Cheap Kodak EasyShare DX7630 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom and Digital Camera Reviews

Kodak EasyShare DX7630 6MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom

awesome camera!!!! need another!!! 2007-01-08

i bought this camera when it first came out 3 years ago and have not been dissapointed. This camera has gotten a workout over the past 3 years, iwth four kids lots of travel and picture taking. .I am an avid scrapbooker and this camera never let me down. Unlike others, i have overused this camerea, and have never ever had aproblem with the battery latch. Still has the original, and have never had to send it back for any type of repair til now....I dropped it in hawaii and now it turns itself on and off at will. I figured instead of paying for repair,i'd just buy a new one.... cant find one anywhere... The best feature with this camera is the rapid shutter. I never missed a smile or a special momemt due to the delay that so many digital cameras have. It's the best i have found so far. I have tried out all the new cameras and even the newer kodaks are not as fast as this one. I found this site after doing an online search to see if i could buy this camerea anywhere. I dont think you will be dissapointted with this camera. Goodluck!

poor quality 2006-12-04

I also had the battery latch break within the first month. I returned the camera for a new one, and the latch broke several weeks later. I decided to keep the camera anyway, but after a year and a half, the flash quit working. I was offered the $135 repair or a refurbished Z650 for $199. I can get the Z650 new for $210 at Circuit City. I also have to wonder, why are so many refurbished cameras available? Stay away from Kodak, even thought it took nice pics.

DX 7630 2006-12-01

I like the camera. Has a nice size lcd screen to preview pictures taken and the battery life is great. Also very easy to use. Like at least one other user review stated my battery latch broke also but still works fine it just doesnt hold it in there. It's kinda bulky also in comparison to the newest skinnier cameras. My pictures all turn out 10 times better then my previous digital camera with this one but still not film camera quality. Close but not quite there yet. I don't know maybe it's my shaky hands. Maybe I'll try a tripod and then wright another review.
I bought a cheap one before and paid for it. Lost a couple of years of my families pictures because of that. On the other though with this camera they hardly ever turn out bad.

User friendly, nice photos but battery latch failed 2006-11-23

This camera is extremely easy to use. To the layman, the photo quality is superb and better than most comparable cameras I've seen. We've taken thousands of photos with it over the last two years. The battery latch is plastic and may break if you remove the battery for charging on a routine basis. However, the cover that slides over the battery compartment will hold the battery in place, and our camera still functions just as well. A good camera if you can find one for a good price.

DO NOT BUY 2006-09-14

I bought this camera from Sears a year and half ago. I purchased the extended warranty. The battery latch broke and they claim it is from customer abuse. Althought it has no scratches or marks on it, and the latch seems to be the BIG problem with these cameras, I am out the $200 for the camera. DO not recommend KODAK camera for this reason. THE BATTERY LATCH BREAKS and KODAK WILL NOT REPLACE.

Great Camera no problems 2006-08-31

If you are looking for an easy camera to use this is it. It has a lot of options as well. We have had many pictures blown up into posters with fabulous results. We simply uploaded them to some internet sights having sales, and are unbelievably impressed. Thankfully, after almost two years of ownership we have not had one single problem with this camera. I would definitely buy this again . Even though we paid quite a bit more money for it than what it is now selling for.

Mediocre but user friendly 2006-07-25

a good entry level camera but don't expect miracles. lot of photo bleach. poor video. sturdy. battery superb. over-all an avg. camera for every day use. if you are investing 200-300 bucks u might as well consider entry levels DSLRs.

Easy to use digital camera 2006-07-14

This is my first digital camera and I absolutely love it! I'm a teacher and have taken hundreds of pictures of my students with it. The quality of the pictures are fantastic and clear. Many of my students' parents inquire about what type of camera I have because the pictures of their child are so great! I was even asked if the pictures taken were professionally done! This camera is easy and simple to use. So even someone who is picking up a camera for the first time would be able to handle it with ease. The Kodak EasyShare program (download program that comes with the camera) makes it easy to edit your pictures. With this program you can turn your colored pictures into a black and white or sehpia, you can crop pictures, add a beautiful border shapes (oval, circle, rectangle, or square), remove red eye and clean up the picture quality. All this can be done with just the click of the mouse on your computer. This camera is also a 6.1 MP so pictures can be blown up 30 x 40. Again I am impressed with this camera. On my teacher's pay, I made sure I did my research prior to buying this camera. I'm happy with my decision and like the saying goes . . . "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Love this Camera! 2006-07-07

Unlike other reviewers I have had no problems with this camera's shutter button, battery latch or otherwise. As a matter of fact, at our first trip to the beach with this camera my one year old poured a whole bottle of suntan oil directly on it and it still works! It even still takes the most amazing pictures! The zoom is fantastic, it works through glass like there is none there, catches action shots amazingly due the quick shutter. And the video feature, talk about great! I wouldn't trade it for anything. I want one for every one of my family members for Birthday and X-mas gifts!

Love the camera, battery latch faulty 2006-05-20

I bought a different camera after the 3rd battery latch broke. I love this camera other than that. I MEAN LOVE. I am thinking about buying one again and keeping my new one as back up (obviously due to the dang battery latch). It is easy to use, takes pictures quickly (tough feat in the digital non-pro world) and has a very nice quality. Stupid latch is my BIG hang up.

Useless. 2006-05-18

I was SO happy to get this camera. At $350 it was more than I'd wanted spending for my first digital camera, but I needed it to take quality photos of my artwork. It had a "flower" feature, which took nice closeups of my smaller, more detailed work. The "museum" setting did a fine job of getting the colors right without the glare of a Flash.

Two months after the 1-yr warranty ran out the shutter button fell off. No harsh treatment, just cheap manufacturing. I went online to see about getting it fixed and, as another reviewer noted, they estimated it would cost $135 to fix it. The other option they offered me was to trade it in for a refurbished camera they deemed similar, and I could check the box next to the one I wanted. The hitch was there was no guarantee they'd have the one I chose in stock, so they'd have to pick some other lemon if that was the case and send me that.

