Kodak EasyShare V530 5MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Silver)

I received this camera as a high school graduation present from my parents three years ago. This was my first digital camera and think that it's a great first camera to own and to play around with. I love the black color making it look sophisticated and also how small it is. It fits perfect in most camera carrying cases. Though it is only 5.0 Mega Pixels (I realize that cameras go up to a lot higher number now) the quality of the picture on the screen was always satisfying to me. I love all the options you have to change what kind of setting you are in including making the picture black and white or sepia. It even has a setting on there for fireworks and moving objects.

One of the main issues I had with the camera that I would have change is the size of the viewing screen and what it is made out of. I just would have liked to see the screen a little bit bigger. Some cameras now have the screen covering the entire back of it and I would like to see this screen bigger. Also, whatever the screen is made of attracts fingerprints like crazy. Every time I would try to wipe off the screen, I just smeared the fingerprints instead of really getting rid of them. I would have liked to see the screen more of a shiny substance easier for wiping off or including some kind of cloth that will take off all the smudges.
I recently had to buy a new camera because this one just bit the dust after 3 years. Suddenly the camera just stopped working and I was unable to turn it on or off. The shutter wouldn't come out. Or, if it did, I would have to wait until the camera battery died for it to go back in. Also, all of the screws except one that hold the front cover on fell out.

Overall, I would recommend this camera as a solid first digital camera to give a young person to capture the last of their teen years. It was a valued asset to me.

I purchase this camera almost a year ago. I think it's a good compromise between price and features.

Pros --
1> Price. Much cheaper than other cameras and has good features.
2> Size. Compact, can be easily carried in pocket without hassle. Almost size of cell phone.
3> Point & Shoot. Good photos with Auto mode.

Cons --
1> Battery. After a year, now the camera dies before end of day. Since it has rechargeable battery, you are stuck with dead camera for your evening s.
2> Software. If you don't have memory card reader, then you must install Kodak software. This means, after every reboot, it will check for updated version. If you have card reader, you can download pics right from the card.
3> Video. Every time you are trying to capture video, if the camera has to focus, the noise of lens shifting is recorded too. It's audible when played back.
4> Selected mode is lost when power turned off. Suppose if you select 'Night Portrait' mode and after taking couple of pics, you turned off camera, next time when you switch back on, it's back to 'Auto' mode. You need to switch back to 'Night Portrait' again.
5> Flash. Just not powerful enough. It's good for 4-5 feet range but if you are taking pictures in a large room, pictures come dark due to inadequate flash. Same time pictures taken by Canon G5 came perfect.

(DC charger which plugs in charger station can be plugged directly into camera for charging.)

I purchased this camera to replace my Canon G4. I was pleased initially at it's size but soon started missing Canon's powerful flash, swivel screen, picture/video quality etc.

i LOVE this camera!!had it you 2 years, dropped it and still have NO problems. takes perfect pics fast and the flash id quick!!! BEST BUY

I've owned this camera about 1.5 years. I've used it lightly-moderately and gently. Originally I was plenty happy with it. Nice pictures, nice video, good speed. The video always had constant very-noticeable gear noise as the lens continually refocuses, but otherwise it was fine. After a few months the lens stopped retracting, but that was fixed with some patient jiggling. So far, still ok.

But JUST after the warranty expired, the video function stopped working altogether. The whole camera freezes (crashes) and I have to remove the battery and reset the time/date and all other settings. And I noticed that 4 of the screws fell out! This camera has been gently used; it still looks new. Except the front face is now threatening to fall off.

At this point, the snapshots still work fine, though the battery life has become pathetic. I'm now shopping for a new camera, and I'm depressed to see that virtually every camera has major design/support problems (despite hoards of obliviously glowing reviews). What the hell?

I bought it because it was small, didn't need extra batteries, and looked cool. Of course that means I had to sacrifice some in terms of picture quality, but thats okay. I don't ever plan on getting prints bigger then standard 3x5.