Kodak V610 Operation

True to its EasyShare name, the Kodak V610 has a user-friendly interface with limited control options that keep camera operation simple. The Kodak V610's automatic systems do an excellent job of capturing good-looking photos, with a well-rounded range of preset shooting modes to handle a wide range of scenes. The LCD menu system is short and simple to navigate, and the plain-English descriptions of menu items are a welcome change from the too-common cryptic icons on so many other cameras. The flat mode buttons across the Kodak V610's top panel let you change camera modes quickly, and once again, plain-English descriptions flashed along the top of the LCD screen make operation straightforward for even rank beginners. Given the simple interface and limited controls, you should be able to snap images right away, with hardly a glance at the manual. Though for more advanced functions, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes or so to get the gist of things.

Record-Mode Display

Depending on the exposure mode, the Kodak V610's LCD display shows the currently-selected options for image size/quality, macro and flash mode, exposure compensation, the number of images of the current size and quality that can be stored in the remaining space on the memory card. Pressing the up arrow on the multi-controller once in a Record mode cancels the information display, while a second press brings back the information display with framing guidelines. A third press adds a histogram display, and a fourth cancels the grid and histogram displays (leaving the information overlay).

Playback-Mode Display

In Playback mode, you can use the Kodak EasyShare V610's Zoom lever to zoom in or out on an image, with a maximum enlargement of 8x. A thumbnail display of the images on the card is also available, through the camera's Playback menu (or you can press the Wide zoom button). Pressing the up arrow offers a more detailed information display, reporting the set exposure variables for the current image. The normal Playback display reports the image number, and any shared settings information. As in Record mode, the Kodak V610's Display button also enables a small histogram, for checking the overall exposure of the image. Pressing the center button on the five-way navigator marks the image for future actions, like printing or deleting.

 

Kodak V610 Modes and Menus

Auto Mode: Accessed by pushing the Auto button once, this mode enables the Kodak V610's photo capture and review functions.

Scene Mode: Pressing the Scene button enters Scene mode, and displays the menu of 22 available scene selections. Choices here include Portrait, Panoramic L-R, Panoramic R-L, Sport, Landscape, Close-up, Night Portrait, Night Landscape, Snow, Beach, Text, Fireworks, Flower, Manner/Museum, Self-portrait, Party, Children, Backlight, Panning Shot, Candle light, Sunset, and Custom.

Movie Mode: This mode is accessed by pressing the Movie mode button (movie camera icon) on top of the camera. In this mode, the Kodak V610 can record moving images with sound.

Favorites Mode: An album icon with a heart on its cover indicates this mode on the Favorites button on top of the Kodak V610. Here, any images that have been designated as "favorites" are displayed (though they have to be synced to the desktop, resized, and synced back before they appear in this mode). You can opt to view images in a slide show or index format, or view exposure information for individual images. You can also access the camera's Setup menu.

Still Record Menu: The following menu items appear whenever the Menu button is pressed in any Record mode. However, not all menu options are available in all modes.

• Self-Timer: Selects between the 10-second, 2-second or 2-shot Self-Timer, or disables it.
• Burst: Enables or disables the camera's Burst photography mode, for capturing a series of up to eight images at 1.6 frames per second.
• Picture Size: Sets the resolution for still images. Choices are 6.0 MP (2,832 x 2,128 pixels), 5.3 MP: 3:2 (2,832 x 1,888 pixels), 4.0 MP (2,304 x 1,728 pixels), 3.1 MP (2,048 x 1,536 pixels), or 1.1 MP (1,200 x 900 pixels).
• White Balance: Sets the color balance to Auto, Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, or Open Shade settings.


• ISO Speed: Sets the sensitivity to Auto (ISOs 64 to 160), or to 64, 100, 200, 400, or 800 equivalent settings.
• Color Mode: Allows you to record images in High, Natural, or Low Color, or in Black and White, or Sepia tones.
• Sharpness: Controls the in-camera sharpening, with options of High, Normal, or Low.
• Exposure Metering: Designates the camera's metering mode as Multi-Pattern, Center-Weighted, or Center-Spot.


• AF Control: Sets the autofocus to Continuous or Single modes.
• Focus Zone: Controls where the camera's AF system determines focus from. Choices are Multi-Zone and Center-Zone.
• Long Time Exposure: Accesses longer exposure times, from 0.5 to eight seconds.
• Set Album (Still): The Kodak V610 lets you set up albums through Kodak's EasyShare interface software on a computer. If albums have been set up and downloaded to the camera, you can associate images with an album as they are recorded.


