Kodak EasyShare V603 review

Video mode lets you capture MPEG-4 clips at as much as 640x480 resolution and 30frames per second (fps) with mono sound. The length of the videos is limited only by the size of your memory card. Unlike with some still cameras, you can zoom the lens while recording video with the V603, though an almost inaudible motor noise can be heard in the background when you do. There's also digital image stabilisation which helped -- just a little -- to keep our video steadier than it could have been. After you capture video, the V603 lets you pull still images from the clip, though the resolution remains the same as in video mode -- that is, 640x480 or smaller -- so it's not quite print quality. It's not bad for email, though.

Performance
Once it starts up, the Kodak EasyShare V603 is fast. It took a lengthy 4.5 seconds to power up and capture its first image, but after that, it required just 1.2 seconds between shots without flash and 1.7 seconds with flash enabled. Shutter lag was a speedy 0.25 seconds in high-contrast situations and 0.3 seconds under low-contrast lighting. Burst mode captured four 6.1-megapixel frames (the maximum) in 1.5 seconds for an average of 2.7fps.

The versatile LCD screen handled various lighting situations well, remaining visible in bright light and gaining up in low light so that you can frame your shot. In low light, colours washed out to a near-sepia tone, though this affected only the preview. Many cameras in this class simply leave you in the dark, so this is still preferable.

The built-in flash is rated by Kodak to provide even coverage out to 2.5m at telephoto or 1.8m at its widest angle, with ISO set to auto. Based on our field-test images, this seems accurate, though it's a little weak compared to that of a lot of cameras, which provide flash coverage out to 3m or 3.5m at telephoto with auto ISO.

Image quality
Images from the Kodak EasyShare V603 were generally pleasing, with only a few problems under certain circumstances. For example, while purple fringing was kept under control in most circumstances, it reared its head in very high-contrast situations, such as harshly backlit subjects, and it was very noticeable when it did show up. Under more normal conditions, colours were vivid and convincingly natural. Exposures were mostly accurate, though the camera tends to either blow out highlights or sacrifice some detail in the shadows. Automatic white balance yielded a slightly warm image with the tungsten lights in our test lab, while the Tungsten white-balance setting was a touch too cool.

At lower ISOs, noise was generally kept under control, though there are minor traces -- even at ISO 80 -- and little off-colour speckles were present at ISO 100. At ISO 200, noise became noticeable, and by ISO 400 it was obvious, though the images were definitely usable. In fact, at ISO 400, the image noise mostly resembled film grain, though there was mottling in darker colours.

Overall, Kodak's EasyShare V603 is a solid shooter at a decent price that should please anyone who just wants to catch quick photos of family and friends without any hassles. It's not the camera for finnicky shooters who want lots of controls, but casual shooters will enjoy its simplicity.

Additional editing by Kate Macefield