Z712 or 812?

[MikeS.]

Costco has the Z712 and a Kodak 5300 AIO printer for 249 or an 812 and the same printer for 279. The 712 comes with a 1gb card, a 2gb for the 812.

I'd be upgrading from a dx7590. Is the 812 a perceptbly better camera? 30 bucks isn't a big difference or deal.

I guess I'm mostly asking because the 712 is 199 for the camera only. I might just go that route.

Do most of you like the 7 or 8 12 series? Opinion seems to be a bit varying from what little bit I've read.

Mike

[sw2cam]

I have the Z812is ...like it alot



Had the

Z7590

DX7590

DX6490 and got a lot of service from them.

Had the

P850

P880

and sent them back to KODAK just did not like the rigs at all.

[leroyvanhee]

I've always thought the newer technology is better. They probably do a lot of stuff that doesn't show up on the spec sheet. For me the HD video (720p) mode of the Z812 was the major factor in buying the camera.

[Alan T]

I love my Z712is, with which I've taken over 3000 shots since I bought it in May. There are many examples from the 612 and 712around these forums. You can find mine (or anyone's) if look at my profile under 'posts' and look for ones where I originated the thread. The electronic viewfinder is a fantastic thing to have.

[ac.smith]

I'll try to give a run down on what I see as the differences between the Z712 and the Z812 compared to the base Z612 as primarily a still camera. All have a Schneider 12x IS lens, f2.8-f8 at wide angle and f4.8-f8 at max telephoto. Slight differences in sensor dimensions make that lens 35-420mm equiv. on the 612 and 36-436mm equiv. on the 712/812.

Batteries - all three camera can use the KLIC8000 LiIon rechargeable battery and the CRV3 lithium non-rechargeable battery. The 712 and 812 can additionally use non-rechargeable AA lithium cells.

LCD Display - All three use a fixed 2.5" wide viewing angle daylight viewable display. The resolution for the 612 and the 812 is ~230K pixels. The 712 is 115K pixels. All use the same high resolution (~230K pixels) EVF.

CPU - I have read reports that the 712/812 use a different CPU than the 612.

Sensor/ISO and Noise - All use a 1/2.5" sensor at ~6, 7, and 8 MP respectively. The full resolution ISO for the Z612 is 400 and I find that 400 is usable. The 712/812 go the 1600 at full resolution. Many think the 7MP 712 sensor and it associated processing produces the best results of any 1/2.5 sensor in the 400-800 range. Noise is there butso is detail and thecolor remains good.The 812 is probably not quite as good in that range but is surely equal to Canon, Panasonic, Olympus, Sony's 8MP 1/2.5 sensors.

Burst - The 612 will shoot a burst of 8 pictures, 6 for the 712 and 5 for the 812. This makes me suspect that all three use the same size buffer in the camera so the larger files sizes of the newer cameras reduces the available shots in a burst. The larger file sizes also result in longer file write times for the newer cameras with the 812 being the slowest.

SD Cards - the Z612 is limited to 2GB SD cards. Fast cards don't particularly speed up the 612 but may make the transfer to computer faster if your using a card reader. Both the 712 and the 812 can use 4GB and greater SDHC cards as well a regular SD cards. From what I can tell faster card don't speed up the cameras.

Video - All three will shoot VGA (640x480) at 30 fps. The Z612 and the Z812 have a stereo audio track while the Z712 has a monaural audio. All produce Quicktime MPEG4 files. The Z812 additionally can shoot HD video (1280x720). The most common dissatisfaction with the Z812 seems to be with it's video recording, IMO a mis-match of expectations and current technology reality.

I am a very satisfied Z612 user and use the camera for still photography only. I use the EVF for photography and use the LCD principally for menus and occasional review. I'm inclined to think I'd pick the 712 over the 812, choosing the ISO/noise performance over the better LCD screen of the 812.

[sw2cam]

I can't see how one could go wrong with either rig.........At the prices they are selling for both would just be a bit over the cost of the P880 when it first came out.

[bigdawg]

I'd still stack the DX6490 against either one!

Dawg

[sw2cam]

Not in low light Dawg....................

[bigdawg]

sw2cam wrote:

Not in low light Dawg....................

True but then again with enough time the photos can be good. very good in fact...the up grade coming in sensors will blow out all the old digi cams anyway...Oh Yeah How ya doin' RJ?

Dawg

[sw2cam]

I'm a doing Dawg.............I'm a doing.