Kodak EasyShare C533 Digital Camera

As the title says, this is a great little camera.

I have used the other half's C533 for taking my eBay item pictures since I have been selling and have also taken pictures of the family, various outdoor shots (out on the moors, on the beach etc.) and have indulged in the general 'point at something and click the shutter' style of photography most people subscribe to.

As a non professional photographer I have to say I have been very satisfied with the results of my clicking and on the rare occasion we have run prints off (onto real photo paper, at the local photography / art shop) I have been very impressed by the quality of the resultant prints.


Like most of the Kodak EasyShare 'C Series' this camera has a number of picture modes (controlled by the rotary dial on the top of the camera) but for most part these can (will!) be ignored. Just do what everyone else does, select the 'Auto' setting, point, click, repeat until bored and everything will be fine.

The only real exception is for close up work where the 'Macro' (close up) mode is required. This is enabled by selecting the 'Black Tulip' icon on the rotary dial.

The camera draws quite a bit of current so be sure to get a decent set of batteries; we have been using 2500mAh Ni-Mh Rechargeable R6 batteries from Maplin which come in a set of four but can be recharged in pairs which is really convenient - two in the camera, two in the charger. (Or the back pocket if you're going out for the day!)


As for the fragility I referred to in the title, I managed to break mine (or more accurately, the other half's) surprisingly easily last week.

I was taking a couple of pictures outside with the camera on a tiny tripod. To cut a long and tragic tale short there was a big gust of wind and it toppled sideways. I managed to catch it but it must have just touched the ground because the front part of the lens assembly (the end few mm which contains the auto lens cover) was hanging loose and later fell off leaving the camera lens unprotected.

Although it still functions perfectly as a camera I am somewhat loath to take it out anywhere for fear of getting dirt into the lens assembly and ruining it completely.

Maybe I'm being unfair to Kodak and this was a freak accident but I have ALWAYS been careful with cameras and am especially careful with other people's belongings. I am certainly NOT someone who throws their camera around with little or no regard. Some of the things I have seen people do with their cameras have certainly made me cringe!
So bear in mind, if this could happen to me it could certainly happen to almost anybody!

Anyway, it completely ruined my day (life? read on) and what's more I now have to fork out mucho dinero for a replacement plus, I'll never be able to mention the word 'camera' without being reminded of what I did...

Ok, so it might not apply to you but it is certainly something to bear in mind if you are looking at one of these cameras...

Regards
tbod