[Pixalo]

Although much ink has been spilt over Kodak's new printers, and the company's attempt to undercut the competition by offering cheap ink cartridges, the company hasn't forgotten its camera-making roots. Today, Kodak announced four new EasyShare digital cameras; two higher-end Z-series cameras and two inexpensive C-series cameras.

One feature that Kodak has often excluded in previous superzoom models has been optical image stabilization, a feature that comes in handy when the camera is zoomed in to its maximum level or in low-light situations without flash. So it's good to see that Kodak has updated the 7.1-megapixel EasyShare Z712 IS, a 12X optical superzoom with a 35-mm equivalent of a 36-to-432-mm zoom, which will feature optical image stabilization and a list price of $299.95.

The other Z-series camera is the EasyShare Z885 Zoom, which has a 5X optical zoom lens (a 36-to-180-mm equivalent lens) and 8.1MP sensor. The ISO sensitivity on this camera is quite high, up to ISO 8,000. It also features 10 smart scene modes, a feature that was introduced in the EasyShare C875. The EasyShare Z885 Zoom will retail for $199.95. The Z712 IS will be available in April, and the Z885 will be available in May.

At the lower end of the market, Kodak has also introduced two inexpensive compact cameras. Both will have 3X optical zoom lenses, cost under $200, and be available in April. The EasyShare C613 Zoom has a 6.2MP sensor and costs $119.95. The Kodak EasyShare C763 Zoom comes with a 7MP sensor and will cost $119.95. All the new EasyShare cameras use SD memory cards.

Stay tuned for our First Looks hands-on product reviews of these EasyShare cameras in the coming months on PCMag.com.

Terry Sullivan - PC Magazine