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Kodak EasyShare C360

by James Murray


The Kodak EasyShare C360 should provide point-and-shoot users with a simple camera that will take photographs without the hassle of manual controls.  The EasyShare C360 extends this simplicity into the realm of printing, providing users with compatibility to the Kodak EasyShare Printer Dock Series 3 as well as providing PictBridge and ImageLink compatibility.  The digital camera is equipped with 5 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens and a 2-inch, 110K LCD screen.  The camera comes with both still and video capture options, and users will be able to shoot video with a maximum resolution of 640 x 480 at 24 fps.  The camera is not overloaded with manual controls, but users can still manipulate the white balance, ISO, and other minimal features if desired.  The C360 will be able to produce images with a level of overall consistency that amateur beginners will find quite pleasing and with an original retail price of under $300, it should currently be within most consumers’ budgets.
 
The camera body is composed of a series of rectilinear planes that give this camera an overall boxy and less sleek shape.  The camera body is composed mostly of plastic, which may be an area of potential concern for those users seeking durability in a digital camera.  The camera has dimensions of 3.3 x 1.4 x 2.5 inches and weighs 5.3 ounces without batteries.  These dimensions, when considered with camera body’s square construction, mean that this camera isn’t going to pop into a back pocket.  That being said, this camera will definitely slip into a jacket pocket without having to cram it in. The real image viewfinder with zoom is undersized, poorly placed and inaccurate - three strikes which should make using the 2-inch, 110K pixel LCD, essential. 
 
 
With 16 custom image presets, the Kodak EasyShare C360 should be prepared to handle most shooting situations that may be encountered.  The C360 has modes for Night Portrait, Night Landscape, and Manner/Museum, among others.  Although not all user-controlled options are “true” or “full” manual modes, there are a number of options within the Kodak EasyShare C360.  There are 3 metering modes, two AF settings, an exposure compensation scale and an exposure bracketing option.  There isn’t a customizable white balance option, although a slight smattering of presets is available.  There are manual ISO settings of 80, 100, 200, and 400, and a surprising and appreciated inclusion of a Slow Shutter feature in case users want to photograph the horizon at midnight.   
 
In terms of color, the lack of a manual white balance really hurt the C360, with the camera producing over-saturated colors throughout the color spectrum.  Other cameras from this product line by Kodak have fared better in color testing, so check out other models in the C-series if you want completely accurate colors.  In terms of resolution and sharpness, the C360 is able to produce 4 x 6-inch prints without worry, and real concern over image quality won’t come into play until print sizes of 11 x 14 inches or larger are attempted.  The C360 distinguishes itself from other manufacturers’ compact models with very low noise in its images – this means clearer, better pictures.  Although a sluggish 3.38 seconds is needed to start up and take the first shot, the camera is able to shoot at 0.54 seconds between exposures for five images in the burst mode.  The shutter to shot time is a bit slow at just under half a second, so your subjects will have to say a long “cheeeeeeese” to hold their smiles.
 
Although not shooting at a smooth 30 frames per second, the Kodak EasyShare C360 can able capture 24 frames per second at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480.  The camera is also able to capture simultaneous monaural audio when shooting in movie mode.
 
When purchased with the ImageLink Series 3 Printer Dock bundle, the Kodak EasyShare C360 will be a solid option to consider, with its easy and basic control structure and uncomplicated external navigation controls.  The camera has a 1/2.5 inch, 5-megapixel CCD and a 3x optical zoom lens.  It should be remembered that accurate colors were not attained with this camera.  With a few manual control options like ISO, the C360 is a good introductory camera for novice digital camera users interested in either remaining fully embedded in the point-and-shoot market or interested only in getting great shots and not exploring further in the world of digital photography.  The Kodak C360 has 16 preset modes and numerous help features within camera menus, an addition which should clarify any confusion.  The 32 MB memory card should easily trump that of many competitors who offer small internal memory options.  If ease of use and a straightforward point-and-shoot potential is important, the C360 could be a good option for you.
 

 

Kodak EasyShare C360 - THE BOTTOM LINE....
Rating: 311.03



 
Likes
-Produced clean images with minimal noise
-Well spaced controls
-ImageLink compliant
-Basic menu structure with help option
-32MB included internal memory
-Custom image presets (lots)
Dislikes
-Surprisingly poor color reproduction
-No live preview
-Small zoom toggle and four-way control (tough to control)
-No manual white balance


Kodak EasyShare C360 Compared to the...