This is infuriating! Finances are difficult enough for artists, and when we make a big investment like this from a (formerly) trusted name like Kodak, we expect that investment to last forever, like my parents' and grandparents' Kodaks did. No more Kodak for me. $350 for slightly more than one year's use is a BAD, BAD INVESTMENT. Can't tell you how disappointed and angry I am about this waste of money.

Congratulations to those of you who purchased this camera and are still in the honeymoon phase with it. I was there once and would have given it four stars a month ago (the point deduction is for the EasyShare software... just use your camera & scanner wizard instead... Easyshare software made my computer slow and they kept sending spam.)

It's great...if only the shutter button worked!! 2006-05-14

This is a wonderful camera, but, read on.

Just over a year from purchasing this camera, the shutter button stopped working. I took it to a local camera store, who would not look at it; they wanted $225 before they would touch it. I then turned to Kodak, who wanted $135 just to look at it, or, for $199 they would take my camera and send me a "reconditioned" camera of a different model (talk about adding insult to injury; send me someone else's lemon!). Such a deal!! So, this really beautiful camera sits in a drawer.

Kodak, what happened to your quality??!! A camera should not fail after such a short period of time.

My advice, if you want to buy this camera: get the extended warranty.

Battery Latch 2006-05-11

Great pictures with plenty of light.
Not so good pictures in low light.

Battery latch broke after 9 months. Too many people are having this problem to be from rough handling. It's from poor engineering/parts design on Kodaks part. (the latch snapped in the section that is less than 1/16" thick)

This Camera cannot be faulted 2006-04-07

I have had 13 digital cameras in my time an im 14, i am an experienced photographer and have won many photographer competitions on www.picture.com and this camera IS THE BEST camera i have ever laid my hands on, its simple, clever, good looking and isnt Cheaply cased and Doesn't break easily at all, the lock breaking theory has been put dwn to lousy handling, i have had mine 2 years and my lock has been perfect an i charge it twice a week, ANYWAYS back to the camera, the pictures are absoloutly AMAZING and Stunning honestly they knocked me off my seat and i have won 16 competitions and have 14 silver an 2 bronze amatuer photographer medals and im 14, i never won a single one until i used this camera, the ease of use was soo great it was like a duck to water as soon as i picked it up i jst cud not stop cliking and my cat was blinded, For the price of this i would expect a lousy 4mp camera but this was cheap,great and absoloutly amazing, IF ANY1 WANTS A GREAT COLOUR,QUALITY, 6.1MP CAMERA THIS IS THE ONE TO GET, I USED TO HAVE A NIKON 8.0MP CAMERA BUT THIS ONE BEATS IT HANDS DOWN, Whether ur a pro, expert or a begginer this will always take your breath away

Ryan Rigby

contact me if u need any questions answering razzo12@hotmail.com

BROKEN BATTERY LATCH!!!!!-KODAK FIX IT OR STOP MAKING THIS CAMERA!!! 2006-01-16

My very first digital camera purchase came in December 2004. Everything about this camera just spelled quality, like the reviews online, our friends who had other Kodak cameras, Kodak's long history; That is until the battery died. It comes with a lithium ion rechargeable battery. I guess it's important to have a rechargeable one because digital cameras require alot of energy.

The lithium battery that I had with my camera lasted about 2 weeks plus. You could probably consider this a high mark.

The problem with it is that the battery latch or lock breaks. In my experiance, it broke the second time on the first camera, and then the first time on the 2nd and 3rd cameras.

Yes, you heard me. I returned this 3 times. Let me REPEAT,
I've returned this camera 3 times to the retailer(Sears) and the latch has broken EVERYTIME!!!!! The people who bought this and didn't experiance this problem, I would love to see their camera. Maybe Sears only stock the lowest quality. I DON'T TRUST KODAK at the moment and I DON'T TRUST Sears. When I first decided to buy this camera, the reviews I read suggested the camera was easy to use and the picture quality was good. True on both cases. Unfortunately, it has a CHEAP PLASTIC quality to it. The actual casing is poor. This camera is not durable and breaks easily. Sears was good about accepting returns except the 3rd time. The clerk was RUDE! After a little screaming and yelling he took it back. I can't say that I'm going to buy again a Kodak or Sears item anytime soon.

Great camera 2006-01-08

I never had a problem with the battery latch... only thing is when I am turning it off and on, the lens squeaks when it comes out. Taking pics in the dark suck (especially if you dont want the flash)... i was trying to take night pics of my backyard and moon and it came out crappy.

I love this digital camera so much, I bought a second one 2006-01-06

I take a lot of photographs for many occasions. I've had this digital camera for 20 months (I had another Kodak digital 3.0 MP and another brand before this one) and absolutely love this camera. I was the principle photographer at a wedding using this camera and the bride and groom's families were very pleased with the results. This camera is easy to use and gives you lots of options for scenes and settings(I think I've used them all at one time or another.) Fantastic, sharp amazing color photographs. (I've added some of my November, 2005 Caribbean Cruise photos above to give you an idea.)The only thing this camera lacks for me is a higher optical zoom.
I have had NO problems with the battery latch in the 20 months I've owned this camera.

Happy...for now.... 2006-01-03

I bought this camera about three months ago and was really happy with it. I didnt have to charge it that often as the battery life is pretty god. Unfortunately the battery lock broke after about the fifth time charging it. Im currently waiting for Kodak to send it back repaired but im extremely pessimistic since I read other reviews here fearing it might break again.

Love it! 2005-12-12

This is a wonderful camera. I bought it online at Wal-Mart for 199.00 and that included the dock.

Very Mad Customer 2005-09-08

This camera is a piece of work. I also had the latch problem.

What bugged me is the Kodak people, the second time it broke were upset it was still an orange latch. Was it suppose to be replaced with something else because all of them are breaking - the customer service person wouldn't say.

Then a power issue - camera wouldn't power up. I sent it in and waited 3+ weeks to get my camera back. FInally I got it back. I used it 2 more times and the same issue. NO POWER. I talked to Kodak the second time and they assured me that the camera would be fixed this time and they would pay for the shipping etc. It is 2+ weeks later and I called about my camera. I talked to the repair people today and they said they did the same replacement - they did the first time.

