Tom's Hardware > All Reviews > Special > Miscellaneous > Kodak EasyShare V610: Stylish Design With 10X Optical Zoom

Kodak EasyShare V610: Stylish Design With 10X Optical Zoom

01:50 - Tuesday 5 September 2006 by Craig Ellison

1. Introduction

2. Camera Features
3. Testing

Front view of the Kodak V610 showing the dual lens system

If there were design awards for great looking camera bodies, the Kodak EasyShare V610 surely would be in contention. With the V610, Kodak lays claim to having the world's smallest 10X optical zoom digital camera. They're probably right. The V610 measures just 4.4 X 2.2 X 0.9 inches. The sleek black metal body has a chrome accent trim around the top, sides and bottom of the camera, as well as chromed-looking controls. On the front of the camera, there's a 1/5/8" lens cover, prominently marked 10X, that snaps open on power up to reveal the two lenses that comprise Kodak's Retina Dual Lens system. Each of the lenses is a Schneider-Kreuznach C-Varigon all glass lens. By using dual lenses, each with a different focal length, Kodak is able to achieve 10X optical zoom (38-380mm 35mm equivalent) with a lens system that doesn't protrude out of the case.

One lens is 38-114mm (35 equivalent) and is rated f/3.9-f/71. The second lens is 130-380mm (35 mm equivalent) and is rated f/4.8- f/8.0. Since the lens ranges don't overlap, there's a small gap in the zoom coverage, but is not something you'd probably notice. As you zoom, using the rocker switch that you control with your right thumb, a zoom indicator appears on the screen. It takes approximately 2 seconds to zoom to the limit of the shorter lens. When you reach the limit, you have to press the zoom control again to switch to the second lens that zooms out to the maximum 10X. As the camera switches lenses, an indicator shows you whether you are using the bottom (shorter) or top (telephoto) lens. When you reach 10X zoom, you can still zoom more using the 4X digital zoom, if enabled. The slider on the zoom indicator turns red when print quality reaches the limit for a good 4X6 picture.

Unless you've tried out a camera with a 10X optical zoom, it's hard to imagine how much that zoom capability is. The two pictures below were shot of the same scene - one at 1X, and the second at 10X. In a number of our test shots at 10X using the default "Auto" mode, we found the images to be crisp and in focus.