Kodak M1033 Review

The Kodak EasyShare M1033 combines a ten megapixel CCD imager and a Kodak-branded 3x zoom lens with a 35 - 105mm equivalent focal range. For framing images, the Kodak M1033 has a large, 3.0-inch 230K pixel LCD display, but no optical viewfinder - an increasingly rare option these days and one that would add a good degree of versatility, letting you get the shot when you can't make out the LCD in bright sunlight, or save battery life by disabling the LCD when accurate framing isn't vital. Images are stored on Secure Digital / MultiMediaCards including SDHC types, or in 32MB of available internal memory.

The Kodak M1033 offers a generous 19 scene modes to help beginners achieve the results they're looking for without the need to understand subtleties like shutter speeds, apertures and the like. The M1033 includes Kodak's face detection technology, which locates faces and automatically adjusts the focus and exposure. The M1033 determines exposures with a multi-pattern, center-weighted, or center spot TTL metering system, and offers 2.0EV of exposure compensation in 1/3EV increments. Five white balance settings are available including an auto mode, and ISO sensitivity is controlled automatically from 64 to 3200, or manually from 64 to 6400 (with ISO 6400 available only at 3.1MP or lower resolution). The EasyShare M1033 also offers a movie mode, capturing HD (720p), VGA (640x480) or QVGA (320x240) clips at 30 frames-per-second, in QuickTime MPEG-4 format.

The M1033 is capable of displaying stills in High Definition, using the optional Kodak EasyShare HDTV dock. Images and movies captured on the Kodak M1033 are transferred to your computer over a USB 2.0 Full Speed connection, rather slower than the USB 2.0 High Speed connections offered on many cameras these days. Power for the M1033 comes from a proprietary KLIC-7004 lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, and an AC adapter for in-camera charging is included in the bundle.

List pricing for the Kodak EasyShare M1033 is set at US$199.95, and the camera starts shipping March 2008. Body colors available are: silver, black, pewter, red, pink, and dark grey.