I was frustrated and called Kodak - they only would say it will be fine this time. They do not know what the repair people did and cannot tell me why they know the camera will be fixed this time - but they know it will.

I was told if it breaks again, I can send it into thier customer care area where a complete evaluation of the camera will be done and they will decide what to do with my camera.

BLAHH I am so frustrated. I bought that camera and accessories for more than 400$ in early April. I have managed to have had it working for one major event this summer. I didn't have a camera for my nieces birth or my sons being together for the first time in a year or my sons b'day.

I am so frustrated I could scream.

I trusted the name of Kodak when I bought the camera. I will never make this mistake again.

Excellent service, great camera performance, easy to use. 2005-08-21

This is an excellent camera. My battery door lock broke, but Kodak had it repaired and returned to me within one week of my having sent the camera in for repair. Excellent service.

Fast focus, fast write time, fast turn-on time, excellent dusk performance, reasonable flash, strong performance in daylight and indoor when color-balance is set properly. Some purple fringing outdoors in intense light, particularly off of white objects. Most simplistic camera I could find with the ability to do advanced options, I'd buy it for my Mom as a first digital camera. I would give this camera 4.9 stars if possible.

My less tech savvy wife is comfortable with this camera. Easy to point and shoot, enough advanced options for amateur photographers. I was comfortable moving to this from my film SLR.

Excellent battery life. Buy a spare battery, the kit comes with an external charger. Prints from Kodak online are excellent, and include many options for sizes. I cannot emphasize how great their support is. If you do not buy this Kodak, buy a different model. Support the company, not many like them anymore.

Koadak DX7630 2005-08-12

This is a nice camera, great buy! When shopping and "doing my homework", this model is being pulled from most stores for it is last years model. However, it has more features than the current years model. The battery is extremely nice taking 256 6.1MP pictures. I really like the camera's ability to take rapid pictures, while many cameras take time to store the image on the card. It can also open and close the shutter 3-4 times in 1 sec to capture an action, generating 3 or 4 pics. The screen is large and clear even when there is some light or "glare" hitting it. I recommend at least a 512MB card for taking 256 pics, because the battery can accomadate. The camera is feature rich while with point and shoot ease; you can jump into manual mode and really control lighting and time of day shots. I give it 5 stars becuase it is a quality product and the price is right.

easy, accurate, fabulous 2005-07-28

I got this camera to replace my 3.1 megapixel camera by Kodak, and I love it. I stuck with Kodak because I find the quality to be fantastic and consistant. This camera is an easy point-and-shoot, but also has a manual setting, and many other special feature settings. It's easy to use, easy to carry, and easy to look at. Overall, it's a great little camera!

Amazing Camera 2005-07-09

I bought this kodak after I had purchased an HP 5.0 MP camera. I was dissapointed in the HP. The Kodak is so good at taking pictures & so easy to use that I am now selling my old 35mm Minolta SLR. The picture quality is so sharp it rivals 35mm sharpness. There are enough manual controls that you would find on a good SLR that any want to be photographer will love.
One thing I've been reading is that people have been having problems with the battery case cover breaking off. You have to be very careful opening & closing the cover. However all digital cameras have very similar flimsy covers. I work in a Photo Lab and tell all my customers they have to be very very careful with any digital camera battery slot. This seems to be common negative on any digital camera. I have had this camera for a month now, have used it every day taken the battery out every night to recharge and have not had the cover break off yet. If you are careful it wont break. These are not cheap cameras, you just have to treat them with care. Also some have complained about the software, & I have not had any problems with it, it's been real easy to use & print out from.
in conclusion this is a great camera that takes excellent photos.

jr rodriquez 2005-07-07

I've had the camera for several weeks and it takes great pictures. Even large bow-ups are great. It's also simple to use, yet has manual controls for the pros. What it lacks is manual focus and a hi-res video mode like the z740 model. why
only put low-res video in such a fine camera? With the epson r800 printer, the pictures have fine detail and great color saturation. This is onee camera I would recommend, but with caveats.

After only 5 weeks, the camera was sent for repair 2005-06-26

This little camera takes really super photos and the ease of the software included is great. However, like Dennis in Nov 2004, apparently our camera's wheel that controls the on/off function has broken and we had to send it back to Kodak for repair. Camera would act like it booted up for about 3 seconds and then would shut down, even with freshly-charged battery or even with the auxiliary power cord. Fortunately, the camera waited until AFTER our vacation to go on the fritz. If you buy this camera, get the extended warranty!

Good price, Great pictures. Well worth the $$ 2005-05-31

As an casual photographer, I had been using my old Ricoh, and unwilling to move into the land of digital. Along came this camera, and with 6 megapixels for $300, I couldn't resist trying it out. I haven't been disappointed yet. The pictures are AMAZING, both in color and clarity, the detail is sharp, crisp and true, and, with the huge screen, picture taking is a breeze. I've tried several of the various photo styles (night pictures, snow, active children, etc), and each time the pictures were beautiful. I haven't picked up my old favorite Ricoh in months. This camera even has features for more sophisticated photographers, none of which I am completely familiar with yet. However, for the everyday user, this camera is MORE than a bargain.

VERY MAD CUSTOMER. CHEAP Plastic BATTERY LOCK 2005-05-31

Sure wish I would have found these reviews before I purchased this camera on 4-27-05. I have only used the camera once and yesterday I decided I should go ahead and re-charge the battery for an upcoming vacation. I opened up the battery door and the orange plastic battery lock was broken. THIS WAS THE FIRST time I had opened the battery compartment up since installing it!!!! I can't take it back to the store where I purchased it for replacement because it has been longer than 14 days. I am so mad especially since I leave for vacation on June 10th. Kodak customer service was closed for the holiday yesterday so I had to call today. I have to pay to ship it back to the company for repairs. They promise me it will be shipped back to me by June 10th but I have serious doubts!!!! I can't believe they are putting such a cheap plastic part. I'm sure that darn thing will break on me again. I'm always very careful with my cameras too. I was very careful when I put the battery in. This is RIDICULOUS!

