rating out of ignorance.)
by: Anonymous On: 2004-06-04
My first digital camera was a Kodak, and it was awsome. After 5 years of use, I dedided that I needed one with a zoom. Thus I bought another Kodak, this one, the CX 7340. I have been disappointed with this camera. I took it tonight to my cousins play, and could not get any decent shots from my 3rd row seat. Any slight movement of people on stage caused blurryness when I zoomed in and took a shot. 95% of the pics came out awful.Secondly, the Kodak Easyshare software does not fit on my computer screen, and there is no way to adjust it to make it fit on my screen. It is frustrating, because it cuts off the pictures on the most right, and there is even no way to scroll left or right to view these pictures. What were they thinking, that we all have 21" screens these days? I have my display at 800 X 600, which is most comfortable for me and many other people, and their software SHOULD compensate for this and not cause this problem, but it doesnt. I also have a newer computer, so there is NO EXCUSE for this problem. My old Kodak Picture Easy 3.1 software that came with my old camera is absolutely wonderful, and does NOT do this. Thirdly, the flash is unreliable. While taking pictures of my cousin on stage, when using the flash, I got MUCH darker pictures than when not using it. Very frustrating. Another problem is that when taking pictures of someone nearby, a few feet away, sometimes the picture is brighter on the left side than on the right. I noticed when looking at the flash directly that it is angled a bit to the left, so this is the reason why. I have no idea why they have done this, but its annoying to have one side of the picture brighter than the other side in some pictures! I dunno if mine could be a defect. I do have to say that this camera takes very nice pictures during the day without a flash. Pictures come out sharp and very detailed, and absolutely wonderful. Too bad this doent happen when taking pictures at night or in dark situations. VERY DISAPPOINTED. :-( There is obviously something wrong with the flash in this camera. Mine could be the only one with this problem, but I am returning it and trying a difft brand. Kodak should be the best, but my camera wasnt.
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