Kodak EasyShare C340
Rating:259.45
Canon PowerShot A520
Rating:323.14
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-S60
Rating:
Nikon Coolpix 5600

Rating:254.42		 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2
Rating:298.82
 
 
 
 
Better Better Better Better Better
-Slightly lower price range
-4x optical zoom lens
-9 point AiAF focal system
-Far better color accuracy throughout the whole spectrum
-Better results in auto ISO mode
-Faster start to first shot
-Quicker shot to shot movement
-Higher Res on LCD screen
-Manual Focus
-Custom White balance option
-Manual ISO range
-Shutter Speed range
-Manual aperture mode
-Aux. Lens and Flash set-ups
-Digital manual focus option 
-Breadth of shutter speed range 
-640x480 resolution at 30 fps movie mode 
-Lower street price online 
-2 inch LCD screen with 115K pixel count 
-D-Lighting setting 
-More acuracy with colors throughout spectrum 
-Manual white balance control  
-Larger automatic shutter speed range 
-6x optical zoom lens 
-Image Stabilization system 
-3 frame per second burst mode 
-Far better color results 
-Better resolution and sharpness 
-Faster shutter to shot times 
-Manual White Balance control 
Equal Equal Equal Equal Equal

-Struggled with res and sharpness 
-Poor noise levels 
-Shot to shot times  
-Small optical viewfinder 
-3x extending zoom lens 
-1/2.5 inch 5 MP CCD 
-Simple menu structure and external control layout 
-No manual focus setting 
-EV Comp
scale and setting 
-No manual white balance control 
-80, 100, 200, 400 ISO settings 
-Max aperture of f/2.7 
-Oversaturation of colors throughout the spectrum 
-ImageLink Printer compliant
-Tiny viewfinder
-Capable of direct print set-up
-Good external control size and functionality 
-Audio Recording in Movie Mode
-Metering Pattern options
-EV Comp scale
 -3x optical zoom lens 
-No manual white balance options 
-32 MB of internal memory 
-Monaural audio recording in movie mode 
-Small optical viewfinder 
-EV Compensation scale and settings 
-Direct Printing 
-ISO range and setting options 
 -Audio recording 
-16 preset shooting modes 
-3x extending optical zoom lens
-1/2.5 inch 5.1 MP CCD 
-Approx. same price range 
-Inaccurate and small optical viewfinder 
-Camera body size 
-Slower frame rate at 640x480 
-Overall ease of use 
-No manual focus control 
-In camera help menu 
-Direct Print ready 
 -Capable of direct printing 
-5 MP CCD 
-Simple, limited and basic external control set-up 
-No manual focus 
-Audio recording during movie mode capture 
-EV Comp Scale and settings 
-Manual ISO settings and range 
Worse Worse Worse Worse Worse
-3x optical zoom lens 
-12 preset scene modes 
-16 MB of internal memory 
-Sluggish start to first shot time 
-Slower shutter to shot times 
-1.6 inch, 76K pixel LCD 
-Larger camera body with absurd flashing LEDs 
-13 fps, 640 x 480 res movie mode 

-1/2.5 inch 4 MP CCD 
-Slightly larger camera body 
-1.8 inch LCD screen
-Lacks the printer cross camera compatibility
-Lower resolution/
sharpness
-High levels of noise in Manual ISO mode
-Shutter to shot, over .71 sec.
-Smaller LCD
-Less clarity with menu sub-sections
-13 custom preset shooting modes
-Movie Mode settings
-16 MB SD/MMC memory card
-4.1 MP CCD 
-Lacks the ImageLink printing system 
-7 scene modes 
-Overall larger camera body 
-Only one metering mode option 
-Maximum aperture setting of f/2.8 

-max aperture of f/2.9 
-Slower start to first shot times, and slower shutter to shot capture 
-No manual ISO settings at all 
-Higher levels of noise in auto ISO mode 
-Lower Resolution/
Sharpness score 
-More complicated control button structure 
-1.8 inch, 80K pixel LCD 
-14 MB of internal memory 
-Only one metering option 

-2.0 inch LCD has only 80K pixel count 
-Lacks 
ImageLink compatibility 
-Higher noise levels in both auto and manual ISO settings
-Slower start up time 
-Larger, less portable camera body 
-Lower Max. Resolution in movie mode 
-8 custom image preset shooting modes 
-One metering mode 
-f/2.8 max aperture 
-14 MB of included memory