Also a battery latch issue!! Stupid warenty 2005-05-22

I thought I was the only one, seeing I only bought the camera a few months back it pains me to have such a small thing break. I looked up the warenty, which I still have the ability to use the one year one with the product. Only trouble is they charge you a large amount just to return the camera back to you and you must mail it to them in the first place to have it repaired! Cash out for postage to them and cash out to return!! What a great warenty, not! EDIT: I think I speak for all before me that its not the battery DOOR thats our issue, its the cheap and flmsy little PLASTIC orange lock that is breaking on everyone!! Ihave contacted a few local stores and asked if they have had many issues with this problem and the answer was a clear yes. OTHERWISE this camera is the best one out there, with ease of use at the top of my applaude list!! Clear HUGE pictures are great for large prints. BTW, the Video is 10 times better then the 4mp I had before it, also a kodak. Great sound and very clear video!

Best camera I have owned 2005-05-19

Earlier this year I began looking around for a new digital camera to replace my 4 year old, 2MP camera. After finding this camera being offered on sale at a local retailer it was a deal that I could not pass up. Being able to print up to 20x30 and 30x40 pictures is a big difference to the 4x6 maximum quality I was getting from my old camera. Although the many features take some getting used to they come in handy. They have allowed me to get the best results with pictures shot in many differnt settings. The camera itself is small, sturdy and has easy to use buttons and dials. Also the menu for setting camera formats and features is easy to navigate. I have had my camera for two months now and have not had any problems with the battery latch. I am looking forward to taking this camera on summer vacation just to see the difference in quality compared to my older pictures. Great camera for the price.

Kodak D7630 2005-05-08

I love the easyness of this camera, we have one at our school and I use it very often. I love it but I can't print pictures though the printers because the megapixles are so high it jams the printer. But I'd still recomend it. It is wonderful

Great camera features, horrible battery latch 2005-05-04

I also received this camera as a Christmas gift, after much consideration by the buying party. The features are top-notch, quality is outstanding, and it's very user-friendly and easy to handle, even for novices.

MAJOR PROBLEM with the battery latch. Mine was purchased from a well-known chain, thank goodness a 3-year full warranty was also purchased. I will be returning to the store for the FOURTH time to replace the camera because of the battery latch breaking. The first one broke after just a few weeks, the second was broke when I got the camera out of the box, the third broke after 2 days, and now this fourth one has broken after several months.

Great Even with the negatives 2005-05-03

I had ben wanting to go digital since I like taking pictures, but I'm not very good at getting my film devoloped.

The Camera body has a solid traditional feel, and the image size and flexability of control are great for a wide range of users.

It takes great pictures. I have taken pictures by accident that were good enough to keep. I also love how I can keep zooming into the images to see very small details. I normally shoot on full auto or the closeup setting, but it is really nice to have all the different pre-set modes, as well as the ability to take a reasonable ammount of manual control. On the other hand, I have to admit it does have its negatives.

The 3X optical zoom is okay (digital zoom is just marketing), but I sometimes wonder if I would have been as happy with the one of the simplier models with more powerful zoom.

The battery setup could have been designed better. The mechanism that holds it in does seem a little too delacate. I haven't broken mine, but I can see how it happens. You would think, with the breakage risk, the camera would ship the AC adapter so you could charge the battery in the camera, but the external charger alllows for charging a backup battery, and it only takes two hours.

It does not allow you to save raw images. I wonder how good the images and the shot to shot times would be if the camera didn't compress the images (especially using a lossy method).

Sure the cell is nonstandard, but I think you get better battery life than three AAA's would give. I am also not a big fan of the lens cap, but I can live with it.

Even with the negatives, I still really like my DX7630.

Good camera, but... 2005-05-03

This is a good camera that takes great pictures. I enjoyed using it, but the camera has one flaw. The latch that holds the battery in place breaks easily. I have replaced this camera twice because the battery latch has broken. I would have one still if it weren't for the battery latch. Maybe if they would change this to a more sturdy latch it would be better.

Great Camera! 2005-05-01

This camera is very good for the novice photographer like myself. When I opened the camera at first I didn't know how to take a picture. This camera has little to no learing curve. I was taking great pictures within hours. Great Bang for your buck. I recommend this camera to anyone who wants to learn digital photography.

Best Kodak yet! 2005-04-29

I've owned a Kodak DX4900 Digital camera for the past 4 or more years. It really did a wonderful job for me with it's limited features. My new purchase is the Kodak DX7630. It is an upgrade for me and I think that it's just the perfect little camera. It does everything and more with the greatest of ease. The controls are simple to use and the features have few limits. I don't know why the little battery door is giving some people trouble. For me it functions perfectly. I figure that they must treating it too roughly. This camera is a precision instrument and should be handled accordingly. I recommend it as a "Great Buy!"

Battery Latch 2005-04-14

Add 2 more broken latches. Since Giving the camera as a Christmas gift it has had the same part break twice. Even the in store display camera has a broken latch! This week the camera is getting returned.
The Canon A95 looks to be the next best option, too bad i already purchased a 512 media card for the Kodak. :(

The best camera investment I made!! 2005-04-14

Very easy to use, great pictures this is a great buy!!!!!!

BUY THIS CAMERA 2005-04-07

The people who have had trouble with the battery latch must be opening it with a meat hook or maybe they have man-hands. Granted its not titanum steel reinforced, but it is more than sufficent for me.

This camera takes THE best pictures in its class. Hands Down. The colors are vibrent, and the features are simple.

Don't be fooled by poor reviews. It is well worth the money!

Broken Batter Door Latches 2005-04-02

I was very excited about this camera, until the broken battery door latch. 2nd different digital camera manufacturer with this problem. Why cant they make a camera with a good battery door cover???