• Image Storage: Sets where images are stored, either in the 32MB internal memory or SD card. If Auto is selected, the camera automatically stores images to a memory card if one is present.


• Setup Menu: Displays the following Setup options:
• Return: Returns to the main menu display.
• Camera Sounds: Selects among the Kodak V610's operating sounds. You can choose a theme of sounds, or set sounds individually for specific camera operations.
• Sound Volume: Sets the volume to Low, Medium, or High, or turns sound off.
• Digital Zoom: Turns digital zoom on or off.


• LCD Brightness: Select between Power Save and High Power.
• LCD Dimmer: Sets the period of inactivity before the LCD dims. Choices are 10, 20, or 30 seconds, or Off.
• Auto Power Off: Specifies the period of inactivity before the camera shuts itself off. Choices are 1, 3, 5, or 10 minutes.
• Bluetooth: Set Passcode, Security, and Camera Name options for Bluetooth operations.


• Date & Time: Sets the camera's internal clock and calendar.
• Video Out: Specifies PAL or NTSC as the Video Out signal.
• Photo Frame: Sets the Dock settings for image display. Options are Interval (between slide show frames), Loop, Transition (between slide show frames), Image Source (Album, Internal or Favorites), and Run Time.
• Auto Picture Rotation: Turns automation picture rotation in the camera on or off.


• Orientation Sensor: Controls the camera's orientation sensor, which detects when the camera is held vertically. Vertical-format images captured when the Orientation Sensor is enabled are rotated to their correct orientation on-screen when they're played back. Can be enabled only on Transfer, so images appear correctly oriented on the computer.
• Red-Eye Pre-Flash: If activated, this function fires the Red-Eye pre-flash before the full flash. If off, no pre-flash occurs. In either mode, the camera automatically corrects Red-Eye.
• Date Stamp: Turns the date stamp function on or off, which records the date over the image. You can choose from a selection of date formats as well.
• Video Date Display: Like the Date Stamp option above, imprints the date and time on video files, with a choice of display formats.


• Blur Warning: Turns on the camera's blur warning, or disables it. If on, the camera displays the shaking hand icon during quickview, with a range of colors to indicate the level of blur. A green hand indicates that the picture is sharp enough for a good 4x6-inch print. Yellow shows that the image may be sharp enough for 4x6-inch prints, or that sharpness hasn't been determined. (In other words, check the image on a computer before printing.) A red icon means that the picture is not sharp enough for a 4x6-inch print. White indicates that the camera is still assessing the image file.
• Language: Sets the menu language to one of 18 languages.
• Format: Formats the SD memory card or internal memory.
• About: Displays the camera's firmware information.

Movie Mode Menu:

• Self-Timer: Selects between the 10-second or 2-second Self-Timer, or disables it.
• Video Size (Movie mode only): Sets the pixel resolution for Movie mode. Choices are 640 x 480, 640 x 480 (long), or 320 x 240 pixels.
• Set Album (Video): The Kodak V610 lets you set up albums through Kodak's EasyShare interface software on a computer. If albums have been set up and downloaded to the camera, you can associate images with an album as they are recorded.
• AF Control (Video): Sets the autofocus to Continuous or Single modes.
• Video Length: (Movie mode only.) Sets the default video length to Continuous, or to 5, 15, or 30 seconds.
• Image Stabilizer: Turns the image stabilization function on or off for movies.
• Image Storage: Selects between Automatic and Internal Memory.
• Setup Menu: Displays the same settings as under the Record menu.

Playback Menu:

• View By: Lets you choose how images are viewed. Options are All, Date, or Album.
• Album: Adds images to an image album, created on a computer with the camera's interface software.
• Perfect Touch Technology: Displays the Original image and an automatically enhanced New version side-by-side. Options include Save As New, Replace Original, and Cancel.
• Make Picture (Movie only): Allows extraction of still images from movies.
• Crop: Lets you crop an image and save it as a separate image file.


• Slide Show: Enables a slide show of captured images, with user-adjustable intervals between images.
• Multi-Up: Enables a index display of images on the memory card or stored in the internal memory.
• Copy: Copies files from the internal memory to the SD card, or the reverse.
• Protect: Write-protects the displayed image, preventing it from being accidentally erased or manipulated (except via memory or card formatting). Also removes protection.


• Image Storage: Selects between the internal memory or the SD card for image storage.
• Setup Menu: Displays the same settings as under the Record menu.