Best Cheap Digital Camera

With the holidays approaching fast there are going to be many photo opportunities too good to pass up. If you're like me this time of year means not a lot of extra money sitting around. When shopping for a digital camera, it's easy to get discouraged by the dollar signs but rest assured you can find a great digital camera for very little dough.

I purchased my first digital camera as a gift for myself for Mother's Day. I did tons of research, read all the consumer reports, and got the opinions of all the friends and family who had been telling me to jump on the digital bandwagon for quite some time. After several trips to several stores to get an up close and personal look at the ones that were highest on the best buy lists, I stumbled onto what would soon become my best friend, the Kodak Easy Share Z730. It had all the features I was looking for; 4X optical zoom, 5 megapixels, auto focus and much more. The cost was only $139.88 plus an additional $20 for a 256 MB memory card.

The Z730 high zoom series digital camera has a 4X optical zoom Schneider-Kreuznach Variogon lens which delivers sharp pictures. Also, as I mentioned before, it has 5.0 MP resolution for stunning print quality up to 20 x 30 inches. It gives you more creative control with a full range of advanced manual and custom controls which means creative flexibility for more great pictures. It contains the Kodak color science image processing chip for crisp, colorful prints time after time. It comes with the Kodak Easy Share software which provides everything you need to easily print, share, edit and organize your pictures. This software is very user friendly. Whether you are a computer whiz or a newbie, you can surely navigate this software. The Z730 is compatible with the Easy Share printer docks and camera docks, but it does not require them. I personally do not have either and my camera works just as well without them.

Let me just run through all of the camera specifications:

• 5.0 megapixel picture resolution: 2576 x 1932 pixels
• Quality prints up to 20 x 30 in.
• 4X optical zoom, 4X advanced digital zoom, 16X total zoom
• Kodak Color Science Chip
• Multiple scene modes: portrait, sport, landscape, close-up, night portrait, snow, beach, text/document, fireworks, flower, museum/manner, self portrait, party, children, backlight
• PASM mode: program, aperture priority, shutter priority and manual
• High speed low light auto focus
• ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800
• 2.2 inch indoor / outdoor color display
• Share button: on camera picture tagging for printing, emailing, and organizing
• VGA (640 x 480, 12fps) video / audio; capture / playback
• High capacity (Li ion) rechargeable battery
• 32 MB internal memory
• Works with Kodak Easy Share docks
• Flash: built-in (auto, fill, red-eye, off)
• First burst mode: 2.5 fps, up to 5 frames in sequence
• Last burst mode: up to 30 frames at 2.5 fps, with last 5 frames saved
• and more…

What comes with the camera:

• Wrist strap and built in lens cap
• Getting started kit: Kodak Easy Share software CD, user guide
• Rechargeable Kodak lithium ion battery
• Battery charger
• Cables for USB and video
• Insert for optional Kodak EasyShare docks

The Z730 is extremely durable, it has been dropped numerous times by my children, survived a chocolate milk spill, been splashed at a pool party, and drug around by the dog. So far I have not had any problems what so ever and like I said before, it is my best friend. It travels with me everywhere, whether it be on a vacation or a trip to the grocery store, it has a permanent place in my purse and my heart.