Broken Battery Latch & Expensive Batteries Spoiled Camera 2005-03-21

Unfortunately I did not read the small print and only found out after I bought my DX7630 that it needs a special and expensive battery. The camera is quite easy to use and does take good pictures, although I have had a few bad ones taken in low light as the flash did not seem to fire correctly. My biggest complaint is that the third time I changed the battery the latch that holds it in the camera broke. The broken pieces fell inside the camera but I was able to retrieve them, a broken piece of plastic and a small spring. The camera does still work as the battery compartment door pushes the battery in far enough to make contact. I called Kodak and they said they would repair or replace the camera but it would take at least two weeks. As I use the camera constantly I dont know how I am going to do without for that long and they have no exchange system which would allow me to get a replacement before I send in the broken camera. It seems this broken latch is a common problem with this model.
I would not recommend this camera due to the fact that it uses none standard expensive batteries and the problem with the battery latch breaking.

ANOTHER BROKEN BATTERIE LATCH 2005-03-18

I GOT THIS CAMARA WAS HAPPY WITH THE PICTURES IT TOOK. THE FIRST TIME I REMOVED THE BATTERIE TO CHARGE IT THE LATCH BROKE.
I AM ANOUTHER UNHAPPY COSTUMER.

Yet another broken battery latch. 2005-03-12

Batery latch broke just opening the lid to access the SD Card & Battery compartment. I sent it back to Kodak for fixing, but when it comes back, I'm returning it and getting something else. With so many people having the same issue, this design defect should have easily been discovered in testing and eveidently Kodak either didn't test properly or just doesn't care about quality.

another broken battery latch 2005-03-03

I had my DX7630 for less than a week before my battery latch broke. It was the first time I took the battery out for charging. It's really too bad because the camera works great in all other regards and takes great pictures. I've owned three other Kodak models in the past and all have taken great pictures. The battery latch must have slipped through the cracks during the testing phases. Unfortunately, I'll be returning mine and shop for another equivalent camera.

3 Gifts, 3 happy consumers ! 2005-02-22

I brought my family into the digital photography realm with DX 7630 as holiday 2005 gifts. 3 total. The technology curve was minimal - my admittedly non tech Dad (email is a challenge) was taking photos in no time and loving that he could delete or save on the fly without 'wasting film'. My Mom and I walked through the software and had photos of the grandchild printing out in both wallet size and 4 x 6 from the Easy Share printer before the day was out. The next week my brothers were sending photos via email and chatting about 'did you know this camera can also do video'...We have had one plastic battery lock snap, and my Mom said that Kodak customer service took immediate responsibility and that the camera is being shipped back to them this week - approximately a 10 -14 day turn around, which was acceptable.

Nice Camera, if it didn't break. 2005-02-17

The camera takes great pictures; however, the battery latch broke the second time I took the battery out. I took it back and had it replaced. I was extremely careful with the new camera, but the latch broke a second time. I am taking it back today to get a different camera.

I bought Kodak because I had always thought they had quality products. Not this camera.

Broken Part 2005-01-15

I really liked the camera and it was very easy to use, but the battery lock broke the second day I had the camera.I returned it for another one and the lock broke the first day I used it. The part should be recalled and I would not suggest buying one of these until the part has been fixed.

Part broke too! 2005-01-15

Too bad the battery lock part broke! It must be a manufacturing defect. I have seen the same issue on other sites.

I received this camera as a Christmas gift from my husband. It is an upgrade from my previous easy share. It is simple to use and takes great photos. The software is user friendly too.

Big bang for the buck.

I am just disappointed that piece broke. You would think a great company like Kodak would have had that problem figured out before they mass produced them. So sad.

Kodak DX7630 takes good pictures but lacks durability 2005-01-14

I've had my Kodak DX7630 for about 7 months, but have since sent in the camera for warranty service for what appears to be a design flaw: The mode dial is used to BOTH turn on the camera and to switch between different modes (Auto, Playback, Program, etc.). As a result, it is subject to considerably more wear and tear. Compare this to, say, the Sony Cybershot 5.1Mp, which at least has a separate button to power on/off the camera. The Kodak design also means that your mode setting is "forgotten" each time you turn off the camera; you'd have to conscientously reselect it each time you turn the camera on.

Interchangeable lenses for the 7630 (available separately at additional cost) include wide, telephoto & macro, all of which require a lens adapter; all parts must be screwed on to the body. Performance of these lenses are okay. Note that the Kodak doesn't remember zoom settings (unlike, say, the Olympus C-50 5.1Mp), so you'd have to take the time to zoom in for each telephoto shot lest you get part of the lens in your photo.

Pictures taken with the DX7630 are very good, even better if you have a steady hand or tripod and opt out of digital zoom. Optical zoom, on the other hand, goes up to 3x, versus 10x on the camera's DX7590 5Mp cousin. Color accuracy under artifical light conditions continue to be a challenge, even when using the camera's light compensation settings for fluorescent and incandescent lights. However, third-party photo editing software will help fix most of the color problems.

Camera warm-up and shooting tends to be slow, taking up to 2 seconds per shot--better suited for careful, calculated shots. Burst photography mode (taking multiple pictures in quick succession) is available on the DX7630 at the click of the button, but the slow processing time means you'll be sitting idle for some 10 seconds after you take the burst sequence.

In sum, I enjoy the DX7630's picture-taking capabilities, but scoff at its cumbersome accessorization and lack of durability. The price has gone down considerably from its original $500 price, however, so you might want to keep an eye peeled for further declines. Less than $300 may be a fairer market price.

Not Working out of the box 2005-01-13

camera didn't work when I unpacked it,
it never worked and I am requesting a replacement
if the replacement doesn't work, then no more Kodak
for me....ever

Photography major finally goes digital 2005-01-06

I resisted going digital for a long time because I was wary of the changing technology. I wanted to wait until digital cameras became more mainstream. I am very happy with my purchase. I love the results that I have been getting with this camera. My sister and mother have the 5mp easy share and also love their cameras. I bought my nanny the 6.1 and she also loves it. The camera seems to have a good quality lens and the software is very easy to use. My sister really likes using the picture dock, but I didn't find it necessary. You may want to try using the camera without it before you go the expense. I bought an extra battery and a small case for the camera. I have 4 children 6 and under... this is so much easier than using my old bulky camera... and I save money. I take as many pictures as I want to take and then just delete the bad ones.

