10-Megapixel Kodak EasyShare Digital Camera Model M1033

What's in a name? Well, when it comes to digital cameras, plenty can be said with a brand name. That is why Kodak maintains a great deal of market share. When it comes to budget point-and-shoots, the Kodak EasyShare line has had plenty of success. I have been lucky enough to get my hands on the 10-megapixel Kodak EasyShare M1033. This review of the M1033 will let you know what it is capable of and will give you the information to decide if it is worth your hard earned money.

Photo Quality: 3/5

Portability: 4/5

Features: 3/5

Value: 4/5

Overall: 3.5/5

Product Overview:

The Kodak EasyShare M1033 comes in a number of colors but the one I have is a wonderful copper color unlike anything I've ever seen in a digital camera. The basic stats read like any compact point and shoot in this price range with a 10 megapixels sensor, a 3x optical zoom and a 3 inch LCD display. The dimensions are 2.3" tall by 3.7" wide and less than 1" thick. This camera has fantastic esthetics with all of the buttons lying flush against the body. The LCD is sufficiently bright and can be seen easily outside even in direct sunlight.

Unfortunately those handsome flush buttons aren't conducive to the overall use of the camera. It is very difficult to manipulate them with large fingers. I recommend trying out this camera in person if this sounds like it may be an issue for you. The controls are intuitive and most people won't have any problems taking this out of the box and immediately start shooting.

The overall performance was about what I had expected for this price level of digital camera. The M1033 performed well in brightly lit areas but had some noticeable artifacts in low light situations. In fact if shooting at night on its night setting a tripod is required without question. The bright side to this camera is that it has a burst mode which allows for rapid shooting. This is an excellent feature for those interested in sports photography. So often many of the budget digital cameras are slow to shoot.

Product Value:

As far as budget level point and shoot digital cameras go this one falls right in line with its aggressive sub $200 price point. This camera is certainly one of the better offerings in this range and definitely one that should be kept on a consumer's short list. This camera was released in February of 2008 so look for more price reductions near the end of the year. This may be especially true this season as retailers battle for consumers as the economy struggle.