I like downloading my photos to Ofoto for printing. When I had dial-up AOL ot took a long time to download. Now that I have Road runner it is much faster and easier.

Having archival quality photos is important to this photography major. I order my photos from Ofoto and then burn my pictures onto a disc. Burning the CD is very easy with the software. -Having easy software for a camera is important. This seems quite easy to me.

Wow!!! 2005-01-01

This is one of the greatest deals in digital camera history. In fact the DX7630 is nearly flawless. Let's see: 6.1 mega pixels is far more than any other camera company can offer at a similar price, the display screen is so enormous that it makes me wonder why they even bothered with the optical viewfinder, the German lens is superb in quality, there are more picture modes than I care to remember, the camera does an excellent job of focusing in all lighting situations and at all distances, and the cherry on top is the cool audio profiles.

My one complaint is that 3x optical is a little lacking in my opinion. However once I think about it, the 6.1 mega pixels allows the use of a hefty amount of digital zoom without any noticeable image distortion. So in effect, the camera has about 7-8x optical zoom do to the huge amount of pixels.

This camera is by far the best value in any price range.

very good general purpose camera for most people 2005-01-01

This is a very good general purpose camera for those who do not have photography as a hobby. All of the automatic features can be manually overridden when the camera out clevers itself.

One word of warning. Many store sell after market accessory lenses that will not work on this camera. Some mechanically interfere with the zoom, others only slightly change the angle of coverage.

Digital Optics brand have both problems. Kodak brand work properly. The Raynox brand 0.3X also works.

People who are enthusiastic amateur photographers with film cameras and are seriously into it to have several extra lenses will be disappointed with the current state of the art in number of pixels. Those people should wait for 100 megapixel models to become standard.

homerun for kodak 2004-12-28

this camera really outdoes most of the competition, and when you include the low price and other features, there are no real competitors. kodak offers a 3x optical zoom and has over 6 megapixels for super sharpness, even if you decide to enlarge the picture. also, the camera can grow with you as there are wide angle, telephoto and close-up lenses available through amazon. for quick prints, there is also a nifty printer that does not require any computer. it prints a 4x6 picture in under 2 minutes (also available through amazon). the quality of the print is like a local shop, and the printing method, which uses a protective coating, makes sure the colors last forever (ink-jet printers can run/fade). as an option, local photo shops can print your pictures from the camera or, if you like, you can use a computer.
in sum:
--the price is great, especially for over 6 megapixels.
--kodak is the number one brand for digital cameras. they will be around to supply the camera/your photographic needs. kodak is a trusted u.s. company while some others may not be around in ten years.
--it's easy to use (no computer necessary). but if you have a computer, the camera/printing dock can e-mail photos.
--the camera has a 3x optical zoom -- super sharp pictures with great color of the kids/nature from far away.
some others offer similar features, but nobody has the whole package at this price. a home run!

No Wonder It Has Won So Many Awards! 2004-12-21

Over the past few years I have used a Kodak 2mp digital camera but was never satisfied with the results. I submit a lot of pictures for my eBay auctions and must have clarity of the small details. I tried my sister-in-law's Olympus 4mp camera with 10x lens, but it did not do the trick without a tripod and many adjustments. Finally, I came across this Kodak DX7630 6.1mp and found the ideal camera for my needs. I can take aim and shoot photos, with or without the flash, and I get a great shot most every time. With so many pixels, I can easily crop and zoom in on my desired areas. Editting has never been easier. I bought the extra dock and find it most useful to have my batteries fully charged each time I go to use the camera. Downloading to the computer has never been easier! In essence, the 6.1mp has eliminated the need for telephoto lens for me. You can't ask much more than this out of a simple camera!

Great all purpose point and shoot 2004-12-20

I bought this camera because it offers the highest megapixel count of any camera in its price range. I've found the picture quality is quite a good - a large improvement over my previous camera - a 3 MP Kodak DX3900. Don't believe it if a salesman tells you it's not about the megapixels. Megapixel count is the single most import thing in these low end digital cameras. A high megapixel count makes the picture come out looking much clearer and more natural. It also gives you flexibility to crop and blow up a picture without visible loss of quality due to pixelization. I only wish it were 12 MPs instead of 6. I also wish the ISO could be set above 400 - but this is typical of compact digital cameras.

The camera's video mode is also pretty cool. With this camera, you can shoot video continuously until the camera's memory is full. With the 1GB SD chip I bought with the camera ($65), I'm able to shoot continuous video with sound for up to 80 min. So the camera doubles as my home movie camera. The video res is only 320x240 - which, again, is typical for digital cameras. I wish it were 640x480 though - that would bring it pretty much on par with a miniDV camera. Video quality is good though, and the sound comes out well. Unfortunately, the zoom is limited in video mode. You can adjust the zoom before shooting, but once video is rolling, the zoom is stuck.

The camera has plenty of manual control. The controls are easy to use once you get the hang of them. The menus don't run deep, so almost any control can be set quickly, without having to do too much navigation.

All in all, I highly recommend this camera. This camera is as good as or better than any compact digital camera currently out there. To do better, you'd have to get a full sized SLR.

This is a nice camera...to introduce you to digital only 2004-12-20

You will eventually want to upgrade to a higher optical zoom. I did not realize how limiting the 3x is and then when you try to use the digital zoom the picture quality suffers...not good when you are trying to photograph children! I got a better zoom with the regular 35mm aim and shoot cameras. But the pictures that I do take are good...not outstanding, but good. If you have the money to invest, I suggest going with the Kodak with the 10x zoom. It really would be better...I wish I started off with it. If you do buy this camera, I strongly suggest that you stay out the the "auto" focus and move on to 'scn' 'p' or 'a', you have much more control with how the pictures will be in the end. All in all, it is worth a try just shop around for the best price...I found mine for $296.00 without having to sign up for a credit card like amazon tries to get you to do. Also, buy the SD card and upload your pictures often. I use the 5.4MP so it takes up more space but the picture quality is so much better...especially if you are using photo software and are cropping the pictures.

A great camera for the neophyte photographer - 2004-12-14

like myself. The extent of my knowledge of photography has been the little disposable point and shoots you get at the drug store on a trip. I always wanted to try digital photography, if for nothing else than the ability to erase my mistakes without it costing an arm and a leg. I decided on this camera because, in my neophyte photographer's mind, 6.2 megapixels is a lot of megapixels, which translates into a good camera. What I inadvertenly swerved into was one the best point and shoot cameras on the market. The quality of the pictures, the wide variety of scene mode choices, and an unbelievable 1/1500 to 62 second exposure times; all these combine into an unbelievable value for the price you're paying. This camera has opened up a whole new world for me. And using Ofoto has been the icing on the cake. When I got my first 20x30 picture of a scene in Tahoe, well it made it all worthwhile. You will get a lot of enjoyment from this great camera.

Cheap piece of junk! Really, read on please. 2004-12-13

I have had this camera for about two weeks and the second time I took the battery out to charge it, the latch broke that holds the battery in place, so I had to ship it back to kodak for repairs!!!

The camera review: (separate from my complaint about the cheap plastic chassis)

This camera takes great indoor shots with good white balance, great skin tones, and vibrant colors and has an ample flash.

Having said that, here are the things I don't like,

It doesn't come with the charging base or a power cord that plugs directly into the camera so you must take the battery out to charge it and hope the latch that holds the battery in place doesn't break off like mine did.

The outside shots come out dim most of the time. I tried slowing the shutter speed down and opening up the aperature but most of the pictures I took came out blurry, unless I used the tripod. Sometimes even then as in outdoor shots, most of the time the camera would not acheive focus lock. It would give me the warning symbol tellimg me it couldn't lock focus and sure enough, the pictures would come out blurry.

No manual focus. This would help when the camera doesn't achive focus lock which in my experience was most of the time I was outside.

I wish I had more to say and rate this camera on, but it broke after two or three uses and about 2 weeks time.

Seriosly folks, my little casio Z4U does a much better job of achieving focus than this camera. Not that it is perfect but I would expect the Kodak to do a better job than my little casio camera any day and in most any way. A very poor performer!!!

Experience: Casio Exilim Z4U, Olympus D-580, Fuji E550, and the Kodak DX7630

Love it 2004-12-04

Bought this as my first digital. Simple to use and great pictures. The software it comes with is OK. Limited editing capability and I don't like JPG files defaulting to the KOdak software, (I can probably change that however)

As far as the camera goes it great.

short life expectancy 2004-11-30

Great camera and performance for the price but low quality chinese contruction. Had camera less than two months and the wheel that controls on/off and other functions failed. Now back at Kodak in Rochester N.Y. for repair. Hope for replacement.

This is a good camera when it works. Awesom pic quality at 6.0 megapixel as well as lower settings. The only problem is the quality of the manufacture. But, you get what you pay for!!!!!!

Awesome! 2004-11-30

I love this camera. It takes just as good picture as a regular camera if not better! You can take pics and if you don't like it (e.g. if someone blinks) then you can delete it right away. You can also pick out which pictures you want developed and what store you want them developed at and there ya go! Or if you have a nice printer (which I do) you can print your own. I highly recommend this camera.

Best in Class! 2004-10-30

I have used the Kodak cx7530 previously and found the dx7630 to a step up in class, performance, and features. The 7630 is an excellent, above average, point and shoot camera but the additional SLR-like features really makes this camera an excellent choice and outstanding value! I have taken better pictures with the 7630 than I have with my SLR!

I highly recommend the dx7630 to novice and intermediate photographers. Even expect SLR user will find the Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens, the full manual control over shutter, aperture and ISO speed to render outstanding sharp images.

Check out the "bowl of apples" images (and others) I took with this camera.

Pros:
1. ultra sharp Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens
2. full manual control over shutter, aperature, and ISO
3. flash intensity compensation (you control the amount of light on the foreground subject!)
4. continuous focus mode "tracks" your subject without having to lock the focus
5. massive and clear 2.2" LCD
6. the rechargeable LiON battery lasts a long time (120 shots where 60 used the flash)
7. ISO 800 feature allows natural photos in ambient indoor light.
8. 2 JPEG compressions modes which helps if you travel a lot
9. 3 modes of metering exposure
10. 16 scene modes
11. placement of all controls allows single hand manipulation.
12. ability to disable digital zoom, choose sharpness, and choose saturation.
13. fast turn-on, fast shutter to shot, and fast shot to shot.
14. images get auto-rotated when taking a portrait
15. LCD goes blank after a while of no-use to conserve power
16. very quiet focus and zoom.
17. multi-point focus always renders sharp foreground images; i found few images out of focus
18. shadows and dark areas are not grainy or noisy; this is helpful when you're cropping pics and enlarging them
19. very smooth transitions in bright area and never washed out; this helps you with contrast especially if you convert to black and white later

Cons:
1. no dedicated self-timer button (only two steps to get to it, though)
2. can not use AA but the rechargeable battery lasted a long time and is smaller than a pair of AA's.
3. no PictureBridge support but I always manipulate my images before printing a hardcopy so it wasn't an issue
4. no self closing cover but i tossed the lens cap and the lens is recessed enough so it doesn't scratch in my camera bag.
5. smallest aperature is f8 but then again, this isn't a true SLR

An excellent camera for the money 2004-10-06

I used to use Canon Powershot S30. I liked it except that the autofocus has never been razor-sharp. This Kodak DX7630 solved this problem. Though in the beginning, various options indicated on a dial were a little bit confusing, once I became accustomed to it, the selection of any option became almost instinctive. The color it produces is brilliant, and one can take good pictures under almost any circumstances. I have not printed any pictures larger than 8X10, and therefore I can't tell the limit of resolution, but certainly it is good enough for 8X10 enlargement. The only disappointment is that one can not select ISO, shutter speed, or f-stop even in the manual, S-, or A-(aperture priority mode)mode. I don't think I missed these options in the instruction booklet. The instruction booklet, by the way, is not too detaild either. I bought optional macro lenses and an adaptor for the lenses. These lenses take extremely good pictures of a flower pedal, a bud etc. Overall, this is not a camera for professionals, but for everyday photography for recording your lives, it is one fine camera.

A Great combination: camera and printer 2004-09-29

Love it. I am not by any means a really great photographer. I do love taking photos of family, pets, projects, etc. With the dock/printer...I take a photo...see if I like it...and print it out! Could not be easier.
Camera: Comfortable in my hand, fairly small for all the features it has. Fits right in my purse...
Lens cap: it's not automatic so I tossed that the first day anyway: not a biggie.
Shareware software: easy install on my machine (again..I am not a techno-geek so it has to be plug-play). all set.
Dock: easy to hook up to camera and computer. press the print key..and out come my beautiful pictures.

I am gifting one set (camera/dock) to grandma who does not believe in atm machines or cash cards. she tried my set up and PRINTED LIKE A CHAMP.

Come on Kodak fans!

Very good 6MP camera 2004-08-27

After using my 1 Mega pixel Fiji camera for more than 2 years I was shopping for an upgrade. I was looking for an offordable 3 MP camera when I came across Kodak DX7630 6MP camera for lesser price.

After reading a lot about digital cameras manufactures by the markets gaints like Canon,Nikon and Olympus, I thought do I have to really buy a kodak. Well I took a chance becuase I got the camera at a very good deal ($250 at Officemax). This deal only lasted for 2 hours (lucky me).

After using the camera for a month, I am very happy with the performance. Kodak integrated all the features as a software into this camera. Like different modes (Ladscape,night...) are provided by a touch of a button and the screen is displayed with all the modes.

The Quality at 6MP is very very good. The flash works really good unlike my previous camera where I can hardly see something in the picture at night. It comes with a a special battery with lasts very long (approx 90+ pics).

The size of the picture is about 2.3 Megabits, so a 256MB card and give you about 99 pics (at 6 MP,High res). Turn on the camera and shoot the first picture in 4.5 secs. Not bad when you don't want to miss any moment.

The camera has a bigger LCD to view the images, and the Menus are very pleasent. It also comes with cable to download the pictures and 32MB internal memory when you run out of space in your SD card.

Finally, very good 6MP camera for the price.

Cons:

1. Cannot use regular batterries. Need to buy the special battery that is compatable.
2. The model is bulk and little heavy (but all kodak models are like that).
3. No automatic lens cap. You have to put a manual cap like most film SLR cameras.

Great Camera-Only small problem with taking rapid pictures 2004-08-18

I purchased this camera about a week ago. It takes excellent pictures. I took my share of bad ones with the old 35mm. Great battery life so far. I've taken about 60 pictures and its still going. I've even been reviewing them on the camera for over an hour so far as well. Very easy to use with 10+ scene types that change the flash mode, aperture, shutter speed and so on, to best fit that picture.

Only negatives- no built in lens cap, sometimes while taking multiple pictures the camera shows that it is still processing. This could be that the memory card I purchased is slow.

So far I would highly recommend this camera.

Best Everyday Use Camera - PERIOD 2004-07-29

I have been looking to buy a Digital Camera for the last several years. The problem always seemed to be that the Cameras I could afford/justify were usually too weak in what they offered. Poor picture quality, difficult to use, etc.

Well, finally finances and timing came together and I went shopping. I tried all of the 4+ MP cameras. While many were wonderful, they all came with many features that I knew I would never use. Not for lack of interest, but more that I KNOW I am an amature and the most important thing to me was to take GOOD pictures that I can share with friends and family.

Then came the Kodak DX7630. Incredibly easy to use, acessible buttons, menus and features, a huge LCD screen in the back and a whopping 6.1 Megapixels.

I have had this camera a few days and like most guys with a new toy really gave it a workout. I took pics in all kinds of environments, all kinds of light conditions and I am AMAZED by the quality. Using the night portrait mode I took pictures of my Mother-in-law's outdoor garden with no ambient light beyond the moon. The pictures came out stunning, so much so that a friend of mine is using it as a background on his computer.

Other shots I took indoor and out were just as crisp, just as easy. One of my biggest problems is that I have what is called familial shaking, I simply can't keep a camera perfectly still. I can't tell you how many shots were ruined with my regular camera because of that. The Kodak seems to compensate just fine. More importantly, I get to see the pic immediately and if I have a problem, I delete it and shoot again.

The Easyshare does for Digital what the Instamatic did for film cameras. Puts a powerful, easy to use camera so simple that anybody can take good pictures from day 1. Now with 6.1 MP, the EasyShare is a bigger bargain than ever.

In the right context...a wonderful camera 2004-07-05

I've found the DX7630 to be an easy to use camera very well suited to casual, handheld picture taking. There's not much of a learning curve, the body feels solid in the hands and the image quality is a good match for on-screen use and consumer level printouts. Shutter lag seems minimal, the AF is fast, battery life is long and the large LCD display is easy on the eyes.

On the downside, this camera would not be the best choice for more deliberate, tripod bound photography. Aside from the rudimentary self-timer, the DX7630 lacks any remote shutter release option and does not support any uncompressed file formats. Also, the JPEG compression is somewhat excessive and the camera provides no user controlled noise reduction.

These limitations shouldn't trouble most Kodak shoppers as this camera really shines in other areas.

Wow!!! 2004-06-18

Just bought this camera for my wife to replace another camera for her birthday. This camera is so full of features you will never have the wrong camera. Over 20 different scene modes, auto mode and the manual modes (PASM). Pictures are wonderful. You cannot go wrong with this camera. This camera is one of the best point and shoot cameras you can buy when you compare features and price point. 6.1 megapixels, optical and digital zoom, and the previously mentioned shooting modes. Haven't seen too many other offer so much at the same price.
I don't understand some of the negative reviews I've seen on this camera. Sure this camera is not perfect. It has its flaws, BUT all are defeatable if you take the time to learn the camera's capabilities. Why would anyone expect pro-level performance at this price point? Beats me. If you are looking for a very good point and shoot digital with great photo quality, this IS your camera. As I've heard from my piano teacher, "Practice! Practice! Practice!"